Despite tons of technological advances, direct mail has managed to keep its place as one of the most effective, high-ROI marketing solutions available today. The one downside? The costs of mail can add up quickly. Fortunately, there’s a solution: the annual postal promotions offered by the U.S. Postal Service.
Understanding Postal Promotions
Every year, the USPS offers a boost to marketers with a rotation of discounts, tied to the use of particular mail features or categories. For 2025, all but one of these promotions also require campaigns to be registered and mailed during specific, pre-determined windows of time. Typically, these promotions will result in 3% to 4% savings on First Class and/or Marketing Mail campaigns that align with the requirements. Plus, for the first time, you can stack some discounts in 2025 for even more savings!
While it’s super easy to take advantage of the postal promotions, they do require a little preparation before your campaign launches! Before you can start sending mail, you’ll have to fill out a bit of paperwork and submit information about your planned campaign demonstrating how it fits with the promotion’s requirements. Don’t stress, though! An experienced mailing partner like World Press can help you get all your materials together without taking too much time away from your day-to-day.
Once it’s approved and your campaign is ready to go, send your mail and watch the savings arrive!
2025 Postal Promotions
Here’s a brief overview of the 2025 postal promotions, including their requirements and deadlines:
- Integrated Technology: Marketing Mail letters and flats; First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats; and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that incorporate technology like enhanced AR, VR/MR, video in print, mobile shopping, AI integration, and others, can qualify for a 3% discount. Mailers can now select their own mailing schedule for this promotion, as long as it runs for six consecutive months during the 2025 calendar year. Registration is open all year.
- Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive: Marketing Mail letters and flats and First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats that use enhanced techniques (specialty inks, sensory treatments, interactive elements) are eligible for a 4% discount between Feb. 1 and Jul. 31. Registration begins Dec. 15, 2024.
- Continuous Contact: Marketing Mail and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that contain targeted follow-up content after an initial mailer can qualify for a 3% discount between Apr. 1 and Dec. 31. Registration begins Feb. 15, 2025.
- Reply Mail IMbA: First-Class Mail presort and automation letters that use static IMbA can qualify for a 3% discount, and pieces that use serialized IMbA can qualify for a 6% discount, between Jul. 1 and Dec. 31. Registration begins May 15, 2025.
- First-Class Mail Advertising: First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats featuring advertisements or marketing messages can qualify for a 3% discount between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. Registration begins July 15, 2025.
Along with the five promotions above, the USPS is offering two “add-on” promotions for 2025 that can provide additional discounts. Mailers may add one or both of the below add-ons to a single campaign, as long as all the requirements of both the primary promotion and the add-on(s) are met and documented. Add-on registration must be submitted at the same time as the main promotion.
- Informed Delivery: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for using the USPS Informed Delivery omni-channel feature. If you use the eDoc Postage Statement Submitter tool, you can earn an additional 0.5% incentive.
- Sustainability: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for demonstrating the paper used in the mailings is responsibly sourced and sustainability produced by exhibiting an eligible certification.
Don’t spend more than you have to on postage! The 2025 Postal Promotions can trim your mail costs in surprisingly big ways, and World Press can help. Connect with us as you plan your 2025 campaigns, and we’ll help you navigate the process, handle documentation, and increase your direct mail ROI.