What is the Cost of Having USPS Print and Mail Post Cards?
Having your postcards printed and mailed to your customers can be a great way to reach them, but it is important to know what the costs are beforehand. Not only will it help you determine your budget, but it will also save you time and money in the long run!
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The first thing you will need to do is decide what size postcard you want to mail. Generally, the most common postcard sizes are 4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″. However, there are other sizes that can be used to communicate with your target market.
A 4″ x 6″ postcard is the most popular size because it is easy to produce, and it is on the lower end of printing costs. It also qualifies for the First Class postage rate, meaning your mailing will arrive quickly and at a low cost.
Another good option is a postcard that measures 5.25″ x 7.25″. These jumbo postcards are slightly larger than the 4.25″ x 6″ standard size, but they offer more space for your artwork and information.
While a jumbo postcard will cost more to mail, it will provide your audience with more information about your business and brand. This will increase your conversions and retention rates, which can be a big win for your organization!
In addition to the postcard size, you will need to select your postal class. There are two main classes: First Class and Marketing Mail. Each class comes with its own price, which varies depending on the location you’re mailing to. If you’re sending out postcards to a large number of recipients, you may choose to use First Class for your mail campaign.
First Class is often a good choice for businesses that send out postcards on a regular basis, as it offers a variety of benefits. These include faster delivery times and priority services like forwarding and return.
To find out which postal class you should use, consult the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Domestic Mail Manual. There, you can also see the cost per piece of each postal class.
You can also presort your postcards and pay a lower postage rate. This is a benefit for both first-class and second-class mail, but it is especially beneficial for first-class postcards. It will make sure that all the postcards go to the same address.
There are a few different ways to presort your postcards, but the most effective is by AADC or 5-Digit. You can save up to 2 cents per postcard by using 5-Digit presorting.
A presort rate will reduce the postage you pay for your mailings, but it is only worth it if you mail enough postcards to qualify for the machinable or automated rate. The minimum quantity to qualify for machinable presorting is 500.
The cheapest and most effective way to mail postcards is through Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). This is a unique USPS service that lets you mail to specific routes in a selected geographic area. Unlike with First Class and Marketing Mail, there are no list requirements or minimum mailing volumes. In fact, you can even mail to as few as 5 addresses at a time!
