Plan Ahead to Save BIG in 2017 with the U.S. Postal Service
Are you ready for marketing in 2017? If you’re like most of us, you haven’t even thought about it. You are in luck! The USPS just introduced their discounted 2017 promotions – the perfect place to start. Since 2011, the USPS has offered discounted promotions which focus on exposing marketers to new engagement strategies using direct mail at a 2-5% postal price break for standard and first class options. The postal service, against popular belief, is incredibly innovative and forward-thinking offering promotions that encourage the use of dynamic color, new print techniques, mobile technology, social media, and a starter program that incentivizes small businesses to give direct mail a try. It’s like the USPS is paying you to try something new which will probably result in better results – when does that ever happen? Pretty sweet, right?
Let’s get right down to nuts and bolts – the promotions start January 2017 and are offered all year, view this calendar for exact dates and timing. Each of the six promotions does have required parameters to receive the discount. Check out the quick and dirty checklists below to decide which promotions are the best fit for your 2017 goals. To simplify the process further, engage an experienced mail firm to guide the planning process and guarantee the greatest cost savings.
Personalized Color Transpromo – Promotion intended to incorporate marketing messages highlighted through the use of color, dynamic variable print and personalization techniques.
overarm Promotion Specs: Add value to the production of bills and statements by adding color print technology in the form of marketing messages such as loyalty offers, cross/upsell, or color personalization within the piece. Must use CMYK color printing methods.
Discount: 2% of postage
Register by: May 15 – December 31, 2017
DIRECT MAIL GETS SOCIAL
Emerging & Advanced Technology – Promotion encourages integration of direct mail with advances in technology allowing the recipient to engage in an interactive experience using the mailpiece and mobile devices, tablets, etc.
Promotion Specs: Integrate direct mail with other popular customer engagement methods for greater response success. Technologies to incorporate can include Near Field Communication (NFC), “Enhanced” Augmented Reality, Video in Print (ViP), Beacon technology, Virtual Reality, Digital to Direct Mail and many other developing technical advances.
Discount: 2% of postage
Register by: January 15 – August 31, 2017
DON’T FORGET, THREE DOG NOW OFFERS SPACE & STAFF FOR THESE HIGH-TOUCH INTENSE PROJECTS
Tactile, Sensory & Integrative Mailpiece Engagement – Promotion leverages the latest technological advances to encourage sensory engagement with a mailpiece. Multi-sensory experiences include special visual effects, sound, scent, texture/tactile treatments, and even taste!
Promotion Specs: Encourages marketers to adopt advanced techniques on mailpieces to enhance how consumers interact and engage with mail. The three featured categories include specialty inks, specialty paper, and interactive elements.
Discount: 2% of postage
Register by: December 15, 2016 – July 31, 2017
DIRECT MAIL GETS CONNECTED! IDEAL FOR HOLIDAY SALES AND YEAR-END PUSH!
Mobile Shopping – Promotion encourages integration of mobile technology with direct mail to create a convenient method for consumers to do their shopping.
Promotion Specs: The mailpiece must include a mobile barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device and leads the recipient to a mobile-optimized shopping website with the ability to complete a financial transaction. The recipient must be able to purchase an advertised product from the website.
Discount: 2% of postage
Register by: June 15 – December 31, 2017
WAKE UP YOUR PRINT CUSTOMERS & GET THEM TO TRY DIRECT MAIL
Direct Mail Starter Program for Small Businesses – Offered to first-time mailers to decrease the cost and complexity of direct mail and put innovative techniques within reach of small to medium companies.
Promotion Specs: Any mail piece that contains print-mobile technology, 10,000 piece maximum.
Discount: 5% of postage
Register by: March 15 – July 31, 2017
FETCH YOUR RESPONSE! THREE DOG CAN PROVIDE VISIBILITY FROM DOCK TO DELIVERY WITH OBBAgistics!
Earned Value Reply Mail – Encourage use of Business Reply Mail (BRM), Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM), and Share Mail which are returned into the mailstream. Encourage use of Intelligent Mail® barcodes on reply devices for immediate tracking potential.
Promotion Specs: Offered to current users of Business Reply Mail (BRM), Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM), and Share Mail enclosures as long as the Intelligent Mail barcode with registered Mailer ID is encoded on each reply device.
Discount: $.05 future credit per piece applied to permit account
Register by: November 15 -December 31, 2016
Ready to give one of these a try in 2017? At Three Dog Logistics, our consultants will help develop a plan that delivers your parcel at the lowest cost and fastest delivery speed possible. Remember, we take the bite out of postage and freight. Visit www.threedoglogistics.com or call 410-284-5494 extension 220 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.
