Among the many ways to get your message out to your clients, postcard mailings are one of the more inexpensive and direct methods. When a postcard arrives in the mail, there is no envelope to open or letter to read through, your message is right there in front of the recipient – no filter whatsoever. Postcard mailing seems like the quick and easy way to get your message out, right?

Before you start designing your postcard piece, there are several postal regulations that will turn quick and easy into long and miserable. To save yourself and your company time and money, it is important that you understand and comply with the requirements set by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Here are some requirements to be aware of before you begin:

First-class mail requirements for postcard mailers

• Your piece must be rectangular
• Minimum size requirement of 3.5" tall x 5" long x 0.007" thick
• Maximum size requirement of 4.25" tall x 6" long x 0.016" thick

Standard mail requirements for postcard mailers

• Your piece must be rectangular
• Maximum size requirement of 6.125” tall x 11.5” long x 0.25” thick

Although there is a more defined size restriction on postcards, first-class mail has several benefits over standard mail. First-class mail is cheaper per piece and will also get where it's going quicker than standard mail. First-class mail also offers free forwarding and return to sender services.

Now, let's touch on the mailing panel of your postcard, which if designed correctly, can also save you time and money. The USPS requires that certain areas of the mailing panel, or the address side, of the postcard be left white for addressing, postage, and bar coding. Even if your mailing piece has a background color or image on the mailing panel, these particular areas absolutely must be white. Depending on the size of your postcard, the dimensions of such white spaces will vary as well. Take a look at the 6" x 4.25" example below.

Credit: http://designerstoolbox.com/designresources/postcards/6x425/

For larger bulk mailing projects, consider using Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb), a 65 bar USPS barcode used to automate the sorting process for letters and flats. With automation, your mail piece is bar-coded and sorted through the USPS’s high-speed processing equipment. This equipment reduces costs for the USPS, and in turn saves you money in the form of lower postage.

If you are not preparing your mailing for automation, no bar code is required. Your mailing can still be efficiently processed without a bar code and will still reach its destination.

So, if you're planning to do a mass mailing, remember to make sure everything complies with the USPS regulations. Of course, remember, the team at Avalon is always here to help!

For additional information on postcard mailings and mailings in general, you can visit the USPS website. Or contact the Avalon team today!