Bulk Mail: Everything You Need to Know Before Sending
Are you thinking about taking a bulk mailing route with your marketing campaign? Bulk mail lets you send letters, postcards, catalogues, brochures, leaflets and prospectuses at heavily discounted postage rates, provided your mailing meets Royal Mail’s size and volume requirements. There are several factors to consider before sending out bulk mail – what you can send, the size and volume limits, and how to maximise your savings – and this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Can I Send by Bulk Mail?
There are many options for items you can send through our bulk postage system to aid your marketing campaign:
- Letters – Send a standard enveloped letter to inform your customers of recent or upcoming changes to your business and keep them up to date with your company.
- Postcards – Postcards are an efficient way to quickly grab a reader’s attention, making them an advantageous marketing technique for any business.
- Catalogues – Use a catalogue to showcase your full range of products to your customers in one handy piece of bulk mail.
- Brochures – Brochures are just like catalogues but smaller, making them ideal for small business advertising such as restaurant menus and salon treatment lists.
- Leaflets – Leaflets share many similarities with brochures but are generally more informative – for example, a political party delivering its manifesto and messages.
- Prospectuses – Most commonly used by universities to deliver their course lists, prospectuses are also bulk mailed by smaller training providers such as adult education services.
What Are the Size and Volume Limits for Bulk Mail?
Yes, there are limits and restrictions on the size and volume of the bulk mail you send in order to qualify for the best discounts. Royal Mail requires the following:
| Format | Maximum Dimensions | Minimum Volume for Bulk Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Small Letters | Up to 240mm long x 165mm wide x 5mm deep | Over 20,000 pieces |
| Large Letters | Up to 353mm long x 250mm wide x 25mm deep | Over 10,000 pieces |
How Do I Get the Most Savings From Bulk Mail?
Four ways to maximise your savings with bulk mail:
- Pre-sort your mail – By allowing us to pre-sort your data, we can take advantage of sorted mail discounts, allowing for a much more efficient and smooth delivery time.
- Check your data – Make sure all recipient information is accurate and correct. Cleansing your data saves money and maximises ROI by filtering out poor records before they waste postage.
- Ditch the franking machine – It is much more cost-effective to send your bulk mail with us: 95% of customers who contact us about bulk postage find that our complete fulfilment – printing, enclosing and postage – costs less than they currently pay for franking alone.
- Send small, light items – By sending smaller, lighter items of bulk mail you can secure a larger discount on your bulk postage campaign.
Why Is a Mailing House the Most Successful Option for Bulk Mail?
The best option for any business wanting to get the most from bulk postage services is to use a reputable mailing house like The Direct Mail Company. We handle the majority of the factors covered in this article efficiently and with guaranteed results, massively reducing your labour costs and cutting the time it takes to launch your campaign. Choosing us also unlocks further discounts, because we work with leading postage providers to secure the best bulk postage rates in the UK – and a well-planned follow-up campaign compounds those savings across repeated sends.
Bulk Mail: Frequently Asked Questions
What items can be sent as bulk mail?
Letters, postcards, catalogues, brochures, leaflets and prospectuses can all be sent through bulk postage at discounted rates.
What size does bulk mail need to be?
Small Letters must be within 240mm x 165mm x 5mm, and Large Letters within 353mm x 250mm x 25mm, to qualify for their respective bulk discounts.
How many items do I need to send to get a bulk mail discount?
Over 20,000 pieces for Small Letters and over 10,000 pieces for Large Letters, under the volumes set out above.
Is bulk mail cheaper than franking?
Almost always. 95% of customers who contact us about bulk postage find our complete fulfilment – printing, enclosing and postage – costs less than they currently pay for franking alone.
How can I reduce my bulk mail costs further?
Pre-sort your mail for sorted discounts, cleanse your data to eliminate wasted postage, and keep items small and light to qualify for larger discounts.
How do I start a bulk mail campaign?
If you’re interested in how The Direct Mail Company can help launch your next bulk postage campaign, contact us today on 0333 038 3797 or email sales@thedirectmailcompany.co.uk
