My Truth about EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)

Every Door Direct Mail

If you have any questions about EDDM, ask in the comments and I will try to get you an answer. No obligation, I will just try to help you.

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The postal service is pushing a “not so new” but improved feature called EDDM Every Door Direct Mail.

A simple explanation is that you can mail a “Flat”  (determined by size) mail piece, saturating an area to as many full carrier routes as you like (up to 5000 pcs per day) without having specific addresses and without buying a postal permit.

Saturation mail has been around for a long time but they have made it easier to use.  This should be a good thing.

*** 10  Observations about EDDM *** (these are just my opinions)

1.  The postage price was not reduced for this new program,  but the process was made easier for the customer.  Is that enough to grab their attention?  Time will tell.

2.  It is limited to flats.  In my opinion if the USPS was serious, they would have opened this to standard mail also.

3.  My customers are reluctant to jump on board because of the extra printing costs involved in printing flats.

4.  In tough economic times, my customers are looking for the cheapest possible way to mail, period!  EDDM is not the cheapest, it is just the easiest.

5.  This was a huge blow to the list broker business.  Before customers had to purchase a list, now the post office is offering this mailing with no addresses at all.

6. In my opinion the USPS should do national television advertising.   Get the word out far and wide.  Having their employees try to sell this to small business, is just not efficient. UPDATE ask and you shall receive (click here)

7.  They have limited the number of EDDM (retail) pieces to 5000 per day.   That seems counter productive.  Wouldn’t it be better to pave the way for customers to bring in as much mail in one day as possible?

8.  This program is not open to non-profits.  This doesn’t make sense to me.  Since they didn’t reduce postage costs, why exclude non-profit?

9.  You have to apply for a mailer ID to take advantage of this program.  Although it’s not that difficult, it is mandatory.

10.  The mail must be presented to the post office serving the area you are mailing to.  You can only drop ship if you are using the EDDM BMEU not the EDDM Retail.

Added:

11. There has been some confusion as to whether you can mail an envelope EDDM or not.  Yes you can as long as it meets the size requirements for EDDM.

12.  You must have the permit and the delivery information on the mail piece.  The post office does not do this for you!

If you would like more information or just want to ask a question, contact us (here).

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  I grew up in a house with one bathroom and one telephone.

Advertisement

Sometimes EDDM is not the best choice

I recently had a customer that was considering enlarging their envelope to qualify for EDDM.  The quantity was approx 50,000 pieces covering 6-7 different zip codes going to eastern US states. Click here for EDDM quick reference.

Why I believe this was not the best idea.

1.  Additional cost for larger custom envelope

2.  Additional printing to add City, State and Zip to each group on each magazine

3.  Shipping 50,000 pieces to each local post office.

Leaving the mailing in a #10 envelope but mailing it as a regular saturation mailing was more cost-effective.

Sometimes EDDM is a good idea and sometimes it is not.  Ask your local USPS bulk mail representative or a reputable mailing service.

Have a Flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

www.mybulkmail.com

Random me: Creating three new Flanagin Fairy costumes for the 2013 Popcorn Parade.

Response rates

Some day tailoring? Oops!

Direct Mail

There is still no better way than direct mail to guarantee that your offers will reach the hands of prospective customers.

But your response rates can be affected by many factors:

• your offer
• design appeal
• the weather (blizzards for instance)
• competition
• local economic factors
• conflicting events
• your reputation
• supply and demand
• even customer preference

Years ago I did a mailing for a customer that was delivered on time but a blizzard arrived on the day of the event.  It happens. 

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service (click here)

Random me:  I love a bargain.

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EDDM vs SATURATION MAILING

Postcards purchased on the internet all stuck together like a brick.

Every Door Direct Mail vs Saturation mailing.  Which one is a better fit for you?  (postage pricing as of 6/4/12)

EDDM RETAIL  vs  EDDM BMEU (Saturation)

• Retail = No permit purchase required
• BMEU  = Permit purchase required     
•                                     
• Retail    = 5000 pieces per day limit
• BMEU = No daily limit
• Retail    = Must be dropped at each zip code P.O.                               
• BMEU = No drop required
• Retail    = Mail piece must measure as a flat
• BMEU = Any size
• Retail = No address required
• BMEU  = Address and/or simplified address required
• Retail    = No non-profit postage rates
• BMEU = Non-Profit postage rates apply
• Retail    = Lowest postage available 14.5 cents
• BMEU = Lowest postage available 6.8 cents
•  
• Retail = DIY
• BMEU  = may require a service

I hope you find this helpful and if  you have any questions, leave a comment.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service (click here)

Random me:  No more up road rage, I now feel sorry for them.

EDDM and Non-Profit

Ring Bell for Service

EDDM (every door direct mail) currently does not allow for non-profit postage rates.

If you are non-profit and want to saturate an area with direct mail, contact a bulk mail service. 

They can help you achieve the same affect as EDDM with non-profit rates.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service (click here)

Random me:  Random acts of kindness make me happy.

EDDM 101

Another Random Act of Kindness

A stranger called me last week from Arizona and needed help understanding EDDM (Every door direct mail). 

Found me on the internet. 

Even though he will probably never be my customer, I still really enjoyed helping him. 

Why would I take time in my busy day to help a total stranger? 

Easy….random act of kindness.

Need help with EDDM or any other bulk mail service questions?  Leave a comment.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service (click here)

Random me: No longer dread Mondays, now I embrace them.

RECENT LETTER TO MY BANK….on how they can save money.

 

Look familiar?

The following is a letter I recently sent to my bank.  Let’s see if they are interested in saving money?

Dear Dan:

     I am not soliciting business, I am just passing useful information. Because mailing is what I do for a living, I thought I would pass on this suggestion.

      There is a way for the bank to save money on their monthly statement mailings.  If you fold your statements into a 6 x 9 envelope instead of the 9 x 12 you can mail 2 ounces now for 42.4 cents. The second ounce is FREE.   You are now paying 93.2 cents.  That is a 50.8 cent savings on every statement that is 2 ounces or under.  By my mailing experience, I would guess that is the majority of your mailing.  Yes, you do have to fold the statements but I think that might be worth far less than 50 cents to you.

       This is something new that just started on January 22 of this year.  The post office included the 2^nd oz for FREE on standard size mail if you’re using first class presort and you are!

      Also the cost of a 6 x 9 envelope will be cheaper than the cost of the 9 x 12 so you will save again.  This reduced postage is not available on a 9 x 12 size.

         If you have any questions, just call. 

 Warm Regards,

 Donna Flanagin (click here to go to my website) (click here to go to EDDM blog)

It’s official

Can you read this?

It’s official, receive a 3% postage discount when you apply a QR Code to your direct mail during July and August 2011.

Every little bit helps.

We can help you.

Prepare in advance.

Get the facts here. http://delivermagazine.com/mobilebarcodepromotion/

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  Tell me a secret, I will keep it.

QR Code – Saving postage?

QR Code (quick response)

Have you seen those new QR Codes (quick response)?

Are you curious what all the hype is about?

Keeping it simple, it is a code that is read by a mobile smart phone with the appropriate App and it will lead you directly to a companies ad, website, coupon, etc.

The USPS is proposing a 3% postage discount to all bulk mail (standard and first class) that displays the new QR Barcode (quick response) during the month of July and August 2011 (click here) for FAQ.

If you would like to do some direct mail in July or August and would like to incorporate the QR Code, contact us, we can help.

There are many different Apps that can read these codes.  I personally downloaded QuickMark. If  you have a smart phone and an App, read the above code and see where it leads you.

If you have an QR Code reader app that you really like, let me know in the comments.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  I learn something new every day as long as I am paying attention!

Listen Up Non-Profits

Keeping it simple……

I had a non-profit customer today make the decision not to apply for non-profit status at the post office because she said they don’t mail often enough.

My suggestion to her was to apply anyway, it’s FREE.  IF YOU DIRECT MAIL, YOU SHOULD APPLY.

There is only a cost if you want your own permit, if you use a mail service you do not need your own permit.

Authorization number and permit number are two different things.

There is a lot of money to be saved in postage if you can qualify with the USPS as a non-profit organization.

I’m making it easy, link to application (Click Here)

Your authorization number can be used anywhere in the U.S. regardless of where you apply.

You must mail 200 pieces or 50 pounds of bulk mail per mailing.

No, you do not have to mail to only one zip code, you can mix it up any way you want.

You must mail at least once every 2 years to keep your authorization active.

You may not lend your authorization to another organization.

More questions? Contact me.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  I have a horrible singing voice and that makes me sad.  I would love to be able to sing (beautifully).