USPS Postal Rates & Promotions for 2024: Mail Smarter

The USPS has announced the proposed new postage rates to be implemented on July 14th, 2024.

Standard Letters: 7.8% average increase

Standard Flats: 9.8% average increase

For your convenience, a printable rate chart can be downloaded here.

The USPS Postal Promotions are a valuable resource for marketers to save money by mailing smarter. With inflation pressures still lingering and postal rates increasing, it’s becoming more expensive to send direct mail which is why it’s even more important to take advantage of the postal promotions, and work with agencies to make sure you are maximizing your ROI through personalization, testing and advanced predictive modeling.   

For your easy access, you can download the promotions guide and rates for printing here. The guidebook provides a quick glance over each promotion’s most important information including eligibility and effective dates. For more detailed information on each promotion, please visit https://postalpro.usps.com/promotions. 

Let’s dive into the most important changes in this year’s Postal Promotions and how you can use them to your advantage.  

 

What’s Changed? 

In 2024, the USPS is introducing a significant volume discount, presenting an opportunity for substantial savings on mail campaigns:

30% Discount: Mailers sending volumes above fiscal year 2023 levels or 1 million pieces in 2024 are eligible for a 30% discount.

Rebates Schedule: Credits will be issued in July 2024, October 2024, and January-February 2025.

Registration: Starting in November 2023, mailers can register for the discount through the USPS Business Customer Gateway.

Validity: Postage credits remain valid until December 31, 2025.

2024 USPS Promotions:

  • Tactile Sensory and Interactive – 5%: February – July
    • 2024 is the last year that gloss paper stocks will be eligible
  • INFORMED DELIVERY – 4%: AUGUST – DECEMBER
  • Emerging and Advance Technology – 3%: Any six-month period
    • 2024 is the last year for the mobile shopping promotion.
    • Customers can now pick their own six month window this promotion as well.

Save Money With Informed Delivery 

Marketers who utilize Informed delivery will once again receive a 4% discount in 2024. Informed Delivery is a free program for consumers who wish to participate that allows them to see photos of the mail before it arrives.  

It consists of two main elements: 

1) A large grayscale image of the piece or a 4-color representative image of the mailer. 

2) A smaller, accompanying image that offers interactive marketing potential. Clicking on this image or on the “Learn More” call to action opens the URL associated with the campaign. It can also be used to open a marketer’s phone app for the recipient to call. 

With over 44 million consumers signed up for Informed Delivery, there is major potential for marketers to take advantage of that audience with links and Call-To-Actions accompanying the user’s mail images.  

How Nahan Provides Cost-Effective Mailing Solutions

  • Logistics expertise – We have a team of logistics experts to help our customers determine the best mailing and transportation method for their needs. The team is always on top of what’s going on with industry changes and is quick to respond.
  • Multiple shipping methods – We have three primary shipping options: co-mail, commingle, and drop-ship, all of which our team of experts can help you choose from to best support your needs.
  • Advocating for our customers – Throughout industry changes, we remain committed to finding the best postage rates for our customers and by the best means possible relative to desired transit times and in-home dates.
  • Active support – We actively monitor, recommend, and assist with approvals to allow clients to take advantage of USPS postal promotions. This often saves clients 3-5% on their postage, which is typically the largest component of direct mail spend.

The printing and direct marketing industry could not exist without the partnership of the USPS to deliver your eye-catching and action-driving piece to your consumer. The team at Nahan is here to help you find solutions to minimize postage and transportation costs and drive improved marketing return on investment (ROI).