Bulk Mailing: What Are Bulk Mail and Bulk Mailing Services

In simple terms, the bulk mailing is mailing in large quantities to avail discounts and certain benefits from the postal services provider. Companies have started using bulk printing and mailing services for various purposes such as brand promotion, event announcements, product launches, and more.

Bulk mailing is only for those businesses that mail out hundreds and thousands of direct mail items on a regular basis. They can avail themselves of the bulk mail rates in a number of ways, such as presorting and adding Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMBs), which we shall discuss further. Many people refer to bulk mail as the USPS marketing mail, but there are also many other types of mail that you can send in bulk.

In order to qualify for bulk mailing, you need to meet the minimum volume requirements as stated by the USPS. It depends on the type of mail option selected. You can send out direct mail items that do not meet these requirements, but you can’t avail of any bulk discounts in that case.

• Minimum 500 pieces are required for sending first-class mail.
• At least 50 pounds or a minimum of 200 pieces of direct mail are required for sending USPS marketing mail.
• Minimum 200 pieces are required for sending Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). There are no minimum requirements per ZIP code.
• Minimum 300 pieces are required for sending carrier route mail or presorted mail in bulk.
• Please note that the minimum volume requirements should be fulfilled for every mailing campaign and are not dependent on the time period, such as monthly or yearly.

Direct mail marketers can send out postcards in huge quantities using bulk postcard printing and mailing solutions like PostGrid. For marketing purposes, personalized letters also make a great direct mail choice.

Postcards

Postcards are small and compact. They can deliver your marketing messages accurately and efficiently. You can announce events, product launches, invite members, promote your brand, thank customers, and conduct giveaways through postcards. Postcard marketing is already a cost-effective option; mailing postcards in bulk to a targeted audience can help to get an excellent response rate. From small 4” x 6” postcards to oversize postcards, you can use them to stand out from the crowd and make an impact. Using bulk postcard mailing solutions, marketers can create and conduct direct mail campaigns affordably and effortlessly.

Letters

Personalized letters are attention-grabbing and can fetch good business. Marketers can enclose them in oversize envelopes to further get the attention of their prospects. Customized envelopes are also eye-catching and appealing. Bulk direct mail services can help you print and mail letters in bulk.

Once you are done selecting the type of direct mail, you have to select the mail option through which you will be sending out your direct mail pieces. The USPS provides marketers with several mailing options. You can select either one of these options that can best fit your bulk mailing needs. Commonly, bulk direct mail services offer three different types of mail options: first-class mail, marketing mail, and EDDM.

First Class Mail

If you are looking up “bulk mailing services near me,” make sure to also enquire about their first-class mailing solutions. First-class mail is an excellent option for sending direct mail pieces to any part of the country. All first-class mail prices are flat rates depending on the weight of the mail. It doesn’t matter if you are sending something to a place that is 50 miles or 5,000 miles away. Postcards, letters, parcels, and flats that weigh under 13 ounces can be sent as first-class mail.

Marketing Mail

Normally, marketing mail, as the name suggests, is used to send out marketing materials such as newsletters, flyers, and circulars. If you know how to send bulk mail flyers, you can avail the benefits of marketing mail. It enables marketers to send mail weighing up to 16 ounces. International mail cannot be mailed as marketing mail.

EDDM

EDDM is a great choice for small business owners, local restaurants, and realtors. It doesn’t require the marketer to have a mailing list as the USPS can cover an entire ZIP code or neighborhood for you. All you have to do is select your mail item and the targeted area. EDDM enables you to send mail items of about 3.3 ounces. The rates are very reasonable, and mass printing and bulk mailing services make it even more affordable.

There are certain USPS restrictions regarding the size and weight of the mail pieces being sent as bulk mail. Though these size and weight guidelines are the same for low-volume mailings as well, sticking to them can help you get bulk mail rates.

• First-class mail postcards should be rectangular and should be at least 3.5” x 5”. They should not exceed 4.25” x 6”. The thickness of these postcards should range between 0.007” and 0.016”.
• First-class mail letters should be at least 3.5” x 5” x 0.007” and should never exceed 6.125” x 11.5” x 0.25”. All first-class mail items should weigh below 13 ounces.
• Direct mail items sent as USPS marketing mail can weigh anything less than 16 ounces. The dimensions must not exceed 12” x 15” x 0.75”. Pieces that weigh more or do not fit in these dimensions are sent as parcels.
• Popular EDDM postcard dimensions are 6.25” x 9” (standard), 6.25” x 11” (large), 8.5” x 11” (jumbo), 12” x 15” (oversize).
• All EDDM postcards and letters should either be greater than 6.125” in width or 10.5” in length on one side. None of the sides should exceed 12” in width or 15” in length.

Before sending out bulk mail, you need to avail the USPS bulk mail permit. It should be issued by the USPS, and vendors offering bulk printing and mailing services can help you get one. You need two different permits for sending presorted first-class mail and marketing mail. Marketers need to pay the annual mailing fee for the same.

In the case of marketing mail, you can get your annual mailing fee waived off by printing “full-service” barcodes on your direct mail pieces. You also need to submit all your mailing documentation to the USPS electronically. However, if you are doing all these things by yourself, sometimes it is simply cheaper to pay the annual mailing fee.

After availing of the permit, you would be given a USPS “mailer ID” number, which is different from your permit number. This mailer ID is useful while preparing barcodes.

As discussed above, you need to have an account with the post office for using permit imprints. The account can be opened by paying a one-time fee called as the permit imprint authorization fee. You can then deposit funds to this account online and use them whenever required. Marketers can apply for the bulk mail permit online. However, if you wish to get your annual mailing fee waived, you need to visit the post office and fill out the USPS form 3615.

You can visit your nearest post office to complete these procedures. Make sure that this post office accepts bulk mail. If you apply online, you still need to select a nearby post office where you are going to drop off your mail items.

Non-profit organizations and charities can avail themselves of nonprofit postage rates. They are even lower than the general bulk mail rates. However, you need to get approval from the USPS for availing of these rates. Nonprofits can get the USPS form 3624 from the post office and get the bulk mail permit easily.

Bulk mail is mail sent in large quantities for marketing purposes. There are various ways to send bulk mail, and the USPS has several options for marketers to reduce their overall postage costs and avail of huge discounts. Direct mail marketers can take advantage of such discounts and mail in bulk. In fact, bulk printing and mailing solutions like PostGrid can help them with everything from presorting to including IMBs, so that businesses can mail efficiently and save a lot on their postage costs. PostGrid’s automated direct mail API can help you design, print, and mail in bulk altogether at all-in-one rates.