Smart Design Decisions Can Save $$$

The decisions you make when you begin to think about preparing pieces for any direct mailing are the most important ones.

The choices you make regarding the design of your 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, 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 at our Internet address: info@oaktreemarketing.com