When getting started on your direct mail marketing campaign you need to pay close attention to the design of your direct mail pieces. This is because the USPS has strict guidelines and design requirements you need to follow in order to mail your direct mail pieces successfully.
Ultimately, there are 2 routes you can go to ensure your direct mail designs meet the USPS requirements. You can seek professional design help, or you can take advantage of a direct mailer template and design your mail pieces in-house to save some money.
If you decide to design in-house, below are free direct mail templates you can take advantage of to ensure your design follows the USPS guidelines.
Direct Mail Postcard Templates
Postcards are the perfect direct mailers for when you want to deliver a quick message that generates immediate responses.
Click on your desired direct mail postcard size below to download your free postcard direct mailer template today:
Every Door Direct Mail Templates (Flats and Folded)
Every Door Direct Mail, or EDDM, is an affordable direct mail option offered by the United States Postal Service where you can deliver your mail pieces to every household or household and business on a chosen mailing route without knowing each postal address. While this direct mail option is ideal for even small budgets, the USPS has some strict guidelines for the design that you need to follow.
To help design your EDDM mailers, below are EDDM direct mail templates for each size the USPS allows you to use within a EDDM campaign:
EDDM Flat Templates
EDDM Folded Templates
Envelope Templates
One of the most effective ways to use envelopes is to add a design to your envelope.
Whether you create a unique design that covers the majority of your envelope or just want to include a few branding elements, you’ll want to make sure you use a direct mail template to help guide you in designing your envelope.
Click your desired envelope size below to download your free envelope design template:
Direct Mail Catalog Templates
Direct mail catalogs are one of the more expensive types of direct mail, but there are also many advantages to catalogs including driving traffic to your website and they generate one of the highest ROIs.
Choose a catalog size below to take advantage of your free direct mail catalog template. Also, keep in mind that while you can seal the sides of your catalogs when mailing, inserting them in an envelope is the best way to protect your catalogs.
Direct Mail Brochure Templates
Brochures are the perfect direct mailers for introducing your company, sharing details about a product or service you offer, and so much more. They're extremely cost-effective and the different folded brochure options offer unique ways for your audience to interact with your message.
Below are some popular direct mail brochure templates you can use to ensure your brochure design follows the USPS direct mail requirements. If you’re interested in a different type of brochure not included below click here to view all brochure design templates.
Tips for Using Your USPS Direct Mail Template
To utilize the above direct mail templates, all you need to is download the template and then place the template in a separate layer in your design program. Simply design on top of it in a separate layer and then turn off or delete the layer that contains the template before exporting your file. Below are some tips you can follow to successfully use your direct mailer template:
Tip 1: When placing your design template into your design program, make sure that your layout is the size of your desired direct mailer plus a 1/8” bleed. Bleed is the border that surrounds the exact direct mail size and marks where your direct mail design background needs to extend to.
Tip 2: Keep your design elements within the “safe zone” or margin. While your background color and any other elements that need to reach the edge of your design need to extend 1/8” beyond the actual edge, other design elements like text need to stay at least 1/8” away from the actual edge.
Tip 3: In order to obey USPS design requirements, your direct mailers that do not require an envelope need to include room within the design for the stamp or mailing indicia in the top right corner. You also need to make sure there is at least a 4” x 2.25” white space for mailing information including the recipient’s address and the mail barcode.
Tips For Designing Quality Direct Mailers
Using a direct mailer template approved by the USPS will ensure that your design is appropriately laid out. But you’ll still want to take your time on the design, so your direct mail generates the best possible results.
Below are some effective direct mail design tips you can take advantage of:
- Design your direct mail pieces to reflect your target audience
- Keep copy short and concise
- Use high quality images that are at least 300dpi in resolution
- Use an adequate amount of negative space
- Make sure your direct mail design has high contrast
- Never forget your brand
- Include large and bold text
- Create an irresistible call to action that stands out from the rest of the design
Interested in a direct mailer that isn’t listed above? Click below to check out all our design templates today!
Explore All Design Templates!
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