The following is Part 2 of a two-part series on 2017 postal rate changes. Read Part 1.

Postal rates may have changed, but one thing that won’t change is our commitment to helping you find innovative solutions and save money on postage at the same time.

So without further ado, here are just a few ways to combat rising prices and weather the changes:

• Take advantage of the USPS Promotions & Incentives Program. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has approved six promotions for the 2017 calendar year, with discounts ranging from 2% – 5% of eligible postage. You can find a full calendar of all the promos here, but I’d like to focus on the Emerging & Advanced Technology promo for a second.

You may know that we recently launched PostaLink, which is designed to seamlessly integrate your multi-channel marketing efforts—starting with your direct mail—to improve response. What you may not know is that PostaLink has been approved as part of the Emerging & Advanced Technology promo. When you use PostaLink in your mail campaign between March 1 and August 31, you could save as much as 2% on postage.

• Take advantage of increased weight breaks. One piece of good news that came with the postal rate changes is that the weight break for USPS Marketing Mail (previously known as Standard Mail) increased from 3.3 ounces to 4.0 ounces. Use this weight break to your benefit in your next campaign! Test an additional insert that provides real-life testimonials on how your product or service has benefited others, or consider using heavier, higher end stock to increase the perceived value of the package. Don’t be afraid to get creative, but be mindful of what you add—only add something that is pertinent to the overall package.

• Take advantage of our postal optimization services. Regardless of what happens with postage rates, we are committed to providing you with options for reducing your mail costs. Take commingling, for example. Combining and presorting mail from a variety of customers allows us to achieve the optimal postage discount for you—which means you avoid paying higher postage rates on pieces that fall below minimum quantities required for drop ship discounts.

For more tips on saving money on postage—or for a free postal analysis—contact us today at 603-626-5800 or email info@polarisdirect.net

About the author: Melanie (Gray) Williams is Creative Supervisor/Copywriter at Polaris Direct, a nationally acclaimed high-volume direct marketing services company in Hooksett, NH.