Mail delivers information in a manner that can be personal, believable, transportable, and easily retained. Here are 10 tips to help you proactively manage rising postal costs.

1. Scrub Your Data. Your database needs constant updating to stay accurate. Mismanaged databases waste postage, prolong delivery dates, and may cause embarrassing errors. Cleaned data can improve deliverability, response rates, and profitability.

2. Consider mailing costs before printing. Choices made in the design stage of a mailing can make a big difference. Make your mailing plan part of your printing specifications and evaluate methods and costs just as you would a printed project. While CCN has few restrictions regarding size and weight of your piece, you can still save money and time by:

Preparing mail at the same location that you print. CCN partners with printers who offer full mail house capabilities. The connection between your printer and CCN's mail delivery is seamless.

When a CCN printer is able to mail your project, we can help you make changes to the print specifications that will save you money on postage. Staff experts in both areas will work together to develop solutions that work.

3. Weigh Your Options. The weight of your mailing can make a big difference in USPS rates, far less so when you mail with CCN. When planning your mailing, work with your printer to determine a finished weight of the final product, then take into consideration postage costs. If your piece falls just above an upper limit of a weight range, consider making some changes to reduce the weight to get it within the desired range. The common breakpoint for standard USPS mail weight is 3.2 ounces. Other range scales exist for flats and packages. CCN recognizes weight as a factor in mailing costs, but gives you greater flexibility with prices that are approximately half of what the USPS charges.

More information on weight related costs by class of mail can be found on this website.

4. Size Matters. Avoid surcharges and changes in classifications. The postal service has size limitations for different mail shapes. The shape of your mail will determine the rate scale by class used to determine your postage. These sizes are determined by the ability to run the piece through the postal machines ("machinability"). Machinability is not the same as automation, which refers to discounts for additional features placed on the mail piece.

Again, CCN can greatly diminish these higher costs and surcharges, as we do not require machinability or automation, and we operate without restrictive size regulations.

5. Test Integrating Communications. One way to decrease your costs is to increase your results. Test to see if you could integrate other media to complement your mailing. Sometimes, through testing, you will find ways that can save you money, accelerate your response times, and increase your response rates. Use CCN's circulation marketing and circulation management expertise to test and suggest complementary media forms like bulk distribution advertising, internet or direct sales.

6. Get All Possible Discounts. The postal rate system is complicated. Many discounts exist in its pricing structure. Simply put, the more work that is done before your mail hits the mail stream, the less it costs; the more automated your mail processing is, the less it costs.

Even if you are using common methods for cost reduction such as presorting, barcoding, and addressing to meet automation standards, more exist. Work with an expert to find out if you are doing everything possible by evaluating services like drop shipping and commingling.

7. Secure your data. Protect your list and specific pieces of data from getting into the wrong hands. Identity theft or misuse of confidential information can harm and disrupt people's lives, and cost you customers and money to correct the situation. Make sure your partner is taking steps to secure your date and ensure that your customer's information is not misused or stolen.

8. Make an Impact with Customization. What are you looking to accomplish with your mailing? A certain response rate? Communication of details that are unique by individual or data segment? Awareness?

With CCN's flexibility and expertise, you can use intelligent insertion ideas and compatible co-distribution to create custom packages specifically targeted to your audience, without the restraints and regulations imposed by the USPS.

9. Where's Your Warehouse? Don't forget about what storage of your materials is costing you between mailings. You may be able to realize a significant cost savings in storing components of your mailings at your printer/mail service provider. CCN can easily keep track of your inventory and disseminate your material as directed. We can also develop a fulfillment program that allows you to use your material at events and in communication programs beyond mailing and delivery.

10. Get a Grip. Grasping the big picture makes a big impact on print and mailing programs. A well-planned, comprehensive program will reduces redundancy and streamline everything from design costs to printing and distribution. Contract a reliable vendor for a longer period of time, rather than shopping each project. CCN can act as a management company and procure services from a network of affiliates we've developed over 26 years of circulation and logistical operations. This can reduce the time for procurement, make budgeting easy, simplify processes for accounts payable and get you volume pricing.

For the biggest savings in mailing or shipping, choose a partner who will help you from preparation through distribution. Choose CCN