Learn how commingling can help you save money and time on your direct mail campaigns. Find out what commingling is, how it works, and what benefits it offers.
Direct mail is a powerful marketing tool that can help you reach your target audience, generate leads, and increase sales. But direct mail can also be costly and time-consuming, especially if you have to deal with postage rates, sorting, and delivery issues.
That’s where commingling comes in. Commingling is a process of combining mail from different sources to get lower postage rates and faster delivery. It can help you optimize your direct mail solutions and get the most out of your marketing budget.
In this article, we’ll explain what commingling is, how it works, and what benefits it offers. We’ll also share some tips on how to choose a reliable commingling service for your direct mail campaigns.
What is Commingling?
Commingling is a technique of mixing your direct mail pieces with those of other companies that have similar destinations. By doing so, you can take advantage of bulk mailing discounts offered by the USPS and reduce the number of steps involved in the postal sorting process.
The USPS charges different postage rates depending on the size, weight, shape, and destination of your mail pieces. The more sorted and presorted your mail is, the lower the postage rate you’ll pay. For example, if you send a letter to a local address within the same ZIP code, you’ll pay less than if you send it to a distant address across the country.
However, sorting and presorting your mail can be a hassle. You need to have the right equipment, software, data files, and staff to handle the task. You also need to follow the postal regulations and guidelines for each type of mail you send.
Commingling solves this problem by outsourcing the sorting and presorting task to a third-party service provider. A commingling service will collect your mail pieces and mix them with those of other clients who have similar mailing needs. Then, they will sort and presort the mail according to the USPS standards and deliver it to the nearest postal facility.
By commingling your mail with others, you can achieve greater penetration through the postal sorting process. This means that your mail will skip some of the intermediate steps that normally slow down the delivery time. For example, instead of going through five postal facilities before reaching its final destination, your mail might go through only two or three.
How Does Commingling Work?
There are two ways of commingling direct mail, and they are:
- One-pass commingling: In this approach, businesses use shipping input data files to decide the best presorting technique for their mailers. Then, they sort individual mailpieces using these files and the necessary equipment (similar to the USPS sorting machines).
- Two-pass commingling: In the two-pass approach of commingling mail, you first sort the mailers according to their destination addresses. Then, you pass them through a second sorting machine that creates a mail plan based on the optimal postal discounts.
The commingling option that’s best for your company will vary depending on the type of mail you’re sending and other factors. Working with an experienced commingling service will be your best bet at determining which method is ideal.
What are the Benefits of Commingling?
Commingling offers several benefits for your direct mail solutions, such as:
- Saving money: Commingling can save you a significant amount of money on postage costs because the USPS offers lower rates for commingled mail. This is because your commingling service handles a lot of the work that the post office would otherwise do, such as sorting, tagging, bundling, and more.
- Saving time: Commingling can also save you time on your direct mail campaigns because it reduces the delivery time for your mail pieces. Instead of waiting for weeks for your mail to reach your target customers, commingling can deliver it in as little as 8-10 days.
- Targeting better: Commingling allows you to send smaller and more targeted mailings to your prospects or customers without sacrificing cost efficiency. You can segment your audience based on their interests, preferences, behavior, or other criteria and send them personalized messages that resonate with them.
- Tracking easier: Commingling also makes it easier for you to track and measure the results of your direct mail campaigns. You can use codes, coupons, URLs, phone numbers, or other identifiers to track the responses and conversions from your mail pieces. You can also use analytics tools to evaluate the performance and ROI of your campaigns.
How to Choose a Commingling Service?
If you’re interested in commingling your direct mail, you need to find a reliable and reputable commingling service that can handle your needs. Here are some tips on how to choose the right one:
- Check their experience: Look for a commingling service that has been in the business for a long time and has a proven track record of delivering quality results. Ask for references, testimonials, or case studies from their previous or current clients.
- Check their equipment: Make sure that the commingling service has the right equipment, software, and data files to sort and presort your mail according to the USPS standards. Ask for a demonstration or a tour of their facilities if possible.
- Check their pricing: Compare the pricing and fees of different commingling services and see which one offers the best value for your money. Ask for a quote or an estimate based on your specific mailing needs and budget.
- Check their customer service: Choose a commingling service that has a friendly, responsive, and professional customer service team that can answer your questions, address your concerns, and resolve any issues that may arise during the process.
Conclusion
Commingling is a smart way to optimize your direct mail solutions and get more bang for your buck. By combining your mail with others, you can save money and time on postage and delivery, target your audience better, and track your results easier.
If you’re looking for a commingling service that can help you with your direct mail campaigns, look no further than Bing AI. We have the experience, equipment, and expertise to handle your commingling needs and deliver outstanding results. Contact us today to get started!
