We all like to save money. Most of us like saving our bosses money even more. That’s nothing new. But you may not realize that you can find simple ways to lower your company’s mailing and shipping costs without compromising the frequency, volume, or quality of your business communications. Follow these tips, and you’ll be a marketing hero. It’s easy once you know where to look.

Keep your mailing lists up to date.  People move, companies go out of business, data entry mistakes are made. It happens every day. But savvy business mailers use postal endorsements, correct their address lists, and update addresses from returned mail to ensure that messages get delivered to the right places every time.

Follow the U.S. Postal Service guidelines for mailpiece design.  The size, shape and weight of your mailpiece can have a huge impact on the postage cost for your direct mail or fulfillment project. See our articles on postcard design, letter design, and flat mail design for cost-saving ideas and examples.

Use free shipping boxes and envelopes provided by UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).  Free boxes, envelopes and even tubes are available in many shapes and sizes for express UPS or FedEx shipments and for USPS Priority Mail shipments.  You can order UPS supplies, FedEx supplies, and Priority Mail supplies online.

Use flat rate Priority Mail envelopes and boxes.  If you have determined that Priority Mail is a good option for your project, check out the USPS’s free flat rate envelopes and boxes.  Each size box has a set price no matter how much you stuff into it and where it is going in the U.S.

Use standard mail instead of first-class mail for large non-custom mailings.  If everyone on your mailing list is getting the same information and you can accept a few extra days in the delivery date window, you can save a lot on postage by sending it standard mail.  We’ve found that standard mail works best for a mailing of at least 1500 pieces; this ensures the postage savings more than offset the extra cost of presorting the mail.

Compare shipping methods to find the most cost-effective solution for your project.  It pays to spend time exploring your mailing options. We helped a customer determine that for a yearlong job of shipping products to a limited residential area, USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation, plus a free priority mail shipping box, was the lowest cost solution. Better yet, this method still got the materials there the next day!

Negotiate shipping discounts with FedEx and UPS.  The major shipping services are always looking for business and will offer volume discounts based on shipping history or expected shipping volumes. You may not know how much you can save until you ask.

Send newsletters and similar marketing communications by email.  No postage or printing required!  Direct mail still has a higher open rate than email, so you probably don’t want to stop mailing entirely–but you can add targeted email communications to your mix for a relatively low cost.  Don’t forget to keep your email lists up to date.

Plan ahead. Easy to say, sometimes hard to do.  But if you design mailpieces to fit within standard size guidelines and build time into the production schedule to allow for non-expedited shipping, you can save a surprising amount of money on shipping and still reach your target audience on time.

Call DataWorks! DataWorks project managers review every mailing and fulfillment project for opportunities to increase efficiency and save money.  We are dedicated to helping companies in the Lehigh Valley of eastern PA, and beyond, get the most for their mailing and fulfillment dollars. Please contact DataWorks mailing services for more information.

Tags: Direct Mail, Lehigh Valley, Mail Service Providers, Mailing cost, Mailing List Management, Shipping Costs