Mailing Service Continued…

Direct Mail Campaigns

Direct mail campaigns are targeted mass mailings that enable businesses to reach a broad audience of prospective customers with relative ease. You can develop a direct mail campaign for attracting new customers or maintaining existing relationships.

Preparing a direct mail campaign involves designing a mail format—postcard, letter, or brochure—and sending it to a mailing list of likely responders; mailing lists can be built from your current customer base or purchased from a broker. The United States Postal Service allows you to send direct mailings by affixing stamps, printing online postage, or printing metered rates onto your mailpiece.

Retail Mailing Services

Retail mailing services allow you to send and drop off any quantity of mail according to standard postal rates and specifications. No additional preparation or prerequisites need be met. USPS offers a variety of retail mailing services: First-Class, Priority, Express, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Matter. Extra services may also be purchased, from certified mail to registered mail to insured mail. No annual fees are assessed for businesses using retail mailing services.

Discount Mailing Services

Also referred to as bulk mailing, discount mailing services are offerred by USPS. USPS offers lower postage rates to companies who mail in volume, and who fulfill certain requirements. In order to qualify for discount mailing services, you must have a minimum mailpiece quantity, pay an annual fee, and perform a portion of the processing work that USPS ordinarily assumes. Such tasks might include sorting your mail by carrier route, adding a barcode, or delivering mailpieces directly to your local post office. Discount mailing postage may be paid by metered postage, permit imprint, precanceled stamps, or PC postage technology.

Online Mailing Services

Using online mailing services, you can upload an address list, design your mailpiece, and print as well as deliver mailpieces within 1 to 2 business days. Although First Class and Standard postage rates are available, total price vary according to the printing and delivery options selected.

Electronic Mail

Written correspondences need no longer be transmitted by post alone. Electronic mail, or email, now allows people to compose, send, and receive communications via the Internet. Companies can signup for a number of free and paid web-based mail services. Many major search engine providers offer free web-based mail. It is also possible to host your own electronic mail server.

By Natalie Ho