Every Door Direct Mail from the Post Office: Why MarketPlace-Solutions Offers a Better Deal

The Post Office is trying to get into the direct mail marketing business with Every Door Direct Mail.

I wish them luck. They are already losing billions of dollars — and if they can find the customers that can use the service to plug that deficit, go for it.

I’d certainly be interested in knowing how much they are spending on television ads and direct mail — and if it’s profitable.

But it’s a lousy deal for most businesses. MarketPlace-Solutions.com can do the same thing — but make it easier for the customer.

Bottom line, direct mail marketing is all about results

Can the average small business person design a mailer that will be attractive and gain business? That’s a specialty in of itself.

What about printing? What the average person doesn’t know about how to print cheaply and effectively can fill a book.

And then there are the post office regulations. With Every Door Direct Mail you don’t need to put an address on the mailer. Big deal….you have to wrap them in bundles of 50 with a form on each bundle. Much easier for me to address them with my specialized addressing machines than count out 50 mailers for each bundle.

And without an address, how can you make sure you know where you are going? Do most people even know what a carrier route is?
And let’s talk about the list — or the lack of a list. I have visited the Every Door Direct Mail site and I don’t see any demographic information I use for my clients.

What is the average home value and/or income of a certain carrier route? That’s routine information I give my clients, along with other details. I can even split my lists between homes and apartments. I don’t see that option in the Every Door Direct Marketing program.

Postage costs? Well, the cost is actually higher than the 6″ x 9″ postcards I use because the mailer is required to be a flat. Good luck telling the small business owner the dimensions of a flat as opposed to a postcard.

Then you have to take it to the individual post office. Guess what, I can do a two-mile radius from here and hit three different ZIP codes. That means three different post offices….

So what are the advantages?

Well, you don’t need a bulk mail permit. But neither do my clients since I use my bulk mail permit.
Every Door Direct Mail only can work for someone who has too much time on their hands — and doesn’t have any budget to mail.

The unemployed student who wants to start a pet sitting business is one prospect.

There are costs to design, print and mail. Direct mail is not cheap. I have minimums because I know from 25+ experience how much time it will take me to do a job. Same time to design something for 10 people or 10,000. Setting up the mailing machine. Often, I can do 5,000 in less time than 500 — and the trip to the BMEU is the same time.

I applaud the Post Office for promoting direct mail to businesses that may not have considered using it. I give the Post Office credit for trying to drum up business.

On the other hand, they are stealing my customers and offering an inferior product.

If you are interested in doing a targeted marketing, give us a call at 919-848-4332 and let us explain the options. Then call the Post Office and try to find someone who can help you. I absolutely, positively guarantee that it will be so much easier to deal with me because I care about my clients. See if the Post Office cares about your marketing efforts!