The digital space is oversaturated with ads and for that reason, marketers are moving towards more traditional marketing channels like direct mail. Fortunately, the United States Postal Service offers new incentives and promotions each year to encourage the use of direct mail in a new and exciting way. From scented envelopes to a virtual reality experience, there are many ways to use technology to boost brand awareness and save some money while you’re at it.

2023 USPS Discounts

Year after year the United States Postal Service offers discounts to businesses to promote the use of direct mail marketing. These incentives change each year and range between three and six months. Registration begins a few weeks before the promo starts and continues through the promotion period. These discounts aren’t enormous, but they do help offset the cost of added expenses such as a larger size or added colors. Here are the discounts available to businesses this year.

2023 Tactile, Sensory, & Interactive Promotion

Promotion period: February 1, 2023 — July 31, 2023

Registration: January 9, 2023 — July 31, 2023

Discount: 5%

With the latest advances in paper, ink, and more – mail pieces can become an interactive experience. Designers have access to unique visual effects like pop-ups, fragrances for a memorable smell, textures ranging from soft velvet to crisp foil embossing, or ink that changes colors with UV light. It’s time to take print marketing into multi-sensory territory! You can read more about the USPS Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive Promo in another blog post.

2023 Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion

Promotion period: February 1, 2023 — July 31, 2023

Registration: January 9, 2023 — July 31, 2023

Discount: 3% – 4%

Transpromo uses the extra white space on invoices to deliver a marketing message. Enhance your message and use color to draw attention to due dates or cross-sell a product or service. Personalize your mailing by using variable data printing, showing your customers that you know who they are and what they need. Check out All About the USPS Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion for more ideas.

2023 Emerging and Advanced Technology Promotion (now includes Mobile Shopping)

Promotion period: May 1, 2023 — November 30, 2023

Registration: March 15, 2023 — November 30, 2023

Discount: 3% or 4% 

With this discount, the use of cutting-edge technology is encouraged. There is a variety of ways to incorporate these technologies from integrating a voice assistant command to video in print that is sure to wow the recipient. Check out our blog post to read more about All About the USPS Emerging and Advanced Technology Promotion.

2023 Reply Mail IMbA (Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting)

Promotion period: July 1, 2023 — December 31, 2023

Registration: May 15, 2023 — December 31, 2023

Discount: 3% or 6%

We have been using the Intelligent Mail barcode for years, but this promotion is a new offer that the USPS added this year. Mailers are encouraged to use the new automated system for Business Reply Mail (BRM). This will reduce processing times, improve consistency and ensure mail is received in a more timely manner.

2023 Informed Delivery Promotion

Promotion period: August 1, 2023 — December 31, 2023

Registration: June 15, 2023 — December 31, 2023

Discount: 4% and .5% with eDoc Submitter

Informed delivery is an interactive tool for recipients to see what mail they will be receiving before it arrives. Our omnichannel marketing tool, Amplify by Bluegrass, integrates informed delivery into every campaign. You can reach more customers while providing them with a tool for engagement. Find out more details in our post All About the USPS Informed Delivery Promotion.

2023 Retargeting

Promotion period: September 1, 2023 — November 30, 2023

Registration: July 15, 2023 — November 30, 2023

Discount: 5%

By retargeting website visitors who didn’t convert you can receive this discount. Information collected from these visitors can be run through a program that will provide you with a mailing address in order to send them a postcard encouraging them to complete the conversion.

USPS Holidays to Remember

Here is a calendar of the 2023 USPS holiday schedule.

Your Direct Mail Partner

If you’re unsure how to take advantage of discounted rates for your direct mail campaign, our team is here and ready. We’ll get everything set up at the best available cost – plus with us by your side, we guarantee that all guidelines are met every step of the way. From design to delivery, don’t hesitate to give us a call today.