Blog Archives | Forth Communication

Response to Government Guidelines Issued 23 March 2020

In light of the guidelines from the UK Government last night we would like to reassure all clients and partners of Forth Communication that we have been preparing for these expected measures in response to the spread of COVID-19, and are able to continue to provide our full service during this time. Forth Communication is classed as a key business due to providing postal and communication services to multiple industries, including other key businesses. Therefore, our production facility will continue to operate as normal and we have robust contingency plans in place. The safety of our colleagues is of paramount […]

Data Processing – Stages and Definitions

One thing that’s certain – “Thanks to data, you’re probably in the strongest position to gain essential insight into your business and customers today.” – Forth Communication But what exactly is data processing? Data processing is a step by step process where raw data is collected and translated into information that businesses can use. These tasks would usually be performed by one or more data scientists. One very important factor to take into consideration is, this process needs to be done immaculately in order for it not to have a negative impact on the end product i.e the data output. […]

ABC’s of Common Direct Marketing Terms – D

With our A to Z glossary, we define some of the most commonly direct mail and direct marketing terms used in direct response marketing throughout the industry. This week’s letter is – D Database: A collection of tables which often includes forms for entering data, rules for checking and validating data that which has been entered, and the format for creating informative reports. Data Capture: The entry of data records onto a computer file. Data Enhancement: Improving the quality of the data i.e. Changing the casing of the data, improving the postcode, breaking up the salutation field into Title, Initial, Surname, and […]

Business continuity – COVID-19

We would like to reassure all clients and partners of Forth Communication that with the appearance of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and following the guidelines issued by public health officials, we are fully prepared and able to continue to provide our full service during this time. All necessary Forth colleagues are able to work remotely with a secure infrastructure and contingency plans in place, across both our Edinburgh Head Office and our Bangor NI site. Our production facility has robust contingency plans in place and will continue to operate as normal. If there is additional guidance by public […]

ABC’s of Common Direct Marketing Terms – C

With our A to Z glossary, we define some of the most commonly direct mail and direct marketing terms used in direct response marketing throughout the industry. This week’s letter is – C Calendering: The process of smoothing a sheet of dried paper by pressing it between the highly polished metal cylinders. Call Out: Short blocks of copy that direct reader attention to special benefits or features worthy of emphasis. Call To Action: Copy that encourages the reader to respond and provides clear details on how (i.e., by mail, website, etc.,) and expiry date for response. Card Deck: A […]

3 Considerations When Planning Your Pension Communications.

The key element of any pension communication is to ensure your members have a clear understanding of how their pensions work, how to engage/interact with their provider and for them to get an idea of what potential position they will be in once they retire. In order to do so effectively, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that you as a pensions provider understand to whom you are communicating with and in which way conveying this information is the most efficient. When it comes to strategically planning your pension communications there are some factors that we believe should […]

Responsible Response Rates

In many cases, driven by the growing concerns for the environmental impact that using paper has as part of customer communications, many organisations feel that they need to influence their customers to choose email or digital marketing channels over direct mail but, as the ANA/DMA report shows, they could be missing out on the results and high return of direct marketing activities by doing so. Bank statements, brochures, catalogues, newsletters, sales letters and so Forth (pun intended) are all part of what we know as Direct Mail. One of the main reasons to use Direct Mail, and the benefit to […]

What is a Part VII Transfer?

What is a Part VII? A Part VII transfer, also known as insurance business transfer scheme, is a court-sanctioned legal transfer of some or all of the policies of one company to another, governed by Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). Some of the reasons companies may undertake a Part VII transfer combining similar business from two or more subsidiaries transferring business between third parties Separating different books of business and putting them into separate companies. With this in mind, you can be assured that there is A LOT of data that will need to be processed. Ensuring that the process of that transfer goes […]

Hybrid Mail: Reasons It Can Help Your Business

Wondering if Hybrid Mail is right for your business? Here’s just a few of the benefits businesses have enjoyed since starting to use For-Mail, the Hybrid Mail solution from Forth Communication: Simplicity – Upheaval or change to current and established processes can sometimes be a worry. With For-Mail, you should see no disruption to your current operations, just prepare your letters as normal and they can be posted immediately – all you need to do is hit print! Cost-effective – It’s estimated that a Hybrid Mail system can save businesses up to 60% on their current mailing costs! The […]

ABC’s of Common Direct Marketing Terms – B

With our A to Z glossary, we define some of the most commonly direct mail and direct marketing terms used in direct response marketing throughout the industry. This weeks letter is – B Back Test: A test mailing designed to reproduce, and therefore confirm, the results of a recent direct mail test. Also called a retest or confirming test. Usually, run when the results of a test fall within an acceptable range but do not give the mailer enough confidence to roll-out to the entire list. Bar code: A coding structure printed/lasered on a mailing piece which is used for sortation […]