Postal Facts

Take Advantage of 2023 USPS Promotions

Postal Facts

USPS Promotions to Take Advantage of in 2023

What’s New

TACTILE, SENSORY, INTERACTIVE

  • Discount: Increase
  • New eligibility: Scent on the outside of the envelope

Discount: 5%

PERSONALIZED COLOR TRANSPROMO

  • Timeframe: Moved from Jul – Dec to Feb – Jul
  • Eligibility: Add CRM/BRM inclusion incentive
  • Discount: Add tier for reply mail inclusion
    Discount: 3% or 4%

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

(NOW INCLUDES MOBILE SHOPPING)
  • Combined promotions
  • Timeframe: Increase to 7 mos. (May – Nov)
  • Discount: Increase tier pricing
    Discount: 3% or 4%

REPLY MAIL IMBA – NEW!

  • Encourage reply mail customers to adopt IMbA static or serialized barcodes.
    Discount: 3% or 6%
    (on inbound reply mailpiece scanned)

INFORMED DELIVERY®

  • An incentive for eDoc submitters
    Discount Mailers: 4%
    eDoc Submitter: 0.5%

RETARGETING – NEW!

  • Incentivizes marketers to send out a postcard to a recent website or mobile app visitor that didn’t convert.
    Discount: 5%

While it sounds old-fashioned, direct mail marketing is still a viable way to reach new and existing customers.

  • Small businesses should look for current USPS promotions to reduce the cost of sending large amounts of direct mail.
  • Your business can send two types of direct mailers: First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail.
  • The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) often runs promotions and discounts on direct mail services, potentially bringing substantial savings to your business. We’ll highlight six current USPS direct mail promotions and explain more about mailers and mailing equipment.

What are the types of direct mail mailers?

The USPS breaks down its promotions by mailer type: First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail. These two types are standard classifications for direct business mail:

  • First-Class Mail encompasses cards, letters, flats, and parcels weighing 13 ounces or less. The minimum quantity to mail at commercial prices is 500 pieces.
  • Marketing Mail has a minimum quantity of 200 pieces, or 50 pounds of mail, and is used to send flyers, advertisements, newsletters, bulletins, catalogs, and small parcels.

The USPS breaks up its six promotions, so there is ample opportunity for senders in both mail classifications to benefit.

Take Advantage of 2023 USPS Promotions Read More »

USPS 2023 Holidays & events – plan ahead

Invoice Processing, News, Postal Facts

Ensure Your Critical Communications Are Ready Early

Plan Ahead & Know the USPS Holiday Schedule

There are many ways to succeed in direct mail marketing since it’s an open-ended and creative space. However, here are a few tips on using direct mail for business to help ensure your campaigns’ success.

  • Keep your communication mail piece focused and clear of clutter.
  • Use clear, easy-to-read fonts.
  • Make your CTA the focal point of the mailer.
  • Know your audience and tailor your message to them.
  • Run data tests before sending out your entire campaign.
  • Proofread your forms and collateral material multiple times.
  • Send follow-up messages.
  • Drive traffic to your website by including a link or scannable QR code.

2023 USPS Holidays & events

  • MONDAY, January 2*, New Year’s Day
  • MONDAY, January 16, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
  • MONDAY, February 20, Presidents’ Day
  • MONDAY, May 29, Memorial Day
  • MONDAY, June 19, Juneteenth National Independence Day
  • TUESDAY. July 4, Independence Day
  • MONDAY, September 4, Labor Day
  • MONDAY, October 9, Columbus Day
  • SATURDAY, November 11* Veterans Day
  • THURSDAY, November 23, Thanksgiving Day
  • MONDAY, December 25, Christmas Day

* If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most USPS employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. Likewise, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most USPS employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.

USPS service alerts have information for consumers, small businesses, and business mailers about postal facility service disruptions caused by weather-related and other natural disasters, special events, or other changes impacting service.

We can determine if mail is being delivered or if Post Offices are open. Let us help.

Contact Your BMS Postal Expert

BMS customers can first check the USPS Mail Service Disruptions website for current, frequently-updated information about whether mail is being delivered to their neighborhood or if your local Post Office is open.

Or you can call your customer service team at 1-866-816.2378.

USPS 2023 Holidays & events – plan ahead Read More »

US Postal Service Submits Filing for Price Increase to Go Into Effect January 2023

Direct Marketing, News, Postal Facts

This article was originally published on Brand United. It can be viewed here.

Late on Friday, October 7, the Postal Service submitted a filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission proposing a price increase. This would be in effect on January 22, 2023. The PRC will review the filing to ensure that USPS calculations are accurate and the proposed prices comply with the statute. The PRC is expected to approve the request in November. Yes, postage increased in July, and now there will be another increase in January. We also expect another increase in July of 2023.

Here are some of the proposed rates:

First-Class Mail:

  • The stamp and Meter price differential will remain at 3 cents.
  • Non-machinable surcharge for Letters will increase from 39 cents to 40 cents.
  • The additional ounce rate will remain at 24 cents.
  • 5-Digit Automation Letters price will increase by 3.5%.
  • The overall increase for Flats is 6.2%.

Standard Marketing Mail:

  • Letter overall increase is 3.2%
  • The flat overall increase is 6.2%
  • Creation of 5 new discounts for flats on SCF pallets
  • EDDM retail increased by 1%
  • CRRT overall increased by 6.2%

Don’t let the postage rate increases scare you away from this vital marketing channel. Direct mail has the highest ROI of all marketing channels when done correctly. On average, the postage rates increased by less than a penny per piece, so they will not drastically increase your overall direct mail budget. Still, it is essential to account for the additional postage funds. It’s time to get creative and send direct mail that is interesting as well as cost-effective. Are you ready to get started?

  1. As operating expenses continue to rise, these price adjustments provide the Postal Service with much-needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan. The prices of the U.S. Postal Service remain among the most affordable in the world.The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. The Mailing Services filing is Docket No. R2023-1. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

US Postal Service Submits Filing for Price Increase to Go Into Effect January 2023 Read More »

A New Postal Network and Your Mail

Postal Facts

This article was originally published on Snailtalk. It can be viewed here.

If you think changing a tire on a moving bus is tough, try doing it with a blindfold on.  This is kind of what the Postal Service is doing with its network right now.  The blindfolds are actually on the industry and postal employees.  Someone there knows what they’re doing.  Right?  Right?

There is much more to these changes than learning some new initials…we think.  The Postal Service has only shared with the industry and public that is legally required.  The industry that will need to interface with this network has been largely kept in the dark, only getting snippets of the plan from required communications between the Postal Service with their unions.  It’s not unlike looking through a hole in the plywood surrounding a construction site.

Even the timing and details of some of the changes happening this fall are difficult to ascertain.  This will be a particularly important season to be tracking your mail.  Here’s some of what we do know:

  • NDC will become SDC – Sort and Delivery Centers.  These would consolidate existing facilities into a single facility, where mail would be sorted and given to carriers.  Carriers may need to drive up to 30 minutes (maybe more) to reach their routes.  There are expected to be 60-75 of these facilities.
  • No implementation schedule has been released beyond the first few locations.
    • Athens, GA, will consolidate about 180 carrier routes serving 123,000 delivery points.  This unit is expected to be completed by September 24.
    • Mid-Hudson, NY, will consolidate 160 routes serving 100,000 delivery points.  Scheduled to be completed this fall.
    • Bryan, TX, will handle 150 routes serving 117,000 delivery points, completed by February.
  • Regional Processing Centers (RPC), also known as Mega-Centers, will provide the equivalent function for larger cities.
    • Atlanta, GA, could consolidate 73 existing stations into 7, with 2,327 routes serving 1.74 million delivery points.
    • Indianapolis, IN, would have two facilities housing 1,058 routes serving 710,000 delivery points.
  • Overall, the Postmaster General hopes to consolidate 19,000 carrier units into 12,000 or 13,000.
  • 6,000 or 7,000 local post offices will lose their carriers.
  • The whole realignment is expected to take 2-4 years.

There is a lot more to the realignment than these facilities.  Surface Transfer Centers will manage the routing and transportation of Marketing Mail letters and flats.

The point of all of this is to simplify the network and run fewer trucks.  Clearly, a change of this degree may impact delivery.  SnailWorks will be watching delivery in the established facilities during the holiday mailing season, as this may give us a clue as to what to expect in the future.

As we learn more details, of course, we’ll share them with you.

A New Postal Network and Your Mail Read More »

US Postal Service (USPS) Mail Delivery Timeline Getting Better

Direct Marketing, Invoice Processing, News, Postal Facts, Press Releases, Progressive Technology

Looking ahead to the 2022 holiday peak season, the US Postal Service (USPS) announced the dates for the “Temporary Rate Adjustments.” This year, the higher price rates will be effective from October 2, 2022, through January 22, 2023.  In addition, USPS National News states that the average delivery timeline is now steady at 2.5 days.  For the quarter, overall mail volumes were down 3.4% over the same period last year (SPLY), while revenue was up 5.0%.

The USPS service performance report during the 4th quarter indicates their scores covering July 1 through August 5  are consistent.

They included:

  • First-Class Mail on time: 93.1 percent.
  • Marketing Mail on time: 94.2 percent.
  • Periodicals on time: 86.3 percent.

One of the goals of “Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan” for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence is to meet or exceed 95 percent on-time service performance for all mail and shipping products.  But, of course, this is once all elemental implementations of the plan.  The Postal Service defines service performance as the time it takes to deliver a mailpiece or package from its acceptance into their system through its delivery, measured against published service standards.

Source:  https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/0225-usps-mail-delivery-time-consistent.htm

US Postal Service (USPS) Mail Delivery Timeline Getting Better Read More »

Political Elections

Direct Marketing, Postal Facts, Promotional Products

3 Musts for Your Election Campaign

 

It’s crunch time for your campaign! Due to our current environment, the election season looks a bit different than in previous years – but things are improving slowly.  With this in mind here are some options to connect with your voters.

Get your name out there with a direct mail campaign

Direct mail is a great way to make a personalized touchpoint for voters. Sending a postcard with a customized name and the right target audience gives them a reminder of who you are. Make sure you have a call-to-action with a unique QR code. Keep your message focused – and create a memorable campaign.

Strengthen your campaign with customized products and apparel

Follow-up your direct mail campaign with a tee-shirt or ball cap! Tailor your promotional products to meet the needs of your target audience. These items double as great gifts to thank supporters, as well as, more exposure for the campaign. Say someone wears a campaign shirt to the grocery store.  Now everyone in the store is aware of the nominee and may even ask questions or look them up to learn more.

Your message is our mission – with signage and wearable’s

You can’t be everywhere all at once – but your name can! Since larger in-person rallies are still limited a great tool to advertise your name is wearable promotional products and setting up signage!  This allows voters to interact and see your name outside of the rally environment.

Prepare today – to win tomorrow!

Election Day is just around the corner, so discover what we can offer you!  Contact us today at 866.816.2378. We would be happy to discuss your goals and how to achieve them.

Political Elections Read More »

3 Musts For Your Election Campaign

Direct Marketing, Postal Facts, Promotional Products

These steps will help increase awareness and support for your campaign.  With elections right around the corner, it is crunch time for your campaign.  Due to our current environment, the election season looks a bit different than in previous years.  This makes it harder for nominees to connect with voters.  Here are three “musts” for a campaign in the COVID-Age:

Direct Mail

Direct mail is a great way to make a personalized touchpoint for voters. Send a postcard that says “Hey (insert name), we can’t wait to see you at the polls on Nov. 3!”.  This gives them a reminder and also puts your name in their hands. Considering that not everyone will want to go to vote in person, use direct mail as a way to inform about the other voting options.

Tip: Add a QR code to your mailing piece that leads to the campaign landing page.

Virtual Campaign Rally

Since larger in-person rallies are still limited, utilize one of the many online platforms to hold a virtual rally.  A great tool for this is Facebook Live.  This allows voters to interact during your rally.  Have someone behind the camera monitoring and engaging with viewers.

Tip: If you are holding an in-person rally, still consider using a platform such as Facebook Live.    This gives an option and allows those to see who may not be able to make it.

SWAG

Who doesn’t like getting a swag bag?  These double as great gifts to thank supporters, as well as, more exposure for the campaign. Say someone wears a campaign shirt to the grocery store.  Now everyone in the store is aware of the nominee and may even ask questions or look them up to learn more. Some great products for a swag bag include; T-shirts, Pens, Car Decals, Magnets, Cups, Flags, and Hats.

Tip 1: Hold giveaways on social media to increase engagement and followers.

Tip 2: Set up a storefront to sell merch for the campaign.

Need help implementing these steps? Contact us today 866.816.2378 and ask for Karly Rouillier. We would be happy to discuss your goals and how to achieve them.

 

3 Musts For Your Election Campaign Read More »

Direct Mail is Soaring During the Pandemic

Direct Marketing, News, Postal Facts, Promotional Products

We all know COVID-19 mandated policies have consumers shutting doors tight!  Many open them for a few reasons – package delivery, food delivery, and something until recent times may have caused consumers to tell the kids to do.  Go check the mail! That’s right, people – your target audience (now under quarantine), are in fact, once again showing excitement about their mail!  Who knew getting the mail would be the highlight of the day! It gives instant gratification for consumers – your audience.  Right now – today – a simple, second-nature behavior represents a golden key to your marketing success and allows you to take advantage of phenomenal access to the continually-resurgent world of Direct Mail.  A sky-high 67% of people have said they feel mail provides a more personal connection1  than the internet, with 7 out of 10 respondents saying that they prefer receiving physical (Direct Mail campaign) mail over an email2 .

36% of people under 30 say they look forward to checking their mail!

Excitement, during this Pandemic – who knew!

90% of Millennials prefer Direct Mail over email

The USPS reported a whopping 98% of the country peeking into their mailbox3 six and seven days a week, you’d be hard-pressed to find better-train potential consumers to look for your messages.  The SBA reports that Direct Mail generates purchases 5 times larger than email campaigns.  Email disappears within seconds, while 17 days is the average lifespan for Direct Mail in a consumer’s home.  76% of Direct Mail consumers strongly consider repeat purchases from known brands.  Now is the perfect chance to launch a well-designed postcard campaign, pitched to the right slice of your target market, at a time when something as simple as checking the mail can be a well-deserved break, let folks discover what you can do for them.

1. https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2020/0206-usps-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-2020-results.htm 2. https://facts.usps.com/marketing/ 3. https://lob.com/blog/7-direct-mail-marketing-stats-that-may-surprise-you 4. https://opknockcards.com/direct-mail-during-quarantine/

Direct Mail is Soaring During the Pandemic Read More »

Postcards: Can They Be As Effective as Envelope Mail?

Direct Marketing, Postal Facts

When people think of direct mail marketing, they often think of two things: letters and postcards. You can’t use as many words with postcards as you can in a seven-page mailer, but there’s still a whole lot you can do with these seemingly small yet powerful pieces of paper.

The Magic of Lower Costs

Mailing a postcard campaign can be as much as 40% cheaper than running a standard mail campaign.

That’s a huge difference that goes directly towards your bottom line.

With postcards, you can mail more people and still be profitable even with a lower response rate.

What Are Postcards Best Used For?

You shouldn’t try to use postcards to sell products. If you’re selling a $69.99 supplement plus a monthly subscription, that should absolutely be sold via mailer or a multi-step mailer.

However, postcards can be a very cheap way to test a message or list. You can get a rough sense for whether or not you’re looking at a live list at a much lower cost.

Postcards are also great for lead generation. Use postcards to drive people to a website or a call-in number. The cost per lead generated will be much lower than using standard mail.

What to Avoid with Postcards

The number one thing to avoid with postcards is appearing too “salesy”.

That means avoid big bold “40% OFF!” signs and giant red headlines.

First off, you risk getting your postcards tossed out by the post office if you’re extremely salesy. Second, most people sort through their mail over the trash can, ready to toss out any mail that looks like junk mail.

Instead, try to make your postcard appear as if it were coming from a friend. Use hand writing fonts. Do still use a headline, but don’t make it look like a sales letter.

Where possible use a first class stamp. Not a printed one, but a real physical stamp. That’ll help get your postcards through the post office, as well as help you get your mail read by the receiver.

Try using different card sizes. Unusual sizes tend to get read. Extra sized postcards or even smaller than usual postcards can both catch attention.

Mailing postcards successfully requires a slightly different mindset than direct mail. With direct mail, your goal is to create a sales letter that hits as hard as possible.

With a postcard, your goal is generate interest without giving too much away. Your goal should be to either get their address or their email so you can hit them with a stronger sales message through a different medium.

Let us know if we can help you with your mailing campaigns!

Postcards: Can They Be As Effective as Envelope Mail? Read More »

Our Round Up of Postal facts – Part I

Postal Facts

HERE ARE THE TOP TWELVE
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

#12 Social responsibility.

From facilitating the nation’s largest one-day food drive to addressing dog bites, educating customers on consumer protection and delivering holiday cheer to those in need, the Postal Service supports communities.

# 11 Veterans.

The Postal Service employs more than 100,000 military veterans and is one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. Learn more

# 10 All heart.

The Postal Service is at the core of the $1.4 trillion U.S. mailing industry that employs more than 7.5 million people. Learn more

#9 Heroes.

Postal employees regularly go beyond the call of duty to protect the lives of customers they serve, including older and disabled customers through the Carrier Alert Program. In fiscal year 2018, the Postal Service recognized 243 heroic employees.

#8 Retail giant.

The Postal Service has the nation’s largest retail network — bigger than McDonald’s, Starbucks and Walmart combined, domestically.

#7 Global business.

The Postal Service processes and delivers 47 percent of the world’s mail and is constantly innovating to make customer experiences better.

#6 Vehicles.

The Postal Service has more than 232,000 vehicles, one of the largest civilian fleets in the world. New next-generation vehicles will have improved ergonomics, safety features, fuel efficiency and design flexibility.

#5 Competition and collaboration.

The Postal Service both competes and collaborates with the private sector. UPS and FedEx pay the Postal Service to deliver hundreds of millions of their ground packages, and USPS pays UPS and FedEx for air transportation.

#4 Affordability.

For 55 cents, anyone can send a letter, regardless of geographic location, to anywhere in the United States.

#3 Dependable.

The Postal Service is the only organization in the country that has the resources, network infrastructure and logistical capability to regularly deliver to every residential and business address in the nation.

#2 Security.

U.S. Mail is protected by more than 200 federal laws enforced by the Postal Inspection Service, one of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies.

And most importantly…

1 Zero tax dollars used.

The Postal Service receives NO tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Our Round Up of Postal facts – Part I Read More »

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