USPS - Every Door Direct Mail

[iwantl00t]

Hey -

I'm looking into an offline venture - has anybody in the US used "USPS EDDM" for their marketing efforts?

http://www.uspseverydoor.com/

I'm currently doing some research on it, but would like to see some feedback from BHW'ers as well.

:thanks:

 

[GlobalP]

I am doing a lot with EDDM, what would you like to know?

 

[iiaok]

What are you looking to advertise with it?

Are you offering as a service to other businesses?

 

[iwantl00t]

I am doing a lot with EDDM, what would you like to know?

Hey GlobalP -

• How reliable has the service been?
• Is it all online or can I walk into a post office to get this setup?

I'm looking to hit 5 different apartment complexes with various biz-ops / payday loan / credit report offers. I don't want to get in trouble for spamming lol.

• Do you know of any restrictions - set by USPS or the government for this type of stuff?

I think that EDDM is the way to go with this sort of project.

Thanks a lot!

 

[iiaok]

You can go into your local PO and deliver the mailers. However, you won't be able to target just those complexes, unless they comprise an entire mail route.

The program requires you to blanket an entire postal carrier route. You can exclude businesses, but you can't tell them to only hit a certain block / complex.

You'd be well served to do it, but sell one side of your mailer to a local business in order to cover your costs. Just a thought.

 

[iwantl00t]

What are you looking to advertise with it?

Are you offering as a service to other businesses?

This is the basic game plan:

- 5 different apartment complexes
- Setup a domain with sub-domains like this:
"apartmentcomplex1.domain.com"
"apartmentcomplex2.domain.com"
- Mail out flyers

On the flyer:

• 1-3 offers per flyer (biz-ops, payday loans, credit report)
• Call to action - "You've been carefully chosen - blah, blah, blah"
• 4 digit number as an access code - 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx - to track each apartment complex.
• unique bitly address per flyer to help track as well and shorter url.

Flow:

1. They get the flyer.
2. Read the call to action
3. Follow the bitly link.
4. Pop-up asks for 4 digit number and their email to gain access to the offer landing page.
5. Fill out offer form
6. Profit?

 

[GlobalP]

It actually took me a while to get it set up. Yes it is vary reliable. When I started I had to track down the drop off location. Then fill out the forms required when you take it in. Pay and they deliver it the day after you drop it off. All you have to do is make sure you print the proper "indica" and make sure its within there size restrictions. I think there is an option in the control panel for choosing apartment complexes only. I offer it as a service to local businesses not for CPA but have considered placing CPA on some mailers. If you go to the website you provided and use the directions there to sign up you can get to the control panel.

If you want to PM me I can email you the documents that you need to have filled upon dropping you pieces off at the station.

Anything else feel free to ask. Also, usually in each city they have one person in charge of the bulk mailing permits. This is the person you want to track down and have them explain everything. Just make a few phone calls and I am sure you can get them. The people at my post office knew about the program and what there job was but were not able to answer my questions as I actually have a business account and not just the simple retail account.

I was actually about to go hit the owner of multiple complexes up and offer a bulk mailing to all the competing apartments. Food for thought.

Anything else feel free to ask!

Cheers,
GlobalP

Oh, and as for restrictions, only 5,000 pieces per mailing max unless you get a business account.
Can't be more then 3oz in weight.
Must fall within size restrictions. I believe the largest you can go 12" by 11". I personally use 12" by 9" mailers. Also mail trifold brochures/menus for local restaurants.

 

[gonigkum]

This is the basic game plan:

- 5 different apartment complexes
- Setup a domain with sub-domains like this:
"apartmentcomplex1.domain.com"
"apartmentcomplex2.domain.com"
- Mail out flyers

On the flyer:

• 1-3 offers per flyer (biz-ops, payday loans, credit report)
• Call to action - "You've been carefully chosen - blah, blah, blah"
• 4 digit number as an access code - 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx - to track each apartment complex.
• unique bitly address per flyer to help track as well and shorter url.

Flow:

1. They get the flyer.
2. Read the call to action
3. Follow the bitly link.
4. Pop-up asks for 4 digit number and their email to gain access to the offer landing page.
5. Fill out offer form
6. Profit?

I would not use bit.ly first of all. Instead just use a short, easy to remember domain name for both complexes.

How many flyers are you planning to send? I'd love to see you posting the conversion rate here because it's something that I want to do too but I am not sure if enough people would sign up for my offers, and make enough to cover at least the mailing costs.

 

[sanjeev2010]

op

I seem to remember that there's a WSO in the download forums that talks about this exact thing. I read through it and it seemed to have some good detail in it, which may help you.

 

[iwantl00t]

I would not use bit.ly first of all. Instead just use a short, easy to remember domain name for both complexes.

How many flyers are you planning to send? I'd love to see you posting the conversion rate here because it's something that I want to do too but I am not sure if enough people would sign up for my offers, and make enough to cover at least the mailing costs.

Hey gonigkum - thanks for chiming in!

"I would not use bit.ly first of all"

Any particular reason why you would not use bitly? Do you think there is a trust issue because it's not a standard TLD extension?

The reason I wanted to use bitly is because of the short URL, customization and track ability.

You see, I'm able to setup the bitly URL to something like this:

Apartment Complex 1 - bit.ly/ApartmentComplex1
Apartment Complex 2 - bit.ly/ApartmentComplex2

Thus allowing me to make the potential lead feel a bit better about the weird URL - reassuring them that it's a URL dedicated to their apartment complex.

I would like to keep one domain and use subdomains to make it manageable - because if I move forward with this and it's successful - I'm going to hit 10 more apartment complexes in the neighboring towns.

"How many flyers are you planning to send?"

I haven't worked on any solid numbers yet - I'm going to the post office sometime this week and try to find a person that handles the mass mailing in my area to get an idea of what I'm getting myself into lol.

I would like to read your thoughts on this.

 

[flaw3d]

You can use your own url shortner just as food for thought.
Might consider this route for a few projects of mine.

 

[NellisJ]

The price just went up from 14.2 cents per piece to 14.5. Keep in mind the only thing that limits you is weight and size. If you can afford it, I suggest you go big or go home. you can go up to 12x11 I'm pretty sure as well (kudos GlobalP). If you are only doing a run say less than 5k of a piece, the post office can drop it off in a day. Hope all is well with your brainchild, idea seems very doable

PM me with any more questions if need be

-NellisJ

 

[kebertt]

Interesting idea, is there a minimum amount you can send?

 

[theag]

sounds interesting, I will research this in my country to see if its possible here..

 

[iwantl00t]

Interesting idea, is there a minimum amount you can send?

Hey kebertt - I haven't gone to the post office yet. Will let you know once I find out.

 

[pieking]

Any updates on this? I'm about to get into using EDDM as well and this thread has already answered a lot of my questions. let's keep a good thing going here!

 

[iwantl00t]

Any updates on this? I'm about to get into using EDDM as well and this thread has already answered a lot of my questions. let's keep a good thing going here!

Hey pieking -

No updates yet - I've been working on other things. Subscribe to it so you'll get a notification in the future.

 

[Corrupt]

Subscribed. Looks interesting.

If anyone could link me to the WSO that'd be appreciated. I'd love to do some reading up on this.

 

[MyCrazyWorld]

Here is the link to the WSO, its about doing a co opt mailer using EDDM. I have been out trying to sell this myself, and there is some interest in it, and can also see where it can easily lead to other projects like fan pages/sms/mobile/etc. Regarding the 5k max, you can split it up, so if you want to do 15k it would take you 3 days.

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/member-downloads/381456-get-wso-500338-newbie-friendly-offline-how-make-5-000-per-month-part-time.html

 

[honzarox]

Reason why you dont want a bit.ly link is that most people wont understand it, trust it. People are used to WWW.domain.COM/NET/ORG. bit.ly is used on twitter or on IM forums, but u would be losing a lot of sales if you use it in real life. Also have ur designes checked out, cuz if ur shelling out 1000$+, the worst thing u want is a miniscule design flaw that will change amazing profit to something else. Just cuz u think its cool, doesnt mean it will sell. Go to someone with experience.

Also, if u wanna hit up just 2 appartment complexes, might as well hire a kid to just pass the flyers out?! [depending on the rules etc. there]