The 2016 USPS Direct Mail Promotions integrate technology to boost response rates

Each year, the United States Postal Service offers Direct Mail advertising promotions and incentives to help integrate digital & direct mail as well as mobile technology. 2016 will feature several new promotions that have the potential to increase nonprofit response rates.

Senior Resource Manager Darin Marks and Account Strategist Leigh Janis have put together a summary of these promotions, details on getting involved, and the potential benefits our nonprofit partners could see this year:

Mobile Shopping (or charitable donation) Promotion 

This upfront postage discount on mail pieces includes 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 or provides the ability to complete a financial transaction.

• Registration Period: May 15 – December 31, 2016
• Promotional Period: July 1 – December 31, 2016
• Discount: 2% of eligible postage
• Discount Administered: At the time of mailing
• Eligible Mail Classes: Standard Non-profit/Commercial Letters and Flats
• Postage Type: Indicia or Pre-canceled Stamps
• Pre-Approval Needed?: USPS must review and approve the mail piece design and mobile website /social media site

Earned Value Promotion

This is a postage credit for each mail piece (BRM/CRM) scanned with an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) counted during normal mail processing.

• Registration Period: February 15 – March 31, 2016
• Promotional Period: April 1 – June 30, 2016
• Discount: $.02 per BRM or CRM scanned OR $.03 per BRM or CRM scanned, if participated in 2015 and obtain more scans in 2016 than 2015
• Discount Administered: After the end of promotional period and once volumes are approved by mailer.
  • The credit will be applied to the mail owners permit account that is associated with the registered BRM or CRM scans; which is determined during the registration period. The credit can then be applied to future First Class Presort or Standard Non-profit/Commercial Cards, Letters or Flats that are mailed using the same permit account.
• Eligible Mail Classes: Any BRM/CRM mail piece that has the mail owners MID within the IMB

Contact a member of our team for more information on Postage Type & Pre-Approval Needs.  

Tactile Sensory Interactive Mail piece Engagement Promotion

This promotion leverages the physical aspects of mail as well as the advances in print technology. Mailers who incorporate a multi-sensory experience in their mail piece may receive a postage discount.

• Registration Period: January 15 – August 31, 2016
• Promotional Period: March 1 – August 31, 2016
• Discount: 2% of eligible postage
• Discount Administered: At the time of mailing
• Eligible Mail Classes: Standard Non-profit/Commercial Letters and Flats
• Postage Type: Indicia or Pre-canceled Stamps

Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion

Mailers are encouraged to invest in color print technology by producing bills and statements that use personalized color transpromotional messaging.

• Registration Period: 5/15/16 – 12/31/16
• Promotional Period: 7/1/16 – 12/31/16
• Discount: 2% of eligible postage
• Discount Administered: At the time of mailing
• Eligible Mail Classes: First Class Presort Letters
• Postage Type: Indicia or Pre-canceled Stamps
• Pre-Approval Needed: Yes – USPS must review and approve the mail piece design and technology concepts

Emerging and Advanced Technology Video in Print Promotion

This discount promotion encourages mailers to integrate direct mail with technology by providing an interactive experience for customers.

• Registration Period: 1/15/16 – 8/31/16
• Promotional Period: 3/1/16 – 8/31/16
• Discount: 2% of eligible postage
• Discount Administered: At the time of mailing
• Eligible Mail Classes: First Class Presort or Standard Non-profit/Commercial Cards, Letters and Flats
• Postage Type: Indicia or Pre-canceled Stamps
• Pre-Approval Needed: Yes – USPS must review and approve the mail piece design and technology concepts

Excited about these integrated USPS promotions? Have questions about how your organization can leverage them? Contact a member of our team today!