Making it easier for customers to use the Postal Service

NetPost Mailing Online — All the Print and Mailing Services You Need

The Postal Service is providing new services to meet the changing needs of its customers. NetPost Mailing Online is a unique way to prepare and send a postcard to friends, a birthday card to Mom, or newsletters to church members from the convenience of your computer without ever having to leave your home or business. No more printing, stuffing, or trips to the post office. Visit the Postal Service online at www.usps.com, then click on “Online Services”. Here are some of the things you can do:

Send Postcards — Prepare and send full-color, highlight color, and black and white postcards for about the price of a First-Class Mail stamp. You can customize postcards to become thank you cards, invitations, or announcements to friends and family. Business customers can use this service for sale promotions, prospecting for new customers, or customer loyalty mailings.

Send Custom Greeting Cards — There’s no better way to make a personal connection than with a beautifully printed card. Personalize your cards online in minutes.

Send Certified Mail — Combine the convenience of the Internet with the reliability of traditional hardcopy mail. And you can send certified mail documents when you need confirmation of delivery.

These services allow you to design, create, and pay online — then sit back while the Postal Service does the rest.

A Five-Step System to Advertise by Mail

If you’re in business, you know how important it is to stay ahead of the competition. If you use mail as a way of promoting your business, you’ll be able to serve customers better than you imagined. The Postal Service can help.

Sound too good to be true? By incorporating the following five steps into your marketing plan, you could be surprised at the results — and how quickly you begin to realize them.

Step 1: Put together a mailing list. Ask customers to join your mailing list. If you have an Internet business, add a form for collecting information. Addresses enable you to inform customers about special promotions.

Step 2: Devise an offer. If you don’t have a special promotion or offer, create one. A discount or giveaway gives someone an incentive to spend some time on your Web site or to visit your store.

Step 3: Create and mail the offer. Put that mailing list to work. There are programs available to help you do it yourself, or you can get help from others. Your community has graphic artists, writers, and mailing houses that can professionally produce and distribute your offer. NetPost Mailing Online at www.usps.com can also help. The mailing can be based on your budget and timing.

Step 4: Look at your results. If you have an increase in traffic, coupon redemption, or higher receipts, it worked well. If not, you’ll want to take a look at the offer, its timing (to make sure that you weren’t running something like a special on turkeys the day after Thanksgiving), and the customer list (especially if you purchased a mailing list). After seeing the results and examining the variables, you can make any necessary adjustments.

Step 5: Repeat. Sure, do it again! A successful mail program is just that, a program. Loyal customers become loyal through your building a relationship with them. By doing so, they’ll keep you in mind.

For more information, call 1-800-THE-USPS and request Simple Formulas, a series of publications that help you grow your business with the mail, or visit us at www.usps.com.

Seminars Simplify Advertising With Direct Mail

Businesses know the value of advertising effectively. One of the best ways to reach people is through the mail. Advertising mail has long demonstrated its effectiveness in reaching and reinforcing messages to potential and existing customers.

To assist you in maximizing the potential of advertising with mail, the Postal Service has developed Direct Mail Made Easy seminars that provide small or medium-sized business with the information needed to create successful Direct Mail programs. You can learn more about the seminars by visiting the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com/directmail.

In the Direct Mail Made Easy seminars, professionals will explain the process of designing a campaign, from start to finish. Beginning with an overview of Direct Mail, you’ll learn about using the Internet to build your campaign, procuring lists, printing, lettershop operations, concept/copy development, and mail preparation.

You’ll also learn about the unique “double” effect of Direct Mail — its initial impact as people read and digest your message, plus the unique opportunity they have to review it at a convenient or critical time. You’ll find out how much more valuable the mailpiece becomes if it includes a special code or coupon. And you can seek the advice of experts to help you decide if a multimedia approach to advertising — such as utilizing newspaper ads and advertising mail — is the right approach for your business.

Build Your Business Online With USPS

The Postal Service has been working hard to meet the demands and expectations of business and residential customers. Now you can go online at www.usps.com to conveniently obtain information about mailing and shipping — and to use a variety of tools to help you manage your business.

At www.usps.com, all the basics are covered. Need a ZIP Code? Visit the Web site. Want to find a post office in your neighborhood? Visit the Web site. Interested in knowing what time your Express Mail package was delivered, or what it costs to mail a Priority Mail package? Visit…well, you get the picture.

And, www.usps.com is filled with business help. Designing, creating, and sending mailpieces and mailings are made easy online. If you are new to direct mail, a guide will assist you. Merchants and mailing seminar lists are there for you.

If you want to do it yourself, “mailing wise,” NetPost Mailing Online lets you manage each step of the process. You can create mail pieces, calculate and compare rates and develop a mailing list. You can purchase postage and print mailing labels with Click-N-Ship. You can even track and confirm Express Mail, Certified Mail, and Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation packages.

You can buy stamps at www.usps.com, too. Visit and you’ll find a wide variety of available stamps and stamp products to complement that gift or “thank you” card you’re sending. Or, choose a card online at our card store with your own message, and the Postal Service will deliver it to the recipient.

The Postal Service is online 24 hours a day and at your doorstep six days a week to help you grow your business.