TABLE OF CONTENTSWhat is Address Line 2 and How to Fill It Out?Who among us doesn’t like shopping online? It would be a safe bet to say that many people enjoy shopping online. Perhaps the only thing we don’t like about shopping online is filling out lengthy forms (apart from spending our money, of course). Sometimes, we would see address line 1 and address line 2 in little boxes and immediately start to reconsider filling up the form. One reason why people don’t want to fill out address lines 1 and 2 is that most of them don’t even know the difference between them. They shouldn’t have to either because they are the customers. However, you can’t say the same for businesses that implement address lines in their forms. Not just eCommerce but businesses of all kinds use address lines in their online forms. At first glance, the address lines may not seem relevant enough for companies to discuss them. ![]() The consequences of an address line issue are much more significant than you might think. First, any errors or confusion concerning the address line may result in validation failures. If that happens, the user may abandon the form out of frustration. No business wants to lose sales or potential leads because of an address line issue. So, if your company uses an online form, you must educate yourself on the address line 2 field. You need to understand the proper use of address line 2 fields in a form and how to use them effectively. So, if you wonder what address lines 1 and 2 are and how you can better utilise address lines, you have come to the right place. What Is Address Line 2?Address Line 2 is something all of us are familiar with, and this goes for both the users and the website managers. Perhaps the reason why address line 2 has gone unnoticed for ages is because of this familiarity. Most shoppers think including a second address line in online forms is a good idea. We may end up implementing it without much thought. So, why would anyone want to optimise something already popular online? As address line 2 is popular, no one bothered to check whether it poses an issue for the user experience. As a result, most businesses don’t consider changing address lines even when optimising their online forms.
What Is Address Line 1 And 2?Some people may already know that Royal Mail has a standardised format for postal addresses inside the UK. According to postal standards, an address usually consists of three lines and four if it includes a company name. The Royal Mail-standardised address lines include the following details:
The above details should be present in a Royal Mail standardised address. But we may not know the standardised format for writing the address according to the Royal Mail. The first line of the address contains the recipient’s name. Up next, you have the delivery address line, which includes the actual address of the recipient. And finally, we have the city, state, and postcode line. Look at Address Lines From the Customer’s Point of ViewTo understand the problem with address lines, you need to start looking at it from the customer’s point of view. Once you look at the address lines in a form from the user’s perspective, you will see that the multiple lines are confusing. When the user sees multiple address lines, their head starts filling up with questions. “Do I have to fill out the second address line?” “Should I just enter the house number and local area in the first address line?” “Can I just skip the second address line and fill in my address on the first line?” “Why is there a second line for the address?” It is not hard to imagine your customers asking themselves such questions. The chances are that you have asked yourself these questions at some point. So, the user’s confusion, in this case, is very understandable. Sadly, this minor confusion may have devastating effects on your business. The worst-case scenario is that the confusion causes the customer to freeze and potentially abandon the cart. So, if it goes unchecked, there are chances your abandoned cart rate will go up significantly. The chances of customers abandoning their cart solely because of address line 2 are minimal. However, it can be a powerful catalyst for the user’s decision to leave your website. What Is the Purpose of Address Line 2?It might shock you that the people who designed the forms included the second address line for no purpose. “Why would they implement address line 2?” you might wonder. Well, because “everyone else is doing it.” Although most of us are unaware, the address line 2 field was created for a reason. So, what is that reason? What information should you actually feed into the address line 2 field? You can include several pieces of information in the address line 2 field, such as
The examples above should give you a fair idea of the information the address line 2 field must hold. In real-life situations, most people don’t need the second address line. For instance, if your delivery address is 1408 Hogwarts Street, you don’t have to fill in the second address line. What is Address Line 2 Used For in Practice?We have already established that no one knows the purpose of the address line 2 field. So, what is address line 2 used for in actual practice? There is uncertainty surrounding what to put in the second address line. Due to this uncertainty, users provide too much information in the address line 2 field. Most people usually enter details like their secondary address, C/O or in-care-of address, and even special instructions. There is also a chance that the user splits their address into two to use both address lines in the form. Apart from this, the address line 2 field can be helpful when your address is too long for address line 1. For example, it usually happens when a delivery address is a work address. Here, you will need to include details such as
Although rare, some forms have a field for providing company information. You do not have to push the mailing address to the second address line if there is a field for company information. How to Use the Address Line 2 Fields on Forms CorrectlyThere is a rule in UX design that every designer follows, and that is “Always remove friction. Never create it.” The same rule applies when you develop an address entry field for an online form. You must remove any friction elements if they are removable to ensure a fluid user experience. Usually, you must consider your target audience to create a form with minimal friction elements. Analysing your audience can help you determine the details you need from them during checkout. You may then optimise the form for a specific audience. However, this may not be the best approach to configuring the address form. Why? Let us assume that 8 out of 10 prospects do not need the address line 2. So, does that mean we take a majoritarian approach and ignore the needs of the remaining two people? No, businesses must always aim for the best result and never settle for anything less. Ideally, all your prospects should be able to fill out the form in a way that’s easy and convenient. Best Ways to Present the Address Line 2 Field in a FormAfter examining several practices for presenting the address line 2 field to the user, we found three excellent approaches. Use a Descriptive CopyAs mentioned above, the biggest problem with address lines is that they cause unnecessary confusion. Instead, you can use a descriptive copy to guide the users through the form. A descriptive copy can efficiently explain the online form and its fields. Initially Hide Address Line 2We know that the majority of users do not require address line 2. Therefore, it makes sense to hide address line 2 initially. This way, you can ensure there is no confusion in the form. And in case the user needs the second address line, they can easily find it on the form and unhide it. Combination of Descriptive Copy And Hidden Address LineYou can use hidden address line 2 with a descriptive copy that guides the user. This way, you can inform the user about the invisible address line and ensure they do not miss it. The combination is the best for minimising confusion and enabling easy and fast form filling. Popular Practices Used For Address Line 2Address line issues are not easily noticeable, but many users notice them. Eventually, companies formulated several practices to rectify the address line issue, but not all got desirable results. However, some of the best practices successfully solved the problem of address lines on online forms. As a result, these practices have become the standard best practices for implementing the address line 2 field. Some of the best practices for creating address line 2 are as follows: Analyse Your Current Mailing List for Audience NeedsAnalysing the current mailing list is one of the most essential and popular practices for implementing the address line 2 field. In this approach, you must analyse what your audience needs from the form. Then, develop an optimised structure that can intuitively serve the users. Expandable Address Line 2Another popular option for the second address line is using an expandable format. Include an option/button in the online form that says, “Add more space for the address.” Clicking on this option/button should expand the form to reveal the second address line. You can also set up an auto-expansion feature that automatically opens address line 2 after detecting the address that needs more space. Ensure Your Users Understand Address Line 2 is OptionalAnother widespread practice for the “address line 2” field is ensuring users know it is optional. There are several ways to do this. For example, you could go with a quote that says “Optional Field” beside the address line 2 field. Using a “*” sign beside the mandatory fields also informs the user the address line 2 field is optional. Include Instructions on The FormSometimes the most straightforward solutions are the most effective, and including instructions on the form is as simple as it is. However, providing short and accurate instructions with helpful examples can get the point across to the users. Proper Labeling of the Address FieldsLabelling the address field wrong is one of the worst mistakes to make. Suppose you label the address field “Address 1” and “Address 2.” It can confuse the user. The labels you use should be upfront and cause minimal confusion. The bare minimum you can do is include “line” in the labels. For example, change the labels to “address line 1” or “address line 2.” Even then, the terms are very similar and confusing. Therefore, you must label the address fields better and eradicate confusion. Additional Tactics You Can Use to Minimise ConfusionThere are several other methods by which you can help minimise the confusion in online forms due to address line 2. But please remember these are only subtle elements that can aid you in reducing confusion on the forms.
Three UX Design Aspects You Should Consider for Address Line 2As mentioned before, hiding the address line 2 can minimise confusion on online forms. But don’t make the mistake of ignoring the design aspects of implementing such a feature. If the design implementation is flawed, then address line two fields may turn useless on the form. Consider the following three UX implementation details for address line 2 in your online forms. 1. Make Every Other Field DistinguishableWhether the address line 2 field is expanded or collapsed, the rest must be easily distinguishable. You should explicitly denote any field other than the optional address line 2 field through an attractive design element. The user will be dazed and confused by an online form that does not clearly distinguish optional fields from mandatory ones. It also increases the risk of the user running into a “Field is required” validation error. Users accessing the online form through a mobile device have an even more considerable risk of usability issues. Hence, you should use design elements to mark or emphasise the mandatory fields on online forms. 2. Make Links a Part of The Keyboard Tabbing FlowHave you ever noticed that you can press the tab button to shift the focus to the following field once you are on an online form? If yes, you would have noticed that pressing the tab button doesn’t always change the focus to the right field. So, if you use links to hide the address line 2 field, you should make it a part of the keyboard tabbing flow. However, you don’t have to include links for help and tooltips in the keyboard tabbing sequence. It means that upon pressing the tab button, the user should navigate to the address line 2 field. However, if the tab button navigates to secondary links like help or tooltips, the user experience can become very disruptive. Even The Seconds MatterSuppose the customer uses different tabs to navigate themselves and enter a secondary link. Let’s also assume that the secondary link they navigated to is the “Help” link. The user could get stuck in the “Help” link for several seconds or even minutes. Herein, the user gets stuck while filling out the form after using the tab button for easy and fast navigation. Such a situation can discourage the user from completing the transaction. Most users will never need the help, and forcing them to go to the help link unnecessarily can cause friction in the user experience. So using the justification that some users might actually need help is not valid as the potential friction it can create is much greater. Your best bet is to create a well-thought custom tab order for secondary links like help. You must also let the customer skip specific items through tabbing and ensure a faster way to fill forms. Even saving the user seconds in navigation can help you boost the user experience. 3. Style The Expandable Link “Address Line 2”If you include an expandable link for address line 2, users must understand it is expandable. Unless the user knows that the link expands into an additional form field, it will be useless to the users who need it. So, a safe practice would be to insert the link below the “Address Line 1” field. You can also set the link beside the “Address Line 2” field. Also, you should add an indicator for the field, like “+” or “*,” and terms such as “add.” Why You Should Not Include The Address Line 2 Field on Online FormsIncluding an “address line 2” field has become standard practice when developing an online form. However, the address line 2 field is rarely necessary on address forms. Therefore, including it is more of a safety measure than a necessity. We also know that the address line 1 and 2 in an online form causes numerous confusion. Therefore, companies rethink using the “address line 2” field in their online forms for many reasons. Below are some of the significant drawbacks of the second address line and why you should consider removing them. Splitting of Address DataAdding the second address line ends up causing the user to split up their address information. Also, the users may split the address however they deem fit, and there is no way of telling how the user will break the data. Sometimes the user may only include the starting of the address in the first address line. Other times the user may split the address right in the middle. Additionally, the same user could split up their address differently for different online forms. Parsing Becomes Hard And InconsistentDetermining how a user would split up the address data is impossible. Hence, there is a chance that managing the address data obtained through online forms will become increasingly difficult. Furthermore, even an automated system may not help you with the data processing as there is no recognisable pattern. It is also possible that the user provides too much information using the address line 2 field. For example, they could provide you with the nearest landmarks and even special instructions to fill out the space. As a result, parsing becomes complex and inconsistent. Suppose a user mixes up their Name in the second address line or misplaces the apartment number on the address line. An address validation system can not process addresses that vary too much from the original address. You can parse and standardise your addresses using an advanced address validation tool like PostGrid. Unfortunately, there are many ways the user can fill the address line 2. Therefore it also has a higher chance of error. Although PostGrid can help you in many cases, its accuracy may be affected if the variation from the original address is too significant. Mistakenly Enter Alternative AddressA common misconception the users have upon seeing the “address line 2” field is that it is for providing an alternative address. So it is unsurprising for businesses to see that their prospects have provided two addresses instead of one. What usually happens is that the user enters their home or primary address in the address line 1 field. Then the customer sees the “address line 2” field and thinks they must provide a secondary address. And hence, the customer ends up providing a secondary (office) address in the second line. In this case, two complete addresses are accurate and deliverable by Royal Mail. Hence, an advanced address verification system can not determine the intended destination. Hinder Your Business ProcessesBy now, it is clear that the billing address line 2 field can confuse users. We also know this confusion can cause customers to provide complex address data. Therefore, there is a good chance that the input data you collect through online forms need to be processed repeatedly. Processing the data multiple times takes effort and time, even if you use automation. You may try to separate the good and bad data throughout various business processes. The best way to avoid this is to ensure high data quality at the collection point. Also Read: What Is Transliteration, And How Can It Help Your Business Communication? Should You Get Rid of Address Line 2 Field Altogether?Whether or not to get rid of the address line 2 field on online forms is not an easy question to answer. On the one hand, you can’t just ignore the users who might need the second address line. But on the other hand, it can confuse and disrupt a fluidic user experience for most people. Additionally, there is a much higher chance of getting incorrect data from the input point when using an address line 2 field. So, by the end of it, address line 2 does more bad than good to your business. This situation requires an advanced solution to ensure you get quality data from the point of input. So as long as you can ensure address data quality, you may use the address line 2 field on online forms. How to Solve Address Line 2 Issues Using PostGrid?The best way to bypass the issues caused by the address line 2 field is to ensure data quality. Hence, you must only ask one question- How to ensure high data quality? And more importantly, how can you provide it at the collection point? You could try many strategies to ensure data quality, such as using a descriptive copy, highlighting the mandatory fields, etc. However, despite these measures, there is still a chance for error or incorrect data. Address AutocompletePostGrid’s address verification API comes equipped with a ton of features. But the one that requires your attention the most is the Address Autocomplete feature. Why? Because it is the key to ensuring data quality right from its point of collection. The Address Autocomplete feature lets users type in their addresses and suggest verified addresses in real time. Addresses indicated by PostGrid are accurate and verified ones that come straight from the Royal Mail’s official address database (Postcode Address File – PAF). The system analyses the user’s text and uses location detection to suggest the most accurate address. Therefore, you can collect quality data from the users and significantly improve the convenience of filling up an online form. ConclusionThe address line 2 field is still a grey area for almost all users and most people that create online forms. Although the second address line is supposed to help users provide their complete address data, it often does the opposite. The street address line 2 field is confusing and can collect complex or flawed address data. Instead, consider using advanced tools like PostGrid to ensure quality data from the point of input. PostGrid’s address verification API comes equipped with an Address Autocomplete feature. It enables you to ensure address data quality at the data collection point by suggesting validated addresses in real-time. Additionally, you may use the PostGrid address validation API to validate and standardise your existing address database. PostGrid’s system even allows bulk address verification so you can ensure data accuracy within a matter of seconds. Click here to learn more about the address line 2 and how we can help! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post What Is Address Line 2 appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/what-is-address-line-2/
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TABLE OF CONTENTSAutomated Postcard MailingPostcard marketing was always among those marketing forms that bear excellent results. Even in today’s time, when digital interactions have become part and parcel of everyone’s lives, it continues to impress customers and prospects and get them to respond. However, it is undeniable that previously, any type of direct mail marketing was costly, difficult to conduct and track. But things have changed now. Automation has helped marketers streamline their direct mail activities and avail a whole set of advanced capabilities. ![]() Automated postcard mailing does not only make direct mailing easier and efficient but helps marketers get a better response and conversion rate. In this blog, we will discuss more automated postcard mailing, its benefits, importance, and ways to optimise it. Reasons to Automate Postcard MailingThere are a number of reasons why you should use automated postcard mailing. While postcard marketing has survived all the modern digital marketing strategies and is still prefered by marketers, it is important to do it right. At this point, automation comes in to combine one of the oldest offline marketing forms with new technology. Postcards are impressive direct mail items. They can easily create an impact on the minds of your recipients and persuade them to complete the CTA. Plus, the tangible nature of direct mail that allows people to see and touch it only adds to its benefits. Unlike other mail items, postcards do not need envelopes. It can be tricky to design postcards as the mailing address, return address, keep clear zone, and stamps are all printed on them. Automated postcard mailing solutions like PostGrid enable you to design eye-catching postcards and print them in the right way. Automation also helps marketers save plenty of time spent researching vendors and negotiating prices. PostGrid’s postcard print and mail API offers all-in-one rates for everything from designing to mailing. Moreover, it can help you get huge postal discounts by bulk mailing, presorting, and several such methods. Verified addresses, accuracy, timely delivery, and tracking capabilities are some of the other reasons why you should automate your postcard mailing effort. Personalise Your Postcards and Build Segmented Mailing ListsSending out general postcards with not even the recipient’s first name cannot help you gather a lot of responses. Such general marketing strategies are often failed because people do not feel the need to respond to these non-personalised postcards. On the other hand, personalisation can flip the entire game for you. It can grab your recipients’ attention quickly and make them feel special. With the help of variable data printing offered by automated direct mail solutions like PostGrid, it has become easy to personalise every single postcard among thousands. You can integrate PostGrid’s postcard print and mail API into your CRM and use certain demographics and factors for personalisation. As much as you personalise your postcards, it is recommended that you also first segment your mailing lists and target a specific audience that fits your buyer persona. Again, targeting certain demographics and psychographics such as age, income, gender, marital status, buying habits, and preferences can help you build targeted mailing lists. PostGrid can help you build such mailing lists from scratch. Gone are the days when you printed the same thousand postcards and mailed them out to anyone in the hope that they would be interested in your brand and respond to your mail. With automation, you can determine your prospects beforehand and then reach out to them with the most convincing message possible. Include Infographics, a Relevant CTA, and an Exciting OfferComing to the contents of your postcard, there are some basics. Marketers should take care to include an easy and upfront CTA that recipients are willing to complete. A smart trick is to lure recipients into completing the CTA by adding an undeniable offer. Hence, both the CTA and offer should complement one another and support the common cause of getting maximum responses. Having said that, it is often difficult to determine the CTA that can be included in your postcard content. While some companies jump straight to the sales part and ask their prospects to purchase, that can sometimes be a buzzkill. Postcard marketing works best when it is used as a means of lead generation and not direct sales. Therefore, asking people to scan a QR code, visit your website, set up a demo session, or something similar can be a good CTA, especially when you are interacting with someone for the first time. Similarly, your offer should be something exciting and interesting to your audience. Extra credits, discounts, and some other benefits should do the task. Another thing to note is that creativity is appreciated; after all, your postcards should be attention-grabbing and attractive. Recipients should want to read them. You can add some relevant images and infographics for doing so. A/B Testing and Mail Tracking AbilitiesOut of all the amazing features that automated postcard mailing offers, testing and tracking are the most beneficial ones. They help you analyse your postcard marketing activities and also guide you on how to improve and do better. Before conducting a large-scale campaign, it is best to send out a few mail items and test their performance and effectiveness. If this test campaign doesn’t work, you would have saved yourself a lot of time, effort, and money. Moreover, you can make the necessary modifications and move ahead. A/B testing allows businesses to make the right decision. Marketers can test different designs, colours, graphics, and copy to check what works the best for their brand. They can get several variations to compete against each other and choose the top-performing one. This way, marketers can assure their campaign success prior to conducting it. Talking of tracking, you first need to determine how you want to track responses and engagements. There are several ways to track responses like adding a QR code, pURL, dedicated phone number, unique email address, redeemable discount codes, and so on. These tracking factors can help marketers have a clear view of all the responses, which they can follow up on and drive conversions. Through these ways, you can easily combine offline and online marketing. This combination allows you to tap on all of your conversion chances and opportunities. Multiple touchpoints mean an extended database, which you can make complete use of through automated postcard mailing. API IntegrationAPI integration offers more than one benefit to direct mail marketers. Firstly, they can skip through the part where manual data entry is required. The integration helps in speedy data import useful to personalise mail items. Secondly, they can integrate with any marketing platform such as Shopify, Zoho, Magento, Hubspot, and more. You can start printing and mailing postcards right from your own preferred platform. With the Zapier integration, marketers can connect with over 1,600 apps to gather data. The process of integrating PostGrid’s automated direct mail API with your CRM is relatively simple and quick. It makes sending direct mail as easy as sending emails. ConclusionAutomated postcard mailing is easy, efficient, productive, and highly result-bearing. Through automation, you can personalise postcards, segment mailing lists, test different postcards for their features, track and measure results, get campaign analytics, and improve your overall direct mailing journey. With bulk mailing capabilities, international coverage, address verification, pre-built templates for speedy designing, and no minimum volume requirements, PostGrid offers excellent automated postcard mailing solutions. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Automated Postcard Mailing appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/automated-postcard-mailing/ TABLE OF CONTENTSHow to Send a Letter Online: The Ultimate Guide (UK)Sending marketing, compliance, and transactional letters is part and parcel of every company. It is important to have your letter-sending procedure sorted so that your employees can get the task done efficiently and in the least amount of time. ![]() Typically, there are a lot of steps involved in printing and mailing letters. From drafting and printing them to enveloping and mailing, the steps can get time-consuming and monotonous. Therefore, companies should consider learning how to send a letter through different methods and select the most speedy and effective one. Though sending a letter manually via mail has been in the books for quite a long time, sending a letter online is getting popular these days. In this blog, let’s find out how to send a letter online and its benefits. How to Send a Letter in The Mail ManuallyFirstly, you should know how to send a letter in the mail to understand the difference between sending letters offline and online. The offline steps include: Draft and PrintThe very first step is to plan your letter contents and draft your letter. For business letters such as contracts, applications, tax documents, and others, it is recommended to use a formal template. Marketing letters can be creative and personalised. After the final draft is ready, you can get the printing done either by using your own printer or through a printing vendor. Choose the Right Type of EnvelopeThe type of envelope that you should use depends on your size and shape requirements, budget, destination, and mailing motive. Non-standard size and unusual-shaped envelopes can cost you more, so make sure to keep your budget in mind before selecting an envelope type. Moreover, if you are mailing to an address that is far, you would require a sturdier envelope. Hence, you need to make these considerations and choose the right envelope type accordingly. Measure Size and WeightStaying within the Royal Mail letter weight and size dimensions can help you avail affordable rates. The standard letter dimensions are 240 mm x 165 mm, and the weight should not exceed 5 mm. For large letters, the dimensions are 353 mm x 250 mm. Letters larger than 25 mm will be treated as parcels. Measure your letter’s weight and size in advance to calculate the postage later. Enclose and SealAfter the above steps are completed, enclose your letters in envelopes and seal them securely. You can use small tapes or glue to seal envelopes. Some people simply lick the edge and shut the flap. Others use a sponge to wet the glue on the edges and then seal them. Whatever method you are using, be sure that the seal is shut tightly and the envelope contents are well protected. Address the EnvelopeThe next step would be to add the mailing address. This address should be written on the top-front face of the envelope and should be clear. According to the Royal Mail address format, the first line should always make the recipient’s name, followed by the house number and street address on the second line, local area name on the third line, town name in capital letters on the fourth line, and the postcode in capital letters on the last line. Use the same format to write the return address on the back with the words “Return Address” clearly mentioned above. Calculate the PostageBased on the mailing speed you want, calculate the postage for your letters. The postage depends on a number of other factors as well, such as weight, size, and destination. You can visit the post office to calculate your postage or simply check the rates on the Royal Mail website by entering your letter weight and size along with some other details. Mail the LetterAfter calculating the postage and selecting from among the first class and second class mail options, it is finally time to mail the letter. Note that the first class mail option delivers faster but costs more. You can decide which option you want to select and accordingly pay the postage. There are about 115,000 post boxes all across the UK. You can locate one near your home or office and drop your letters there. Alternatively, you can carry them to the post office for mailing. Why and How to Send a Letter OnlineNow that you know how to send a letter in the mail let us also understand how to send an online letter so that you can look out for the differences and decide the best option for yourself. As we discussed above, there are a lot of steps to be completed before you can mail a letter. If you want to save time or shift to a more efficient way to print and mail letters, you should send mail online. Below are the steps for the same: 1. IntegrateBusinesses can integrate their CRM or other software applications with an automated direct mail API like PostGrid. This integration allows the speedy import of data required for drafting your letters. It is very simple to mail a letter online using PostGrid as the integration is very simple and quick. Moreover, there is no technical expertise required for you to get started. 2. Use In-Built TemplatesThere are several letter templates offered by PostGrid for you to select from. Choose one of them, add some customizations like your logo and tagline, and draft your letters within minutes. If you know how to mail a letter online, you can skip through the designing part with our easy-to-use templates. 3. PrintYou can select from different paper sizes, stock, and finishing options. That’s all! You do not need to contact several printing companies or stock any inventory like paper and ink to print letters yourself. PostGrid’s print network can get the printing done for you effortlessly. 4. MailAfter getting your letters printed, PostGrid’s automated solutions can help you mail your letters directly. There is no need to collect your letters from the printer and drop them off at the post office. Using PostGrid’s online letter printing and mailing solutions, you can both print and mail your letters in an automated manner. Hence, there is no longer the need to stuff envelopes, calculate postage, or stand in a long queue outside the post office. Once your letters are mailed, you can start tracking your letters through PostGrid’s dashboard. Furthermore, you will also receive timely reports and analytics to know more about your mail status and performance. Sending a Letter Via EmailKnowing how to send a letter via email can be helpful as there are several advantages of sending letters through this mode. Though physical mail gets more attention, sending email offers instant delivery. All you need to have is a letter file, an email account, and the recipient’s email address. Here’s how you can go about it: Draft Your LetterDraft your letter the same way you would while sending a letter offline. You can use a word processor to draft your letters speedily and add customizations. ComposeLogin into your email account and compose a new message. Add the subject line and the recipient’s email address. The subject line should explain the motive and content of the letter clearly. Attach Your FileAttach your letter document to this email. If your letter is plain, you can simply copy and paste the entire letter into the message field. You can now proofread everything and click on the “send” button to complete the process. If you have to mail a lot of people, you can copy all their email addresses and paste them into the bcc field. For personalised letters, you can opt for using the mail merge feature. There are many ways to send a letter. However, it is advisable to send your letters online using automated print and mail solutions like PostGrid. This step can help you avail yourself a lot of advantages like saved time, speedy mailing, no manual intervention, real-time tracking, timely reports, and much more. PostGrid’s print and mail API enables you to send letters, postcards, and cheques online – in a direct and hassle-free way. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post How to Send a Letter Online: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/send-letter-online/ TABLE OF CONTENTSHow Does Prepaid Postage Work?Gone are the days when people would stand in long queues outside the Post Office to mail something. Now, you can handle everything electronically from your computer and mobile devices. The Royal Mail has digitised the process of paying postage, and you can do it all online. Thus, companies can now prepay postal charges and mail their items effortlessly. Isn’t it super-easy and one of the most convenient options? ![]() But you may need to obtain a mailing permit and pay an annual fee to use prepaid postage envelopes. Hence, prepaid postage only benefits large-volume shippers. Royal Mail offers many prepaid packaging materials like boxes, stamps, shipping labels, etc. You can buy them at the Royak Mail’s postal store. Also, it allows companies to prepay postage through several methods, like postage meters and prepaid shipping labels. Keep reading further to learn about these options and understand how does postage paid works. What Are Postage Paid Envelopes?As the name suggests, prepaid or postage-paid means the senders prepay the shipping expenses for specific items. Hence, the recipient need not pay anything for it on delivery. Individuals and companies must print the “Postage Paid” indication on the upper-right corner of the envelope or package (front side). In some cases, they cannot drop mail items with prepaid postage in a public mailbox. They must carry the mailers to the Post Office for lodgement. Royal Mail needs you to pay the postage immediately or transfer it later through your bank. However, it depends on the type of prepaid postage you are using. Large organisations that send hundreds of mailpieces regularly can benefit from this postage payment method. They can use postage-paid envelopes to send out invoices, marketing items, donation solicitation requests, informational materials, etc. Find below some ways to prepay postage while sending your mail items through Royal Mail: Precanceled StampsMost direct mail marketers affix postage stamps to their mailpieces to give them a personal touch. Stamps also create a nostalgic effect that raises your chances of building emotional bonds with your audience. But 1st Class Mail stamps are expensive and can affect your ROI. It is when postage-paid stamps come into the picture. They are also called precanceled or service-inscribed stamps. Mailers affix these stamps to their mailpieces to get a lower postage rate. They can pay the difference between the postage and the stamp rate at the Post Office via a cheque, postage account, or meter strip. But how much is a postage-paid stamp available for? Well, you cannot buy single precanceled stamps from the Post Office. First, you must get a precanceled stamp permit by completing a form and other formalities. Then, you can buy these stamps in large volumes from the permit-issuing Post Office. Precanceled stamps are available in small denominations. You get to select from coils of 500, 3,000, and 10,000 to save costs. They are a popular form of prepaid postage as you can buy these stamps in bulk and use them whenever you want. Plus, they never expire even if the postage rates increase. Postage MeterMailers often ask- How does prepaid postage work with a postage meter? Let’s answer this question by first what a postage meter is. Postage meters are machines that can print postage on your mailpieces. You can buy or lease them from authorised providers and print your postage anywhere in the UK. Items with metered postage must have the actual mailing date. Also, it does not require you to print the postmark information like city, state, and postcode because they are already present within the meter strip. To print metered postage, you should obtain a permit in the same city from where you wish to ship your items. You can use metered postage for the following mailing classes:
The first thing to do is get a postage meter and apply for a permit from the Post Office. Once you get a permit, use the permit number to print metered postage on all your mailpieces. There are several benefits to using metered postage, such as:
Permit ImprintOnly commercial mailers can use the Permit Imprint payment method. It is also known as bulk or discount postage. Unlike metered postage, you don’t need to purchase any equipment to print permit imprints. It is the process of printing postage (also called indicia) onto your mailpieces. The best thing about a permit imprint is that it incorporates into your mail design. Hence, you don’t have to print the indicia separately. Again, you would need a mailing permit to use permit imprints. Take care to print the permit number on every mailpiece. Businesses can use embossed or unembossed imprints made by several devices:
They can design their imprints following the Royal Mail guidelines. However, hand-drawn and hand-written permit imprints are not allowed. There are also some other requirements to use permit imprints. Hence, consider them before using imprints to avoid potential issues. In the case of metered postage and permit imprints, you get an advance deposit account from Roya Mail. Each time you print them on a mailpiece, the postage deducts from this account. Some people are still confused about what is a prepaid envelope. In short, prepaid envelopes have a precanceled stamp, metered postage or permit imprint. It raises another question- Can I buy prepaid envelopes at the post office? Luckily, you can! You can get prepaid envelopes from Royal Mail from the Post Office or its website. Flat Rate PostageRoyal Mail one flat-rate envelope and four boxes to mail anything within the country for a fixed rate. You can purchase prepaid flat-rate envelopes and boxes online or pick them up from the post office for free and prepay the shipping charges online. Once done, you can print the shipping labels from your computer. Business Reply Mail (BRM)Business Reply Mail is a Royal Mail service that allows companies to send out prepaid envelopes, labels, flats, self-mailers, and postcards. It helps them encourage recipients to reply to their mail. Suppose you own a magazine publication and need to send subscription forms along with your magazines. As a business, you can do the mailing part by yourself, but there is no guarantee that the recipients will fill out the forms and mail them back to you. However, you can motivate them to reply by including self-addressed prepaid envelopes. Thus, all the recipients have to do is put their replies inside these envelopes and mail them. The concept of BRM is that you prepay the postage on behalf of your recipients. But the good news is that you don’t need to pay the postage for every sent BRM piece. Royal Mail only charges you only for the returned pieces. So, how to send a postage-paid envelope? Obtaining a BRM permit is similar to other prepaid postage types. You can apply for a permit, pay the annual fees, set up a deposit account, get a permit number, and start mailing. Prepaid Shipping LabelsSome companies prepay the postage for the returned items for refund or repair to ensure excellent customer service. Also, some nonprofits offer to pay the postage for donated items. They might send customers an email or web address to print prepaid shipping labels. However, not all shipping labels sent to customers are prepaid. Sometimes, companies only send these labels to ensure accurate mail sorting. ConclusionPrepaid postage is the best option for business mailers looking to save extra bucks on their postal rates. Plus, prepaid postage allows them to print their postage information at their convenience. In this blog, we discussed many options to prepay your postal charges. We hope we answered your queries- how do postage-paid envelopes work? PostGrid’s direct mail API can help you simplify your work even further. It can assist you in creating, printing, and mailing your items using any prepaid postage type you want. Not just that, PostGrid offers several other features to level up your direct mail marketing campaigns, like CRM integration and address verification. Ready to streamline your print and mail activities with prepaid envelopes to increase profitability? Get in touch today! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post How Does Prepaid Postage Envelopes Work appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/how-do-prepaid-postage-envelopes-work/ TABLE OF CONTENTSDifferent Types of Direct Mail to Help You Generate LeadsDirect mail continues to be among the most effective marketing strategies for businesses. But, you have to draft strategies that fit well with your business objectives. ![]() There are many uses of direct mail advertising including connecting with new prospects and retaining existing customers. It is one of the best ways to approach someone and increase your leads. You can pair direct mail with modern technology for better targeting and increase your return on investment. Both B2B and B2C companies can use direct mail marketing campaigns to increase sales. PostGrid’s account-based marketing solutions can help you print and mail items directly to decision-makers. What are the Two Major Direct Mail Advertising Types?Postcards and letters are most commonly used but you also have other options. There are many different types of direct mail items that you can use to connect with your target audience. All of them have different features and can be used for different purposes. It is important that you select marketing items that justify your messaging and appeal to the recipients. While direct mail postcards are effective in communicating short messages, letters are used to explain something in more detail. In this article, we will discuss the various types of direct mail advertising collateral and also suggest which one can suit your business. But first, let us talk more about direct mail marketing and how you can increase your response rates. Elements of Direct Mail MarketingYour marketing campaigns depend on a lot of factors to succeed, like your design, copy, and offers. These things also affect your mailing costs significantly. The first thing to focus on is your mail design. Choose an eye-catching and attention-grabbing template. Pay attention to the colours, placement of words, and quality. In addition, take care to only use targeted mailing lists. The types of direct mail lists you choose dictate whether your campaign will be successful or not. You can either rent mailing lists The next important element is the call to action. Use CTAs that are easy to complete and work great in combination with a special offer. Most of all, select the right type of direct mail collateral that can help the above-mentioned elements do their job. What Types of Direct Mail Are the Most Effective?If you tailor your messaging and choose the right audience, you can guarantee better engagement rates. We have shortlisted some of the most effective direct mail formats to further help you increase conversions. PostcardsPostcards are among the most cost-effective types of direct mail. As the name goes, they are small cards that are sent to people via post. Royal Mail delivers billions of mail items every year that chiefly consists of postcards and letters. Earlier, postcards were used by people as a way to connect with their loved ones. The number of mailed postcards is the highest from the day of Thanksgiving up to New Year’s. Apparently, they are a great way to deliver your greetings and stay connected with others. Marketing postcards work the same way, but with the prime motive to increase conversions. Though postcards are not meant to ask people to buy from you, they lead the way to it. You can incorporate postcard marketing into your social media and email marketing campaigns for better results. What are the benefits of using postcards?Out of all the types of direct mail, postcards garner the most open rates. This is because they can be mailed without envelopes and all the recipients need to do is flip them over. Also, postcards are highly appealing and a lot of people find them useful. They act as a quick and easy way to talk about your brand and communicate your offers to potential customers. Postcards generate a response rate of 4.25% which is pretty good as compared to other marketing channels and types of direct mail pieces. Use Cases of Postcard MarketingAll large, medium and small businesses can use postcard marketing as part of their marketing campaigns. You can use postcards to promote sales, increase brand visibility, showcase your brand offerings, and make announcements. A lot of marketers also use postcards to introduce loyalty programs for old customers. It is an excellent tactic to win back your old customers and ask them to buy from you again. Postcards can also help you create hype about new products and services. You can invite prospects and customers to product launches through postcard marketing or add a small welcome-back discount and talk about how much you appreciate your customers. PostGrid’s postcard API can help you create, print, and mail personalised postcards effortlessly. Postcard SizesThey are typically small but are available in many different sizes. Oversized postcards have been around for a while and perform great, although they can increase your costs. The most popular postcard sizes are:
Small postcards can help you save money, but oversized postcards enable you to stand out from the crowd. However, use oversized postcards only when the size suits your messaging. Otherwise, you can stick to small and medium-sized postcards with an attention-grabbing design. LettersBefore deciding that postcards are the best type of direct mail, consider marketing letters. They have more space and give an elegant touch to your message. Direct mail marketing letters are enclosed in envelopes that make them more confidential and professional. You can target customers and prospects by sending well-written letters that can offer helpful solutions for their needs. Add more details about your brand and the products or services you offer. Letters give an opportunity to converse with someone and convince them to complete the CTA. Their layout is plain and simple, but you can focus on the finer details such as the paper quality and envelope design. Take care to craft an excellent copy that the recipients find worth reading. You can include an order form or reply card along with your letters. They motivate recipients to reply to your letters more promptly. Letters are more often used in B2B marketing wherein you need to contact professional clients. Some letters are precise and short, whereas some are friendly and long. You can pick from the different types of direct mail letters that best appeal to your clients. Again, PostGrid can help you print and mail letters with ease and convenience. You also have the option to use letters with oversized envelopes that are more attention-grabbing. NewslettersThe different types of direct mail advertising items serve different purposes. Hence, you should always consider your requirements before choosing among them. The type of mail you choose makes a big difference, especially for small businesses who wish to spend their budget wisely. Another cost-effective direct mail item is a newsletter. It is very effective to keep in touch with your existing subscribers, supporters, investors, and customers. Newsletters can consist of a vast amount of content ranging from your latest achievements to the new products you have been working on. You can add customer testimonials and real-life stories to relate to people and keep them connected to your business. Direct Mail PackagesDirect mail packages are a combination of two or more types of advertising direct mail items. They are used to increase the impact of your direct mail campaigns and drive more engagement. You can combine letters and postcards, or use either of them with personalised gifts. People are delighted to get more than one thing in a mail package. Hence, sending all-in-one packages can help you grab the limelight. Direct mail packages can be an expensive marketing tool, so send them only to your top accounts or long-term customers. Such packages give different ways to talk about your offerings and also offer variety in design. But, make sure to keep your messaging, offers, and CTA consistent. Wrapping UpIt is hard to determine the best type of direct marketing methods before first trying them out. Marketers should test different types of direct mail to see what works best for their company. You can divide your target market into two or more different segments and mail different marketing items to each segment. Don’t forget to add QR codes, pURLs, or other trackable features to help you capture responses. PostGrid’s direct mail API can help you design, print, and send your items to any part of the world. It can also help you with tracking mail, measuring campaign results, and preparing reports for future reference. Sign up to streamline your direct mailing efforts towards more conversions! The post Types of Direct Mail appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/direct-mail-types/ TABLE OF CONTENTSDirect Mail Marketing: How Much Does Direct Mail Cost?When you send direct mail pieces to your prospects, you tend to sell 28% more products than other marketing techniques. Hence, it increases your ROI considerably. ![]() However, the primary question that remains is how much direct mail costs to the marketers? To answer this question, you may need to consider several sections. Plus, depending on your business type, mailing list’s size, and the quality of your direct mail campaign, the cost may vary significantly. Several things that decide your direct mail cost are graphics, copy, type of the collateral, printing, personalization, number of direct mails, and shipping. Some companies handle design and copywriting in-house to reduce the cost. However, other companies hire professionals to do it for them. The latter option may cost more in the beginning but provide better chances of good revenue generation. Once you’ve added all direct mail elements’ expenses, you can expect your direct mail to cost you anywhere between $0.03 – $3.00 per piece. You can also measure your cost per thousand direct mails sent, commonly known as cost per thousand (CPM). It makes the process of analyzing the cost easier. All you have to do is determine your direct mail pieces’ total cost and divide it by 1000. This method is also recommended to calculate the price because most vendors provide you with a quote in this format. The number of your mail pieces has a significant role in deciding the overall cost of your campaign. If you want to decrease your direct marketing cost, consider sending direct mail pieces in bulk. In this guide, we’ll discuss the various elements that affect the cost of your direct mail campaign. By choosing and deciding the quality and size of these elements, you can regulate your direct marketing cost accordingly. Direct Mail Design ChargesDepending on your direct mail design, it can cost you up to $1000, starting from $10 per direct mail campaign. This vast difference in the price usually depends on your choice of designer and the collaterals you’ll use in your direct mail campaign. Plus, the content, graphics, images, etc., also matters. Additionally, the major cost difference is caused by the person who’ll design your direct mail. For example, you can either get a company to create your mail sample, an expert with tons of experience, a new freelance designer, or someone with designing skills in your company. However, that’s not all. You can also design your direct mails yourself using templates. Let’s find out how these different options can alter your design cost. 1. In-House DesigningIf someone is designing your postcard or letters in-house, you can expect that the upfront cost will be almost zero. Hence, it is the most economical option, especially if you have to design invoices or billing statements. In addition to that, if you frequently launch direct mail campaigns, then you should consider hiring a professional designer for the company. This way, you can save a lot more than paying per design, get things done in less time, and get it edited just like you want it and as many times as you wish. However, one disadvantage of this method is that your direct mail design may or may not be professional if you hire a cost-effective person with not that much experience or get it created by a non-professional staff member in-house. 2. TemplatesAfter in-house designing, the next most economical option for your designs is templates. You can find various direct mail templates online, and some even cost no more than $10. Using this option, you can design your direct mail instantly and easily. Most such templates are designed by professionals so that you can display your brand’s image via well-performing artwork. 3. Hiring a ProfessionalIf your company launches regular direct marketing campaigns and needs complex designs for each of your mailpieces, consider hiring an expert. It may cost you a bit more than the above two options, but the outcome would be great depending on your design and copy combined. You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 to $2000. Mainly, designing agencies cost more, so if you’re just starting, you can also consider hiring a freelance designer with just the right experience. Direct Mail Copywriting ChargesCopy of your mailpiece is as essential as your designs. After catching your prospects’ attention, if you fail to deliver the message just the way they want to listen to it, it’ll all go in vain. Just like designs, you can write your copy in-house or get it done by a professional. But since most of your return depends on this part of direct mail, we recommend hiring an expert. If your copy fails to engage your prospects and get them to take action, then the whole campaign will go in vain. The rates of copywriting also vary greatly. Depending on the experience and the result your copywriter is promising, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20 to $2000. And it may seem like a big deal to you right now, but when the results start to show up, you realize it was worth this investment. For example, if you paid $1000 for the copy of one of your direct mail campaigns and generated a great client base, you know it was worth it. And once you get a taste of it, you’ll never settle for less. However, if currently, you’re a startup, a one-person micro business, or just low on budget, you can consider hiring a freelance copywriter. If you’re willing to do it yourself – making the copywriting cost to zero – then follow a few simple tips like:
Direct Mail Lists ChargesYour mailing list vastly depends on what you want to acquire. For example, if you want to launch a new product and market it to your existing customers, your in-house or already built mailing list will work just fine. However, if you’re just starting out or you want to expand your customer or client base by offering a different type of product or service, then you can consider buying a new mailing list. To get the new mailing list, you’d need to do market research and study your buyer persona. Then depending on your customers’ demographic details, you can buy a mailing list. The rates of mailing lists differ. For example, some vendors may offer you the list at $30 per 1000. The charges vary depending on the number of times you want to use that list, the value it’s delivering to your business, and what quality clients it is providing. The best option for acquiring a mailing list, which we mostly recommend at PostGrid, is building one of your own. It can be beneficial for you in many ways. For example, it will be the most specific. The prospects’ details that you have here are the ones that have already interacted with you before. Hence they know at least a little, if not much, about you. Furthermore, by getting a more advanced direct mail API, like PostGrid, you can keep your database updated, free from errors, and automate your direct mails’ sending to the audience’s segmented list. PostGrid helps you integrate your CRM and fetch all of your mailing list data within seconds. Additionally, how much these mailing lists cost mainly depends on the kind of mailing list you want for your company. For example, the general residential mailing lists formulating the demographic details are comparatively cheaper than the business mailing lists. You can either rent or buy them, depending on your current need. The charges differ from vendor to vendor, yet you can expect to pay anywhere near $0.03 per record, that is $30 per 1000 records, for the residential mailing list and $0.46 per account, which is $46 per 1000 people for a business mailing list. Direct Mail Format ChargesYour direct mail can cost you differently depending on the format and size you choose for it. For example, most companies try to keep their mail pieces slightly bigger to stand out in prospects’ mailboxes. Now, if you choose a smaller mailer, then naturally, the cost will be lower. Apart from that, several other elements, like personalization and customization, can also change your mailpieces’ price. And if you’re doing all the tasks manually in-house, you may also need more printing supplies for a bigger direct mail than a smaller one. Besides, you’d also need to consider the quality of your printing supplies. For example, what kind of paper would you want to use for your letters, the white glossy one, matte, off-white, or how thick it would be. Plus, most businesses also use different material types – other than paper – to print their message. This method helps them stand out from the other mailers present in the prospects’ mailbox and increases brand awareness. Like, if you receive a beautiful postcard delivering a message written on a metal or wooden card, you’re more likely to keep it on your table or refrigerator than throwing it off. Now your visitors may notice it, as at the bottom of the card, the company decided to leave their logo or website details. But again, you might want to consider the shipping charges of Royal Mail, and that’s per weight. Direct Mail Personalization ChargesOver the years, everything has evolved, including marketing, which means personalization isn’t an option anymore. If you want good results, you better personalize each of your direct marketing campaigns. With so much advertising around us, it’s hard to keep the prospects engaged to what you have to say. But if you try a personal approach and try to let them know you already know them, their likes, their problems, and how your product can help them solve those problems. Although it can be cheaper to send generic direct mail pieces to your prospects, the results you’ll receive will vary considerably. But personalization can also help you track your direct mail campaigns and increase your response rate. For example, if you add a personalized URL, it’ll be easier for people to visit your website. To personalize your direct mail, you can either go for variable data printing (VDP), but it would be a little expensive. The other option is an automated PostGrid API that you can use to fetch tons of your data just by integrating your CRM or other systems. Then you can use it to personalize each of your direct mail pieces with the various details of your prospects. Direct Mail Printing ChargesOne significant element that changes the entire cost of your direct mail marketing is printing. The starting per piece printing price is $0.05, going up to $2.00 per piece. But more or less, it depends on the printing vendors and different printing labs that may charge differently. Apart from this, it’s not the only option you can use to print your mail pieces. You can also get it done in-house. However, if you decide to print all of your mailpieces within your firm, get ready for the extra time and resources you may need to put into it. For example, besides bringing the big printing machines and hiring staff to print and manage the other task, you’ll also need to invest in the printing supplies. For example, the cartridges, paper stock, colour, envelopes, labels, etc., and then you’ll need a separate space in the office to keep them and continually manage them so that you never run out of the stocks when you need it. So it’s a lot of work. Plus, once your printing is done, you’d also need to label, fold, and sort them. Then ship those direct mail pieces in bulk. Another better and easier option is automation API, like PostGrid. It allows you to manage everything from a single dashboard and just give the command to print and send after selecting the quantity and other necessary details. Once you’ve completed this step, we’ll get your mail pieces printed and shipped within two business days. This way, you save time, resources, and a lot of effort that might go into keeping the stocks, hiring staff, and managing tasks and people. Plus, it’s also cost-effective. Direct Mail Postage ChargesAfter printing, postage charges will add the most to your direct mail marketing cost. Although it mainly depends on your particular mail piece’s weight and the distance you have to send those letters to, priority processing can hike the charges. If you want to decrease your shipping charges, you should go for Royal Mail. Other mail services can be a little more expensive for you. Plus, they also provide a payback if they lose any of your direct mails depending on the weight and the category you sent it in. Here’s a list of shipping charges of Royal Mail for all the categories. How Automation Can Help Drop These Charges SignificantlyYou can launch direct mail marketing campaigns regularly and head-ache free. You can send direct mails just like emails, including the triggered mails. All you have to do is integrate PostGrid API with your CRM or other systems, and you can control all of your direct mail marketing campaigns entirely from a single dashboard. From designing your mail pieces to printing and mailing them, it’ll all be our responsibility. Plus, you will not even need to calculate the charges of everything like design, copywriting, printing, and shipping. We’ll do it all for you and send you the invoice as you prefer to receive it. With PostGrid automation API, you can save tons of hours, resources, staff, efforts, and money. We also provide an address validation feature, free of cost, with the API. This way, the data of your mailing list is checked against the official database of Royal Mail and is updated each time after a campaign launch. Hence, you save the money you might otherwise spend on the direct mail pieces sent to the wrong addresses resulting in the loss of confidential information if it’s not a direct marketing mail. Plus, sometimes your database contains duplicate address listings. That way, you can send identical direct mail to a single prospect twice or thrice. Depending on the number of the same addresses present in your system, your misspending can be excessive. PostGrid helps you reduce the cost of your direct mail campaigns, the time and effort you put into it and increase your response and conversion rate. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Direct Mail Marketing Costs appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/direct-mail-marketing-costs/ TABLE OF CONTENTSUK Postage Rates: All You Need To Know About Royal Mail's New 2023 Postage PricesDid you know that Royal Mail is updating its postage prices in April 2023? Is your business prepared to handle the postage price change that is inevitably coming? A lot of time and planning goes into executing direct mail campaigns for a business. One of the reasons most companies still use direct mail campaigns is their high ROI or Return On Investment. How big of an effect can the 2023 postage rates have on your direct mail ROI? ![]() To answer this question, you first need to know how much does postage costs in the UK. Hence, here we have created a comprehensive list of the different postal services offered by Royal Mail and their latest postage rates. This article will help you analyse the 2023 postage charges and prepare your new direct mail campaigns based on the latest data. So, let us dig in! Size and Weight Guide For UK Postage RatesThe postage rate for mailers everywhere globally is usually dependent on their size and weight unless it explicitly states otherwise. Hence, if you are trying to understand the UK postage rates, then the best place to start is the size and weight of postal packages. Depending on the size and weight of the postal mailer, you can broadly classify it into six types, and they are:
Rolled and Cylinder-Shaped Parcels You might have also come across rolled or cylinder-shaped parcels. If you did, you are probably wondering how their dimensions are measured. In such cases, the length of the package plus two times the diameter should not be over 104cm. Furthermore, Royal Mail also states that the most significant dimension of a rolled or cylinder-shaped parcel should not exceed 90cm. Types Of Postal Mail Services And Their UK Postage RatesWe know the different sizes and weights for postal mailers you can send via a service provider like Royal Mail. What is another important aspect that might affect postage prices in the UK? Apart from the size and weight of the package, the other thing that can affect the postage rate is the speed of delivery. Royal Mail offers several postal mail services to its customers. Although not all postal mail services are based on the speed of delivery, the majority of the postage prices are dependent on the delivery speed. Some postal mail services have a higher postage rate because they include special services such as proof of delivery. The types of postal services offered by the Royal Mail can broadly be classified into four distinct categories, and they are:
UK Guaranteed Postal ServicesThe UK Guaranteed is one of the premium postal services offered by the Royal Mail. As the name implies, the postal service guarantees the delivery of your mailer within a specified time. Even within the UK Guaranteed services, you may see different postage rates UK. There are different types of UK Guaranteed services provided by the Royal Mail. The primary UK Guaranteed services you can use for your business communication are listed below.
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am or 1 pmRoyal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am or 1 pm is one of the most widely used postal mail services from Royal Mail. The primary reason why businesses prefer to use the Guaranteed 9 am or 1 pm service is that it enables them to ensure their mailer is delivered at the right time. Royal Mail provides a guaranteed 9 am or 1 pm delivery of your postal mailers. Trace And Track Facility Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am, or 1 pm comes equipped with a track and trace facility. It allows the sender to track the mailer’s journey from the moment it leaves your hands to the point of delivery. Signature On Delivery Both Guaranteed 9 am, and 1 pm services require the recipient’s signature on delivery. Hence, you will always get proof of delivery when you use UK Guaranteed postal service. Furthermore, you can view the signature online just 10 minutes after the delivery. Cover For Valuable Items And Late Delivery Another significant advantage of the UK Guaranteed service is that they offer coverage for your valuable items and late deliveries. Compensation And Additional Coverage The Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1 pm is entitled to a compensation of up to £500. However, the compensation for Guaranteed by 9 am delivery is only £50. Furthermore, you can also access optional coverages for your mailers. Royal Mail allows you to access additional cover up to £2,500 and optional consequential loss cover up to £10,000! Hence it is no wonder that the UK Guaranteed service is preferred for sending items of significant value. UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1 pm
Note: The above postage charges are applicable only if you want a standard cover of up to £500. If you wish to have additional coverage for your packages, you will need to pay higher postage, as shown in the table below
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am or 1 pm with Saturday Guarantee.Guarantee Saturday delivery is an additional option for the UK Guaranteed postal services. However, the Saturday Guarantee comes at an additional cost. If you opt for Saturday Guarantee, the whole structure of the UK postage rates changes. Hence it is best to mention the postage rates of guaranteed 9 am and 1 pm with Saturday guarantee separately. UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1 pm with Saturday Guarantee
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am with Saturday Guarantee
UK Signed Postal ServicesUK Signed services are another popular postal service offered by the Royal Mail. As you can guess from the name, it requires a signed proof of delivery from the recipients. You can get the UK Signed postal service for your first and second-class mail. Most businesses use either first-class or second-class mail for their direct mail communication. Hence, the UK Signed services are an excellent way for companies to deliver direct mail to the target audience. It can be beneficial for industries such as financial services. Financial service providers can use specialised tools like PostGrid to send adverse action notices and require the recipient to sign your letters. You can learn more about how PostGrid’s direct mail system can help loan companies market their business on our blog “Marketing Ideas for Loan Companies UK” Online Delivery Confirmation A definite advantage of UK Signed services is the order delivery confirmation feature. It enables the sender to get a confirmation on the delivery, which can be crucial for many industry verticals and business organisations. Compensation Royal Mail also provides compensation of £50 to its customers using the UK Signed services similar to the ones we saw in UK Guaranteed services. Such compensation can be ideal for businesses that regularly send direct mail communications. Eligible For eBay Seller Protection programme Apart from its other features, the UK Signed services are also eligible for the eBay Seller Protection programme. Hence, it is also a perfect choice for E-Commerce companies to deliver their products and services. UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Signed For 1st Class Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail Signed For 2nd Class Mail
UK Standard Postal ServicesThe UK Standard postal service is the number one choice for businesses regarding direct mail marketing. UK Standard postal service includes the regular 1st Class and 2nd Class postal delivery services. One of the main reasons businesses prefer to use the UK Standard postal service is the low postage costs. Hence, they are ideal for sending bulk marketing mail to the target audience. However, such extensive bulk mailing often requires an advanced automation solution like PostGrid to ensure your campaign’s optimal performance. Want to know more about how an automated direct mail solution can help your business? Read our blog “Automated Direct Mail” 1st Class MailThe advantage of using the 1st Class mail service is relatively fast. Royal Mail usually tries to deliver the 1st Class mail on the next working day, even if it is a Saturday. Furthermore, the 1st Class Mail comes with compensation cover up to £20. UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail 1st Class Mai
2nd Class MailThe 2nd Class mail is the most affordable way to send direct mail to your customers. However, it does take a longer time to deliver. Usually, a 2nd Class mail is delivered within two to three working days, but this can vary from time to time. Similar to 1st Class mail, you also get compensation cover up to £20. UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail 2nd Class Mail
Parcelforce Worldwide Postal ServicesThe Parcelforce Worldwide postal service from Royal Mail offers to include several sub-services. The primary Parcelforce Worldwide postal services are classified into 7 categories, and they are as follows.
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail express48 Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail express24 Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail expresssunday Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail expressAM Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail express10 Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail express9 Mail
UK Postage Rate For Royal Mail express48 (Large) Mail
ConclusionThe Royal Mail updates its postage prices every year. Businesses that regularly send direct mail to their customers, prospects, or partners need to update themselves with the latest postage rates. Even a slight ignorance on your part could lead to a significant loss, especially if you send bulk mail. Besides keeping well-informed about the Royal Mail postage rates, you also need to employ advanced direct mail solutions like PostGrid. A fully automated direct mail software can optimise your direct mail process and minimise your direct mail expenses. Furthermore, using an automated tool like PostGrid is also the most convenient option for businesses. It lets you personalise, print, and deliver your mailers with just the click of a button. As a result, it saves you valuable time and eliminates the scope for manual error, which ultimately saves you even more money. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post UK Postage Rates appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/uk-postage-rates/ TABLE OF CONTENTSHow Does Same Day Mail Delivery Help In Urgent Business Communication?One thing that companies can’t buy despite their large size or immense capital is time. It is not surprising that time is also the primary reason businesses are reluctant to use direct mail communications. Unless you plan your direct mail communications ahead of time, you are likely to miss deadlines. ![]() Hence, it is not hard to see why same-day delivery services are a game-changer for companies that use direct mail for business to business communication. However, effectively using a same-day postal delivery service for business communication is not as easy. Using same-day postal delivery for all your communication and marketing needs will eat up a lot of your money. Even using it for urgent or time-sensitive communication needs proper planning unless you want to waste company revenue. Below, we discuss same-day delivery and how you can efficiently use it for your business. What is Same Day Delivery?Same-day mail delivery is a unique postal service that lets you send urgent or time-sensitive items within a single-day delivery time. Every major postal service provider, including the Royal Mail, offers same-day postal delivery services to its customers. Business organisations, including healthcare and insurance providers, banks, financial companies, and more often require same day mail delivery. You can use it to send important documents such as billing statements, collection letters, etc. Why Choose Royal Mail Same Day Mail Delivery For Your Business?More often than not, companies or business organisations prefer Royal Mail’s same-day delivery letter for their communications. Several factors make Royal Mail the clear choice for your business’s same-day postal delivery. To begin with, Royal Mail has an extensive network of post offices all across the UK, which is unmatched by any other postal service provider. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Another compelling reason business organisations choose Royal Mail for business communication is their affordable services. Specialised Services For Businesses Royal Mail extends specialised same-day delivery service for sending you business communications. Furthermore, you get access to the Royal Mail Sameday postal service, its fastest and most flexible direct mail delivery service. It is arguably the best way to send urgent goods to your customers that offer guaranteed same-day delivery. And if that’s not enough, Royal Mail offers three different service options for sending you critical documents or goods. The Same Day service options provided by Royal Mail are
Same Day Delivery Services From Royal MailAbove, we listed the three same-day delivery services offered by USPS. Now, let us take a deeper look at these three delivery services from Royal Mail and see how they can be helpful for your business communication. Same Day On-DemandSame Day On Demand service from Royal Mail is the postal service businesses turn to whenever they have a last-minute mail requirement. So, the next time you forget to send out a vital mailer like a collection letter, you can save the day with On Demand same-day delivery. The best part is that the service is available 7 days a week and throughout the year, day or night. So this type of same-day delivery service is the ultimate backup postal service that can save your business from a tight spot. Furthermore, this service comes with a £2,5008 compensation already included in it that covers for loss or damage of your mailpiece. That’s not all you get with the On-Demand same-day delivery service from Royal Mail. The additional features of this service include the following.
Same Day ScheduledSame Day Scheduled is the best postal service you can get when it comes to business communication. It is the perfect mail service for businesses that send regular and time-sensitive mailers to their customers. Generally, the direct mail communication of a company is well-planned. Hence, Scheduled delivery is the obvious choice for business organisations. For example, financial service providers can send important mailers like collection letters using Royal Mail’s Scheduled mail service. Here are some of the other benefits you can get from using the Scheduled same-day delivery service from Royal Mail.
Same Day Multi-DropThe Multi-Drop service from Royal Mail is unlike any other same-day delivery service offered by Royal Mail. It involves collecting and delivering mailers from multiple locations. Multi-Drop same-day delivery saves you a lot of time and money for your business by collecting and delivering multiple items on a single journey. Such a mailing service can especially be helpful when your business is sending out bulk mail. It will help you minimise expenses and streamline your direct mail delivery. Here are some of the other benefits you can get from using the Multi-Drop same-day delivery service from Royal Mail.
How Direct Mail Automation Help You Get The Best Out Of Same Day Delivery ServiceAs far as direct mail services go, same-day delivery is as fast as possible. But merely using same-day delivery services does not guarantee your mailer will reach its destinations on time. There are several ways your direct mail process can go wrong. For example, printing the wrong address or even mixing up the portal code could mean delayed or returned delivery. The only way to foolproof your direct mail process is to use a fully automated direct mail solution like PostGrid. PostGrid’s advanced direct mail solution prints and delivers personalised business mailers without any manual process. As a result, you can ensure that your mailers are up to the standards specified by Royal Mail. It even standardised the address on your mailers so the sorting equipment can quickly process the mailers. ConclusionBusiness organisations often run into trouble with their direct mail communications because of their long delivery times. Using same day delivery services enables companies to deliver their urgent and time-sensitive mailpieces successfully. Royal Mail is often the most preferred choice for same-day postal deliveries because of the variety of services it offers. Furthermore, Royal Mail offers one of the best postage rates and flexible delivery services for urgent business communications. However, you need automation to optimise your direct mail communication and ensure no delays in same-day delivery services. PostGrid helps you streamline your direct mail communication by automatically printing personalised letters. Furthermore, PostGrid standardised the address and ensured quick sorting and processing of your mailers by the Royal Mail. Hence, every business organisation must consider using a fully automated mail solutions like PostGrid for their postal communications. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Same Day Mail Delivery Service appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/same-day-mail-delivery-service/ TABLE OF CONTENTSFuzzy Address Searching: Top 10 Use Cases to Benefit Your BusinessYour customers might enter incorrect delivery addresses on your website! Can you change that? No! But can you take the necessary steps to find errors and correct the information? Yes! It helps you function better and access high-quality data for your business. One solid solution to detecting incorrectly-entered addresses is fuzzy address searching. This mechanism lets you modify typos, spacing issues, incorrect abbreviations, and misspellings. It can convert old, outdated, or invalid databases into accurate, cleansed records. Thus, you can use them for marketing, shipping orders, and overall customer communications. ![]() It’s a win-win, right? But what is fuzzy address matching, and how does it work? You may ask about its benefits and applications and how to use it. Hence, we have compiled this guide to help you understand everything about fuzzy address matching and related concepts. Let us dive right in! What is Fuzzy Address Searching?Before getting into fuzzy address searching, let us discuss what an address match means. Finding an address match means getting the exact data value in a database. For example, imagine comparing your previous year’s records with this year’s. If you enter “J Gillies,” you can only find a match if your last year’s database also has the same name. What if your previous databases have an entry for Jason Gillies? It won’t show up as a match! Thus, it can make finding records challenging and pile up duplicate entries in your system. Hence, companies use fuzzy data matching to dive deeper into their systems and get accurate results, irrespective of minor errors. A fuzzy address-matching system works the same way as data matching. But it looks for your customers’ and prospects’ delivery addresses instead of names, phone numbers, or email addresses. It aims to cleanse your mailing data and let you ship items to the correct destinations. Traditional address searching considers correct and incorrect matches. There is no scope for finding similar records to help you organise your data. Thus, more businesses are adopting fuzzy address searching to resolve this problem. Using fuzzy address-searching solution, you can leverage advanced AI-powered algorithms to find and differentiate between address records. It is ideal for searching records even with spelling errors, incorrect abbreviations, and other mistakes. What Is Fuzzy Logic?We often mention fuzzy logic when speaking of address matching or verification. At PostGrid, we get many questions from clients, like, “What is fuzzy logic?” and “How does it work?” Here is a simple answer: Fuzzy logic is a technique to determine values falling between 0 and 1. You may see it as finding a data record between the standard true and false. Some of our clients were surprised to learn many similar address records exist between 0 and 1. Every record is crucial for conducting fuzzy address searching to ensure the most accurate outcomes. It helps you not miss any information and reduces false negatives. In other words, fuzzy address searching considers all possibilities before judging your database’s accuracy. Some customers may have made typos when inputting their addresses on the contact form. Or maybe your sales team used incorrect formatting to enter the records in your CRM. The good news is that fuzzy logic can identify and correct errors before telling you whether an address entry is valid. You can set a tolerance limit, say 0.8. So, if your address is 80% correct, the system can make corrections and make the address usable. PostGid’s address verification API uses fuzzy address matching to help companies save time and get accurate results instead of managing errors and dealing with duplicate data. How Can Fuzzy Address Searching Help Take Your Business to New Heights?Some companies believe they don’t need fuzzy address matching because
Let us look at fuzzy address verification from a different angle. Imagine your sales team collects data from calls, emails, and in-person customer interactions. Similarly, your marketing department gets information from campaign responses, website contact forms, surveys, social media, and other platforms. How can you combine all the information to create master data? What solution should you use to ensure your mailing addresses are correct and deliverable? Yes! A fuzzy address-matching solution can do the job for you. It processes your address records to transform them into a cleansed, updated database your company can use. We understand fuzzy logic’s use cases are not very apparent to many. Hence, we have compiled a list below for reference: #1 Facilitate Customer Segmentation.PostGrid enables many B2B and B2C businesses to use targeted mailing lists. We let them send mail to relevant audiences based on their target geo-demographics. For example, imagine they sell innovative or smart-home solutions. In this case, families living in high-income localities might be interested. Hence, they can target this audience instead of investing in promoting their brand in other neighbourhoods where people may not need them. Here is when fuzzy address matching works like magic! You cannot refine your databases and compile relevant records without using fuzzy logic. This address verification system lets you distinguish between addresses, create separate lists, and channel your efforts in the correct direction. PostGrid’s address verification API helps clients from all industries use fuzzy address-searching solutions. It lets them control data errors and access high-quality databases at their fingertips. #2 Make Quick Business DecisionsBusinesses must make fast decisions to avoid losing profitable opportunities to their competitors. They might want to open a new store in an area without competition. Or they might plan to tap into a new market before anyone else. Using fuzzy address searching to organise their data lets them make these decisions without second guessing. This address-matching solution enables companies to access clean data whenever needed. They can trust their database and rapidly decide on various marketing, sales, and operational matters. It gives them the upper hand to get more customers and increase revenue and sales. Pro tip: Update your data frequently using PostGrid’s address verification API to be prepared to grab opportunities. It helps you align and use your customer records to their fullest potential! #3 Enhance Records for Detailed InsightsKnowing your intended audience has become more significant. But we have encountered many clients saying they target “everyone.” This statement is one of the most debated mistakes businesses make. The reason? They fail to understand their buyer personas, weakening their promotional and administrative activities. An effective address-matching system lets you analyse your current customers’ records to define your target audience. If most of your existing customers share common traits, these characteristics dictate your buyer personas. Focus on these factors using fuzzy address searching and replace your traditional marketing campaigns with personalised, targeted programs. Once you have a verified list, it is easier and faster to group customers and draft real-time insights. #4 Prepare Your Databases for Business Intelligence (BI)Business Intelligence lets you analyse data records to create informative graphs, reports, or infographics. These elements help improve your company’s strategies to engage audiences, retain customers, and improve brand image. PostGrid uses fuzzy address searching to compare your database with Royal Mail’s files. Since this postal organisation serves over 30 million addresses, its authoritative records can help add value to your mailing lists. Our fuzzy address matching feature lets you prepare your data for Business Intelligence, accelerating your company’s growth! Here is a case study to help you understand better:
#5 Ensure Compliance and Prevent FraudA single data breach costs companies millions. It denotes the significance of using security measures to curb fraud and ensure compliance with GDPR and other laws. A fuzzy address-searching service lets you identify fake or spam addresses. These entries could point toward potential identity theft, helping you spot and stop such problems. #6 De-Duplicate Your Records to Boost Operational EfficiencyOrganisations invest thousands of pounds in data sciences and management. It indicates how crucial data is for businesses to survive and grow in today’s competitive era. They seek new ways to connect with their most likely customers! A fuzzy address-matching system brings them closer to this goal. PostGrid’s address validation service supports fuzzy address searching and lets you verify, standardise, and de-duplicate your mailing data. Thus, you can save money by not sending mailers to the same addresses twice. Also, you can get proper estimates of the number of records in your system, boosting internal efficiency. #7 Better Customer ExperienceImagine customers calling you up only to realise you don’t have their accurate records. Or worse, you have tens of entries for the same people, confusing your reps and dropping your customer service rankings. A robust address-matching system prepares you for contingencies. It ensures you have a consolidated view of all customers’ information. Thus, you can serve them and handle queries better to improve interactions. Also, using fuzzy address searching to organise data lets you identify inactive customers. You can match the updated, verified list with your current customers. They might not buy anything from you anymore for many reasons, like
You can stay proactive about these issues by updating and analysing your data weekly or monthly. And PostGrid’s fuzzy address searching feature can assist you in completing the process. #8 Spot Phonetic VariationsA plain address-matching system only looks for exact matches. They cannot spot phonetic differences in your customers’ delivery addresses. Thus, they might return false negatives in the results. A well-equipped fuzzy address-searching solution always considers phonetics. It does not mark an address invalid based on incorrect phonetics. Instead, it corrects the error and validates your data automatically. #9 Verify Unique Address InformationAll addresses have different elements that fuzzy address matching lets you detect. For instance, some addresses have a suite number, and others don’t. Also, some records have a street direction, whereas it’s missing in others! A simple address verification solution doesn’t bother with unique information. But PostGrid’s address verification API does! It combines fuzzy address searching with other features to help you validate your addresses down to the apartment or room number. Consider the following address: Faith OConnell ABC Company Inc 17 Cherry Court The entry contains several errors, including an incorrect address. The house number in this entry is invalid, among many other mistakes. Fuzzy address matching can return this result: Faith OConnell ABC Company Inc 15 NW Cherry Court SOUTHAMPTON SO53 5PD UK #10 Avoid Filtering Helpful DataYour staff might delete old or incorrect customer entries from your CRM because they are no longer helpful. But a fuzzy address-matching service lets you validate and retain these records, helping you expand your customer and prospect base. Instead of deleting these entries, use our address verification API to run a search. It can resolve the issues and return a new list you can use for sales and marketing. Editor’s Note: If you use fuzzy address matching, here are some ideas to unlock more possibilities for your business:
Many excellent direct mail advertising campaigns fail because of incorrect location targeting. Use the fuzzy address searching system to learn your customer-dense locations and use this information to increase profits. Different Address Elements that Fuzzy Address Searching Can Identify and CorrectFuzzy matching can solve more problems than you may think. Here are the different error types it can handle when performing an address cleanse: MisspellingsCorrecting spelling is one of the most practical applications of a fuzzy address-matching system. It can analyse millions of street addresses, city names, and provinces or territories and detect errors. You also don’t need to take additional steps to correct these errors. It is an all-in-one process that you can complete at lightning speed. PostGrid’s address verification API can handle misspellings hassle-free. Thus, you can prevent delivery delays or return mail only because your address has one minor typo. Missing or Incorrect SpacingRoyal Mail may reject or return your items if your addresses have incorrect spacing, making interpreting the correct delivery location challenging. A fuzzy address-searching solution helps you remove or add spaces accordingly to help you use the correct mailing data. One of our clients lost at least fifty packages because the company shipped to an outdated mailing list. Most mailing addresses had no spacing, making deliveries difficult and leading to lost items. Avoid these scenarios by using fuzzy address matching to save money and time. Extra WordsYour customers might enter non-essential words when typing their delivery addresses. They might enter things like “Sales Team,” “Main Gate,” “Front Door,” or “Green Building.” Though they are unaware of the address format, you can resolve the issue with a fuzzy address-searching solution! Our address verification API and software can easily spot and remove these extra words. It makes your mailing lists crisp and clear, facilitating fast postal deliveries. Swapped Characters and WordsYou may have seen addresses with swapped words and characters. They are understandable, but correcting them before shipping your items to these records is better. Your fuzzy address-matching solution finds similar matches in Royal Mail’s records to bring the words or characters to their correct place. For example, it can replace Manchetser with Manchester. It can also modify Street 1st to 1st Street to help validate your lists. Please remember that fuzzy address searching considers the Post Office guidelines to correct your lists. The postal sorting machines read the addresses in a prescribed format. Following this layout lets you process your mail items and deliver them faster. Incorrect Street Type and AbbreviationNot all addresses have a street name. Some have road, avenue, ridge, park, and boulevard names. You must use the correct type and abbreviation to help postal workers send your mailers to their destinations. PostGrid’s fuzzy address-matching feature helps you with this issue! Our real-time address verification allows you to choose from a list of suggestions as you start typing. Otherwise, you can upload your list and download the results. City Names and PostcodesIt would be best to mention the correct city names. Also, the complete postcode at the end is crucial to shipping. Many don’t have the postcode list and end up writing something incorrect. Worry not! A fuzzy address-matching system can make the necessary changes in nanoseconds. Below is a table to give you a better idea:
Primary Benefits of Using Fuzzy Address SearchingSince fuzzy address searching works on probabilities and similar records, it offers many benefits, like Higher Address AccuracyFuzzy logic is the best way to compare addresses across two or more databases and make necessary corrections. Unlike simple address matching, it considers more factors to find the values between the incorrect and correct records (0 to 1). As a result, you will find the likely correct addresses rather than receiving an error message. It is a better way to manage data, helping you combine your datasets properly. Imagine you want to find a customer in your system, Mr. Jim. A fuzzy address-matching system ensures you get this entry, irrespective of whether it has correct spellings, abbreviations, or other factors. PostGrid’s address verification API is a better version of fuzzy address-matching solutions. It doesn’t simply match your records but also makes them deliverable and correct. Provides Solutions to Real-World ApplicationsNo business wants to spend days and weeks trying to find mistakes in its data. Hence, they continue using their datasets with errors and only make small changes when needed. Using fuzzy address matching for data management helps change this situation! It allows you to
These real-world applications expand the scope of fuzzy address searching, making it apt for all industries and departments. PostGrid makes this service available to all companies via its address verification API. You may integrate our API into your CRM, website, or app for real-time address checking. Or download our software to upload and check your mailing lists. It all takes a few steps, and you are good to go! Sign up here. Best to Match Address Without Unique IdentifiersIt is simple to find data with unique identifiers, like a date of birth, following the DD/MM/YY format. But fuzzy address matching helps you spot matches, duplicates, and errors without these identifiers. Hence, you can use it to manage and update complex data sets. Also, PostGrid uses fuzzy address searching with many other features, like autocomplete and standardisation. Our solutions add missing details and format your addresses correctly to return the most accurate results. Every address in your returned mailing list has a standard Royal Mail-prescribed format. It makes shipping items faster and more effective! Faster DeliveriesOne of the most commonly-known benefits of fuzzy address matching is quick and accurate deliveries. High-quality mailing lists help Royal Mail process and drop off your mailers at the correct addresses without delays. Are There Any Cons?After reading the applications and advantages, you may ponder whether fuzzy address searching has any cons. Like every system, it has some drawbacks, including.
Is there a way to fight against these shortcomings? Yes! PostGrid’s address verification solutions enable you to match and validate any number of addresses you want! Also, it allows national and international address validation, helping you manage all datasets under one roof. Also, our Restful APIs integrate natively into your systems without complex coding expertise. PostGrid’s Address Verification API: Benefit From Fuzzy Address Searching and Other Features at Low Costs1000+ customers trust our address verification solutions in the UK and other countries. Here are some of our best features: Address AutocompleteE-commerce, healthcare, financial services, and other businesses use our APIs for more than fuzzy address matching. Our address autocomplete feature lets their staff, customers, and others enter correct delivery addresses within a few keystrokes. PostGrid’s API compiles and presents possible suggestions to users as they start typing. They can pick the accurate entry to fill out the contact forms, book appointments, or place orders. PAF and NCOA Data ProcessingPAF, or Postal Address File, is a Royal Mail database for address verification vendors. It has nearly 30 million UK addresses. PostGrid is PAF-certified and compares your records against the Royal Mail database for address matching and verification. Also, we use the Post Office’s NCOA (National Change of Address) files for fuzzy address matching to determine whether your customers have moved. If yes, our API replaces the outdated addresses with new ones to help you send mail to them. Address TransliterationPostGrid can verify and transliterate addresses from 245+ countries. Hence, you can rest assured that you can ship your marketing and compliance items anywhere worldwide without getting mail returns or facing delays. Our fuzzy address-matching capabilities come from combining the authoritative databases of all these countries. It lets us cross-confirm your addresses after running thousands of checks from this master database. Geocoding and Reverse GeocodingYou may find the geographical coordinates of your delivery addresses for
Aside from fuzzy address matching, geocoding helps ensure accuracy and deliverability. You can also use reverse geocoding to convert your latitudinal and longitudinal data into mailing addresses. Address Parsing and StandardisationParsing addresses lets you break down records into fields like street addresses, city names, and provinces. Standardisation involves reformatting your addresses. A fuzzy address search is a great tool for finding matches more quickly and accurately. PostGrid is your one-stop solution for fuzzy address matching, geocoding, international checking, and more. And you can avail yourself of these features at flexible and competitive prices. Click here to get more details! ConclusionYou can use fuzzy address searching for data management, customer service, marketing, compliance, and shipping. A solid system that lets you cross-check and correct your addresses can drastically transform your business. You can perform better with high-quality databases, communicate with your audience more effectively, and boost sales. Also, working with error-free datasets improves your brand’s reputation among prospects and customers. PostGrid’s address verification solutions offer much more than fuzzy address matching for your business. It ensures you access clean, valid, and deliverable mailing lists, simplifying and boosting your functions. Request a demo for more details on fuzzy address searching and how to start with PostGrid! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Fuzzy Address Searching appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/fuzzy-address-searching/ TABLE OF CONTENTSHow to Track Direct Mail: Tracking Methods and AnalyticsDo you measure your campaign performance or just make guesses and assumptions? A lot of marketers still use the old-school method of merely comparing sales before and after a campaign. They might get a sales average of the past few months to compare against the sales happening in the months after the campaign. Not only is this method illogical in many ways, but it is also highly inaccurate and can never tell you what is what. ![]() Modern marketers have embraced various tracking mechanisms to measure a direct mail campaign’s performance. These tracking methods eliminate the guesswork and give you precise numbers to measure your campaign success. This way, you can know what kind of direct mail works the best for you. Marketers can draft reports, campaign insights, and analytics to improve further campaigns. In this blog, we will understand how tracking works and what tracking methods are commonly used by direct mail marketers. Determine Your Measurement GoalsBefore setting up a tracking system, it is ideal if you specify your goals clearly. These goals can help you understand which tracking method will be most effective for your campaign. Is your goal to:
What do you wish to be the end result? On the basis of such questions, you can exactly know what you want to measure and find out. Hence, determining measurement goals is your very first step towards tracking direct mail. Different Ways to Track Direct MailTrackable Phone NumberIncluding a trackable phone number on your direct mail items is one of the most popularly used tracking methods. Make sure to get a toll-free number that forwards all calls on your business line. Marketers can then get a clear count of how many calls were forwarded through that particular toll-free number. This count can easily define the number of responses generated through a specific campaign. It is highly recommended to use a different number for different campaigns. With the help of call track and record solutions, you can know your respondents and also playback the calls if you need to. Trackable and Personalised URLsIf you are simply printing your website link on all your mailpieces, sure, you would get some clicks and visits. But, how would you know that a certain person visited your website as a result of a direct mail campaign? This is when campaign-specific URLs come into the picture. There are two types of trackable URLs: generic and personalised. Generic web addresses are the same for all the intended recipients of a specific campaign. For example, your website link is www.luxuryvillasforrent.co.uk; you can create a unique URL related to your mail content like www.luxuryvillasforrent.co.uk/christmas-sale. By including such a unique URL, you can use your website’s traffic analytics to know how many people visited your website using this campaign-specific link. Now coming to pURLs, they are a step ahead as you create a unique URL for every single recipient on your mailing list—for example, www.luxuryvillasforrent.co.uk/elijah-wilson. PURLs are created to add a personal touch to your web addresses that make people want to visit your website. These links take recipients to a landing page that is customised according to them. They help know each person’s interests separately so that you can measure better and have tabs on all your respondents. Use URLs as your tracking method when you have an offer that can be only claimed on your website or when you want recipients to read some customised information or watch customised videos. Hence, URLs are also an excellent replacement for video mailers that are rather expensive. Coupon CodesIncluding a unique coupon code that can be redeemed on your website, over a call, or at your store is always a sound-tracking mechanism. If you intend to accept redeemable codes over calls, instruct your staff to ask for the code every time someone calls up to place an order. It is very simple to measure responses through coupon codes; you just have to check how many times a certain code has been used. Additionally, coupon codes are excellent tools to drive people to purchase from you directly. Making your offer compelling and time-bound is the key. Marketers can always put more than one code on a mailpiece to test which code gets more responses. For instance, you put two different codes, “BUY1GET1FREE” and “40%DISCOUNT.” This way, you know what kind of offers attract your prospects the most. QR CodesQR codes also take recipients to a customised landing page, but unlike URLs, they are easier to use. All your recipients have to do is take out their phones and scan the code. People, especially teenagers and millennials, prefer QR codes to links any day. To know how many people scanned your QR code, you just need to check the number of visits to your customised landing page through your website analytics. QR codes also offer some scope for personalisation as you can change the shapes of the code for them to stand out. Like coupon codes, QR codes also work great when used alongside limited-time offers. Defining Direct Mail KPIsKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) are simply performance metrics that represent the success of your campaign. There are several metrics for judging your campaign performance, and six of them are mentioned below. 1. Response RateThe direct mail response rate is obtained by taking the total number of responses and dividing it by the total number of mail pieces sent out.
Response Rate = Total number of responses/ Campaign size
If you are wondering how to track direct mail, simply use this method as it is the easiest. However, make sure to count responses from all channels. 2. Conversion RateIf you think that some of your responses are not going to be converted, it is best to calculate your conversion rate and not just depend on the response rate to determine your campaign’s success.
Conversion Rate = Total number of conversions/ Total number of responses
The conversion rate is the percentage of your direct mail recipients that made a purchase. Companies that sell low-ticket products can choose not to calculate conversions as their response and conversion numbers are the same. For example, when someone orders a takeaway using your coupon code, it can lead to a response and conversion happening at the same time. 3. Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)The cost per acquisition or conversion is basically the amount you spent on the campaign divided by the total number of conversions.
CPA = Campaign cost/ Total number of conversions
This metric is used to determine profitability. 4. Average Revenue GeneratedIt is important to note how much revenue you have generated through a campaign.
Average Revenue Generated = Total revenue/ Total number of conversions
Though it should be calculated before the campaign, it’s never too late to measure and improvise. 5. Profit Per ConversionIf you wish to know how much profit you made on every conversion, you can use this KPI.
Profit Per Conversion = Average revenue generated – CPA
6. Return on Investment (ROI)The ROI is perhaps the most important of all the KPIs and tells you if you are at a profit or loss after the campaign.
ROI = Total profit generated – Campaign cost
If it is negative, it can later turn to be positive when your prospects buy from you after a while. 7. Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)While the above metrics give you an instant view of your campaign performance, never leave out customer LTV. Though your prospects or customers might not buy from you instantly, they might do the same over a period of time. This way, campaigns that generate a negative ROI can also turn out to be positive in the long run. ConclusionIt is essential to know how to track direct mail so that marketers can conduct successful campaigns and be well aware of their pros and cons. Measuring your campaign performance gives you a clear picture of where your direct mail marketing efforts are taking your company. This way, you can adapt, improvise, and win over more and more customers. PostGrid’s print and mail solutions can help you conduct well-planned campaigns and also track everything. With our smart tracking capabilities and campaign analytics, marketers can optimise their campaigns easily. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post How to Track Direct Mail: Tracking & Analytics appeared first on PostGrid UK. Via https://www.postgrid.co.uk/how-to-track-measure-direct-mail/ |
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