USPS postage rates are increasing on January 21, 2024. It’s not all bad news in that direct mail still is very effective and driving response. Did you know that 70% of consumers say direct mail is more personal than online and 54% say they want direct mail from companies that interest them?

Direct mail response rates are five to nine times higher than any other advertising channel. Regardless of the postage increase direct mail is a cost effective marketing channel that drives sales. What do the new rates mean for you? Get your rate chart now!

Here are the few of the basic rates:

First Class Regular

• 1 ounce stamped letter size pieces will increase to $0.68 each
• 1 ounce metered letter size will increase to $0.64 each
• 1 ounce postcard will increase to $0.53 each
• 1 ounce Flats size pieces will increase to $1.39 each

First Class Presorted

• Mixed AADC letters will increase to $0.571 each
• Mixed AADC cards will increase to $0.39 each
• Mixed ADC Presorted flats will increase to $1.244 each

Standard Mail

• Mixed AADC Letters will increase to $0.385 each
• Mixed ADC Flats will increase to $1.006 each

Nonprofit Mail

• Mixed AADC Letters will increase to $0.228 each
• Mixed ADC Flats will increase to $0.767 each

Check out these special programs with the USPS to save on postage for the rest of this year. There are a variety of programs to choose from, you should be able to find at least one that is a good fit for your marketing needs.

Postal Promotions For 2024

The Postal Service is offering 6 promotional discounts from February through the end of the year. Do you have a planned strategy for 2024? You can not only save money on postage, but really stand out and increase your response rate. Call us today!

1. Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion – This program runs February 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024. This year the discount has increased to 5%! Use this program to highlight special finishing technologies that engage the senses. Some ideas are special visual effects, sound, scent, texture/tactile coatings, and even taste.  In addition, you can create interactive mail pieces such as pop-ups, infinite folds, or other dimensional aspects. This is a really fun one that can only be achieved with print marketing.
2. Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion – This program runs February 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024. This year the discount increased to 4%. Use this program is to add color marketing messaging on your bills and statements. Turn transactional mail into promotional pieces also.
3. Emerging Technology – This promotion has creative ways to incorporate technology into direct mail. You can get a 3% discount if you use augmented reality, basic voice assistant or QR codes for mobile shopping. You can receive a 4% discount if you use advanced voice assistant, video, NFC, mixed reality or virtual reality. This runs March 1 – Sept 30^th.
4. Reply Mail IMbA – This promotion is for a faster easier way to do reply mail. You can receive a 3% discount by using a static barcode and enrolling in IMbA. You can get a 6% discount by using a serialized barcode and enrolling in IMbA. This runs July 1 – Dec 31^st.
5. Informed Delivery – This promotion is for Integrating direct mail with digital marketing channels. With Informed Delivery, business mailers can engage users through an integrated mail and digital marketing campaign that generates additional consumer impressions, interactions, and insights. This qualifies you for a 4% discount. This runs Aug 1 – Dec 31^st.
6. Retargeting – This promotion is for matching either the visitor’s IP address to a website or an app to a customer’s physical address. Triggered automatically by a digital interaction, retargeted direct mail is a dynamically printed, targeted message sent in a timely manner to a customer’s home via a First-Class Mail Postcard. You can get a 5% discount. This runs Sept 1 – Nov 30^th.

Don’t let the postage rate increases scare you away from this important marketing channel! Direct mail has the highest ROI of all marketing channels when done correctly! On average the postage rates increased by less than a penny per piece, so they are not going to drastically increase overall direct mail budgets, but it is important to account for the additional postage funds.

Conclusion

It’s time to get creative and send direct mail that is interesting as well as cost effective. Don’t let the 2024 postage rates get you down. We can help you get better results! Are you ready to get started?

If you have questions or would like to participate in any of the promotions contact us today (619) 297-2281 or contact@neyenesch.com. We are glad to help!