Surprise! Postage rates are going up AGAIN!!!!

2 CommentsFriday • July 16, 2010 • by Mark Wilson

On Tuesday, July 6, the USPS proposed a $0.02 increase on first class postage to take effect on January 1. Really, Post Office! Are you seriously trying to drive us all to e-mail and make your postage hole even deeper!!! And its not just the price of a stamp going to almost 50-cents, all other services will be increasing also.

What does this mean for companies that utilize direct mail for marketing their products and services? Is the answer to cut the volume of mail, cut staff or just “cut and run!” For most marketers, there are solutions to save production costs, better target your audience, strategies to increase response rates and technologies that can be leveraged to increase revenues. For example, new envelope designs have been created not only for self-mailing but with a “built-in” reply card to reduce production and postage. When was the last time you analyzed your mailing list; who is your audience, why are you mailing them and what are you offering them? Also, are you making it easy and efficient for your customers to respond to your call to action?

Integrated marketing campaigns are the fashionable answer most marketing consultants will offer. The perception by most business owners is “that sounds expensive.” New technologies like variable data printing and personalized URLs require new investment, but the return can be exponentially greater than with traditional direct mail methods. If you are grumbling about the cost of higher returns, can you also scoff at the new strategies for leveraging social media networks? 474,250,920 (as of 7/14/2010) Facebook users across the world beg to differ!

If you are you looking for new ways to address (sorry, pun intended) the future of your direct mail program, give VPI Print Services a call. We can analyze your needs from beginning to end to help you identify cost savings opportunities in printing and mailing as well as look for ways to increase revenues.

Mark Wilson

President, VPI Print Services

Posted in: Mark Wilson, Print Services, VPI members

About mwilsonvpi:

Find all posts by mwilsonvpi | Visit Website