Smart
Design Decisions Can Save $$$
The decisions you make when you
begin to think about preparing pieces for any direct mail project are
the most important ones.
The choices you make regarding the
design of your direct mailing piece, how it is folded, or what type
envelope it will be mailed in may cost or save you thousands of
dollars on postage and mail handling costs. This report will walk
you through some of the choices you have in design, and explain
which design options will save you on postal costs.
Choose Your
Envelopes Wisely
Whenever possible, fold your
material to fit into a 6 x 9" or smaller envelope. Postage for a
flat size envelope is double that of a letter size envelope. Be
sure to choose a booklet style envelope over an open end
envelope. A booklet style envelope has the opening on the top
edge. Not only is it easier to stuff, it can be sealed and
metered all in one step.
Postcards
Pay attention to how you design
your postcard mailings. If you are mailing a postcard that is no
larger than 4-1/4 inches high by 6 inches long, it may be cheaper
to mail it at first class postcard rate than third class basic
bulk (Standard A). When designing this type of card, do not put
your bulk indicia on it. Your mail house can meter the appropriate
postage.
If you are mailing a larger
postcard be careful how you orient your mailing area. By making
the long edge on the bottom, the piece qualifies for letter rates.
Turn the piece 90 degrees and you will pay a higher postage rate.
Leave Room For The
Barcode
Always leave the lower right
portion of any self mailer or envelope clear of any printing. This
is where the post office sprays the barcodes. When it receives
material with printing in this area, it affixes a white pressure
sensitive strip over the printing in order to spray the barcode on
an unprinted surface. Any wording or design you may have in this
area will be covered up.
Proper Folding Can
Save You Money
Whenever possible, have your common
edge on the bottom of the mailing piece. The loose flaps should be
at the top. There are two reasons for this. First, all mail
travels through automated machinery (on the bottom of the piece)
at the post office. It slides through machines on that apply the
zip+4 and Barcode on the bottom edge of the piece at incredibly
high rates. If the bottom edge is one fold, with no loose edges,
the piece will move through the machinery smoothly and will not
rip or tear.
Second, when the open end of a self
mailer is on the top, we can tab to comply with automated
requirements and label all in one step. An opening on the bottom,
however, requires two tabs and an extra pass through most
machinery.
We Want To Help
Oak Tree Marketing wants to help
you save as much money as you can with your next direct mail or
bulk mailing project, both with our charges and with
postal costs. We encourage our clients to let us see their mailing
when it is in the design stage, so we can offer suggestions.
If you would like to sit down and
talk about how to design direct mail to achieve your lowest
mailing and postal costs, please give us a call at (610) 889-0930.
Our fax number is (610)296-7826. We can also be reached via email
at
info@oaktreemarketing.com.
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