With the lowest postage available (14.5 cents per piece), EDDM is aimed at smaller businesses that want to saturate specific areas with an advertisement. And while the program is fairly straightforward, if you don't have the time (or the desire) to do it yourself, give us a call (858-513-7740) or send us an email. Whether it's answering questions or handling the job for you, Post Haste Direct Mailing is here to help.
Here are the steps that will allow anyone to begin using EDDM:
Step 1 - Register With the PO for a Business Account
Log into the USPS Business Customer Gateway and create a USPS business account. Select New User Registration near the top right of the page and follow the instructions. You'll be assigned a customer registration ID number (CRID) during this process. Write it down because you'll need it later!
Step 2 - Define Who You Want to Reach
Log into your new USPS business account. Under the Mailing Services section, select Every Door Direct Mail. This will take you to the welcome page for the EDDM online mapping tool. Click the blue Get Started button.
Now you're going to decide who you want to mail to. Choose your target area by indicating a city, county, zip code or radius around an address. Select the carrier route type (city, rural and/or PO Boxes) and either residential/business or just residential. click Submit.
The next screen will contain a list of carrier routes for the parameters you keyed in. You can omit any routes by unchecking the box next to each. On the right will be the total number of addresses you will mail to, based on your selection. This is how many mailers you'll need to print. Remember, the minimum mailing is 200 pieces, and the maximum is 5,000 pieces per day. You will also see a postage cost for the mailing. When done, click Next.
Enter the post office where you will be delivering your mailing. You'll be able to choose from a list of POs.
Time for the postal paperwork. There are two PDF files you will need to download and print. These are pages one and two of Form PS3587, which must be presented with your mailing at the PO. Page one will have some sections to fill out with your company name and address, and the weight and count of your mailing. You will also need to write down your customer ID number. Page two is simply a list of the carrier routes you chose earlier.
Finally, download and print a copy of the facing slip. You will probably need several copies of this (more about this later). Congratulations - you're done with step 2!
Step 3: Create Your Mailpieces
There are specific size and indicia requirements for EDDM. First is size - to make it easier for you, our favorite sizes are 6.25 x 11, 8x 11 or 9x12, but you can make yours any size, as long as it conforms to postal regulations. (Read about it here.)
Here is what your indicia should look like. The indicia should be sized at about .75 to 1 inch:
Once you've designed your mailpiece, you're ready to print and prepare your mailing.
Step 4: Prepare Your Mailing for Processing
Before you deliver your mailing to the post office, you will need to prepare it by bundling the mailpieces. Look at the list of carrier route counts you printed, and count out enough mailpieces for each carrier route. Bundle them in groups of 50 (the last group may contain less than 50). For example, a carrier route with 285 addresses would require 5 bundles of 50, and one of 35. Do this for each route in your mailing. Use rubber bands to hold the bundles together.
Now attach a facing slip to each bundle. (Remember we told you to print several? Here's where they're used.) Fill out the required information on each slip, including zip code, carrier route and number of pieces in each bundle. When you're done, bring your bundled mail and a copy of the postal form to a postal clerk. You can pay the postage by cash, check or debit card.
And that's it - you're done! If you need help printing and sending your direct mail card, let us know. We'll guide you through the entire process, or take it over so you don't have to. Call us today at 858-513-7740 and we'll get you started.
For more information on Post Haste Mailing Services, visit www.posthastemailing.com, or email us at: info@posthastemailing.com
