what us the postal service needs you to know
Taking advantage of bulk shipping rates is a great way to optimize your company’s marketing budget. As a business, you probably send a lot of direct mail on a monthly or even quarterly basis, so it’s important to figure out how to send bulk mail easily and cheaply. doing so will help you save a lot of money on your business shipping.
what is mass mailing?
bulk shipping is a profitable shipping system for your business. if you’re just sending a few letters here and there, you probably won’t need or qualify for mass mailing. But if your business sends out hundreds of flyers, postcards, or magazines at once, taking advantage of bulk rates can save your business a fortune in annual mailing costs.
how to qualify for bulk mail rates
To qualify for bulk mailing rates, you will need to meet a minimum number of pieces. the number of pieces depends on the type of mail you send. the minimum shipping part numbers for postal discounts are:
- first class mail: 500 pieces
- usps marketing mail: 200 pieces (or 50 pounds of mail)
- every door direct mail (eddm): 200 pieces
- Presorted print mail or bound on carrier’s route: 300 pieces
- Library mail: 300 pieces
- Multimedia mail: 300 pieces
- package selection: 50 pieces
what is the best type of mail service for my business needs?
there are several types of mail services that the us. uu. postal service you offer to your customers and it is important to know which one suits your company’s bulk mailing needs. The three types of mass mailing that are likely to fit your business needs are: first-class mail, marketing mail, and all-door direct mail (eddm).
first class mail
If your business sends mail across the country, First Class Mail is a great option for you and your business. It doesn’t matter if the mail travels 40 miles or 4,000 miles, the price of mail sent first class is always the same flat rate. First-class mail includes letters, cards, plans, and packages weighing less than 13 ounces.
marketing email
If your business sends out a lot of brochures, circulars, newsletters, catalogs, or small packages weighing less than 16 ounces each, marketing mail might be the optimal way to reach new and existing customers. It’s important to note that international mail does not qualify as marketing mail.
direct mail to all doors (eddm)
every door direct mail (eddm) is a great way to promote your business in your local community. eddm allows you to send targeted mail to specific areas without having the real names and addresses of the people who live in that location. So if you’re a new restaurant, real estate agent, or local politician running a campaign, eddm could be a great fit for your scenario. eddm allows you to send usps marketing flat mailers (which are flat rate envelopes) weighing up to 3.3 oz at a deep discount.
bulk mail rates
the united states postal service regularly increases the price of standard mail, so subsequently it also increases the price of mass mailing. however, there is still a substantial discount to take advantage of. bulk mail rates for 2022 are:
Nonprofits are eligible for substantial discounts on postage, up to 84%, so if your organization is a nonprofit, be sure to take advantage of them.
how to keep bulk mail rates low
Although mass mailing rates are continually increasing, connecting with new and existing customers through direct mail is a good investment for your business. here are some ways you can keep your bulk mailing rates low while seeing a great return on investment.
- targeting targeting your mailing lists is an essential step in getting the most return on your investment. You don’t want to waste your time or money sending someone information about something you don’t care about or don’t need. By properly segmenting your lists, this will allow you to send the right offer to the right person and ensure positive response rates to your direct mail efforts. While segmenting your lists may seem like a daunting task, direct mail marketing companies like Valpak allow you to pinpoint exactly who your audience is for each type of direct mail you want to send.
- List Maintenance If you’re taking the time to develop a well-thought-out, targeted direct mail campaign, the last thing you want to do is send it to outdated addresses or customers who’ve moved out of the country or even passed away. By regularly maintaining and cleaning your mailing lists, you will help ensure that you get the most optimal return on investment.
how to send mass mail
There are two ways to send mass mail: you can hire a mass mail service or you can do it yourself (DIY).
contracting a mass mailing service
there are several mass mail services recommended by usps. they are:
- print for less (pfl): A good option for a business that needs a lot of custom printing, from custom sizes to custom effects and custom services. pfl provides all of that and handles the mailing, too.
- amazingmail: A good option if you need to print and ship personalized postcards, flyers, and letters quickly (next business day). amazingmail will let you upload your own design or choose from hundreds they have on file. they will address, stamp and mail your items with mailing protection coating and first class postage.
- click2mail: includes priority shipping to a us. uu. post office or your office with direct mail orders from eddm, and print and mail next business day for first class mail orders. free tutorials, api, and mailing list rentals are also available.
- com – taradel: helps prepare direct mail for eddm and targeted direct mail campaigns. You can design flyers, postcards, and ads using their free design templates, or hire a designer to help you.
- growmail: Offers full-service direct marketing as well as print advertising services for small and medium-sized businesses. Businesses also offer consultation on marketing strategies.
- Amplified Mail: Provides ROI reports and responses, as well as tracks your mail through USPS. offer custom queries for your design and mailing strategies.
DIY mass mailing
If you decide that you prefer to manage your bulk mail internally, you can do so simply by following the normal process of:
- create your specific list of names and direct mail addresses
- design your marketing material envelopes
- find a printer to print your marketing material envelopes
- purchase a mailing permit and pay an annual shipping fee for usps mailing and/or first class mail (no permit required for eddm.)
- pay postage through permit printing, postage meters, or prepaid stamps
- choose the shape, size, and weight of your shipments
- certify that recipient addresses are correct
- presort mail pieces by zip code
- transport your shipment to the post office where you have your mailing permit
Although it is a little more complicated to do your mass mailing, it can save your company a good amount of money compared to using a service. The extra effort can be worth it when you’re just starting out and don’t have a clear idea of what the return on investment will be for your mass mailing efforts.
how to make bulk emailing easy and fun
Most DIY mass mailing projects end up being a headache because they start with no system in place. The most important thing you can do if you’re sending mass mail is set up a system to keep track of everything.
Having a standard shipping process will make everything much easier for you and your team. Instead of mass mailing being a project that takes up one employee’s time for an entire week, consider diverting an afternoon of several staff members’ time to mass mailing. you can even order pizza for everyone for lunch and turn it into a party.