Harness the USPS rebrand to your Marketing Advantage
Attention, multi-channel marketers! A recent United States Postal Service (USPS) rebrand could help you reshape the way you send direct mail. The USPS recently announced that it will change the name of its Standard Mail (aka Bulk Mail) to “USPS Marketing Mail,” active January 2017. Marketing Mail now officially includes printed matter, flyers, newsletters, catalogs, bulletins and small parcels.
According to the USPS, the shift was made to, “better communicate to mailers how this mail class can be used.”
Printing for Less is here to help you use USPS Marketing Mail to get your message into your customers’ hands. But what does that mean, exactly, for you if you plan to do a mailing campaign? There was a change in the postal rates on January 20th, but that’s already implemented. But there are some specific criteria for your mailing to qualify for USPS Marketing Mail classification. Check them out:
Minimum per piece weight: None
Maximum per piece weight: Less than 16 ounces
Minimum quantity: 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail
One great perk for direct-mail marketers is that mailing material doesn’t have to be mailed as First Class mail, or periodicals, which are both subject to different postage rates. There will also be lower postage rates for non-profit organizations.
Another great feature is that USPS Marketing Mail will not have a per-piece price. There are; however, different prices for different classes of materials. Postage varies depending on whether you’re mailing a, “letter, large envelopes, parcels, Marketing parcels and Parcel Select Lightweight parcels,” says the Postal Service.
Add-on service options, like tracking, insurance and return receipts, will be available. Forwarding service is not include unless you request and pay for it. For the full details, please visit the USPS Marketing Mail website.
Benefits of USPS Marketing Mail
One of the main benefits of Marketing Mail is cost. Compared to a service like First Class, it’s a particularly affordable mailing option. Marketing Mail is a great option for US customers, since it’s a domestic-only service. There are also add-on services, like Priority Mail Open and Distribute, that can help speed up the delivery times for your mailing project.
Drawbacks of USPS Marketing Mail
Unlike more expensive options, this mail class does not have forwarding services unless you pay extra. There are minimum piece requirements (200 pieces, or 50 lbs) as well.
Marketing Mail has a generally a longer delivery timeline, with an average of five days for local mail, and up to three weeks for national mail. Any time-sensitive mailing needs may require turning to a more expensive mail class.
How to Deliver Your Goods
Printing for Less is here to help you create the mailing piece of your dreams, and will get it out the door and into the right hands on time, in the right class and within your budget.
We have dedicated mailing experts ready to walk you through all your options. Whether you’re a mailing neophyte, or a grizzled direct mail veteran, we will make your mailing project painless and compliant with postal regulations. We can help you build your mailing lists, check against the National Change of Address (NCOA) registry, schedule and even mail your final pieces for you.
Need help with your print? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978, or read about our Direct Mail Service Options to learn more. Let’s get started today.