21 Ways to save money on your mail - now that postage is at its highest!
Design your packages to fall into the lowest rate: 120mm x 235mm x 5mm thick. You will save postage on each package.
Design your mailing package for mechanical inserting: This will save labour costs and tie-in with standard sizes of the Post Office.
Take your current postal discount on all mail in excess of 100 pieces. It must all be the same size, face same way, and bundled in 100's. You're entitled to this discount even when you affix stamps; or imprint Postage Paid on your envelopes; or when you use your franking machine to imprint postage.
Take your current pre-sorted discount on all mail in excess of 1000 pieces. All must be same size, face same way, he bundled in 100's. All postcodes must be accurate and in strict sequence; and bagged according to post office regulations.
Post less, not more. Mail your best prospects. Don't mail to suspects. Correct targeting will counteract high costs.
Use lighter weight papers to come in under the maximum restrictions and save that extra postage per package.
Consider using plastic, for applications larger than the standard sizes, instead of paper envelopes.
Remove duplicates from your list. Every duplicate deleted saves you the cost of, and postage on, each mail package.
Urge 'mail junkies'- to notify you to delete their names from your mailing list. Every single "junkie" deleted saves you money!
Remove nixies from your list. Don't waste another cent on them. Unless they are valuable customers - who may have forgotten to notify you of a change of address.
Remove competitors from business lists. Why spend money mailing to them?
Mail within your active area of trading especially if it is too costly for you to service people or companies in outlying areas.
Test small before mailing big. This way you can make small, affordable mistakes. Not big disastrous ones.
Use the power of a creative personal letter. In most cases it will out-pull a creative brochure. However, it will increase results when mailed with a brochure. If you can't afford both, use the letter.
Increase your list of prospects. Decrease your list of suspects.
Every promotion must have a good proposition and a good offer. Understand the difference between an offer and a proposition.
A good offer will increase results of a good proposition. "Insurance for the over 50's" is a proposition; "You only pay a few Rands for this..." is an offer.
Do a full analysis after each promotional campaign to get comparative and cumulative statistics of results. This will enable you to spot trends, recognise marketing patterns and to zero in on the most profitable segments of the mailing list(s).
Business-to-business mailers could well go without Business Reply Envelopes (BRE's). Experience indicates most companies will respond to your offer without using your BRE's. They use their own envelopes. In any event, encourage response by fax.
Fundraisers should not go without BRE's unless careful testing proves you can save more than you lose in donations. What you should test additionally is to ask donors to affix their own postage to your addressed envelopes.
Mailroom professionals. Ensure that you use a mailroom that is dedicated to provide superior quality service, control, advice and guidance. Who is reliable, have up to date equipment and highly trained, skilled and efficient staff. Who is price competitive, fast turnaround and will save you money.
Note: Please check the latest rates and information on the Post Office’s website.)
