At Direct Mail Center, our goal is always to reduce to a maximum the global spending of a mailing campaign. For this reason, we have identified 5 ways where you can easily reduce cost without affecting quality.

1. Design the labeling panel of a self-mailer for postal automation

The biggest expense in most mailings is postage. When designing a letter-size self-mailer, the last fold has to be at the bottom of the labeling panel and the previous fold on its right side; the top edge will be tabbed by Direct Mail Center. The area to the right or below the address should be clear of any graphics to allow for accurate reading of the barcode by the post office scanners. This will qualify your self-mailer for automation postal processing and save postage.

2. Design your mailing pieces for letter-size postal rate

The minimum mailable size is 3.5"x5" (0.009" thick) and maximum letter-size is 6.125"x11.5" (0.009" thick). Width divided by height must be greater than 1.3" and less than 2.5". Keeping your mailing piece within these parameters will allow you to take advantage of the letter-size postage rate. For more information about postal specifications, refer to the Post Office connection links or contact your Account Manager at Direct Mail Center.

3. Choose standard letter-size envelopes with commercial flaps

Non-letter size envelopes or envelopes with square flaps have to be hand inserted, which is more labor intensive and could double your cost. Standard #10, #11, or 6"x9" envelope (booklet style - open side) can be machine inserted, sealed & metered simultaneously and therefore reduce labor cost dramatically. Work with your Account Manager at Direct Mail Center when designing your package to make sure your envelopes & inserts are perfectly insert-machine compatible.

4. Preprint a postal permit indicia

Having a postal permit indicia preprinted on your mailing piece allows for inkjetting and sorting mail-pieces to be done simultaneously on our machinery, which keeps labor cost down. Make sure to use the proper indicia for the corresponding class of mail. For more information on postal indicia, check this link. When you use Direct Mail Center for your mailings, you have access to our selection of postal permits at no charge. Click here for our postal permit indicias

5. Choose paper stock that will inkjet, automate and mail

Materials need to be compatible with post office and mailing facility equipment and specs.


	Glossy stocks may not inkjet without smearing, and this would then require applying a more expensive cheshire or pressure sensitive label;
	Varnish coatings will not inkjet at all; tell the printer to leave an addressing area that is not varnished;
	White stock is preferred for the addressing panel; most colored stocks may interfere with the barcode reading and you will need to supply Direct Mail Center with a sample to verify scanning capability;
	Mail-pieces weighing over 3.3 ozs. increase postage and processing cost considerably;
	Round edges are not mailable at all by postal regulations. Mail-piece corners have to be square.

For more information regarding the design of your mail-piece, contact your Account Manager (staff) or e-mail us when you start your project.