Why it generally works:
- Letterbox/leaflet drops are one of the few channels that guarantee physical reach into every household in a defined area — no algorithm or spam filter between you and the recipient
- It’s well-suited to local, high-frequency-need businesses: takeaways, tradespeople, cleaners, gyms, estate agents, etc.
- Response rates for well-targeted door drops typically run around 0.5–2%, though this varies hugely by offer, design, and targeting
- It builds local brand awareness even among people who don’t respond immediately — repeated exposure matters for trades and local shops especially
What determines whether it actually increases sales:
- Targeting — distributing to the right catchment (postcode/demographic match) beats blanket coverage
- Offer strength — a genuine incentive (discount code, free quote) outperforms generic branding
- Design and clarity — a clear call to action, contact details, and a reason to act now
- Frequency — one-off drops rarely move the needle; 2–3 repeat drops over a few months build recognition and response
- Trackability — using a unique code, QR code, or landing page URL on the leaflet lets the business actually measure uplift rather than guess
Honest caveat: it’s hard to prove causation cleanly (someone might have found the business another way around the same time), which is exactly why encouraging clients to use a trackable offer or dedicated phone number/URL on the leaflet is worth recommending — it turns “we think it worked” into an actual number.
