USPS: 2012 New Stamps!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Design, Mail, Marketing, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on March 15, 2012
2012 USPS New Issue Stamps
Every year I watch and wait for the USPS to announce its annual new issue stamps. A visually stunning stamp can attract a customer’s attention to your mailpiece for the cost of, well, a stamp!
Stamp products can come in booklets, panes and coils in various quantities and denominations. Most First Class mail 1-ounce stamps are “Forever” but there are still other denominated stamps available.
Some of the new issues this year include Spectrum Eagle, Wedding Cake, Weathervanes, Dogs at Work and the next in the popular Love series.
You can find the 2012 New Issues here: http://www.stampnewsnow.com/uspsnewissues.html
Business mailers can sign up with the Postal Services Stamps Now program to cover all their stamp needs. For information, call 1-800-STAMP-24 (1-800-782-6724) or 816-545-1282 or email at stampsnow.info@usps.gov
The Stamp Services Fulfillment Center in Kansas City is a terrific resource for obtaining these and other stamps all year round.
Try using an eye catching stamp on your next mailpiece. They’re not only beautifully designed and crafted, but fun for your recipients.
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EDDM: Let’s Get Started & Save!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Database Management, Getting Started, Mail, Mailing Lists, Marketing, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on March 8, 2012
Get Started with Every Door Direct Mail
How much do you know about the USPS program Every Door Direct Mail?
How much can you save your customer? How can you control your marketing budget with EDDM? As a customer what are you potential savings?
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) gives you the ability to target a local neighborhood or to reach customers/prospects nationwide. The Simplified Mailing Process helps you identify which USPS mail routes to include in your targeted mailing area. There is a super cool, intuitive EDDM application available online to get you started.
You can access the online tool and get more information here: https://www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm
Who can benefit from EDDM?
- Retailers
- Auto dealerships
- Arts organizations
- Restaurants
- Business services
- Attorneys
- Doctors
- Dry cleaners
- Contractors
- Realtors
The list could go on and on. If you want to reach a local, or even national, audience EDDM provides an easy, cost effective marketing channel.
Some things to keep in mind when planning your mailing:
- Mailpieces must meet Standard flats specifications
- Minimum length 11 ½” OR
- Minimum height 6 1/8”
- Weight equal to or less than 3.3 ounces
- Must contain at least 200 pieces (with a maximum per day of 5,000 pieces for the EDDM Retail option, but unlimited for the EDDM BMEU option)
The USPS is hosting a series of FREE business seminars designed to help you gain a greater understanding of this new service and how it can support your marketing plan.
I suggest reaching out to your local Postal Customer Council to find where and when the next seminar will take place in your area. You can search for your local PCC chapter here: https://www.usps.com/business/local-pcc.htm
The Postal Customer Council is a terrific resource and I hope if you’re mailing, you are taking advantage of all the experience and expertise they can offer.
How do you see yourself using this new Postal Service program Every Door Direct Mail? We would love to hear your ideas and success stories!
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USPS: All Systems At Work
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Database Management, Design, Getting Started, IMB, Mail, Mailing Lists, Marketing, Presort, Thursday Blogs!, USPS, Videos on March 1, 2012
United States Postal Service: All Systems At Work
I would be willing to wager that most people have never had the opportunity to tour a USPS mail processing facility. In that case, most people do not have a clear picture of exactly what happens to your mail before it hits your mailbox.
The Postal Museum of the Smithsonian Institute has produced a great little video showing all the processes involved in getting your mail from the sender into your mailbox. It’s fascinating if you’ve never experienced it before. (The link is below)
At Strahm Automation, we are what is referred to as a workshare partner with the Postal Service. We do several of the necessary steps for the USPS before they even see the mailpiece.
Strahm is primarily a print-to-mail company, which means that we “make” mail. We do all the required data processing, printing, folding, inserting and presorting of the mail. The USPS then picks up this outgoing mail from our dock. Because we’ve done the presorting, there is less work for the USPS sorting facility to do in order to get this into your mailbox.
As people around the city learned of our presorting capabilities, and the postage discounts that could be gained from presorting their mail, they requested that Strahm pick up their mail, and for a small fee, process it and send it on to the Postal Service.
I hope you will take the time to watch the video. And while you’re on the Postal Museum website, noodle around a bit – they have all kinds of interesting facts, photos and whatnot related to the Postal Service.
Enjoy!
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/systemsatwork/exhibit.html
As an added bonus – below is a link to one man’s hilarious story of how little he knew about mail!
http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/i-dont-know-how-mail-works/
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UPDATE: 2012 USPS Mobile Barcode Promo
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Design, IMB, Mail, QR Codes, URLs/PURLs, USPS on February 23, 2012
2012 USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion
Again this year the USPS will be promoting the use of two-dimensional barcodes, integrating your mailpiece with mobile technology.
The program stipulations are quite different from the promotion run in 2011. In 2012 the 2d barcode (or QR barcode as it is commonly known) must drive a recipient to one of two scenarios:
Barcode drives recipient to a personalized website (PURL)
- Web address must be unique for each recipient (www.strahm/kimberly@strahm.com)
- Content of personalized web page must be unique to each recipient
- Content could be based on data such as previous purchases, age, location or other demographic data
This means that you can’t simply have the barcode drive the recipient to an informational or general marketing webpage, even if it includes an offer. You must create an individual, personalized landing page for each recipient.
Or
Barcode drives recipient to make mobile purchase
- Product or service advertised in mailpiece must be available for purchase through recipient’s mobile device
- Webpage must include “shopping cart” feature to complete the purchase of the product or service.
- E-bill payment or scheduled payments (weekly, monthly, etc) are not eligible.
The program period runs July 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012. Registration begins May 1.
Eligible mail classes are presort and automation First Class letters/flats/postcards, Standard mail letters and flats, and Nonprofit Standard mail letters and flats. Automation mailpieces must contain an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb).
The discount for this Mobile Barcode promotion is 2% of the eligible postage. The discount is calculated and applied at the time of mailing. The discount must be indicated at the time of mailing, discounts will not be rebated. You must be registered prior to mailing; registration will be found on the USPS Business Customer Gateway.
A hard copy sample of the mailpiece, showing placement of the mobile barcode, should be presented to the USPS acceptance clerk. Each mailpiece within a mailing must contain a mobile barcode, either on the outside of the mailpiece or within the envelope. The mailpiece must also show text near the barcode instructing the recipient to scan the barcode.
A 2% postage savings can be significant. Make sure you understand and follow all the rules and regulations for this promotion. If you have questions or need guidance to ensure your mailpiece qualifies, speak with your print/mail vendor and/or your local USPS representative.
Number 1 in Postal Services: USPS!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Mail, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on February 16, 2012
USPS Ranked #1 in Postal Services
The Oxford Strategic Consulting (OSC) firm named the U.S. Postal Service as the best within the world’s largest 20 economies. Under consideration were measurements such as public confidence in the service, number of mailpieces delivered, reliability and number of people served. Data was collected over a three year period.
This may be surprising to some of you given the recent troubles of the USPS, but they beat out such postal services as Japan Post, Australia Post, Korea Post and Deutsche Post.
The report determined that the USPS delivers almost twice as many letters per employee as its closest competitor and more than 5 times as many as fifth place Deutsche Post.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a statement “We’re proud to lead the world in postal services and we will continue to deliver superior performance for generations. Our best days are ahead of us. I have no doubt the Postal Service will overcome its current financial challenges and endure as the world’s leading service.”
The USPS delivers to more than 150 million addresses, or approximately 40% of the world’s mail. And despite the growth of e-commerce, remains a viable source of fast, accurate deliverability.
What is your Move Update policy?
Posted by strahmautomation in Database Management, Mail, Mailing Lists, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on February 9, 2012
What is your Move Update policy? Is it current? Is it documented? The lack of effective Move Update policies and procedures can be very costly.
In the news yesterday, it was reported that a nationally known company settled an allegation that they had not been meeting USPS Move Update standards. The settlement was reported to be $1.5 million.
If you are claiming postage discounts, it is mandatory that your mailing list be Move Update compliant. This means you must update your list within 95 days of your mailing. There are several methods available to vet your list to meet Move Update standards.
National Change of Address (NCOA) processing
The NCOA database is licensed by the USPS to a limited number of processing services, so there is no software you can buy to handle the process internally. The service usually adds very little to your processing costs and typically your mail house can provide the service to you.
You can request from the NCOA list processor a report showing all of the corrected address as well as any addresses that have changed but not filed a COA. You must use the corrected addresses – don’t just say “hey I had NCOA run and here’s my documentation”. And don’t neglect to update your database!
The good news is that because this process occurs prior to mailing, you save can money on both printing and postage.
Current Resident/Current Occupant
This is the least expensive Move Update method. Simply adding “Or Current Resident”, “Or Current Occupant” or “Occupant” to your mailing address instructs the USPS to deliver to the address and ignore the name on the mail piece. You can choose to eliminate the name entirely or add “Current Resident” on the same line or beneath the name line.
If you are mailing First Class, be aware that by using this method, USPS will not forward the mail or return to you if the person or business has moved. Your mail is delivered to the designated address, period, and you will not be able to update your address list.
Address Correction Services
Several USPS address correction options can be used to meet Move Update requirements. They include “Return Service Requested”, “Change Service Requested”, and “Address Service Requested”. There are different costs and requirements for each service. For more information regarding these services visit https://www.usps.com/business/move-update.htm
Don’t be blindsided by a fine. Ask your mail house for assistance and keep your database clean!
If you need more information regarding Move Update standards, please feel free to reach out to one of Strahm’s qualified Customer Service Representatives. They can be reached at (816) 756-2733 or by email at custserv@strahm.com.
USPS Update: Repeat QR Code Promotion!!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Mail, QR Codes, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on February 2, 2012
USPS to Repeat QR Code Promotion
On February 8, 2012 the USPS will be submitting to the Board of Governors a request to repeat last summer’s QR Barcode promotion.
We expect this year’s promotion to be slightly different. The changes are based on best practices gleaned from the promotion launched in the summer of 2010.
Last year, mailers received a 3% postage discount on First Class and Standard cards, letters and flats by including a 2 dimensional Quick Response (QR) barcode. The Postal Service’s goal was to engage more customers with their mail by tying interactive marketing with a customer’s mailpiece. Ultimately, mailers would see a higher return on investment.
QR Barcodes allow a marketer to link the physical mailpiece to smart phone technology. The marketer creates a QR code, which when scanned by a person’s smart phone, drives the consumer to online content, special offers or promotions.
There are several free QR code generators available on the internet. One we particularly like is http://qrcode.kaywa.com.
A consumer needs to have a QR Barcode reader on their smart phone in order to scan the code. These, too, are available on the internet for free. With the ever growing popularity of QR Barcodes, more and more people are downloading these free readers to access online content.
Mailers will display the QR Barcode either on the outside or within all mailpieces in a mailing. Again this year, we expect that the barcode must be used to “market, promote or educate” recipients.
As details are released, we will continue to update our blog community.
Once again, this is showing the Postal Service’s commitment to direct mail working in tangent with digital marketing. The online world will continue to grow. Mail can and should be a part of a marketer’s communication tool kit.
New USPS 2nd Ounce Free Pricing!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Design, Mail, Paper, Thursday Blogs!, Uncategorized, USPS on January 26, 2012
New 2nd Ounce Free Pricing For First Class, Automation, Presort Letters!
By now you’ve had a chance to review the new postage rates effective January 22, 2012. If not, you can find the official USPS rate charts here: http://www.strahm.com/USPSrates.html
Of interest is the new 2nd Ounce Free pricing for First Class, automation, presort letters.
This allows you to mail up to 2 ounces at the 1 ounce postage rate.
|
Automation |
Machinable |
Nonmachinable | ||||
|
Weight Not Over (ounces) |
5-Digit |
3-Digit |
AADC |
Mixed AADC |
Presorted |
Presorted |
|
1 |
0.350 |
0.374 |
0.374 |
0.404 |
0.424 |
0.624 |
|
2 |
0.350 |
0.374 |
0.374 |
0.404 |
0.424 |
0.624 |
This is a big “yippee” for commercial mailers, and specifically for those mailing bills and statements (transaction mail).
Transaction mail is typically high value, with an approximate 95% open rate. Using 2nd Ounce Free pricing, mailers can include special offers, separate marketing messages, announcements and notifications at no additional cost, up to 2 ounces. The opportunities to use transpromo marketing are nearly endless – surveys, response devices, promotional offers.
This is not a limited time offer from the USPS. It is only available for First Class, automation, presort letters. If you are using the services of a mail co-mingler, you should be taking advantage of this 2nd Ounce Free pricing. Ask your vendor for details.
Go ahead – use that nice coated (heavy) paper stock! Add a fancy insert to upsell your customers and prospects! Include a survey to measure how you’re doing in your customers’ eyes!
We Have Answers… Mail Answers!!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Getting Started, Mail, USPS on January 19, 2012
Quiz Answers Have Arrived!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our first quiz last week. We were excited to see the number of responses we got and
we appreciate the time you took to play along. Your personalized calendars will be sent to you this week.
The answers to the quiz are below. But first I want to say a couple of things about the Postal Service.
There has been a lot of talk lately about the Postal Service and its current state. Why is its deficit so great? Should it be privatized? But never forget, the United States Postal Service has a rich history and to this day provides great value for its services.
Every person in the United States, no matter who, no matter where, has equal access to mail service. The USPS continues to be the only carrier that will deliver to any and all addresses – and they do it 6 days a week.
It costs no more to send a letter across the country, or to remote locations requiring access by mule (!), than it does to send a letter across town. And compared to other countries, the cost of a First Class stamp is one of the lowest.
The service standard for First Class mail is 1 – 3 days, and Standard Rate mail is 3 – 10 days. And you can get all of this service for a mere $0.45 for a one ounce letter (price effective January 22, 2102).
I urge you to take the time to wander through some amazing facts, figures and history of the Postal Service.
http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/welcome.htm
And now on to the quiz answers!
- The Postal Service is: d. All of the above
- Which is not a method used to move mail by the Postal Service? c. Bow and Arrow
- The first Postmaster General of the Post Office was: c. Benjamin Franklin
- Which one of the following is not an approved Move Update endorsement? d. Forwarding Service Requested
- For automation rates on First Class Mail, addresses must be updated within _______ days prior to the mailing? c. 95 days
- Which of the following is not a “best practice” when addressing a mailpiece? c. Right-justify every line in the address block
- Flat-size mailpieces, regardless of class of mail, must be rectangular in shape, uniform in thickness and flexible. a. True
- When designing a mailpiece, who would be a good resource for obtaining instructions to design automation compatible mailpieces? b. Mailpiece Design Analyst
- Mail service providers can help you: f. All of the above
Is Your Mailing Knowledge Up To Par? Test It Here!!
Posted by strahmautomation in Connecting, Design, Mail, Thursday Blogs!, USPS on January 12, 2012
Test Your Mailing Knowledge
Today’s blog post is all about increasing and measuring your mailing knowledge. There are 9 questions in the quiz and the answers to each can be found in our past blogs.
If you take the quiz before Thursday, January 19th, you will receive a FREE PERSONALIZED 2012 CALENDAR!
Answers will be published in next Thursday’s blog, so don’t forget to check back to see how you did.
Simply follow the link provided below, answer 9 simple questions and we will mail you a calendar.
http://www.strahm.com/BlogQuizTYMK-site/landing.aspx?rid=$1
Good luck!
