Whether you’re sending out your first handwritten mail campaign or you’ve got dozens under your belt, tracking what’s actually working is the only way to get better. This guide is for marketers, operators, or anyone running campaigns who’s tired of guessing and wants real, actionable feedback from their Scribeless campaigns. I’ll show you exactly how to track your results in Scribeless, what you should pay attention to, and what you can safely ignore.
No fluff, just the steps you need—and some honest takes on where Scribeless analytics can help (and where it falls short).
Step 1: Make Sure You're Set Up to Track Results
Before you even log into Scribeless, let’s get one thing straight: campaign analytics are only as good as what you put in. If you haven’t planned how you’ll measure your campaign, no tool will magically fix that.
What you need: - A clear campaign goal (are you driving traffic? Getting calls? Collecting signups?) - A way to track the action you want (custom URLs, phone numbers, QR codes, unique offer codes) - Access to wherever you’ll see the end result (your site analytics, CRM, call tracking dashboard, etc.)
Pro tip: If you’re just “sending to see what happens,” your analytics will be a mess. Get specific about what a “win” looks like.
Step 2: Launch Your Campaign in Scribeless (With Tracking in Mind)
When you build your campaign in Scribeless, make it easy to tie responses back to the campaign. Here’s how:
- Personalized URLs: Use a unique landing page URL or UTM parameters for each campaign. Scribeless lets you insert custom links per recipient, so use this feature to track clicks.
- QR Codes: Use the built-in QR code generator to link to your tracking page. QR codes are easy to set up and make attribution simple.
- Unique Promo Codes: If your offer is a code, create a new one for each campaign (or even each segment).
- Custom Phone Numbers: If your goal is inbound calls, use a unique phone number per campaign.
What NOT to do: Don’t just send everyone to your homepage. You’ll never know what traffic came from your campaign versus everything else.
Step 3: Find Your Campaign Analytics Dashboard
Once your campaign’s out the door, you’ll want to keep tabs on how it’s performing.
- Log in to Scribeless: Head to your dashboard.
- Navigate to Campaigns: Click “Campaigns” in the left menu.
- Select Your Campaign: Find the campaign you want data for and click it.
- Open the Analytics Tab: There should be a reporting or analytics section for each campaign.
What you’ll see: - Delivery status: How many pieces sent, in production, delivered, or failed. - QR code scans: If you used QR codes, you’ll see how many times each was scanned. - Clicks on personalized links: If you set up custom URLs, you’ll see click data. - Redemptions: For promo codes, you may see how many were used (depending on your setup).
What you won’t see: Scribeless can’t tell you everything—like who actually read your letter, or if it went straight into the recycling bin. Be realistic about what’s trackable.
Step 4: Interpret What the Numbers Actually Mean
The raw numbers don’t mean much until you put them in context. Here’s how to make sense of what Scribeless shows you:
- Delivery rate: If a bunch of mail pieces failed, check your address data. Bad addresses are a common culprit. Don’t obsess over a 1-2% failure rate—mail isn’t perfect.
- QR code scans / link clicks: This is your real “engagement” metric. But remember, some people will act (call, visit your store) without scanning anything. Direct mail isn’t like email—you’ll never catch every response.
- Redemptions: This is the gold standard for tracking. If someone uses your code, you know your campaign worked (at least for that person).
Watch out for: - Low scan/click rates: Don’t panic. Direct mail response rates are rarely huge. Even 1-5% is normal. - Missing data: If you forgot to use trackable links or codes, you’re out of luck. You can try to estimate, but it’s a guess.
Step 5: Compare With Your Other Data Sources
Scribeless is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re serious about tracking, you’ll want to cross-reference with your other analytics tools.
- Google Analytics: Check for traffic spikes on your unique landing pages or UTM-tagged URLs.
- CRM: Look for new leads or signups that match your campaign timeline.
- Call tracking: If you used a unique number, pull call logs or recordings.
- Sales/Redemptions: Compare promo code usage in your e-commerce or POS system.
Pro tip: Don’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis.” Look for clear patterns, not perfection.
Step 6: Learn, Adjust, and Repeat
The real value of tracking is in what you do next. Here’s how to actually get better with every campaign:
- Review what worked: Which segment or message got more scans or conversions? Double down on it.
- Ditch what didn’t: If nobody scanned your QR code, make it bigger, or try a different call to action.
- Test new ideas: Change up your offer, design, or timing in your next campaign. Track with the same discipline.
- Document your results: Keep notes in a simple spreadsheet. Over time, you’ll see what’s actually moving the needle.
Pro Tips and Honest Takes
- Don’t chase vanity metrics: High open rates are nice, but only real actions (scans, calls, purchases) matter.
- It’s not all trackable: Some people will respond in ways you can’t measure. That’s just part of direct mail.
- Scribeless analytics are simple: They’re good for tracking the basics, but don’t expect deep attribution or fancy dashboards. For most mail campaigns, that’s fine.
- Segment your audience: If you’re running multiple campaigns or testing messages, keep your data organized. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a mess.
- Ignore random spikes: A few extra scans might just be someone showing their letter to a friend. Don’t read too much into every blip.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t overthink it. The goal is to set up your Scribeless campaigns so you can see what’s working—with as little fuss as possible. Focus on the basics: trackable links, unique codes, and a clear idea of what you want people to do. Check your numbers, learn, and make your next campaign a little smarter.
In the end, campaign analytics aren’t about proving you’re a genius marketer—they’re about making the next round better. Start simple, look for patterns, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.