United States Postal Service new NCOA rules

billalpert — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:45:22 +0000

Starting November 23, the USPS will require that all presorted mailing lists be cleaned using the National Change of Address (NCOA) directory. It’s a 95 day rule. Your list needs to get cleaned at least every 3 months. If you’re busted for sending “dirty” mail, your postal discounts will be forfeited, and you’re liable to pay fines or penalties.

Here are the new rules

Only “cleaned” lists qualify for standard “bulk” mail discounts

Your list must be cleaned at least every 95 days

You must use official NCOA data to perform the cleaning

You have to keep “cleaning records” on a USPS form

Obviously, this is not a do-it-yourself job. It requires special tools and direct access to the most current version of the Postal Service’s Move/Update database.

NEED TO NCOA UPDATE YOUR LIST? Do it for FREE

Copies&Ink has special access to the NCOA database. Here’s what we will do to bring you into full compliance:

Import your list and check it against the national database

Update the addresses of people who have moved

Remove any non-mailable addresses

Supply you with a complete PDF report of any list changes

Send you a copy of the USPS Form 6014, certifying your new list

Provide you with a clean, updated mailing list

If you choose, we’ll process and mail your materials for the lowest available postage rates.

Keeping your list clean is a good step along the path to being “green.” You’ll save on postage and printing while less undeliverable mail ends up in the landfill. Besides, wouldn’t you want to know if your customer or prospect has moved (or died)? In any event, you’ll need to certify in writing that your list is ready for prime time.

FREE NCOA UPDATES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Copies&Ink will update and certify your list AT NO CHARGE if your project is printing and/or addressing & mailing at Copies&Ink. Contact our customer service department and ask for the NCOA promo. Offer expires Jan 31, 2009, so act today!

LOW COST NCOA UPDATE SERVICE
We’re also offering a special $27 rate for NCOA processing only (any list up to 2500 addresses), no printing or mailing services need be purchased to receive this price. Offer valid until Jan. 31, 2000.

TO GET STARTED or for additional information, fill out our quick form below. You can optionally attach your mailing list file in Excel or text formats.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

OPTIONAL: Attach your mailing list using the file upload button above.

Un-Confuse Your Marketing!

billalpert — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:17:43 +0000

People send mailers for all the wrong reasons.

Are you thinking about sending out a flyer or mailer? Stop! Why are you sending it? Unless you have a clear picture of your reason, you’re cooking up a recipe for disappointment!

Most people who send out flyers are thinking DRM, or direct response marketing. Compare that to “branding” or image marketing, and you’ll find two different kinds of animals, which should never be confused for each other. If you’re looking for a response, that is you want the orders to come and the phone to ring, you’ll need a relevant and compelling offer to motivate your customers.

DRM won’t work for every type of business. Sometimes the reason for the mailing is to build awareness of your brand in the marketplace. That’s something that happens over time. Sorry, no shortcuts here. Instead think about how many times and ways you can “touch” your customer over the next six to 12 months. If there’s a trick here, it’s to be memorable.

So much of this stuff gets confused because it looks so similar on the surface. A mailer is a mailer, yes?
Couldn’t be more wrong!

Copies&Ink » direct response

United States Postal Service new NCOA rules

Un-Confuse Your Marketing!