How Postal Discounts Can Give Your Business a Competitive Edge

Worried about rising USPS postage rates cutting into your marketing budget? Don’t be. With the right strategy—and smart use of USPS discount programs—your direct mail campaigns can remain cost-effective, competitive, and impactful.

Discount Zone Mailers, bulk mail discounts, and USPS promotions give businesses the opportunity to maximize their reach without stretching their budget. Even small businesses can saturate new markets, boost brand awareness, and stay top of mind—all while saving money.

Jump to a topic in this blog: 

• Why This Matters More Than Ever
• Let’s Get Practical: Postal Discounts 101
• Here’s Where It Gets Exciting (and Conversational)
• Why Postal Discounts Are a Competitive Advantage
• 5 Tips to Maximize Your Postal Discount Strategy
• Final Thought: Stretch Your Budget, Not Your Team

Why This Matters More Than Ever

According to Forbes, 61% of marketers increased their direct mail investments last year—and 54% plan to keep increasing spend. That’s higher than any other marketing channel.

That’s because direct mail still works. And with the right discounts, it works even harder for your bottom line.

Let’s Get Practical: Postal Discounts 101

USPS offers multiple discount programs that can reduce your postage costs significantly. Here’s how they break down:

Bulk Mail Discounts

For campaigns with 200+ pieces or 50+ pounds of identical mail. These discounts apply to Marketing Mail, First-Class, Periodicals, Media Mail, and more—especially when sorted and bundled to USPS specifications.

Example: Sorting by carrier route or ZIP code qualifies your mail for deeper savings.

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)

Great for local businesses who want to saturate a neighborhood. EDDM removes the need for a mailing list and can be used for campaigns of up to 5,000 pieces—or more if submitted through a Business Mail Entry Unit.

Want to compare options? Read: Discount Zone Direct Mail vs. EDDM

Nonprofit Rates

Eligible nonprofit organizations can reduce postage costs by more than half. This requires USPS verification and permits, but working with a print-mail partner like GrowMail simplifies the process.

Discount Zone Mailers

GrowMail uses proprietary software to identify “discount zones,” giving you access to rates up to 40% lower than traditional direct mail or EDDM.

Interested in Discount Zone Mailers? Explore options today!

Here’s Where It Gets Exciting (and Conversational)

Let’s be real: most businesses don’t have time to sort trays of postcards, chase permits, or memorize USPS rules. That’s where we come in. Our tools and partnerships mean you get the savings—without the headache. Whether you’re mailing 5,000 postcards or 50,000, we make it easy, efficient, and cost-effective.

USPS Promotions: What’s New in 2025

USPS is offering five primary promotions this year, along with two add-ons that can stack with the others for even more savings.

Primary Promotions:

• Integrated Technology: Save by adding features like AR, QR codes, or mobile shopping triggers.
• Continuous Contact: Be rewarded for running unique but related campaigns to the same recipient.
• Reply Mail IMbA®: Barcoded return mail that gets you a discount and improves delivery speeds.
• First-Class Mail Advertising: Add ads to invoices or stand-alone mailers for extra savings.

Add-On Promotions:

• Informed Delivery: Add a digital component to mail previews and get an extra 0.5% discount.
• Sustainability: Earn discounts when using environmentally certified print materials.

Why Postal Discounts Are a Competitive Advantage

Here’s how smart mailers make savings work harder:

• Invest in premium design. People look at enhanced mailers (like ones with foil) 50% longer than plain pieces.
• Stack savings and tech. When direct mail and digital are combined, 60% of marketers report higher ROI.
• Increase frequency. Savings allow for more frequent touchpoints—great for brand recall and retargeting.
• Share costs with others. Commingling with other mailers can save you 10–20% on postage annually.

Why Choose Discount Zone Mailers?

This approach simplifies mailing while amplifying savings:

• Covers thousands of homes per drop—ideal for broad exposure
• Uses demographic targeting to match audiences with your offer
• Exclusive access to your selected zone for the full campaign duration
• One-drop mailing model increases saturation efficiency
• Pricing typically includes design, print, postage, and delivery
• Costs can be as low as 20 cents per home

5 Tips to Maximize Your Postal Discount Strategy

• Work with a print-mail partner like us to ensure your campaigns meet all USPS requirements while reducing admin time.
• Schedule your campaigns strategically to align with USPS promo windows and choose formats that qualify for discounts.
• Stack USPS promotions (primary + add-on) for the deepest savings.
• Clean your data. Use AI tools for address verification, standardization, and barcoding to unlock even more savings and analytics.
• Go multichannel. Integrate your mailings with digital channels like email, SMS, or social ads for improved reach and retargeting.

Final Thought: Stretch Your Budget, Not Your Team

As postage rates rise, Discount Zone Mailers and other USPS programs make it possible to stretch every dollar, reach more customers, and get a better return.

Get Started Today