The 2022 USPS Promotions Calendar has been published and there are a few changes to note from previous years. The great news is the amount of the available discounts is higher for a number of the promotions. My 2021 USPS promotions blog explains each of the promotions, so I will leave those details out, but I have included a link below each promotion that will take you to their resource pages. Let's review them individually by promotion and registration dates.
Tactile, Sensory and Interactive Mail Piece Engagement:
Registration is currently open for the first promotion, and it runs from February 1st through July 31st. To qualify for this promotion a mailpiece needs to engage recipients though innovative uses of paper stocks, substrates, inks, interactive elements and finishing techniques. The promotion is for both marketing mail letters and flats as well as first-class mail letters, cards, and flats. If you're mailing out a first-class postcard, don't forget the postcard max size has been increased and you can go up to a 6" x 9" card and still receive the low postcard rate. You must mail the cards out as an automated barcoded mailing. The discount for this promotion has been doubled to 4%. A link to the guidebook and resources is available at https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-tactile-sensory/requirements
Emerging and Advanced Technology:
The second promotion of 2022 registration starts on January 15th and runs through August 31st. The promotion dates are March 1st to August 31st. This promotion encourages mailers to add emerging technologies such as enhanced augmented reality (AR), VR/MR, NFC, video in print, or multichannel mail integration with video assistants. This promotion is eligible for both marketing mail letters and flats as well as first-class letters, cards and flats. This promotion provides a postage discount of 2%-3%. A link to the guidebook and resources is available at https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-emerging-tech/requirements
Earned Value Reply Mail:
This promotion is the shortest of the six promotions and the registration period is from February 15th thru March 31st, with the promotion running from April 1st thru June 30th. In order to qualify for this promotion, you will need to distribute Business Reply Mail (BRM), Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM), or Share Mail envelopes and cards. Instead of receiving a postage discount as with the other five promotions, the Earned Value Reply Mail promotion gives a credit of 2 cents per counted reply or share mail piece. Credits may be applied to postage for qualifying first-class mail and marketing mail letters and flats. The credits must be used by December 31st, 2022. A link to the guidebook and resources is available at https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-earned-value/requirements
Personalized Color Transpromo:
Registration for this promotion is open from May 15th thru December 31st. The promotion begins on July 1st and runs thru the end of the year. This promotion is used by mailers who send out bills and statements. The USPS is encouraging mailers to use color to enhance marketing messaging to improve response rates. This promotion is only for qualifying first-class presort and automation letters (bills and statements). Mailers will receive a 3% discount on postage. A link to the guidebook and resources is available at https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-transpromo/requirements
Informed Delivery:
The Informed Delivery promotion has a registration period from June 15th thru December 31st and the promotion runs from August 1st thru December 31st. The USPS is willing to give mailers who use an Informed Delivery omnichannel marketing campaign a doubled 4% discount on postage! You must create an Informed Delivery campaign through the portal, on the Business Customer Gateway, or submit your elements through eDoc submission and ensure your campaign meets best-practice requirements. An Informed Delivery campaign may seem like a daunting task, but with the help of an experienced mail service provider like Suttle-Straus, the process can be a smooth one. Automation compatible marketing mail letters and flats and automated first-class letters, cards and flats all qualify for the 4% postage discount. The Informed Delivery campaign guidebook and resources are currently not available. Once available, it will be posted at https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-informed-delivery.
Mobile Shopping:
The Mobile Shopping promotion is one of the shorter promotions. Registration starts on July 15th and runs to December 31st. Promotion dates are September 1st thru December 31st. Mailers who intergrade mobile technologies such as QR code or barcode, voice assistant, a digital watermark or image recognition to facilitate a seamless online shopping experience can receive a 2% discount on marketing mail letters and flats. This promotion does not include first-class letters, cards and flats. The mailpiece will need to have one of the technologies listed and when scanned, it needs to lead to a mobile-optimized site from the beginning of the shopping experience all the way through purchase completion. Below is a link that will provide all of the information needed for this promotion. https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2022-mobile-shopping/requirements
By utilizing USPS promotions, you can save postage while increasing your return on direct mail campaigns. It is a win-win and might even get you a promotion as well.
Happy Mailing,
Rob
