Every Door Direct Mail is a cost effective way for local business owners to advertise their products or services.  The reason it’s cost effective is, there’s no need to purchase an expensive address list and no postage permit is required. Pretty cool, huh?

The service works by targeting down to the postal carrier route in the neighborhoods selected by the business. That mail carrier is then given the direct mail piece and simply adds one to the mail he or she drops off at each residence on that route.

One note so you don’t get confused their are two EDDM programs.

EDDM – Retail

• For small business owners
• No mailing permit needed
• Limited to 5,000 pieces per day

EDDM – BMEU

• For businesses with larger mailings (needing to send more than 5,000 per day)
• Requires a postage permit and entry into a Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU)

So here’s a simple overview of the the steps to use EDDM – Retail.

• Go to USPC.com and start a free account.
• Identify the city, neighborhood or Zip Code area to target
• Find the mail routes that match the target area, (remember to select the delivery type,  route type and demographics)
• Select the routes (it will count the number of homes and indicate when the order is over 5,000 pieces)
• Hit “next” and select the date the mail pieces will be dropped off at the post office.
• Confirm the order
• When the confirmation page pops up – page down to the link that says “Download Mailing Statement” and the link that says “Download Facing Slips.” Click on both of those and print out the forms.
• The mailing statement needs to be handed in to the postal clerk  when you drop the shipment off. The facing slip (designating that particular carrier route) gets wrapped around each bundle of 50-100 direct mail pieces. So, if there are 300 homes in a particular carrier route and you include 100 pieces per bundle (that’s what I do), print out 3 facing slips for that route. Wrap the facing slip around each bundle of 100 with a rubber band.

• Pro Tip #1: On each facing slip for that route write 1 of 3, 2 of 3 etc… so the postal carrier easily knows how many bundles he or she needs for their route.
• Pro Tip #2: Page down on the “Mailing Statement” PDF and you’ll see a list of the route numbers and number of homes in each of those routes. Next to each, record how many bundles you have for each route. For the above example, next to that route number you would write 3. Do that for all the routes so you can add up the total number of bundles you’ll be sending. Some post offices want to see that (others won’t), but it’s better to be prepared if the do.
• On the delivery day you’ll bring the boxes of  direct mail you want to mail. If you do 5,000, you’ll need at least 3 or 4 boxes and a cart to wheel all of them in. Best to go in an off hour time so you’re not wheeling a heavy cart in a long line.
• Once you get to the clerk, hand them the Mailing Statement and one of your direct mail pieces as they will have to weigh and measure it. After all is approved, you’ll pay with a credit card, hand over the boxes and be on your way.

Now let’s talk about the direct mail piece itself – you have to use an approved EDDM sized mailer with the proper address format and approved Every Door Direct Mail – Retail Indecia (required on each mail piece). What’s an approved size? The most popular are postcards (6.5″ x 9″), oversized postcard (8.5″ x 11″) and trifold brochures (4.25″ x 14″).

Pro Tip #3: Visit usps.com/everydoordirectmail or use a printer that is well versed in EDDM, they can help make sure the size, address format and indecia are correct.

The Post Office does offer an EDDM kit, find more information here. If you have a question or comment please leave it below. That’s about it, I hope you find these steps useful.

Thanks!

Bill