Insert Media – Unlock the Power of Post Purchase Engagement
Digital advertising costs are rising and engagement is declining. Meanwhile, brands are testing offline channels such as package inserts because they reach customers in a trusted, clutter-free environment.
Borrowing Brand Trust: Insert Media’s Hidden Advantage
100% Open Rate
Guaranteed delivery & open rate: Every insert is delivered with a product and viewed when the package is opened
Lower Cost Per Acquisition
Inserts cost $0.05–$0.08 per piece compared with $0.40–$0.60 for direct mail and ever-increasing digital CPAs
Zero Postage Cost
You pay for printing and media but not postage
Brand-safe environment
Ads appear inside packages from trusted retailers, lending credibility to your message and making them more likely to engage with partner offers
Access to Leading Retailers
+100s
more
How it Works
A Simple, High Impact Solution
1. Select your creative
Choose a compelling insert format (typically Single Sheet) and provide your offer, QR code and creative. We will take care of production, providing format recommendations based on what works and your targeted KPI goals.
2. Place inside shipments
Inserts are placed in the shipments of select retailers aligned with your target audience. Category exclusivity ensures your brand is the only advertiser in your category for that shipment.
3. Customer sees & acts
As soon as the package is opened, the customer sees your offer and is directed to redeem via QR code, landing page or store visit.
Because the insert rides along with products customers already ordered, there is no postage cost, and your message reaches a qualified audience
The Difference
A Smarter Alternative to Direct Mail and Digital
Insert Media
- Lower CPA
- Zero Postage Cost
- 100% Delivery
- 100% Open Rate
- Tangible , high brand recall
- Brand-safe, trusted retailer packages
Direct Mail
- High CPA ($0.30-$0.70 per piece)
- Postage up 30% since 2019**
- 100% Delivery
- Unknown Open Rate
- Tangible but passive engagement
- Reached household mailbox
Social Media
- Rising CPA (+60%-90% in last 5 years)
- n/a
- No guaranteed delivery (algorithmic)
- Reach depends on algorithms & audience
- Declining engagement rates; ad faticque
- Busy, cluttered environments
Why Insert Media?
- Unmatched visibility: Inserts arrive in a moment of anticipation, generating 100% open rates and extremely high brand recall.
- Trust & credibility: Customers transfer the trust they have in the shipping brand to the advertiser. Studies of direct mail show that print ads require 21% less cognitive effort to process and deliver 70% higher recall than digital media.
- Cost-effective scale: Inserts cost a fraction of direct mail and sidestep rising digital CPMs.
- Targeted & measurable: Inserts can be targeted by retailer demographics (for example, meal-kit subscribers) and performance can be tracked through unique URLs, QR codes, and our analytics platform.
- Privacy-friendly: Insert Media avoids the privacy concerns of digital tracking. There are no third-party cookies or personal data collection.
Success Story
Business Outcomes
13X
Expansion of Insert
Program Since 2017
+575K
New Customers (not
including retail sale
attribution)
Driving Offline Growth for an Ecommerce Brand
When leading shave brand Harry’s tested Insert Media, it started with about 7 million impressions. Over the next few years, it scaled to more than 90 million impressions while meeting or beating customer acquisition and lifetime value goals. Insert Media has delivered 575 k+ new customers and more than 765 million inserts distributed. By integrating with other media programs and developing proprietary placement opportunities, Harry’s achieved a 13× expansion of its insert program.
Peace of mind
Our Promise
When you choose Generate, you’re not just buying space in a box, you’re tapping into a decade of experience in Insert Media and thousands of campaigns’ worth of data.
Proven expertise
Our analysts have tested countless programs and know which messaging, offers and partner pairings drive results. We leverage data accumulated over years of campaigns to recommend only the tactics that work and steer you away from the ones that don’t.
Quality placements
Your offers are presented alongside respected household brands in curated shipments, ensuring you reach consumers when they’re receptive and engaged.
Targeted reach
We match your ads to the right audiences, by interest, demographic and purchase behavior, so every insert is relevant and compelling.
Transparent results
You’ll receive detailed reporting on the campaign, giving you the data you need to measure success and optimize campaigns.
Hands-on support
From campaign planning and creative development to production and logistics, our team handles the details, letting you focus on your core objectives.
Our promise is simple: to help you grow your customer base and revenue through Insert Media that delivers real results, backed by data and insight that competitors can’t match.
FAQs
How does Insert Media differ from other direct mail or digital marketing channels?
Unlike traditional direct mail that requires cold outreach, insert media reaches consumers who are already engaged, such as customers receiving a subscription box or a product shipment. This captive, opt-in environment often results in higher attention and at a lower cost per acquisition.
How do I measure campaign success?
Every insert includes a unique promotional code, QR code or tracking URL
Can I test different offers or creative variations?
Yes. We encourage A/B testing of different offers or designs to optimize performance.
Is there exclusivity in a shipment or category?
Most partners offer exclusivity so that only one advertiser in a particular category appears in each box. We know which retailers offer exclusivity and negotiate this requirement during placement with the retailer.
Ready to Get Started?
Book a 30-min. Demo
Fill out the form to schedule a quick 30-minute demo to see how Insert Media can become a powerful new customer acquisition channel for your brand.
Sandra Roscoe
Managing Director, Generate
Grab Your Free Copy
New to Insert Media? Download our comprehensive guide to learn the fundamentals of this channel. The guide covers strategy, creative best practices and case studies so you can hit the ground running. The booklet distills 25 years of experience into practical insights to help you harness this growing offline channel.
