USPS Offers Discounts for Direct Mail with QR Codes

The United States Postal Service has announced a discount program that provides an amazing opportunity for businesses that want to increase their sales through direct mail marketing.

For the months of July and August 2011, any business that uses QR codes on their direct mail piece will receive a 3% upfront discount off the postage amount. It is not often that the Postal Service has a sale, so this is a great time to take advantage of a discount and to also get started with your QR code campaign.

Please review the FAQ below from the USPS for some general information, and please don't hesitate to contact us for help with your next direct mail marketing campaign.

2011 Mobile Barcode Promotion -- FAQs

GENERAL INFORMATION, ELIGIBILITY, AND REQUIREMENTS

1. What is the 2011 Mobile Barcode Promotion?
The Mobile Barcode Promotion is intended to build awareness of mobile technology and demonstrate to mailers how mobile barcodes can increase the value of mail. The promotion provides business mailers with an upfront 3% discount on standard and first-class letters, flats, and cards that include a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode that can be read or scanned by a smartphone.

2. Why is the Postal Service offering this promotion?
The Mobile Barcode Promotion was designed to increase the value of direct mail and build awareness around integrating mobile technology into direct mail communications.

3. When does the Mobile Barcode Promotion begin?
The promotion runs from July 1 through August 31, 2011.

4. Who is eligible to participate?
All companies, including Mail Service Providers (MSPs), who mail using a permit imprint and submit their mailing documentation electronically are eligible to participate.

5. Do I have to apply/register to participate in the Mobile Barcode Promotion?
The Mobile Barcode Promotion does not require an application or advance registration.

6. How do I participate?
Submit qualifying standard or first-class letters, flats, or cards electronically using a permit imprint payment method to the Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) for acceptance within the specified promotion period, and meet all other promotion requirements.

7. What are the promotion requirements?
All of the following must apply:

• All mailpieces in the mailing postage statement must include a mobile 2-D barcode on the outside of the mailpiece or within the mailpiece.


• The mobile barcode must be used for marketing purposes and must be relevant to the contents of the mailpiece. The objective of the 2-D mobile barcode on eligible mail pieces must be to initiate interaction with consumers via mobile smartphones to market, promote, or educate.


• Mail must be tendered for acceptance during the promotion period, July 1, 2011, through August 31, 2011.

More information is available online at the Postal Service's Mobile Barcode Promotion website.

Are you making your customers feel left out?

Have you ever gotten excited over an advertised offer only to read the fine print that says something like "offer available to new customers only"? Many businesses focus their marketing efforts on generating new customers while forgetting the golden opportunity that repeat customers provide.

Nearly every sale has a repeat potential. It is not only easier, but also more cost-effective to market to an audience who has already done business with you (hopefully their experience was positive). Not only are they familiar with you and your business, but they have already shown interest in your products or services.

In addition to repeat product sales, up-selling is a great way to target current customers. For example, "if you like XX product, you will love QQ." Customers who are educated about their purchases feel more confident making informed decisions and will view you as the expert. Avoid being pushy, or you will drive away your current customer base. Instead, offer a lucrative discount that will do the selling for you.

In addition to increasing sales volume, current customers are also a potential goldmine when it comes to referrals. Customer referrals will not only help you build stronger relationships with your current customers, but will also help you expand your customer base through increased awareness to prime prospects.

There are many ways to generate customer referrals, but one of the easiest occurs throughout day-to-day conversations. If a loyal customer compliments your business in casual conversation, ask if you can use that statement as a customer quote.

Repeat customers offer stability and predictability -- a must for any successful business. After all, happy customers can sell your business just as well as your sales team.

Why You Should Be A Content Curator

"Content curator" is such a new term that even Wikipedia doesn't have a definition for it yet. So what does it mean? And, more importantly, why should you start to think of yourself as a content curator for your customers and prospects?

In the traditional definition, a curator is someone with an expertise on a given subject. For example, a gallery or museum curator does the research, selects an object or piece of artwork for display, and shares that work with the public.

We need curators for the Internet.

The web has made an unprecedented amount of information available to anyone with access to a computer and an Internet connection. What's more, there seems no end to the dizzying pace at which new content is being added all the time.

Unfortunately, quantity does not always equal quality, especially when it comes to Internet content. Sure, there's plenty of outstanding content online, but there's also a lot of useless and, in some cases, wrong or misleading content, too. No wonder so many people find themselves feeling fatigued with information overload.

This is where you can be the hero. Everyone's an expert or has at least some expertise in something. Take your business, for example. If you're a plumber, you're pretty knowledgeable about plumbing, right? Or say you're a lawyer. Legal issues might be your thing. If you own your own company, whatever products or services you offer, you know a thing or two about starting and running a business, too, now don't you?

If you care enough about your community (customers, prospects, and peers) and are willing to find, sort, organize, and share quality information relevant to your circle of friends, customers and peers, you should consider becoming a content curator. With this relatively simple act, you will do a huge favor for others that are also looking for information in your area of expertise. The benefits you'll receive from this type of caring and sharing will far outweigh the amount of time you devote to it.

So start thinking about how you could be a content curator, too. Your customers, friends, and peers will thank you.

Vote For Your Favorite Non-Profit

You get to vote for your favorite non-profit organization in Connecticut. Goodcopy will donate $500 to the organization that receives the most votes (likes) on our Goodcopy Facebook Page.

Below you can read about each of these outstanding organizations who provide essential services to a diverse population. 

Best of luck to all the organizations and happy voting!  

Here's how to vote:

1. Go to our Goodcopy Facebook Page after reading all the profiles below.
2. If you are not yet a Goodcopy fan, "like" us by clicking the "like" button on the top right of the page.
3. Go to the Non-Profit Photo album and go through each of the photos clicking "like" on the photos you want to vote for. (The "like" button is located right below the caption of the picture.)
4. Happy Voting!

These are the participating Organizations:

• Angel Fund
• CitySeed
• Hole in the Wall Camp
• New Haven Ballet
• New Haven Home Recovery
• The Children's Center of Hamden

Voting will run from Tuesday, May 17 - Tuesday, May 31  

Angel Fund

The Angel Fund funds, purchases and distributes, free of charge to partnering hospitals in Connecticut, beautiful boxes filled with items carrying importance and sentiment immeasurable to families whose babies are stillborn or who died shortly after birth. The boxes include items such as the Angel Fund's exclusive footprint pin, journal and memory book, a handmade receiving blanket and burial gown, the books Empty Cradle, Broken Heart and Tiny Hands Change the World as well as information on national support groups and web sites.

Partnering hospitals personalize each box with the baby's hand  and foot prints, measurements and priceless photos to include in the memory book. The baby's own hospital hat, measuring tape and bracelets also become a part of the memory box, and nurses distribute them to grieving families before they leave the hospital.

The Angel Fund also supports community bereavement services, contributes to the funding for research on stillbirth and SIDS, and donates monetary gifts to families in need, hospitals and other charitable organizations.
 

To Vote for the Angel Fund Click Here!

CitySeed

What began in 2004 with four neighbors in search of a locally grown tomato has become CitySeed, a community-based nonprofit that believes everyone should have access to fresh, healthy food!  In addition to establishing five farmer's markets that accept food stamps and WIC coupons in New Haven's neighborhoods, CitySeed has also advocated for food policy change on the local, state and federal levels.  We appreciate your support in helping us grow an equitable, local food system that promotes economic development, community development, and sustainable agriculture.

To Vote for CitySeed Click Here

The Hole in The Wall Gang Camp

Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a nonprofit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. Through Camp programs, year-round outreach to hospitals and clinics,and ongoing services for children, families and caregivers, the Camp serves more than 15,000 annually. All of the Camp's services are provided free of charge.

 To Vote for Hole in The Wall Camp Click Here