The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers mailers opportunities to reduce postage costs while enhancing customer engagement through innovative mail piece designs and technologies. Below is an overview of each promotion, including discounts, registration periods, promotion periods, and mail piece requirements.
1. Integrated Technology
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Discount Offered: 3%
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Registration Period: November 20, 2024 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: Any 6 consecutive months chosen by the mailer within the 2025 calendar year
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Description and Requirements: This promotion encourages mailers to incorporate emerging technologies into their mail pieces to create interactive experiences. Eligible technologies include:
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Augmented Reality (AR)
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Mixed Reality
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Virtual Reality (VR)
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Integration with Voice Assistants
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Video in Print
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Near Field Communication (NFC)
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Mobile Shopping (QR Codes)
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Mailers must select a start date for the promotion, which will run for six consecutive months. The discount is applied to eligible First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail letters, cards, and flats.
2. Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive
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Discount Offered: 4%
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Registration Period: December 15, 2024 – July 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: February 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This promotion encourages mailers to enhance customer engagement through sensory and interactive mail pieces. Eligible enhancements include:
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Special visual effects
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Sound
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Scent
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Texture/tactile coatings
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Taste
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Interactive elements such as pop-ups, infinite folds, or other dimensional aspects
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Mail pieces must be submitted for approval to the USPS to qualify for the discount, which applies to First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail letters, cards, and flats.
3. Continuous Contact
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Discount Offered: 3% on follow-up mailings
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Registration Period: February 15, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: April 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This new promotion encourages marketers to plan campaigns with multiple touchpoints to drive customer behavior. Participants receive a discount for sending follow-up mailings that complement or build upon (but do not duplicate) the initial mailing. Eligible mail pieces include USPS Marketing Mail letters and flats.
4. Reply Mail IMbA
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Discount Offered: 3% for static barcodes; 6% for serialized barcodes
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Registration Period: May 15, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This promotion encourages mailers to adopt Intelligent Mail Barcode Accounting (IMbA) for Business Reply Mail (BRM). Participants must enroll in IMbA and use either a static or serialized barcode on their Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) pieces. The discount applies to inbound First-Class Mail QBRM letters and cards.
5. First-Class Mail Advertising
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Discount Offered: 3%
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Registration Period: July 15, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: September 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This promotion encourages the use of First-Class Mail for advertising purposes. Eligible mail pieces include standalone advertisements or marketing messages incorporated into First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats. Mail pieces promoting mail diversion (e.g., “go paperless” messages) are ineligible.
Add-On Promotions
In addition to the primary promotions, USPS offers two add-on promotions that can be combined with the above (except for the Reply Mail IMbA Promotion) to provide additional discounts.
6. Informed Delivery
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Discount Offered: 1% to Mailer; 0.5% credit to eDoc submitter
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Registration Period: November 20, 2024 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This add-on promotion encourages mailers to integrate Informed Delivery campaigns with their mailings. Participants must include a representative image, a ride-along image with a call to action, and a URL that correlates to the campaign. The discount can be combined with other promotions (except Reply Mail IMbA).
7. Sustainability
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Discount Offered: 1%
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Registration Period: November 20, 2024 – December 31, 2025
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Promotion Period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
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Description and Requirements: This add-on promotion supports environmentally conscious practices by incentivizing the use of sustainable materials and production processes in mail pieces. Eligible mail pieces must meet USPS-approved sustainability standards, such as:
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Use of recycled paper or certified sustainable materials.
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Inclusion of messaging promoting environmentally friendly practices (e.g., recycling instructions).
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Demonstration of carbon-neutral mail production or distribution practices.
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Like the Informed Delivery Promotion, this discount can be combined with other promotions (excluding Reply Mail IMbA).
Key Benefits of the USPS Promotions and Incentives
These promotions provide mailers with multiple advantages:
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Cost Savings: Discounts reduce the overall cost of sending mail.
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Enhanced Engagement: Promotions encourage creativity and technology integration, leading to higher customer interaction rates.
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Support for Innovation: Encourages businesses to experiment with new formats, technologies, and messaging strategies.
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Sustainability Commitment: Incentivizes environmentally responsible practices, aligning brands with eco-conscious values.
By participating in these programs, mailers can maximize the effectiveness of their campaigns while benefiting from reduced postage rates. Registration for each promotion is simple, and DirectMail2.0 assists our partners in completing the process if needed.
For businesses looking to elevate their direct mail strategies in 2025, these USPS incentives offer an excellent opportunity to innovate and save. Whether you’re integrating technology, adding tactile elements, or embracing sustainability, these programs make direct mail more impactful than ever.
Let us know if you’re planning to take advantage of these USPS Promotions in 2025 and we’ll be happy to help!
