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Where can I use these audiences?

Only Neighbourhood Mail.

Do I get to keep the data?

We provide the audience ID so you can use it in the future, even with a different Canada Post Expert Partner.

How much does an audience cost?

Prices for a Direct Mail audience start at “free” and increase based on the dataset being accessed. Standard options for each mail type are listed below. More advanced data sets can be accessed from 3rd party providers like Environics.

Neighbourhood Mail Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Precision Targeter – free to use. Includes neighbourhood targeting based on combinations of up-to 3 demographic filters.

Personalized Mail Audience Options:

  • Use your own data – free. This includes PostNow doing basic cleaning of your data and running it through the National Change of Address (NCOA) to identify any bad records.
  • Canada Post Postal Code Name/Addresses – from $0.15/record. Use 6-digit postal codes to target all households within. Includes names and address data that can be printed by an Expert Partner. Not available for any other use.

Postal Code Targeting Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Postal Code Data. Included in postage. Use 6-digital postal codes to target all households within. A suppression list can be provided to remove existing customers from the final data.  Data includes address only, no names.

Can I target different dwelling types?

Yes! PostNow offers the complete Canada Post name and address list through our Audience Builder. Target based on Postal Codes of your customer or desired geographic target area.

Can I buy addresses and names?

Yes! PostNow offers the complete Canada Post name and address list through our Audience Builder. Target based on Postal Codes of your customer, desired geographic target area or demographics.

What are Canada Post transportation fees?

Canada Post adds a Neighbourhood Mail transportation fee to all campaigns not inducted into the exact depot(s) closest to your delivery neighbourhoods.

In other words, unless you are willing to drive your campaign mail pieces to a specific dropoff depot or depots for larger campaigns, you are covering the cost for Canada Post to distribute your campaign to the appropriate depots for final sorting/delivery.

This transportation fee is often why you will see a published Neighbourhood Mail rate of $0.18 / piece, but the final price is $0.192 when working with a mail house or Canada Post directly.

At PostNow we include the transportation fee in all campaigns automatically.

How much is Canada Post flyer delivery?

Flyer delivery falls under Canada Post Neighbourhood Mail. This is unaddressed ad mail and would cost $0.192 per piece, including transportation costs from Canada Post if it is under 6 x 12 x 1″ and <50g. Larger flyers, including magazine-style flyers like the Ikea Idea Books, are subject to higher rates.

A “Specified Delivery Start Date” can be added as a campaign option for an extra $0.01 / per piece. This guarantees that your flyer will not be delivered before a set date and is a great way to ensure you time your flyers for a specific sale/promotion.

Download the Neighbourhood Mail price sheet for oversized flyer delivery pricing.

 

What costs are there with Direct Mail Advertising?

When budgeting for a Direct Mail Ad Campaign you should plan for the following cost categories:

  • Planning & Design Costs (labour costs, asset licences, etc. )
  • Targeting/Data Costs (databases, licences, software, labour)
  • Production Costs (printing, folding, inserting, bundling, etc)
  • Postage/Transportation Costs

Final costs can be controlled with proper planning and targeting.

What is the best value postcard size to send?

While you can send a 4×6″ postcard with Neighbourhood Mail, which will be the cheapest to produce, it does not offer the best value.

Larger postcards will grab more attention and drive more campaign engagement, making them generate more ROI. We find the best size to send is a 5.5×8.5″ postcard due to its production costs being highly efficient and its impact being strong in a pile of flyers.

What is the minimum number of pieces I can send with PostNow?

You can send as few as 150 pieces for any available direct mail campaign in PostNow.

Are there discounts on Neighbourhood Mail postage?

Discounts are available. To qualify, a customer must commit to a minimum spend of $10,000 annually per service. Canada Post will look at your marketing plan and budget to see if you’re likely to achieve the minimum spend before awarding you a postage discount. There are various tiers of discounts available. Please contact us if you would like an introduction to a Canada Post sales rep.

An example of $10,000 would spend would be:

  • 100,000 NM (approximately)
  • 20,000 PM (approximately)

Discounts start at about 20% and increase based on total volume. The commitments are in the millions of dollars spent/year for the largest available Canada Post discounts.

How to build a Neighbourhood Mail campaign?

  1. Create your free account at postnow.ca
  2. Your account will be verified and postage rates applied.
  3. Select Campaign Builder located under the SmartMail tab in the main menu.
  4. Name your campaign and select type of campaign (neighbourhood mail). Select the date you’d like your campaign delivered to Canada Post. Final in-home delivery will be subject to Canada Post delivery standards.
  5. Upload your own targeting data or select a previously used audience. Enter your campaign quantity (150-50,000). We included a chart to show you pricing options for the most common options as you adjust your total.
  6. Select your campaign format – choose from postcards, letters, invitations, and more.
  7. Choose a template from the template gallery, upload your ready-to-print files or request custom artwork from our in-house graphic designer. (All required template changes are included in fees, custom artwork starts at $295).
  8.  If you chose to Upload your Data, you will be prompted to either upload now or later. Click yes to clean your data, then select your data retention
    policy for this campaign.
  9. Select Generate Campaign & Checkout or Save Progress & Complete Later. If you choose to complete later you will receive a link good for 30
    days via the email you supply. You will receive email notifications confirming your campaign order, as well as any edits requested with custom or edited design work.
    **At any time during this process there is a Campaign Summary button located on the bottom right of
    the page. This will show any customizations to your campaign as well as a quick Help section if you have any questions. Click the button again to close.

We handle everything from: design, print, data cleaning, mail prep and delivery to Canada Post.

How much does Neighbourhood Mail cost?

Neighbourhood Mail is the most affordable type of direct mail you can send in Canada. The price of a campaign varies due to the cost of print and campaign production but postage rates are always the same, regardless of volume*.

Current Neighbourhood Mail postage rates for 2023 are $0.188, including transportation fees ($0.015/piece).

Check out our Neighbourhood Mail Budget Calculator for accurate pricing options that include postage, mail prep, design, print and transportation. A small campaign may cost $0.50+/postcard while a high volume campaign (10,000 households or more) will see significant reduction in print cost per piece ($0.15 each).

*If you spend more than $10,000 in Canada Post postage fees per year, you may be eligible for a discounted contract rate! Contact our team for information and a direct introduction to a Canada Post rep in your area.

For more information on Neighbourhood Mail and how to use it effectively, you can check out our Neighbourhood Mail resources.

How much does an audience cost?

Prices for a Direct Mail audience start at “free” and increase based on the dataset being accessed. Standard options for each mail type are listed below. More advanced data sets can be accessed from 3rd party providers like Environics.

Neighbourhood Mail Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Precision Targeter – free to use. Includes neighbourhood targeting based on combinations of up-to 3 demographic filters.

Personalized Mail Audience Options:

  • Use your own data – free. This includes PostNow doing basic cleaning of your data and running it through the National Change of Address (NCOA) to identify any bad records.
  • Canada Post Postal Code Name/Addresses – from $0.15/record. Use 6-digit postal codes to target all households within. Includes names and address data that can be printed by an Expert Partner. Not available for any other use.

Postal Code Targeting Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Postal Code Data. Included in postage. Use 6-digital postal codes to target all households within. A suppression list can be provided to remove existing customers from the final data.  Data includes address only, no names.

Is Personalized Mail the same as Smartmail Marketing?

Personalized mail is one of many options for smartmail marketing. Other forms of smartmail marketing can include: postal code targeting and neighbourhood mail.

See: Smartmail Marketing Campaigns ⋆ PostNow.ca for more info on other smartmail marketing direct mail campaigns that we offer.

Are there discounts on Personalized Mail postage?

Discounts are available for contracts with Canada Post. To qualify, a customer is required to commit to a minimum spend of $10,000 annually per service. Canada Post will look at your marketing plan and budget to see if you’re likely to achieve the minimum spend before awarding you a postage discount.

An example of $10,000 would spend would be:

  • 100,000 NM (approximately)
  • 20,000 PM (approximately)

There are various tiers of discounts available. Please contact your Canada Post rep for more info.

Personalized Mail Guidelines

Here are a few guidelines if you’re considering using Personalized Mail:

  • There must be intent behind your campaign to promote a product, service, program, or event
  • Mail piece requires a 2″x4″ area for addressing and indicia purposes
  • The indicia can be customized but must be placed above and to the right of addressing
  • Minimum quantity of pieces: 150

How much does personalized mail cost?

Pricing varies based on postage rate and quantity of pieces in your campaign. You can build a personalized mail campaign for as low as $300 CAD with a minimum of 150 pieces.

 

See Campaign Cost Calculator ⋆ PostNow.ca for accurate pricing options.

Why should I use you for our direct mail campaigns?

Fast. Effective. Affordable.

Our online tools are designed to help you build and manage your direct mail campaigns easier than ever. We’ve put together simple options to select from and then our expert direct mail team handles everything from design, targeting, data cleaning, printing and mailing for you. Oh, and our prices are awesome! Try out our campaign calculator to see how much your next campaign could cost.

How Often Should I Use PostNow’s Services for My Direct Mail Campaigns?

The frequency depends on your goals and the specific service you’re using. For general brand awareness, you might opt for regular Neighbourhood Mail Marketing. If you have a specific property listing or event, Precision Targeting can be used to reach a more defined audience. It’s essential to balance frequency with relevance to ensure your campaigns remain effective and don’t overwhelm recipients.

I’m a Small Business Owner in Real Estate. How Can Personalized Mailing Help Me?

Personalized Mailing by PostNow allows small business owners and realtors to tailor their messages to specific recipients. By addressing potential clients by name and providing offers or information tailored to their needs, you increase the chances of engagement, building trust and fostering stronger client relationships.

How Does Precision Targeting by Canada Post Powered by PostNow Work?

Precision Targeting leverages Canada Post’s extensive data combined with PostNow’s expertise to pinpoint the most relevant audience for your mail campaigns. For realtors, this means your mailers are sent to potential clients who are more likely to be interested in buying or selling properties, optimizing your marketing spend and increasing ROI.

What is Neighbourhood Mail Marketing and How Can It Benefit Realtors?

Neighbourhood Mail Marketing by PostNow is a service that targets specific neighbourhoods or areas, ensuring that your promotional materials reach households that are most relevant to your listings. For realtors, this means increased visibility in areas where you have properties, leading to higher chances of engagement and sales.

Is Direct Mail Marketing Still Effective in the Digital Age?

Yes, direct mail marketing remains effective even in the digital age. While online marketing channels are prevalent, direct mail can stand out due to its tangible nature. It can reach specific demographics, especially those who may not be as active online. When combined with digital strategies, direct mail can amplify a campaign’s effectiveness.

What is Neighbourhood Mail?

Neighbourhood Mail (often abbreviated to NM) is a direct mail delivery channel of Canada Post. This is unaddressed mail that is delivered to all households* in a Neighbourhood Walk.

Formerly known as Unaddressed Ad Mail, Canada Post renamed Neighbourhood Mail when they introduced their updated suite of direct mail solutions for Canadian businesses under the Smartmail Marketing banner.

For more information on Neighbourhood Mail and how to use it effectively, you can check out our Neighbourhood Mail resources.

Is Neighbourhood Mail the same as Smartmail Marketing?

Neighbourhood mail is a type of smartmail marketing. Other forms of smartmail marketing can include: postal code targeting and personalized mail.

 

See: Smartmail Marketing Campaigns ⋆ PostNow.ca for more info on our smartmail marketing tools.

Are there discounts on Neighbourhood Mail postage?

Discounts are available. To qualify, a customer must commit to a minimum spend of $10,000 annually per service. Canada Post will look at your marketing plan and budget to see if you’re likely to achieve the minimum spend before awarding you a postage discount. There are various tiers of discounts available. Please contact us if you would like an introduction to a Canada Post sales rep.

An example of $10,000 would spend would be:

  • 100,000 NM (approximately)
  • 20,000 PM (approximately)

Discounts start at about 20% and increase based on total volume. The commitments are in the millions of dollars spent/year for the largest available Canada Post discounts.

Can you measure Neighbourhood Mail?

The success of a neighbourhood mail campaign can be measured through various ways such as:

  • Call tracking
  • Dynamic QR codes
  • Discount codes
  • pURLs

What is Neighbourhood Mail best for?

New to Neighbourhood Mail? Using NM is best when you want to:

  • Build mass awareness for your brand/product/service
  • Connect with specific neighbourhoods, regions, or consumers
  • Retain your current customer base

You can use Neighbourhood mail to effectively highlight your current promotional offers, promote new products, services, or business openings, and to keep in touch with your current customers to encourage loyalty and referrals.

Neighbourhood Mail best practices?

Frequency matters: It takes 5-8 touchpoints with your ideal target audience before your branding and messaging starts to make an impact?

To make a lasting impression on your ideal target audience consider connecting with them at the right time with the right message, with a relevant or high-value offer. 

Invest and commit to a long-term marketing plan for a higher ROI.

 

How to build a Neighbourhood Mail campaign?

  1. Create your free account at postnow.ca
  2. Your account will be verified and postage rates applied.
  3. Select Campaign Builder located under the SmartMail tab in the main menu.
  4. Name your campaign and select type of campaign (neighbourhood mail). Select the date you’d like your campaign delivered to Canada Post. Final in-home delivery will be subject to Canada Post delivery standards.
  5. Upload your own targeting data or select a previously used audience. Enter your campaign quantity (150-50,000). We included a chart to show you pricing options for the most common options as you adjust your total.
  6. Select your campaign format – choose from postcards, letters, invitations, and more.
  7. Choose a template from the template gallery, upload your ready-to-print files or request custom artwork from our in-house graphic designer. (All required template changes are included in fees, custom artwork starts at $295).
  8.  If you chose to Upload your Data, you will be prompted to either upload now or later. Click yes to clean your data, then select your data retention
    policy for this campaign.
  9. Select Generate Campaign & Checkout or Save Progress & Complete Later. If you choose to complete later you will receive a link good for 30
    days via the email you supply. You will receive email notifications confirming your campaign order, as well as any edits requested with custom or edited design work.
    **At any time during this process there is a Campaign Summary button located on the bottom right of
    the page. This will show any customizations to your campaign as well as a quick Help section if you have any questions. Click the button again to close.

We handle everything from: design, print, data cleaning, mail prep and delivery to Canada Post.

Neighbourhood Mail Guidelines?

Neighbourhood mail is the perfect direct mail campaign if you’re looking to build brand awareness or acquire new customers.

Did you know? 88% of Canadians interact with a business after receiving direct mail.*

Requirements for Neighbourhood mail:

  • Minimum size standards 11inches squared or 3″x4″
  • Minimum quantity: 150 pieces

 

How much does Neighbourhood Mail cost?

Neighbourhood Mail is the most affordable type of direct mail you can send in Canada. The price of a campaign varies due to the cost of print and campaign production but postage rates are always the same, regardless of volume*.

Current Neighbourhood Mail postage rates for 2023 are $0.188, including transportation fees ($0.015/piece).

Check out our Neighbourhood Mail Budget Calculator for accurate pricing options that include postage, mail prep, design, print and transportation. A small campaign may cost $0.50+/postcard while a high volume campaign (10,000 households or more) will see significant reduction in print cost per piece ($0.15 each).

*If you spend more than $10,000 in Canada Post postage fees per year, you may be eligible for a discounted contract rate! Contact our team for information and a direct introduction to a Canada Post rep in your area.

For more information on Neighbourhood Mail and how to use it effectively, you can check out our Neighbourhood Mail resources.

Is Personalized Mail the same as Smartmail Marketing?

Personalized mail is one of many options for smartmail marketing. Other forms of smartmail marketing can include: postal code targeting and neighbourhood mail.

See: Smartmail Marketing Campaigns ⋆ PostNow.ca for more info on other smartmail marketing direct mail campaigns that we offer.

Personalized Mail best practices?

Why Personalized Mail?

Personalized Mail campaigns are great for customer retention and building loyal relationships with existing customers through one-one-one interactions.

Did you know? 86% of Canadians open the direct mail they receive and more than half make a purchase as a result. The open rate and purchase rate increases when personalized mail is used, which makes PM one of the most effective ways to incite action among an ideal target audience.

Are there discounts on Personalized Mail postage?

Discounts are available for contracts with Canada Post. To qualify, a customer is required to commit to a minimum spend of $10,000 annually per service. Canada Post will look at your marketing plan and budget to see if you’re likely to achieve the minimum spend before awarding you a postage discount.

An example of $10,000 would spend would be:

  • 100,000 NM (approximately)
  • 20,000 PM (approximately)

There are various tiers of discounts available. Please contact your Canada Post rep for more info.

How can I track the effectiveness of my Personalized Mail campaign?

Yes, you can measure the effectiveness of Personalized Mail. Metrics such as response rates, conversion rates, and customer engagement can be tracked to evaluate the success of your campaign. For detailed insights, integrating personalized mail with digital tracking tools can provide comprehensive data on campaign performance.

For more details, please visit Email Marketing vs Direct Mail: What’s the Difference and Which is Better for Your Business?

How to build a personalized mail campaign?

  1. Create your free account at postnow.ca
  2. Your account will be verified and postage rates applied.
  3. Select Campaign Builder located under the SmartMail tab in the main menu.
  4. Name your campaign and select type of campaign (personalized mail). Select the date you’d like your campaign delivered to Canada Post. Final in-home delivery will be subject to Canada Post delivery standards.
  5. Upload your own targeting data or select a previously used audience. Enter your campaign quantity (150-50,000). We included a chart to show you pricing options for the most common options as you adjust your total.
  6. Select your campaign format – choose from postcards, letters, invitations, and more.
  7. Choose a template from the template gallery, upload your ready-to-print files or request custom artwork from our in-house graphic designer. (All required template changes are included in fees, custom artwork starts at $295).
  8.  If you chose to Upload your Data, you will be prompted to either upload now or later. Click yes to clean your data, then select your data retention
    policy for this campaign.
  9. Select Generate Campaign & Checkout or Save Progress & Complete Later. If you choose to complete later you will receive a link good for 30
    days via the email you supply. You will receive email notifications confirming your campaign order, as well as any edits requested with custom or edited design work.
    **At any time during this process there is a Campaign Summary button located on the bottom right of
    the page. This will show any customizations to your campaign as well as a quick Help section if you have any questions. Click the button again to close.

We handle everything from: design, print, data cleaning, mail prep and delivery to Canada Post.

Personalized Mail Guidelines

Here are a few guidelines if you’re considering using Personalized Mail:

  • There must be intent behind your campaign to promote a product, service, program, or event
  • Mail piece requires a 2″x4″ area for addressing and indicia purposes
  • The indicia can be customized but must be placed above and to the right of addressing
  • Minimum quantity of pieces: 150

How much does personalized mail cost?

Pricing varies based on postage rate and quantity of pieces in your campaign. You can build a personalized mail campaign for as low as $300 CAD with a minimum of 150 pieces.

 

See Campaign Cost Calculator ⋆ PostNow.ca for accurate pricing options.

PCT Guidelines

Considering PCT? Here are a few guidelines to consider before starting  your Postal Code Targeting campaign:

  • PCT is a great way to connect with ideal prospects or gain new customers
  • Allows small businesses to reach every address in a single postal code
  • Must include a quiet zone around the address block and no text or graphics within a 5mm parameter
  • Minimum quantity of pieces for campaign: 150

What are the best practices?

When considering direct mail marketing, here are few tips that can help you elevate your campaign:

  • Avoid Clutter
  • Include a strong CTA (call-to-action)
  • Use simple yet bold visuals
  • Integrate campaign tracking tools such as call call tracking, pURLs, dynamic QR codes, or unique discount codes to help track the success of your campaign

There are also 3 components your that every successful direct mail campaign includes:

  1. Defining the right audience
  2. A high-value or relevant offer for your audience
  3. Compelling and well-branded design

How much does an audience cost?

Prices for a Direct Mail audience start at “free” and increase based on the dataset being accessed. Standard options for each mail type are listed below. More advanced data sets can be accessed from 3rd party providers like Environics.

Neighbourhood Mail Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Precision Targeter – free to use. Includes neighbourhood targeting based on combinations of up-to 3 demographic filters.

Personalized Mail Audience Options:

  • Use your own data – free. This includes PostNow doing basic cleaning of your data and running it through the National Change of Address (NCOA) to identify any bad records.
  • Canada Post Postal Code Name/Addresses – from $0.15/record. Use 6-digit postal codes to target all households within. Includes names and address data that can be printed by an Expert Partner. Not available for any other use.

Postal Code Targeting Audience Options:

  • Canada Post Postal Code Data. Included in postage. Use 6-digital postal codes to target all households within. A suppression list can be provided to remove existing customers from the final data.  Data includes address only, no names.

Can I target different dwelling types?

Yes! PostNow offers the complete Canada Post name and address list through our Audience Builder. Target based on Postal Codes of your customer or desired geographic target area.

What is Postal Code Targeting?

Allows for hyper-targeting of homes within a 6 digit postal code. This is usually direct neighbours and consists of 16-20 addresses.

My Assoc. ID & Name are missing from my account. What do I do?

If you already had an account on PostNow (from the Husky/Co-op switchover) you may not have had the association and ID added to your account. Please contact us and provide the appropriate information for us to update your account

Live chat or a phone call is the fastest way to update this. You can use the contact form to send us the info outside of office hours.

How do I control the emails I’m getting?

If you receive too many emails from the system, it’s likely because of how many locations you have to manage. Each enrolled location and each order (POP Kits or Call to Oder items) will generate an email.

We recommend creating a filter/rule to send these emails to a folder automatically when you receive them. All email are sent from coop@postnow.ca.

Your email platform will determine the process you need to take. Here are the instructions to do it with Outlook and Gmail:

Create Rule in Outlook

Create Gmail Filter

Can I bulk-order CTO items for locations?

Yes, you can order all your Call To Order items to a single location to distribute as you please. Or, place orders at several locations; it’s all up to you. This will save you shipping vs. sending to each location.

Simply place the CTO order for the location to which the items are to be shipped and CO-OP and it’s partner will take care of it for you.

How do I share access to my Co-op Association account on PostNow

Hmm, looks like this content is not available to you.

Do I have to order a minimum amount of campaigns a year?

Nope! Our solution is contract-free and you can order as many or as little campaigns you’d like a year. But remember, more campaigns you send to your target audience = better response rates. FREQUENCY MATTERS!

I have a promo code from Head Office. How do I get my discount?

If your head office has supplied you with a promo code to use for your direct mail campaign purchase, it will automatically be applied to your account and will be reflected in the purchase price at the time of checkout.

I need help with my order. How can I reach your team?

To get help with your order from PostNow, you can contact their team via email at contact@postnow.ca or by calling 1-866-482-2412. Their office support hours are Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM MST. Alternatively, you can use their live chat feature to get a quicker response. For more details, visit their Contact Us page.

Can I upload my own design template?

Unfortunately, no. All Enterprise design templates must be approved and provided by head office.

Can I make edits to the design templates?

Yes! You can make design edits to your template. Your marketing team has provided us with approved editable fields within the design templates and those areas can be customized for your campaign.

How do I know what my postage rate is?

We’ll verify your postage rate and automatically add it to your account during our account set-up. The postage rate based on your contract ID with Canada Post.

Can I use any template I want?

Your parent/head organization controls what templates are available for you to choose from. We have worked with the marketing department to ensure that we know which parts can be edited and with what type of changes. Any template uploaded that does not meet the standards of the organization will be reviewed and need to be signed off on by the head marketing department of your organization.

What do I do if I need help?

We offer support a few different ways.

  • Call us at 1-888-561-1764
  • Use the live chat available during our business hours
  • Send an email

You can also use the site resources to find demos or instructions on how to use the PostNow system including ordering, proofing and audience building.

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