Many Canadian businesses use the terms “flyer marketing” and “direct mail” interchangeably, but these two channels behave very differently. Both reach homes. Both deliver physical marketing. Yet when it comes to local reach, cost efficiency and conversion, one consistently performs better for everyday Canadian businesses.
Here at Flyer Canada, we have spent years analyzing the differences. After delivering millions of flyers nationwide, we have a clear picture of how each method works and which one offers stronger results for small and medium-sized businesses looking to grow locally.
Direct mail relies on Canada Post’s addressed system, which is often more expensive and slower to scale. You pay per address, and that cost can add up quickly. Flyers, on the other hand, use unaddressed delivery routes that allow you to reach a large cluster of homes for a fraction of the cost.
This is one reason flyer marketing typically results in lower customer acquisition costs. Our campaigns reduce acquisition costs by an average of 51.8%, largely because the delivery format is more efficient and less expensive.
To explore cost differences further, visit
How Much Do Flyers Cost And Are They Worth It.
When we compare action rates, the difference becomes even clearer. Flyers consistently convert at 4.4% across our campaigns. Direct mail, depending on the format and offer, tends to perform lower due to higher clutter and more formal presentation.
Flyers feel accessible and easy to engage with. Direct mail, especially addressed mail, is often associated with bills or administrative documents. This slight psychological difference reduces engagement.
To understand why flyers outperform digital and mail alternatives, visit
Flyers vs Digital Ads: Which One Actually Delivers Better Results.
Flyers allow businesses to communicate quickly and visually. You can use bold offers, large graphics and clear calls-to-action. Direct mail formats, especially letter-style mailers, often require more formal layouts and heavier text.
This flexibility helps people understand your message in seconds, which is one reason flyers succeed at driving immediate response. A clean, well-designed flyer feels approachable and requires little effort to read.
If you want to refine your flyer’s visual structure, visit
How to Make Flyers Impossible to Ignore.
While flyers outperform direct mail in mass local reach, there are still situations where direct mail makes sense. High-value professional services, legal firms and financial advisors sometimes benefit from addressed mail because it signals formality and privacy.
But for the vast majority of Canadian businesses—restaurants, home services, gyms, clinics, real estate agents and retailers—flyers deliver more reach, higher conversion and stronger ROI at a lower cost.
To explore why flyers resonate so well with neighbourhoods, read
Why Flyers Work for Canadian Entrepreneurs.
Another key difference is deployment speed. Flyers can be delivered to thousands of homes within a day or two. Direct mail schedules depend on postal cycles and can take longer to hit mailboxes, especially during peak mailing seasons.
Fast deployment gives flyers a major advantage for time-sensitive campaigns like restaurant promotions, seasonal cleaning, real estate listings or service-based offers.
Because modern flyers use QR codes, promo codes and landing pages, it’s easy to measure response. You can see which neighbourhoods scanned your code, which redeemed your offer and which pocket generated the highest ROI.
Direct mail tracking exists, but it is generally more limited unless paired with more expensive formats.
For tracking insights, explore
How to Deliver Flyers That Actually Get Read.
A strong local presence comes from repetition. Flyers are ideal for quarterly or seasonal drops that keep your business visible throughout the year. They help build familiarity in ways that direct mail cannot match affordably or frequently.
Over time, repeated flyer exposure leads to higher recognition, smoother conversions and stronger neighbourhood loyalty. Many businesses using quarterly flyer campaigns see ROI between 3× and 29×.
Flyer marketing and direct mail both have their place, but for most Canadian small businesses looking to grow locally, flyers offer the strongest combination of reach, cost efficiency and conversion. They feel approachable, they deliver quickly and they reach the neighbourhoods that matter most without unnecessary expense.
Here at Flyer Canada, we help businesses choose the right format based on their goals, audience and budget. With 4.4% average conversion rates and significantly lower customer acquisition costs, flyer marketing continues to be one of the most effective tools for local advertising in Canada.
If you want help choosing the right approach for your next campaign, reach out through our contact page, explore our store or call 437 524 5287.
We’re ready to help you reach your local market with confidence.