Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals & Publications > Mailers Companion > May/June 2006

Mailing Online Goes Global

International addresses now accepted

Mailers using NetPost Mailing Online now can send mail internationally.

Mailing Online, a powerful printing and mailing service, combines the speed of the Internet with the effectiveness of traditional mail. Mailing Online offers an array of printing and mailing options to customize orders. With a few clicks of the mouse, customers can upload their document and address list and Mailing Online takes care of the rest: printing, folding, inserting, addressing, and applying the postage to each piece. Each piece is professionally prepared and mailed the next business day, if submitted by 1:30pm, Eastern Time.

The U.S. Postal Service has expanded delivery options for Mailing Online to now include international, as well as domestic addresses. Mailers now only need to add a "country field" to their address lists before submitting the final mailpiece and complete address database.

"Many small business owners are expanding into foreign markets or offering products overseas. Giving mailers the option of sending direct mailpieces they create through Mailing Online overseas is one more way the Postal Service is responding to the needs of our mailers," said Nick Barranca, Vice President, Product Development.

Mailing Online is quick, easy, and convenient. Mailers log on to usps.com/netpost at a time that is convenient for them, and create direct mailpieces from their laptops and work or home computers. With this service, a mailing can be scheduled up to a month in advance and can be sent using First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Nonprofit Standard Mail (for qualified mailers), and now at international rates.

All First-Class Mail and Standard Mail (for domestic addresses) also gets a discounted postage rate, as they are presorted and qualify for the appropriate mixed Automated Area Distribution Center (AADC) rate. The types of mailpieces available through Mailing Online include booklets, postcards, letters, newsletters and self-mailers. Graphics and photos also can be added to each piece for higher effect. Color printing options also are available with full color highlights in red, blue, green and magenta, as well as black and white. "No matter what your mailing needs might be, the Postal Service has a quick and easy solution available online for our mailers," Barranca said.

Mailers can also send important First-Class Mail documents via Certified Mail. In addition Certified Mail features enable a mailer to choose Return Receipt service (Form 3811, by mail) and Restricted Delivery options.

U.S. Postal Service Earns Award for Marketing Research

The USPS has been awarded the advertising industry's highest honor for research that results in high-impact marketing. The 2006 Grand Ogilvy Award was accepted by Postal Service representatives for the organization's "Access" campaign, which increased awareness of USPS package shipping products and services.

"We knew our small business customers would take advantage of the convenience of our services through usps.com, but the challenge was building awareness," said Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Anita Bizzotto. "We successfully did that."

The effort included television, print, radio and Web advertising, as well as employee awareness efforts. Perhaps most memorable was "Angie," the woman in the TV commercials who bails out her co-workers as they pile on Priority Mail packages for her to mail. The Access campaign features the Postal Service's Carrier Pickup Online Notification and other offerings available at usps.com.

The research, developed in cooperation with the Postal Service's advertising agency Campbell-Ewald and other partners, was the driving force behind the creative work.