The 2027 USPS Promotions Calendar has been published and a few changes to note from previous years. The biggest change for 2027 is addition of two new promotions: Direct Mail Discovery and Impact Messaging promotions. Now let us get into the details...
Registration already opened for this promotion on October 15th, 2026, and runs through June 30th, 2027. The promotion runs from January 1st through June 30th, 2027. To qualify for this promotion a mail piece needs to engage though innovative use of paper stock, substrates, inks, interactive elements, and finishing techniques. Gloss Stock will not qualify for this promotion as it did in previous years.
The promotion is for both Marketing Mail letters and Flats as well as First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats. (If you are mailing out a First-Class postcard, do not forget you can go up to 6” H x 9” W card and receive the First-Class postcard rate. You must mail the cards out as an automated barcoded mailing.)
A link to the Guidebook and Resources is available by following this link: 2027 Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion. The discount for this promotion is between 3% and 5%. See the table below for the discount tiers:
The Integrated Technology promotion is the only promotion where you as the customer can pick the six-month period you would like to use the promotion. The six months must run consecutively. This added flexibility allows mail owners to use the promotion when it works best for their business. The six consecutive months can run any time between January 1st and December 31st, 2027. Tracking for this promotion is done through a mailer's Customer Registration ID (CRID).
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 Mail letters, cards, and flats. This promotion provides a postage discount of 5%. A link to the Guidebook and Resources is available here: 2027 Integrated Technology Promotion.
The First-Class Mail Advertising promotion sign up begins on February 15th, 2027, and ends on December 31st, 2027. The promotional period is April 1st, 2027, through December 31st, 2027. This is the longest of the promotions. As the title states, this is only for First Class cards, letters, and flats. Your mailpiece must include your enhanced marketing strategy which includes a marketing message. New this year is supplemental enclosures such as buck slips, blow-in cards, and sticky notes with a marketing message can now qualify as a mail piece for the 2027 FCMA promotion. The guidebook will give you all the eligible and ineligible marketing messages to assist with setting up your mail piece and gaining the 5% postage discount. A link to the Guidebook and Resources is available here: 2027 First-Class Mail Advertising Promotion.
The Direct Mail Discovery promotion is new in 2027. This promotion is for Marketing Mail Letters and Flats only. The promotional sign-up period is February 15th, 2027, through September 30th, 2027. The promotional period starts on April 1st, 2027, and ends on September 30th, 2027. The 2027 Direct Mail Discovery Guidebook will provide you with all the details you need to successfully participate in this promotion. The Guidebook is not yet available but should be coming out soon and will be posted here: 2027 Direct Mail Discovery Promotion.
The Impact Messaging promotion is the other new promotion for 2027. This promotion is for both Marketing Mail letters and flats and First-Class cards, letters, and flats. The promotion also has a 5% postage discount on all qualifying mail pieces. The sign-up period is March 15th, 2027, and ends on September 30th, 2027. The promotion runs May 1st to September 30th, 2027.
Eligible messages for the Impact Messaging promotion must communicate the value of mail to the recipient. Participants can utilize messages from one or more of these categories: Encouraging Mail Creation, Promoting Mail Services, and Highlighting the Value of Mail. If you would like to submit messaging you feel is eligible for the promotion but not listed, please submit it via the My Products Portal. The Guidebook and Resources are available now: 2027 Impact Messaging Promotion.
The USPS is again offering two additional add-on discounts that can be used on the promotions. The eligible mail classes include:
The Add-Ons have not changed from the 2026 promotions. Eligible mail will get a 1% additional discount for using Informed Delivery and 1% additional for the Sustainability, only when paired with one of the five promotions listed above. A link to the Guidebook and Resources is available at 2027 Add-Ons.
Through the Informed Delivery feature, business mailers can conduct a marketing campaign that reaches their target audience via email. Think full-color, clickable Ride-Along Images in an email message with a 64% open rate. These messages can take users directly to the target URL of your choice, straight from their inbox to action.
To obtain the Sustainability 1% add-on discount, you need to demonstrate the paper used in your mailings is responsibly sourced and sustainably produced by exhibiting an eligible certification. Below are the certifications that demonstrate you have met the requirement:
The teams at Suttle-Straus are experts in getting postage discounts for our clients. If you are interested in taking advantage of one of these promotions contact your Suttle-Straus representative and they can assist you with getting set up.
We're hosting a free webinar to go over these USPS Promotions one by one on Wednesday, November 18th at noon EST/11am CST. Register here.
Happy Mailing,
Rob Hanks