November 18, 2012
USPS Changes for FSM (Folded Self-Mailers)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) published final regulations for folded self-mailers. These new rules will take effect January 5, 2013, so Ad-Mail is being pro-active in informing our clients about this change. In many cases the mail-piece design will be affected as well as the choice of paper stock. We feel it is best to speak with you directly about the changes, so feel free to call us or email (Susi and Kathy, pictured) or Frank or Bill or Braxton at 503-223-1101. We also have attached here, for your review, a link to USPS document on new rules for FSM.
https://ribbs.usps.gov/fsm/documents/tech_guides/FSMReference.pdf
March 1, 2012
Movin’ Your Mail
DIRECT MAIL WORKS……..and seeing our truck making the daily rounds from our production mail-shop to the post office…..not missing a beat since 1914…..tells a story about consistently good service and a communication medium that works!
January 17, 2011
Success with Annual Appeals
We are delighted to have heard from several customers that the Annual Appeals we helped them with this past season were the most successful they have ever had! That is great news, especially in the sluggish economy.
So what makes some Annual Appeal campaigns more successful than others? Lets look at key factors:
1. A clean data file – when you take care to manage your data file and select appropriate records your ROI will improve. Likewise, the fact that we seamlessly NCOA files and de-dupe when necessary contributes to better list targeting.
2. Really telling your story – reaching out with a heartfelt message.
3. Great design, especially with color, graphics, and photos.
4. Timing – Planning ahead so there is plenty of time for pre-press, proofing, production enables you to get the mailer to your recipient when you want, taking into account the holiday mail traffic.
5. Convenience – supply a courtesy or business reply envelope, or use the direct mail to lead recipient to your website.
6. Make sure your mailer is designed to be postal-compliant, and get approval of design from a mailer- because small design changes can often save big $$$ in postage and processing.
7. Many organizations do follow-up campaigns to those who did not respond the first time around. This gives you an opportunity to send another message.
How to Obtain a Mailer ID (for IMb requirement)
Customers must obtain a MID number in order to utilize the IMb. To apply for a MID:
1. Go to USPS.COM Click on the link for the Business Customer Gateway in the lower right corner.
This will take you to the Log-In page.
2. A current user may “sign in” with an existing Username and password. New users should click
“sign up”.
3. On the “sign up” screen, create a Username and Password. Then click “continue”.
4. On the “Profile Account Type” screen, select “Business”. (Personal will send you back to
USPS.com). Then clink “continue”.
5. Create your Business Profile (red asterisks indicate required information). Then click “continue”.
6. Verify your Company Account Information on the Company Profile Summary. Then click “edit” or
“continue”.
7. Agree to the Privacy Act Statement. Then click “continue”.
8. On the Select a Business Service screen, select “Mailer ID.” Then click “continue”.
9. New users will have to go through the Business Service Administrator (BSA) process, click “I
certify……..”, then click “yes”.
10. On the Business Service Administrator (Access Granted) page, click “continue”.
11. “Business Customer Gateway” page opens. Click “sign out” at the top of the page.
12. Go to your email and open a message from the USPS. Scroll down and click the “sign in and get
started link”.
13. At the Business Customer Gateway page, Log-in with user name and password.
14. On the Gateway page, click on Mailer ID under Design and Prepare.
15. On the “Welcome to the Mailer ID System” page, click “Request a MID”.
16. At “Apply for MID” screen, use drop down arrow and select 9-digit MID, then select # of MIDs
requested (1), then click Request MIDs.
17. At next screen, select “automatically generate this MID” and select “Full/Basic Service”, then click
Request MIDs.
18. At next screen, system issues a new MID. Record this number and sign out.
For questions and assistance, Gateway Help Desk: 1-800-522-9085.
Or contact Customer Service at Ad-Mail,Inc 503-223-1101
October 27, 2010
PURL MARKETING + DIRECT MAIL
Smart marketers are linking the power of traditional direct mail with interactive capabilities like personalized URLs, customized microsites, and mobile and email messenging.
Things are moving fast – changing with speed we don’t think we’ve witnessed in our previous 96 years of operation. So hold onto your hats and get ready to evolve with us!
If you are accustomed to using direct mail, but are curious about PURL marketing and what its potential benefits can be- we suggest that the response data you gather could easily be the best measurement tool you have ever had.
In a nutshell, a variable direct mail piece goes out with a PURL leading the recipient to a specially built landing page. Once on a PURL microsite, visitors are invited to complete a survey, provide info for a follow-up, vote for a preference, etc. They can complete as much or as little as they choose, and the session generally closes with a customized Thank You. Reports generated from this process can provide great analytics for future marketing.
Are you intrigued. Why not test the waters now?
October 11, 2010
Annual Appeal interest
October and November are traditionally big months for NonProfits and Organizations to push out the Annual Appeals. FREE advice and experience is available from some folks who have been in this biz for almost a century. They can give you tips on design, postal regulations, response options, mailing list enhancements and cleansings, keeping your mailing GREEN with recycled stocks and duplicate or bad address removal. WOW- they are truly amazing. Check ‘em out at http://www.admailinc.com. Just tell ‘em Susi sent ‘ya.
NCOA is a Good Thing
We compare our customer database file to the National Change of Address file. If we find an UPDATED address, we replace the old address with the new one, and send customers this information so they can in turn update their source file(s).
If we didn’t do this, there would be more Undeliverable As Addresses mail, and customers who mail first class or who use an ancillary endorsement will get the pieces back with a big yellow sticker, and postage due.
We say, why pay for the postage for pieces that will come back – when NCOA means you update your list BEFORE you send out mail.
If a customer is reluctant to have the database updated, we can remove the records which changed, and mail them out at full rate first class.
We believe the process makes sense, and we support the USPS in this required change. NCOA processing allows you to update and remove bad records, saving you money on printing and postage, and it gives you valuable feedback on the quality of your list.
January 7, 2010
Smarter Direct Marketing- New MOVE UPDATE Non Compliancy fees are now in effect!
Beginning January 4, 2010, mailers must now meet new Move Update standards for presorted First Class and Standard mailings or risk a Non Compliancy assessment of $0.07 per piece for the entire mailing, or pay full rate postage!
Luckily, being compliant is easy. Ad Mail can run your data through NCOA and update the address data for a nominal fee and send the updates to you at no additional charge. This small step can save you a big headache in the future, so don’t delay. Contact a mailing specialist at Ad Mail today to clean your files to comply with the new rules of 2010.
Clean Files, Compliant Data, Smart Direct Marketing!
Happy New Year!
