TABLE OF CONTENTSTop 8 Commercial Printing Companies in the UK to Ease Your Print ActivitiesThe print industry in the UK seems to grow every year because of its latest innovations and developments. We can credit the rise in global trade for pushing the demand for printed products, like documents, marketing letters, banners, exhibition materials, etc. ![]() Other possible reasons for the high demand for print items and commercial printing companies are:
In 2021, the estimated value of the print industry was £9.1 billion. More businesses are opting to use the services of commercial printing companies UK to boost quality and deduct costs. Also, such solutions allow businesses to expand their reach and connect with more prospects. All commercial printing companies have different features and costs. You should select the right vendor depending on your requirements and budget. Furthermore, try choosing a company that provides innumerable customisation options and high-tech features. In this article, you will learn what is a commercial printing company and how to select the best one. We will also discuss why it is high time to outsource your print activities to ensure efficiency and scalability! What Is a Commercial Printing Company?First, let’s talk about commercial printing, a popular term among all businesses from every sector. It means printing items for companies for various purposes, like retail, marketing, compliance, etc. There might be copy and print shops around you. But, they only print in limited quantities and do not offer specialisation. However, commercial printers provide bulk printing services and variable data printing. Also, they can help you with anything, from lithography and digital to large-format printing. Some commercial printing companies like PostGrid also offer other features, like API integration and mail fulfilment. But, every industry has different printing requirements, and here are a few examples: A real estate agent may need the following items
On the contrary, a financial services business may employ commercial printing companies to print these materials:
Reasons You Must Use the Services of Commercial Printing Companies UKUsing commercial solutions for printing your marketing and transactional items is a need. They help you grow your business and compete with other companies effectively. So, if you are still thinking about whether you need to look for a ‘commercial printer near me,’ here are the factors why you must: Make an Excellent First ImpressionWhen you send an item to a potential customer, it represents your brand. Hence, there is a lot of pressure on a small postcard or a marketing letter to create a fantastic first impression. But, you can do it right by sending top-notch quality materials with vibrant colours and sharp graphics. Customers perceive your brand as good or bad based on how well your mail items look. Therefore, it is a must to outsource your print tasks to commercial printing companies that have the necessary equipment to get the job done right. Use Scalable SolutionsScalability is a crucial factor you must look for in large commercial printers. You cannot know how many materials you may need for specific campaigns. Hence, select a well-equipped vendor that provides high-quality prints with super-fast delivery. Luckily, many commercial printing companies UK like PostGrid are scalable. For example, our direct mail API can handle millions of requests simultaneously. It has no maximum limits, and you can print any number of items at any time. Cut Expenses and Save TimeOften, it is hard to print more than a few items in-house. You need a dedicated office space to install state-of-the-art printers that can print all types of materials conveniently. Also, you require extra human resources and more time for the same. Using the solutions by commercial printer companies helps you avoid heavy investments like these and print more flexibly. But imagine that you need large standees for an upcoming trade event. After all, UK exhibitions attract over 13 million attendees annually, and 20% of these visitors are from international locations. If you participate in such trade events, you need standees, banners, advertising postcards, invitations, handouts, etc. Luckily, commercial printer companies like PostGrid offer impeccable printing solutions to help you print materials to spread the word about your participation and increase booth footfall. Also, you can do all that at industry-best pricing because PostGrid offers the most affordable rates across the country. Get Numerous Customisation OptionsCustomisation is another significant reason you search for ‘commercial printing near me.’ PostGrid’s direct mail services enable you to customise your items any way you want. You may select one of our pre-built templates and design your materials within minutes. It gives you enough freedom to experiment with different layouts, insert your brand logo, add elements, etc. 8 Commercial Printing Companies UK to Help You With Your Print RequirementsNow that you know why you need commercial printing for your regular operations, here is a list of seven vendors you can choose from: PostGridPostGrid is one of the top commercial printing companies with several branches spread globally. It offers print and mail fulfilment for your advertising and transactional items. PostGrid provides commercial printing to numerous sectors, including:
The best part is that you can integrate PostGrid’s direct mail API into your system. Thus, you can place orders for printing and shipping items from your CRM, allowing your staff to work more efficiently. It is also among the few commercial printers that assist you in everything from design to mail tracking. Hence, you can cut costs by paying all-inclusive rates and maximise ROI by sending the best quality materials. Here are some more features of our all-in-one commercial print shop:
One of our clients expressed their concerns and objections to our sales representatives during our regular coffee meetings. They said they want to send thousands of documents monthly to national and international destinations. Unfortunately, not all commercial printing companies UK offer highly-flexible plans to help businesses send their items anywhere they want. We solved their issues within a few minutes. We started by explaining how PostGrid supports international printing and mailing to 245+ countries. Also, our solutions are scalable and can accommodate their ever-growing needs, enabling them to ship in bulk with the same efficiency. Our representative also helped them integrate our API into their CRM, from where they can draft, print, and ship their documents in just a few steps. PostGrid supports several popular integrations, like Salesforce, Hubspot, Quickbooks, Marketo, etc. Trade PrintingTrade Printing is best known for the printing of several types of materials, including:
It is among the best commercial printing companies UK for business stationery and branded materials. Moreover, they offer free delivery of your items across the UK and Ireland. Apart from fast turnaround times, it also provides you with Adobe templates. They have different rates for all products, ranging from £20 to £100. Metro Commercial Printing LtdMetro is a big name in the design field, from website design to digital artwork. However, it is also in the commercial printing business for a long time, offering:
Metro commercial printing is based in Watford, but it delivers to all locations in the UK on time. City PrintingCity Printing is also among the best commercial printing companies and specialises in large-format print materials, like PVC and pull-up banners. It also provides printing services for marketing, booklet, and business stationery materials. Its prime features include environment-friendly printing and a wide range of collaterals. If you need items with intricate finishing, you can opt for City Printing digital commercial printer because it provides:
Also, City Printing takes pride in working with solicitors, financial offices, charities, local companies, university students, and event planners. Their target audience includes businesses and individuals looking for fancy and appealing prints. Hence, it is among the go-to commercial printers, primarily for fundraising events, parties, weddings, etc. O’Sullivan PrintingThis commercial print shop is situated in Southall, West London, and offers innovative printing to small and medium-sized businesses. It can help you with orders of all sizes and types. Their list of printing services includes:
O’Sullivan Printing’s commercial printers use the latest PC and Mac technology for pre-press and post-press processes. It allows you to put your vision on paper and conduct effective advertising among your intended audience. Auto Commercial PrintersAuto Printers allow you to print your files in high resolution in a short period. You can send them your artwork via email or create your artwork using their online tool. They are one of those commercial printing companies UK that provide individuals and businesses with print services for:
Auto Printers have very affordable rates and can help you print items in any quantity. Nettl of GlasgowNettl has a digital production centre in Glasgow city for short-run and quick print jobs. And it has a litho production facility out of town for large-scale production, making it one of the most specialised commercial printing companies. It offers a wide range of printing services, from signage to small-sized items like flyers and cards. Nettl claims to print on any surface you want; it doesn’t matter if you need a print on aluminium panels or huge cut-out cardboard. However, this commercial print shop does not offer mail fulfilment services. Thus, ensure to dictate your needs in advance before making a decision. DornansDornans provides bespoke commercial printing services out of Oldham. It is best known for printing materials for the education and hospitality sectors. But it also tends to several other fields, like medicinal and construction. Also, it differentiates itself from other commercial printing companies with its customer-centric approach. Dornans employ the latest technology to mix their expertise with innovation and produce eye-catching print items. Moreover, you can print all kinds of advertising pieces, like display stands, branded notebooks, magazines, etc. It also allows you to produce and mail your items directly to customers if you need them. You should know that not all commercial printing companies UK provide mailing fulfilment. Hence, if you are looking for door drops and other direct mail solutions, try using PostGrid’s direct mail API. It also lets you fetch data from your system and auto-fill information to print personalised items. Therefore, consider your needs in-depth before you select the best commercial print shop for your daily operations. Also, consider the costs carefully because some companies might ask you to sign long-term contracts. Fortunately, PostGrid has several membership plans you can choose from without any commitments. ConclusionMost companies employ commercial printing companies to save money and refrain from investing in print equipment. However, these vendors offer many more advantages like various types of printing, customisation, and finishing. We hope this piece helps you choose the top commercial printing companies UK to outsource your print activities for various occasions and purposes. Some of them, like PostGrid, enable you to get everything done online, increasing efficiency. Furthermore, PostGrid offers a 2-business day SLA to allow you to process orders almost immediately. Our professionally-built design templates and API integration help customers conduct on-demand and bulk printing. Want to know more about how commercial printing companies like PostGrid can transform your print works? Request a demo now! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Commercial Printing Companies appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/commercial-printing-companies/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/commercial-printing-companies.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/690792547786915840
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TABLE OF CONTENTSHospital Communication Management: How and Why Is Communication Important in Hospitals?It is a well-known fact that effective communication helps businesses grow and strengthen customer relationships. The same applies to the healthcare industry as patients become more sceptical about choosing the correct physician. Selecting a healthcare provider is a very personal chore for almost everyone. Patients want to go to a doctor that is supportive and helpful. And with increasing competition, it is a necessity that providers offer top-notch quality communication in hospitals while treating patients. ![]() Also, they need to ensure effective communication between healthcare professionals during the data transmission from one provider to another.
This blog elaborates on the importance of communication in healthcare to enable you to implement effective strategies successfully. Also, we will discuss the barriers that providers might encounter while communicating with patients. Why is Communication Important in Hospitals?Effective communication between patients and healthcare professionals includes the exchange of medical data. It might also consist of conversing with the patient’s family, friends, and caretakers. The primary purpose of communication in the hospital should be making the conversation two-way. The patient provides crucial details about their health history and current symptoms. And you make a diagnosis and create a care plan to treat them. Proper correspondence with the patients and their caretakers allows you to provide better treatment and improve your brand image. Also, it boosts publicity and awareness among other people, which affects your patient acquisition rates massively. Along with setting yourself apart from your competitors, it helps you stay away from legal trouble. In 2020-21, there were 12,629 malpractice claims against the NHS, proving that this figure is rising. Therefore, it is now more significant to focus on strategies for communication between patient and health professional. Elements of Effective Communication in HospitalProviders must master numerous aspects of hospital communication to function efficiently on a day-to-day basis, and they are: Patient SafetyThere are thousands of patient deaths every year because of medical negligence. Some patients also suffer temporary and permanent health damage because of it. Hence, providers are trying to do their best to prioritise their patients’ healthcare and enhance communication in hospital. Diagnostic DecisionsThe doctor’s diagnosis depends on the patient’s input about their symptoms. Thus, patients need to share the exact details to help their providers to improve diagnostic accuracy. Unfortunately, it is not what happens in most healthcare settings. The communication between patient and healthcare professional is incomplete because of the patient’s hesitation to discuss their condition. Providers must work through it and make an accurate diagnosis before prescribing a care plan. AdherenceA survey shows that one in five patients does not take all the medicines their doctor prescribed. 62% of people between 18 and 24 believe that call or text reminders can help them adhere to their prescription. Yet, it is shocking how many patients are willing to discontinue their healthcare plan abruptly, and one of the prime reasons is ineffective communication in hospital. Lack of understanding between the doctor and patients leads to confusion and misinterpretation. Most patients throw their medicines away because they believe they don’t need them anymore. Other reasons they don’t adhere to their physician’s advice are:
But, providers can improve such situations by understanding the importance of communication in healthcare. You can start by being transparent about your decisions and explaining them to the patients in a friendly way. Patient Satisfaction, Acquisition, and RetentionThe level of satisfaction your patients experience from your services depends on several things, including:
Hence, include these factors in your plans for improving communication in hospital. Try to give your patients a few options regarding the medication and overall treatment. Also, ask them their preferences so they can follow the prescription comfortably. Remember that satisfied patients likely refer you to their friends and family. Thus, ensure that you offer continued services to patients and treat them well. These practices also help you spread the word about your services and get more patients to walk through your doors. Collaborating With Different TeamsLab technicians, nurses, doctors, and hospital staff need to be in constant touch to smoothen communication in hospital. It involves entering the correct details into shared databases, transmitting patient files, following up with colleagues on patients’ health plans, etc. These interhospital strategies help providers understand why is communication important in hospitals and implement it properly. Staff SatisfactionApart from your patients, try taking care of your staff’s needs and expectations. Most of your team members directly work in your patients’ care team. Thus, they need to be on the same page as you and prioritise the health of all your patients. Intrahospital Vs. Interhospital CommunicationYou may need to draft different sets of correspondence programs and policies once you understand the importance of hospital communication. There are two broad categories you should take care of, and they are: Interhospital CommunicationThis type of correspondence occurs between two or more healthcare organisations or sites. It includes transmissions of patient data between different hospitals or facilities of the same healthcare group. Also, it could mean sending files to a completely different organisation. Transporting the required medical equipment, sharing test reports, and moving patients to different facilities all come under interhospital communication. It covers many more aspects than effective communication between patients and health professionals. Try laying down solid guidelines regarding how you manage patient data internally and which staff members get access to it. But, it is hard to maintain effective internal communication in hospital and save the healthcare industry from losses worth billions of dollars. Inadequate communication can spike costs by creating the need for a second opinion or duplicate tests, which may not be necessary. Intrahospital CommunicationThere might be some communication in hospital problems if your personnel don’t follow the prescribed rules and regulations. Hence, make a robust strategy to handle intrahospital communication within your organisation. It comprises several activities and events, like:
Poor intrahospital communication can lead to severe complications, like record breaks, delays in offering the correct treatment to patients, and improper procedural coordination. Thus, providers should discuss the importance of communication in healthcare with every team member, irrespective of whether or not they are directly involved. Barriers to Proper Communication Between Patient and Healthcare ProfessionalBefore you get into solving the issues of communication in hospital, let us get to the obstructions you may have been facing along the way. Understanding the root cause can help you develop better formulas to overcome the challenges and have healthy patient-provider relationships. Patient DistrustIt is hard for patients to trust you, primarily if they visit you for the first time. They might not feel comfortable disclosing details about their private life that might be vital for the diagnosis. Often, patients having sexual issues or suffering from alcohol abuse hesitate to reveal their symptoms, hampering patient-provider communication in hospital. The most common reasons that patients withhold crucial medical data are:
It is surprising how many people drop the idea of visiting a doctor for such reasons. Thus, the first issue that healthcare providers must address while enhancing the importance of hospital communication is addressing patient discomfort. Language BarriersAnything that prevents a patient from understanding what you are speaking is a barrier to effective communication in hospital. And language issues can top this list! If a patient does not speak English, try to enquire if someone is accompanying them that knows the language. Otherwise, it is impossible to converse with the patient and treat them. Giving Less Time to Every PatientWe understand how it is hard for physicians to give adequate time to every patient to facilitate communication in hospital. However, there are many disadvantages of rushing from one appointment to another. Your patients might think you are distracted and advise against people visiting you. They might change their provider after the first consultation if they feel you aren’t offering them the help they need. Also, your patients might not get enough time to share all the details and help you diagnose their condition accurately, risking clinical errors. Thus, try to uphold the importance of hospital communication by listening to every patient closely. Mismanaged Healthcare DataAs the demand for healthcare services increases, hospitals hire more people from time to time. It means that the number of staff members who can access patient files also increases. Therefore, there are higher chances of a data breach or mismanagement of patient files. Try limiting access to crucial databases to only a patient’s care team. It allows you to keep patient information confidential and private, helping you enhance your communication in hospital programs. Tips and Techniques to Improve Communication in HospitalDespite facing several challenges while interacting with patients, healthcare providers can still do well. Below, we have mentioned some simple strategies to make patients comfortable and show them how much you care about the importance of hospital communication: When First Engaging With PatientsThe first communication between patients and healthcare professionals can make a broad difference in acquisition and retention rates. Therefore, channel most of your strategies toward winning your patients’ trust during the first interaction:
When Transferring Patient Care to Another ProfessionalHospitals, clinics, dental offices, etc., should work towards effective communication between healthcare professionals. It is necessary during the times they need to transmit data to other organisations for a patient’s further treatment. For instance, suppose a patient needs a neurologist, and your hospital does not have one. In that case, you would transfer them to a different hospital with a specialist who can treat them. Thus, always be prepared to conduct intra-organisational communication in hospital.
When Discharging PatientsYour responsibility regarding a patient’s healthcare does not get over after discharge from your hospital. Inform patients and their caretakers about the steps they need to take and if they should be coming back for routine checkups. Also, you must provide a discharge summary to patients as part of your compliance communication in hospital. The prime elements of this summary are:
There are a couple of more things you can do to make your communication in hospital better:
How Can PostGrid’s Direct Mail Solutions Help You Facilitate Communication in Hospital?PostGrid offers online print and mail API services to all healthcare providers, including dental offices, physician practices, hospitals, test centres, etc. Here are some examples of marketing and transactional mail that you can send via PostGrid to improve communication in hospital:
Our solutions are curated to serve organisations of all sizes. You can select one of our pricing plans and send offline mail according to your budget and needs. Also, PostGrid offers:
Integrate our direct mail API into your system and regulate your communication in hospital, depending on your requirements. Wrapping UpWe no longer live in an era where patients don’t expect anything much from their providers. They would follow the doctor’s instructions and stick with the same provider for years. However, today, you will see patients switching from one physician to another if they aren’t satisfied with their services. Hence, effective communication between patient and healthcare professional is gaining more significance. And you must tap into new strategies to create better relationships with your patients and drive more conversions. Luckily, PostGrid helps you improve your marketing correspondence to bring in more patients and retain your current ones. Also, we are compliant with the Data Protection Act and GDPR, allowing you to mail crucial medical documents safely and lawfully. Click here to learn more regarding PostGrid’s direct mail services that can help you boost your communication in healthcare at low rates! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Hospital Communication Management appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/hospital-communication-management/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/hospital-communication-management.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/690430179733012480 TABLE OF CONTENTSHow to Deal with Unpaid Invoices And Ensure On-Time Payments for your business?Getting payments on time is crucial for the survival of any business. Delayed payments or unpaid invoices could have a domino effect on your entire business. It can disrupt your business’s cash flow, leading to financial problems. You don’t need us to tell you what can follow the financial difficulties. Did you know that 1 in 5 insolvencies is due to late payments? ![]() Not optimising your invoicing and payment process could potentially end your business organisation! One of our clients, a leading healthcare company in the US, was struggling with their customer communications, including invoices. Working directly with PostGrid, they could set up a simple system that lets them personalise and send postal correspondence with high efficiency. It allowed the company to deliver personalised unpaid invoices, consent letters, postcards, and much more. But we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. First, let us explain how to deal with unpaid invoices and how you can do the same for your business. In addition, we also provide you with some quick tips for ensuring timely invoice payment for your business through effective communication. How to Deal with Unpaid InvoicesLegal action against an individual or organisation should always be your last resort when dealing with overdue invoices. The reason behind this is apparent. As a business organisation, your priority should always be to cut your losses. You can take several steps before finally involving a debt collection agency for the unpaid invoices in your organisation. Following these steps help you minimise the chance of missed payments and recover your losses. So, here is what you need to do. Discuss The Payment Terms BeforehandThe first thing you must do to avoid non-payment of invoices is to discuss your payment terms with the buyer beforehand. Ensure you communicate your organisation’s expectations to the customer or client. Use the initial meeting to explain your standard payment plans or options. The last thing you want is a confused customer missing their payments because of a miscommunication. Ensure that the customer understands the time frame for payments. And never forget to inform the customer beforehand if you require a deposit from them. Finally, you must explain your protocol on how to deal with unpaid invoices. You should also inform the customer about late payment charges if your business has one. However, your interaction remains friendly and polite. Double-Check Your InvoicesBefore you have to send an unpaid invoice letter to your customers, make sure that you double-check your invoices. It would be best if you double-check your invoice during every stage. That means you must double-check the invoices every time you send your invoice or letter for non-payments to the customer. Make sure that every piece of information you have on the invoice is correct and up to date. Remember, the last thing you want is to send an unpaid invoice letter to your customers, especially your long-term customers. Furthermore, any inaccurate information in the invoice can make a claim questionable and lead to more difficulties. Keep A Clear Paper TrailKeeping a clear paper trail is crucial for businesses, especially B2B firms and companies offering credit payment options. Get in writing that your client/customer agreed that they would make the payment with the date you provided on the unpaid invoice. There is an easy way for you to ensure a clear paper trail for your pending payments. You can use Managed Print Services like PostGrid to automatically send a customer an invoice, payment reminder, and unpaid invoice letter. It allows you to send your customers hard copies of the invoices, payment reminders, and unpaid invoice letters and keep the digital copies. As a result, you get a clear paper trail for your customer communication. Typically, you can call a business payment late if you do not receive it within 30 to 60 days, depending on your business. It is best for business organisations to keep a record of all interactions regarding invoice payments, such as unpaid invoice letters, collection letters, etc. PostGrid can help you with that. Be Polite In Your CommunicationAll your communication with the customer/client should be polite and friendly. If a customer/client does not respond to your communications, such as a payment reminder or unpaid invoice letter, try contacting them by phone. Discuss any issues with the payment over the phone and try to find the reason for non-payment. There is also the possibility that your customer never received the invoice in the first place. Most organisations use automated direct mail solutions and address verification to ensure the delivery of their vital documents. The best action for your business is to try to figure out an amicable solution rather than spending money needlessly on litigation. You can also use the unpaid invoice letter to offer a compromise to the customer and discuss the best way to resolve the issue. Ensure Careful and Persistent Follow-UpA careful and persistent follow-up process can make a significant difference when it comes to unpaid invoices. Some companies prefer using emails and text messages for payment reminders and follow-ups. At the same time, others use multiple channels, including email and postal mail. Sending a follow-up or unpaid invoice letter in an enveloped letter looks much more professional. Furthermore, it somewhat conveys the seriousness of the subject matter. And if you use an automated print and mail solution like PostGrid, the process becomes practically effortless. Advanced systems like PostGrid allow you to schedule your letters. It means PostGrid will automatically send a follow-up and unpaid invoice to your customers at a pre-set time. All you need is a letter template, and PostGrid’s automated system does the rest of the work for you. Halt The Work, Service, or Product SupplyA contract-based business model usually provides flexible payment options like credit payments. But, what if the customer/client fails to pay their overdue invoices despite your continuous attempts to contact them. You can halt all work, service, or product supply to the customers until they make the payment. However, such an action can strain your relationship with the customer/client. Hence, it should be a final measure on how to deal with unpaid invoices. Elaborate On The Consequences of Non-paymentAt times, your business organisation will encounter situations where the customer/client shows no sign of making the payment. The customer may ignore your unpaid invoice letter, call, email, and every attempt to contact them. Here, consider sending them an overdue payment letter elaborating on the consequences. It includes informing the customer/client about raising the issue with the proper authorities. At this point, you should consider your legal options when seeking answers on how to deal with unpaid invoices and the steps you must take. You may also want to consult your legal advisor for individual cases. We say individual cases because the course of action may vary depending on the legal agreement you signed. How To Recover Unpaid Invoices Through Legal ActionNow that you clearly understand how to deal with unpaid invoices without involving the court. Let us discuss the legal part. The first thing you need to know about pursuing legal action against non-paying customers is that it doesn’t have to involve a debt collection agency. The initial stages of the legal action do not require the involvement of a debt collection agency. In other words, you have several options to pursue your customer into making their overdue payments. Remember that involving a debt collection agency must always be your last move. The best options you can consider to collect overdue invoices for your business are as follows. Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute Resolution, also called ADR, is a type of mediation. The ADR process tries to resolve your business dispute without ever setting foot inside a courtroom. It is one of the best ways to settle cases like the non-payment of invoices as it lets you discuss the issue with the customer. Dispute resolution can help you tremendously if you struggle to bring yourself and the customer on the same page. The ADR process typically includes mediation, arbitration, and neutral evaluation. It costs you significantly less to settle overdue invoices outside the court than inside it. Although the ADR process is confidential, it is much less stressful and formal than litigation involving a legal team. Statutory DemandA statutory demand is a written warning you can send to customers/clients who have not paid their overdue invoices. It informs or warns the customer that you will initiate a legal proceeding if they do not settle their debts within a specific date. By “settle their debts”, we do not mean that you should give them an ultimatum where they have to pay the total amount. Settling could also mean you come to terms with another arrangement, such as payment installations. Suppose the customer doesn’t settle their debt or reach an agreement with you 21 days after serving a statutory demand. In that case, you can initiate the legal proceeding to make the debtor bankrupt. It is worth noting that such litigation for non-payment of invoice valued over £5,000. Money Claim Online (MCOL)Mobey Claim Online or MCOL is an HM Courts and Tribunals Service system. It allows you to claim the money you are owed, including unpaid invoices, without going to court. The internet-based service is accessible for the claimants and defendants. However, there are specific criteria for claiming your overdue invoices via Money Claim Online. The most significant of these criteria is that the sum value of the debt you claim should be below £10,000. This guide can provide a detailed breakdown of the MCOL rules and requirements. If none of the dispute resolution efforts works out, you can seek legal assistance. Some companies may have their legal team to guide them through the process. But, if you don’t have one, finding one would be a good idea at this stage. 10 Tips On How to Deal with Unpaid InvoicesSometimes it can be confusing to understand how to deal with unpaid invoices, and we don’t blame you. Because dealing with overdue payments for your business can be difficult, especially when you don’t want to jeopardise customer relationships. However, we can help you with some tips that can help you. Below are some tips to ensure timely payments for your business. Tip 1: Know Who You Are Sending The Invoice ToYou would not believe how many overdue invoices go unaddressed because they did not reach the right person. The person who awarded you the project doesn’t need to be the same person in charge of bill payments. Smaller companies may have a single person to commission work and pay the bills. On the other hand, more prominent companies are likely to have individual departments and complex payment/approval processes. Then there is also the chance that your unpaid invoice letter will not reach the address. Business organisations can use PostGrid’s address verification tool to ensure the deliverability of crucial documents, such as unpaid invoices. The address verification tool compares your invoice address against Royal Mail’s official address database to ensure your invoice’s deliverability. Tip 2: Fix a Clear Payment Date From The CustomerAnother problem you may encounter with overdue invoices is arbitrary payment dates. We could go on and on about the different payment timelines followed by companies worldwide. Some firms make their invoice payments within 30 days after receiving the invoice. On the other hand, some companies make their invoice payments 30 days after the end of the month. It is easy to get caught in different standard timeline situations. Hence, you must fix a precise date on which you can expect the customer to make their invoice payment. Tip 3: Use a Simple Invoice TemplateSometimes, using an overly complicated invoice template can also lead to non-payment of the invoice. The customer may have difficulty undertaking the invoice and need multiple clarifications, one item after another. As you can imagine, even such a simple problem can lead to delayed payments. A simple invoice template ensures the customer can assess their invoice and approve your payments without delay. Furthermore, it makes it easier for automated print and mail solutions to personalise invoices. However, you should still ensure that the unpaid invoice contains all the necessary details. Tip 4: Avoid Any Delay In Obtaining Purchase Order NumberThe purchase order number, as you know, is a code that establishes the purchase of your product or service. Generating a valid purchase order number signals the activation of your buyer’s agreement. You can see why obtaining the purchase order number is vital to avoid non-payment of the invoice. The purchase order number is a reference point for you and your buyer. Hence, if there is any delay in obtaining the purchase number, it would imply that the invoice submitted was late. As a result, your payment gets delayed and sending an unpaid invoice letter may not help you. Tip 5: Submit Your Invoice As Soon As PossibleAnother way you may be delaying your company’s invoice payment is by not submitting the invoices on time. It would be best if you made it a point to present your company’s invoices as soon as possible. Of course, you also need to ensure that your invoice submission is in accordance with the contract you signed with your customers. It may seem like a good idea to wait until the end of the month to file your invoices. But, you will likely end up short on cash while you wait for several payments to come through. There is a good chance of creating more unpaid invoices while you wait around doing nothing. Tip 6: Ensure You Invoice Contain All Necessary InformationUsing a simple template for your invoice and other important documents, such as an unpaid invoice letter, is always best. However, it shouldn’t miss any crucial information. The critical information that should be on your invoice includes the following
Tip 7: Specify Your TasksYour invoice should establish the work you completed and its payment details. Furthermore, you should also mention the details of the sub-tasks that took significant time and effort to finish. Providing these details enables customers to understand the invoice better. Tip 8: Match The Figure In Your Quotation And InvoiceMismatch in your quotation and invoice figures can lead to unpaid invoices or delayed payments. Hence, you should ensure that both these figures fall within the expense limit you promised. Tip 9: Specify All Available Payment OptionsSuppose your business can comfortably accept payment through multiple payment methods. In that case, the invoice should indicate the alternative payment options to the customer. The more flexible your payment options, the easier it is for the customer to pay their invoices. Tip 10: Build a Relationship With The CustomerIt is always good to have a friendly relationship with your customers. But what we are talking about here is more specific. Ideally, it would be best if you try to form a personal bond with the person in charge of paying your unpaid invoices. Forming a personal relationship with this individual could mean getting paid first so that your payments always get through on time. Once you establish a working relationship with them, all it takes is a phone call a week before your invoice due date. And just like that, you can minimise the non-payment of invoices. ConclusionIt is brain-racking to understand how to deal with unpaid invoices for one’s business. There is no telling why or when a customer may not make their invoice payment. However, using the right strategies and the right set of tools can help you through the toughest of situations. PostGrid is a print and mail automation software that helps businesses in the retail and eCommerce, real estate, healthcare, and financial sectors. Our system allows you to print and deliver personalised documents such as unpaid invoice letters to your customers. You can also use PostGrid to run seamless direct mail campaigns with advanced bulk mail and address verification capabilities. Schedule a demo to see how PostGrid’s automated solution can fast-track your company’s invoice payment. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post How to Deal with Unpaid Invoices appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/how-to-deal-with-unpaid-invoices/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/how-to-deal-with-unpaid-invoices.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/690332008834007040 TABLE OF CONTENTSOvernight Delivery Cost: How to Boost Next-Day Shipping Using Royal Mail?Royal Mail delivers billions of items to nearly 29 million UK addresses daily. It is one of the largest postal organisations globally and offers many mailing services to customers. Along with the standard delivery options, it also provides overnight mailing. Overnight mail helps customers send time-critical documents and other items conveniently. Though the overnight delivery cost is relatively high, it facilitates quick decision-making, enabling you to operate efficiently. ![]() Imagine you need to mail an invoice to a client urgently or send a cheque before the due date. These situations can lead to work pressure and several inaccuracies. However, you can solve these problems effortlessly by paying a bit extra for Royal Mail overnight delivery cost and availing of this service. You have a broad range of options, including Royal Mail Tracked 24, 1st Class Mail, 2nd Class Mail, etc. Select a service according to your mail dimensions, destination, and budget. If you have any doubts, you can contact Royal Mail and enquire about their overnight delivery cost. This article talks more about how much does overnight delivery cost. Keep reading further to explore every overnight mailing service in-depth and choose one that best fits your needs! What is Overnight Mail and How Does It Work?Overnight mailing refers to delivering marketing, compliance, or transactional mail items the next day. It is the most effective way to send crucial documents and other articles to their destinations in the least time possible. Some companies believe they cannot afford the Post Office overnight delivery cost if they mail items regularly. However, they can easily manage their budget and mail efficiently using automated direct mailing services like PostGrid. We offer the most affordable rates across the UK and get all the tasks done on your company’s behalf. Also, all Royal Mail options have a different overnight delivery cost. You can compare the services and their features before deciding which one to use. Overnight mail travels from the origin to the destination within one day. You can lodge an item today, and Royal Mail can deliver it by tomorrow unless it is a public holiday. Also, not all services offer weekend delivery, so enquire about these aspects beforehand. You can pay the Royal Mail overnight delivery cost at the Post Office and lodge your items over the counter. Or, you can affix the stamps and drop the envelopes or parcels in a nearby mailbox. Ensure to lodge your items before the cut-off times for specific services. It helps Royal Mail send out the pieces on time to assure guaranteed delivery. What Factors Can Affect the Royal Mail Overnight Delivery Cost?There are no fixed rates to mail a document somewhere overnight. The overnight delivery cost varies widely depending on numerous factors, like Origin and DestinationThe distance between your mailing origin and destination can lead to broad price differences. Sending something to the same city costs much less than mailing it across the country. Also, some rural places might have higher rates because it is hard for the postal workers to reach there. However, ensure that the place you are mailing to is eligible for overnight delivery cost. If the destination is too far and it’s hard to get there in time, Royal Mail can refuse overnight delivery to such locations. Mail WeightThe weight of your parcels and envelopes is also a prime factor in determining the Post Office’s overnight delivery cost. Most of these services have a specific weight cap for packages and letters. For example, your letters and large letters cannot exceed more than 100g and 750g, respectively. Royal Mail considers heavier mail items as parcels and charges an overnight delivery cost accordingly. Thus, you may need to send some heavier envelopes as parcels owing to these weight restrictions. DimensionsThe dimensions of your mail items also decide how much does overnight delivery cost. Here are the prescribed mail dimensions by Royal Mail:
Shipping OptionAs said earlier, all mailing options have a different overnight delivery cost. These prices depend on the features that come with the Royal Mail services. For instance, you may have to pay extra with the Post Office overnight delivery cost for tracked items because they provide an additional feature. Also, the mailing speed differs with every service, affecting the rates considerably. How Much Does Overnight Delivery Cost and What Are Your Options?Royal Mail has an exclusive range of mailing services to help individuals and businesses mail their items hassle-free. Here, we have mentioned some of the most popular and speedy options to allow you to choose better: Royal Mail Tracked 24 and 48These options offer fully-trackable services, meaning you can track your items throughout their postal journeys. The Royal Mail Tracked 24 option helps you deliver mail within one working day. Its overnight delivery cost starts at £5.46 for small parcels. If you can wait another day, opt for Royal Mail Tracked 48 and ship your items within two days. This service is a little budget-friendly compared to the former. Before getting into the Royal Mail overnight delivery cost, note that this option is only for sending parcels. The maximum weight limit for Royal Mail Tracked 24 and 48 items is 20kg and 2kg, respectively. Also, you can only mail parcels that do not exceed 61cm x 46cm x 46cm to avail of the correct overnight delivery cost. You may also ship rolls and tubes, but you must keep them within the dimensions discussed above. Below are the features of Royal Mail Tracked 24 and 48:
Royal Mail 24 and 48The Royal Mail 24 and 48 services are the same as the tracked options but without the tracking feature. Also, you may ship your time-critical items within the same timeframe by paying the overnight delivery cost. Here are some helpful features of these mailing services:
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am and 1 pmIt is the speediest option to send urgent mail items to your customers, suppliers, and other third parties. You can get your items delivered as soon as 9 am the next day via this Royal Mail service. However, its Post Office overnight delivery cost can be expensive compared to other options. If you are looking for an affordable option, try opting for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1 pm. It helps deliver your items just four hours apart, but the overnight delivery cost is relatively lower. The maximum weight limit is 2kg and 10kg for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am and 1 pm, respectively. Here are the features:
Optional extras:
You can avail of these speedy Royal Mail options by paying the overnight delivery cost. Also, it enables you to send all types of items, like letters, large letters, parcels, tubes, and rolls. Find below the overnight delivery cost chart for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9 am:
Here is the Post Office overnight delivery cost for the Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1 pm:
Royal Mail SamedayIt is another quick mailing service that needs you to pay a Royal Mail overnight delivery cost. If you lodge an item in the morning or early afternoon via this option, the Post Office processes them immediately. Thus, your mail arrives on the same working day smoothly. Royal Mail Sameday is the most reliable option for fast mailing as it offers:
Companies can mail up to 1,350kg, but they need to pay a higher overnight delivery cost because this service is quite expensive. Royal Mail 1st and 2nd ClassThese are the standard Royal Mail services with an affordable overnight delivery cost and reliable deliveries. You can mail a maximum of 20kg using Royal Mail 1st Class and only 1kg for 2nd Class. Some more features include-
The delivery estimate for 1st Class and 2nd Class Mail is 1-2 business days. They are effective options for businesses who want to pay a minimal overnight delivery cost and send various types of mail pieces. Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class Signed ForThe Signed For options are ideal when you want the recipient to sign for the receipt of a mail piece. It helps you have proof of delivery and offers peace of mind that the mail has reached its correct destination. Find below the features and overnight delivery cost of the Royal Mail Signed For services:
Below, we have drafted an overnight delivery cost chart for Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class Standard and Signed For options:
ParcelforceIf you want to send large parcels, you should opt for Parcelforce mailing. It allows you to send heavier packages quickly to any location in the UK and worldwide. The various Parcelforce options you can avail yourself of at an overnight delivery cost are –
The Royal Mail overnight delivery cost for express 9, express 10, and express AM starts at £17.54. Express 24 costs you £16.68, and Express 48 costs as little as £8. The Express 48 for large parcels option is relatively expensive with a starting rate of £31.80. Why Use Direct Mail to Send Urgent Items?Some people who aren’t aware of the potential that direct mail holds may ask why can’t they use email to send time-critical messages. And we are here to list the reasons direct mail is still the most effective and popular communication channel:
Direct mail is no longer daunting and expensive because you can now automate everything. PostGrid’s direct mailing API is curated to allow you to send mail items online—speedily and affordably. Thus, you don’t have to worry about a high overnight delivery cost. You can integrate our API into your system and send mail pieces in any volume at industry-best pricing. We recently attended the Collision Conference 2022 in Toronto, Canada. It allowed us to connect with several industry players who visited us from across the globe and discuss how automation is the new era for direct mail. While interacting with them, we came across a simple fact that customers don’t need to plan their campaigns months in advance or calculate their Royal Mail overnight delivery cost anymore. They can get everything done in minutes with only a few clicks on their device. The conference helped us share how PostGrid works to help small, medium, and large-scale companies conduct successful mailing campaigns. So, if you are still thinking about why to use direct mail, you can talk to our sales team now and see how PostGrid helps you save up to 75% of costs. To ConcludeKeeping efficient and quick next-day mailing options handy helps businesses ship items without wasting time. It also allows them to operate more efficiently and align their marketing and sales activities conveniently. Royal Mail provides tons of next-day shipping services you can select from, depending on your budget and needs. Also, you can choose the optional extras by paying a little more over and above the overnight delivery cost—to avail of more features. The Royal Mail overnight delivery cost may seem expensive, but they are the best way to ship urgent documents. Also, there are many ways to lower your expenses, like using PostGrid’s print and mail API solutions. We offer several features to help make your mailing experience effortless, like:
Request a demo now to learn more about Royal Mail overnight mail costs and how PostGrid can help you keep your expenses in control! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Overnight Mail Cost appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/overnight-mail-cost/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/overnight-mail-cost.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/690248951499276288 TABLE OF CONTENTSMarketing Flyer: Why Is It An Effective Marketing Tool For Your Business?Marketing your business in the online world is becoming increasingly difficult. It is a fact that no business organisation can deny. Cutting through the clutter in the digital world is not easy, and we may have an easy solution for this problem. ![]() Have you considered how effective is flyer marketing for your business organisation? If not, now would be an excellent time to consider this. But don’t worry. We will help you understand the scope of using marketing flyers as a marketing tool for your business. As you read, you will learn why having a marketing channel like direct marketing flyers is crucial and how you can benefit from them. In addition to that, we will even explain how you can create effective marketing flyers for your business. What Are Flyers?Flyers are paper advertisements often printed in bulk for large-scale distribution via post or direct handout. Business organisations use marketing flyers to promote their products, services or events. Flyers come in all sizes, so you can choose a business flyer that suits your marketing message and budget better. More and more companies are now gravitating towards direct marketing flyers because it enables them to target wider audiences than direct handouts. You can classify the direct marketing flyer you use for your business organisation into two groups.
However, this is just a broad classification of direct mail flyers. You may find different and more diverse categories of direct mail flyers based on numerous aspects, including dimensions and number of folds. Do Flyers Work As a Marketing Tool?Before asking whether marketing flyers still work, remember that it is one of the oldest marketing tools. And despite so many years, numerous companies continue to use them. Now ask yourself, would a marketing tool survive in this cut-throat world unless it’s effective? That question should answer itself. But if you are not satisfied with that answer, let us explain why direct marketing flyers are still an effective marketing tool. However, it does not mean implementing marketing campaign direct mail flyers is easy. Some of the reasons why direct marketing flyers still work so well for your business are listed below. Grabbing Customer Attention Online Is Becoming Increasingly DifficultThe online world offers much more chances for you to interact with your target audience. But on the other hand, grabbing the audience’s attention online is much more complicated than using a printed medium like marketing flyers. Think of all the times you deleted an email without even bothering to open it. That’s not all. There are also situations where the online algorithm dilutes your audience and the excessive bounce rate due to slow internet. Luckily, such limitations do not apply to print media, including direct mail. With a direct marketing flyer, the audience will, at the very least, glance through it. Not to mention, every company now focuses their marketing efforts on online platforms using the same tools. In other words, companies are pitting against each other to grab the audience’s attention, even if it’s for a second. Statistics Supporting Direct Marketing FlyersBelow are some statistics from Data & Marketing Association that reveal how beneficial direct marketing flyers can be for your business.
As you can see from the above statistics, the likeliness of your target audience opening a marketing flyer is significantly high. You can also notice that addressed mailers tend to generate a higher open rate than unaddressed mail. Why Should You Use Marketing Flyer As a Marketing Tool?Above, we discussed the scope of the flyer as a marketing tool and how it is superior to digital marketing. But that doesn’t quite explain why are flyers an effective marketing tool for your business. Below are some compelling reasons why you should use a marketing tool for your business. Marketing Flyers Are Cost-EffectiveWe agree that printing and delivering flyers may give you the idea that implementing direct mail marketing is expensive. But, there are two things that you probably forget here. One is the significantly higher open and response rate direct marketing flyers offer you. The other thing you are forgetting is the significantly lower printing and delivery charges for bulk mail. Furthermore, there are also automation tools like PostGrid that optimise your bulk mail campaigns. PostGrid minimises wastage of resources and allows you to use special services like Royal Mail Door-to-Door. Marketing Flyers Offer Hight Impact For Low EffortBefore you get any ideas, we are not saying that preparing and sending direct marketing flyers is effortless. However, you can make the process streamlined and painless if you use the right tools. But, let’s talk about the high impact first. As we discussed its open rate, we saw how impactful direct marketing flyers could be for your business. It is much easier to make the recipient open a postal mail because they will do it out of curiosity. In an email campaign, you have to rack your brain to develop an attractive subject line. Even then, the customer may overlook your mail, which will remain unopened forever. As for low effort, you practically have to do nothing if you use an automated direct mail solution like PostGrid. Once you set it up, PostGrid automatically prints and delivers marketing flyers for your business. Marketing Flyers Are TangibleWe all know someone excited about receiving and opening their daily postal mail. We have also experienced the same feeling when receiving a Christmas card from our loved ones. Receiving direct marketing flyers somewhat recreates that feeling, and we are ever so slightly happy to open them. In general, people love things that they can touch and feel. We are so used to digital ads that we have learned to ignore them almost subconsciously. On the other hand, it is relatively rare to receive a marketing flyer. Of course, you still need to put effort into targeting and designing your mailer, so it doesn’t become another junk mail. Marketing Flyers Add a Personal TouchYour direct marketing flyers will not deliver the desired results simply because it is tangible. Sure, the substantial nature of your marketing mailer makes it more likely that the recipient will read it. However, you still need to present the relevant information or promote a new offer to the target audience. Personalisation is not just limited to using the prospect’s name in your marketing material. It is also about personalising your marketing flyer with relevant information about products, services, and offers that the target audience needs. Even physically handing out flyers has specific personal touches to it. After all, physically handing over marketing flyers facilitates personal interaction. And even if you only manage to convince them to take the marketing flyers back home with them, there is still a good chance that they’ll check them out later. Marketing Flyers Are Eye-CatchingAnother great thing about flyers as a marketing tool is that they are eye-catching. Of course, exactly how eye-catching it has to be will depend on your chosen design. Another advantage of direct marketing flyers is that, unlike digital ads, there is no clutter or distractions. We have all come across that page online with multiple ads on every corner and edge of the page. Then there is also the problem of the user navigating away from the page after getting a notification. Once they receive a message, the user forgets about the ad altogether. No such problem arises when you are using a marketing flyer. Furthermore, you can also place your flyers inside shops, arcades, and other places your target audience is likely to visit. With an eye-catching design, it is easy for the audience to notice the marketing flyer and check it out. How To Create An Effective Marketing Flyer For Your Business?Automated print and mail tools like PostGrid can help you streamline your direct mail campaigns. But, the system still needs you to do the initial setup where you choose an apt design and content for your direct marketing flyers. In other words, you may not need help with printing and mailing your marketing flyers using an automated tool. Most Advanced systems like PostGrid use a simple interface that you can easily understand. However, you may need help designing a marketing flyer to capture the audience’s attention and convey your marketing message. Here is how you can create effective marketing flyers for your business Step 1: Select Your Priority PointsDid you know that the standard size of a marketing flyer can be anywhere between A7 and A4? As you can guess, you can choose the flyer size depending on its purpose and budget. But no matter how you look at it, the room for your ad is limited. There is no endless scrolling here like in a digital ad. But, more importantly, your audience does not have the time to read large-format content. It means you can’t tell your whole brand story on direct marketing flyers and must prioritise the points you wish to convey. Hence, you must narrow down the most critical points you want to convey to the target audience. It would be best if you also defined what you wish to accomplish with the marketing flyer, such as
Step 2: Keep It SimpleAs you know, the message and design are the two most crucial aspects of your marketing mailers. You must ensure that the message and the design of your direct marketing flyers are simple. There are also templates online if you don’t have an in-house designer and don’t want to hire one. Some online tools let you design and modify existing marketing flyer templates. Here are some quick pointers to help create an effective direct mail flyer for your business.
Step 3: Give The Audience Something WorthwhilePeople or your audience can easily forget the name of your business. To some, this might be a hard pill to swallow. Nonetheless, it’s the truth, and the sooner you accept it, the sooner you can make your next move. Using direct marketing flyers is a great way to promote special offers. There are two reasons or benefits of incorporating a special offer in your marketing flyers, and they are
However, that does not mean you always have to include a discount or sales offer in your direct mail flyers. But, it is just one of the many ways you can use flyers for marketing your business. Step 4: Link It Back To Your BusinessThe ultimate goal of using direct marketing flyers for your business is to impact the target audience. Unlike what some might think, the impact is not always new sales. Sometimes the goal of the marketing flyers is to
Suppose you want to measure how effective are flyers for marketing. In that case, you need to link the marketing flyers right back to your business. In other words, you need to present a way for the audience to get in touch with your whenever they want. Hence, you need to include the contact information of your business on flyers, such as
Step 5: Use Quality Papers And PrintersCompanies often get careless during the production stage of sending their direct marketing flyers. The worst way to mess up your direct mail flyer campaign is by using cheap or low-quality printers and papers. Remember, your flyer’s quality will also reflect your brand’s quality. We know what you are thinking right now. You are probably wondering how expensive such marketing could be for your business organisation. Well, it might surprise you that you can cost-effectively produce marketing flyers using automated services like PostGrid. The fully automated print and mail system of PostGrid uses quality paper and printers for your business flyers. Furthermore, PostGrid has an error-free process that ensures zero wastage of your resources, including paper, ink, and even time. As a result, you save more money on marketing flyer printing and delivery. Step 6: Ensure That Your Flyers Reach The Right PlaceProper targeting is the last thing you need to ensure your marketing flyer brings in the desired results. When it comes to distributing your marketing flyers, you need to think about your target audience. Consider aspects such as
These questions will reveal how, when, and where you need to deliver your marketing message. You can also use address verification tools like the one offered by PostGrid for targeting specific localities. It provides a geocoding feature which allows you to target your audience using their location. ConclusionCompanies often waste their valuable time wondering how effective is flyer marketing for their business. The fact is that if executed tastefully, direct mail flyers can create a significant impact on your target audience. Above, we have already discussed the many benefits of marketing flyers. There is hardly any need for more convincing for your company to implement flyer marketing. We also saw how you could create an effective marketing flyer for your business. One thing is clear. It would be best to have an advanced print and mail tool like PostGrid to make the most out of flyer marketing. A fully automated print and mail solution like PostGrid optimises your direct mail campaigns holistically. You get to save money by saving resources for your marketing flyers because PostGrid offers a zero-error process. Furthermore, PostGrid can automatically send your direct marketing flyers to your audience after the initial setup. It even includes advanced capabilities like triggered and scheduled direct mails. Hence, businesses must invest in a robust solution like PostGrid for their marketing needs. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Why Use Flyers as a Marketing Tool appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/why-use-flyers-as-marketing-tool/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/why-use-flyers-as-marketing-tool.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/690158354720604160 TABLE OF CONTENTSWith Compliment Slips: How to Nurture Customer Relationships and Boost Brand Image?Does your business send out compliment slips to customers while interacting with them offline? If yes, you are already doing a better job than most businesses that underestimate the power of this impactful communication piece. Direct mail has a response rate of 9% and is the most cost-effective channel for promotions and correspondence. Sending ‘with compliments’ slips to customers helps you take advantage of this marketing form. ![]() But, you must create slips that don’t sit in a customer’s drawer forever. Recipients should feel enticed to pay their complete attention and respond. These slips help you strengthen company-customer relationships and create brand loyalty. Also, it enables you to boost publicity and form a unique brand identity. The best part about this direct mail format is you don’t need to spend too much. You can use it alongside other items and still get fantastic results. In this blog, let’s discuss the advantages of using a ‘with compliments’ slip. Moreover, it helps you create customer-friendly and eye-catching cards effortlessly. What Is a Compliment Slip?A compliment slip is a thank-you card with your company logo and contact information. It is similar to corporate letterhead but more informal. Businesses refer to these cards as compliment slips because they usually have the term ‘with compliments’ alongside a handwritten note. You can mail the slips to customers when they purchase a product, expressing your gratitude. Also, you may send them alongside brochures, catalogues, and other promotional materials to increase the influence of your marketing strategies. Some companies also send ‘with compliments’ cards with transactional mail items, like invoices, statements, cheques, etc. They help you conduct trans-promotional marketing, which refers to sending formal documents with promotional messages. Thus, you need not invest extra time and energy to print ‘with compliments’ slips. You can save loads on postage by inserting them into the same envelopes. How Should Companies Create ‘With Compliments’ Slips?Creating the slips takes very little time, and you don’t need to make them look extravagant. However, it doesn’t mean you should let their potential go to waste. You can draft and print appealing slips using the correct direct mailing steps. Below, we have discussed a few tips to add a personal touch to compliment slips and transform them into productive marketing tools: BrandingTry making it hassle-free for customers to identify your business. Luckily, compliment slips help you set your business apart from the competition. But, you should add your company logo, tagline, and contact details to make this happen. Create customised slips that reflect your brand’s vision and increase recall rates. Use a Simple DesignRemember that thank-you slips should always carry a minimalist design. Hence, avoid adding images, extraordinary graphics, or complicated grid layouts to a ‘with compliments’ slip template. Also, this slip has very little space, so use it effectively. Try keeping your sentences short and to the point. Moreover, personalise your slips with the recipient’s name to get more engagement. Use Quality Paper StockAvoid using poor-quality paper for printing your slips because it can leave a poor impression of your brand on people. Even though compliment cards are small and compact, they represent your company in front of your audience. Therefore, use top-notch quality materials to make them more durable and appealing. Write Easy-to-Understand ContentAt PostGrid, we get several queries regarding what to write in a ‘with compliments’ slip. It depends on why you want to send a thank-you card to your customers; maybe you want to appreciate them for buying something and patronising your business. Or, you want to send greetings to prospective customers with other marketing items. Usually, you will see the phrases- ‘speak to you again’ or ‘many regards’ on business compliment slips. Remember that these slips are for communicating short messages, and your content should be pleasant to read. Thus, only a few sentences should do the job. Focus on the SizeUsing the right size for ‘with compliments’ slips is crucial to their performance. Refrain from sending full-length paper stock because that can make your slips look like formal letters. Though you need to make your cards look professional, they should be personal and engaging. The most commonly used size for compliment slips is 210 mm x 99 mm, equivalent to one-third of an A4 size paper. Hence, you can stuff them into envelopes without folding. Automate the ProcessYou can draft customised slips without manual effort using direct mail services like PostGrid. These solutions help you choose from many options, regarding:
Advantages of Using a ‘With Compliments’ SlipYou can achieve several objectives by using a compliment slip for offline communication, like: Make Customers Feel SpecialMost businesses struggle with tearing through the professional exterior with customers and forming 1:1 relationships. Therefore, they go out of their way to establish and maintain personal bonds long after the business deal gets complete. It helps them get repeat business and keep their reputation thriving. A ‘with compliments’ slip can help you make your customers feel valued. A short handwritten message shows you take the time to acknowledge your customers. Such gestures enable you to improve acquisition and retention rates. Reinforce BrandingAlways integrate your offline and online marketing plans to see better results. And the same rule applies to compliment slips. You can create the same branding flow across all channels by:
Also, try drafting a marketing calendar to synchronise your plans. However, if you want to send compliment slips with transactional mail, just ensure to match them with your ongoing marketing programs. Make It EmotionalYour ‘with compliments’ slips should have an emotional appeal. Use them to add a personal effect to everyday formal correspondence. Often, companies forget to nurture customer relationships while dispatching statements, bills, contracts, etc. Compliment cards help them maintain the balance between professional and personal bonds. Upsell With Special OffersThe best benefit of using compliment slips is creating opportunities for upselling. You don’t want to lose customers after the first transaction. Instead, you look for chances to keep in touch and pitch more products they can buy. In such cases, compliment postcards can open new windows to help you get repeat orders. Start by adding a customised offer for your customers, like:
These offers can intrigue customers and make them complete the CTA on your compliment slips. Most Popular Use Cases of ‘With Compliments’ SlipsAlong with thanking customers, you can use the compliment postcards for many other reasons, including:
How Can PostGrid’s Automated Direct Mail Solutions Help You Increase Customer Loyalty?Our direct mail API and software are capable of sending any number of compliment slips on your behalf. You only need to integrate our API into your CRM and place orders instantly. PostGrid’s 2-business day SLA makes it possible for you to plan and execute such campaigns without having to form elaborate strategies. Here are some more benefits of using PostGrid to send ‘with compliments’ slips:
Wrapping UpToday, all companies are in a continuous cut-throat competition to do their best. Therefore, they need to draft and execute well-thought plans, enabling them to increase sales levels. However, they should always prioritise their customers and appreciate them. Sending a ‘with compliments’ slip with your promotional, transactional, and compliance items can help you improve your customer relationships. Also, it is super-quick and simple to draft and mail compliment slips, making it an effective communication vehicle. PostGrid’s direct mail automation services allow businesses to tap into the power of direct mail and increase their ROI dramatically. Our solutions help you save effort and increase efficiency with industry-best pricing and fast turnaround times. Sign up now to know more about how PostGrid can help you print and mail compliment slips affordably and quickly. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post With Compliment Slips: Nurture Customer Relationships appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/with-compliments-slips/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/with-compliment-slips-nurture-customer.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/689890330483490816 TABLE OF CONTENTSAddress Verification Service: Why Is It Important to Businesses and Their Customers?In 2019, UK businesses faced £239.9 million worth of online frauds. And this figure does not seem to be getting better even today! Thus, companies must devise several fraud prevention measures to protect themselves from such threats. One of the most prevailing tactics businesses in the US, UK, and Canada employ is the address verification service (AVS). It helps you check the validity of your orders by cross-checking the billing address with the cardholder’s issuing bank. ![]() However, an Address Verification Service (AVS) check only offers basic-level assurance that an order isn’t fraudulent. They still need to employ more payment protection strategies to identify spam orders and process the genuine ones. Many merchants still struggle with this new technology, and we hope to offer some insights to make the concept clearer for you. Also, this blog discusses how the AVS system and codes work. Let us dive in! What is Address Verification Service?This service is a fraud prevention tool that issuing banks and credit card processors provide to eCommerce retailers or merchants. It allows businesses to detect suspicious transactions and reject them. The address verification service checks the billing address a cardholder provides to the merchant with their address in the issuing bank’s system. The prime goal is to determine that the person making the transaction is the genuine cardholder. If the addresses match, it becomes evident that they are the same person, and the placed order is legitimate. Customers also benefit from AVS checking because it blocks other people from using their cards and making large purchases. Most people look for such security features before buying from an online retailer. AVS is primarily a MasterCard service to stop card-not-present (CNP) fraud. But, all major credit card issuers also use it the same way. Once the merchant receives an order, the system sends an authorization request to the issuing bank that sends an AVS response code in return. These AVS check codes help determine the degree to which both the addresses match to authenticate the ownership of the card. Thus, the merchant can decide whether to accept or reject the order. Understanding the AVS Checking SystemThe AVS system is not a foolproof fraud prevention tool because of some obvious flaws. It compares the customer’s current address to the one registered with their credit card issuer. Often, these addresses differ because of the following reasons:
Thus, most companies also pair their fraud prevention tools with a postal address verification service like PostGrid. It helps them update old addresses of customers using the Postcode Address File (PAF), which has over 30 million updated mailing addresses. Also, PostGrid allows businesses to conduct fuzzy matching and modify addresses that have some errors, like misspellings and typos. Therefore, they can reduce false negatives that the address verification service may generate because of such minor mistakes. The entire process of PostGrid’s postal address verification service includes the following three steps:
All these steps take place simultaneously, and you can verify millions of addresses together using our address verification API. Examples of AVS Checking for Online TransactionsThere are several examples of the address verification service, but let’s consider the most popular one. Suppose a customer wants to order something on Amazon. The site asks customers to complete a series of steps, like signing up for an account, adding things to the cart, and filling in the billing information. Once they enter all the details and proceed with the transaction, the following things take place:
The AVS code indicates a mismatch, and the transaction automatically declines if the address does not exist in the bank’s database. This process does not show up on the customers’ screens, so they only get a transaction success or fail message. Also, the AVS checking process is super-quick, allowing customers to check out faster. However, you should know that the AVS only checks the numeric portion of a billing address. Typically, it only cross-verifies the house number and postcode with the bank’s records. It makes it crucial for businesses to use a postal address verification service like PostGrid to confirm whether the address is accurate. For instance, if your customer enters the address- 73 Gayton Road Eastcote Northamptonshire NN12 8NG The AVS check only focuses on the number 73 and the postcode; the remaining address does not affect the results. Please note: The AVS does not determine the deliverability of a postal address. Why Isn’t Address Verification Service (AVS) a Foolproof Fraud Prevention Tool?It isn’t illegal to send mail to customers on the MPS register. But, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 states that companies should avoid doing so repeatedly. However, following the mail preference service regulation is mandatory under the DMA’s code of practice. Also, the organisation has the right to investigate the matter and pass it on to the Advertising Standards Authority if someone files a complaint against you. Having an MPS licence protects you against such claims that tarnish your image and lead to negative publicity. Therefore, you must screen your mailing lists against the postal preference service UK before launching every advertising campaign. What Are the Other Options for Customers to Subscribe Out of Unsolicited Mail?You should know that AVS does not guarantee fraud prevention but is one of the many tools that help merchants check order accuracy. Sometimes, the system can generate partial and false declines because of confusion or misinterpretation. Such partial rejection requires the merchant to use an additional postal address verification service to complete or reject the transaction. Moreover, all payment gateways should employ the AVS in conjunction with other fraud prevention tools, like:
Global businesses must ensure that their payment gateway accepts and manages the international address verification service. Most fraudsters conduct unauthentic transactions from international destinations for multiple items in one go. Thus, using multi-layers fraud detection mechanisms to protect your genuine customers is crucial. Also, always use a postal address verification service like PostGrid to reduce false declines and customer dissatisfaction. How Do the AVS Codes Work?Different credit card brands use separate sets of AVS check codes. Thus, you may notice some code sets apply to one company but not another. It is advisable to read the documentation provided by your credit card brand and issuer. You can find several AVS code charts for reference, but it is best to rely on official documentation only. Ensure to configure your payment gateway to respond to and manage the AVS check codes. Try using a custom rules engine to specify the acceptable AVS codes and the ones that should trigger an instant confirmation step or decline. Remember that there should always be room to accommodate and investigate partial declines because being too aggressive would mean losing several genuine customers. The AVS response codes consist of a single letter that may have different meanings across countries. Here are the most commonly-used codes: N – no match W – partial match of ZIP code, street address match failed R – system unavailable or retry U – Address data unavailable, or the card issuer does not use the AVS check Merchant Liability and Card AssociationsThe credit card associations like MasterCard and Visa dictate the terms and conditions of AVS checking. Hence, the banks that want to issue branded credit cards and participate in the AVS system must adhere to these rules always. Also, these credit card brands state the circumstances under which businesses can contest chargebacks. Sometimes, merchants need to accept a chargeback and leave back their representation rights. You only get representation rights when you attempt to verify the transaction’s validity if a chargeback occurs because of an unauthorised charge or potential fraud. Thus, an AVS check system helps you in fraud-related chargeback conflicts. Sadly, many merchants aren’t aware of what a fully-validated AVS check means. They might assume they are not liable if they use the AVS and get a full match. However, they still need to participate in fraud chargeback disputes and provide relevant evidence. Many merchants opt-out of such disputes and write off the losses because they don’t have the resources and time to fight them. Also, they might not know the card association rules about chargebacks and how to dispute them, so they drop the matter. An address verification service may not guarantee your win. But, it supports your case and increases your chances of winning the dispute. We get several questions about why merchants are held liable even after verifying that the cardholder and buyer are the same. The short answer to these doubts is—cardholder rights. Cardholder RightsAll banks issuing credit cards to their customers have some obligations towards these cardholders. They should take measures to safeguard their interests and help them avoid fraud. Hence, they must investigate all unauthorised transactions irrespective of other factors. The address verification service allows banks to get to the root cause and identify fraudsters. A bank still needs to acknowledge the claim and take the necessary steps even if the merchant receives a full match from their AVS check. Luckily, PostGrid’s address checker allows banks to update their database from time to time to help them deal with such situations. How Can PostGrid’s Postal Address Verification Service Help Businesses Spot Fraudulent Transactions?PostGrid’s address verification API and software help you confirm the accuracy and validity of your customer addresses. It also cross-checks the deliverability of your mailing lists to identify spam orders and reduce mail returns. Below, we have mentioned some benefits and features of our address verification solutions that benefit companies:
Furthermore, PostGrid offers:
Wrapping UpWith increasing online attacks in the UK, almost all businesses have resorted to using numerous fraud prevention mechanisms. Undoubtedly, the address verification service plays a broad role in detecting fraudulent transactions. But, avoid making it your standalone strategy for fraud detection. You can use PostGrid’s address verification service to standardise and validate your addresses. It enables you to make prompt decisions and always access a cleansed and updated database. Are you ready to see PostGrid’s address verification service in action? Sign up now and save your genuine customers from fraud and other threats. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Address Verification Service appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/address-verification-service/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/address-verification-service.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/689614768234971136 TABLE OF CONTENTSWhat Is Transliteration, And How Can It Help Your Business Communication?Does your business have a customer database that crosses numerous countries? Do you have trouble managing customer address data in foreign languages? If your answer is a yes to both these questions. In that case, using an address verification tool with transliteration capability can be especially beneficial. ![]() Transliteration in address verification is a simple but often effective way for businesses to manage their international address data. But, what does transliteration mean? Is it just another fancy name for translation? These are questions that are likely on your mind right now. We promise that we will answer all your questions as you read further. Here, is an attempt to help you understand what is transliteration process and how it differs from translation. There are even several examples here to help you better understand the concept of transliteration. What is Transliteration?Transliteration is a process that involves converting a text in one language into text in another language. Now, before you say, “isn’t that the same as a translation?” no, it isn’t. Let us explain why. In translation, the conversion of the text is such that it maintains its underlying meaning. On the other hand, the text conversion in transliteration is more literal and does not bother with the underlying meaning. The process may seem the same for transliteration and translation, but the outputs are very different. But, we can discuss the similarities and differences between transliteration and translation in the next section. What you need to know about transliteration is that it converts each character from one alphabet to another. In other words, transliteration replaces sounds phonetically in another language. However, this replacement does not apply to the word’s meaning. Understanding Transliteration Using ExamplesEven with the explanation above, you may still be confused about the transliteration concept. It’s pretty normal to have these confusions, which is why we will help you understand what does transliteration mean with the help of an example. Let us consider the example of the Japanese word KONNICHIWA. The word KONNICHIWA in Japanese looks like this こんにちは. During transliteration and translation, each word goes through a conversion process. So, the Japanese phrase こんにちは splits into pieces, as you see below.
As you can see from the table above, the transliteration process becomes interesting as we reach the sound は. There are two possible transliterations for the sound は, which are HA and WA. So, what does transliteration mean in this situation? Transliteration Can Have Different Phonetic MatchesIn the example we discussed above, we saw how a character by itself can have two different sounds. Here, you can see that the transliteration depends on the context and has other phonetic matches. It is the same as some English letters sounding different in words, such as the “c” in cold and city. Transliteration Is Dependent On The CountryAnother thing you should know about transliteration is that it is also dependent on the country which uses or speaks a specific language. The best example of what does transliteration means in this situation is the use of the letter “Z.” In most English-speaking countries, such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc., the pronunciation of Z is ZED. But in the US, the letter Z is pronounced ZEE. It means you can not transliterate the letter Z without knowing the country and the language. Transliteration Is Not Always Phonetic ConversionUsually, transliteration may seem like a phonetic conversion process, but that is not always the case. You need to consider what does transliteration mean if a character in one language has an equivalent in another language. Let’s also assume that the pronunciation of these characters is also different. For instance, take the letter Ö. You can usually find this letter in places that speak German languages, including German, Danish, Swedish, and Icelandic. The English transliteration of the letter Ö can be either O or OE. Here O and OE are considered equivalent. Transliteration Is Not RomanisationPeople often confuse transliteration with romanisation. However, they are not the same. A romanisation is a form of transliteration that does not use Roman characters, such as
But in romanisation, the output is a language that does use Roman characters, such as
Transliteration Involves Converting NumbersWhen you first asked yourself, “what is transliteration?” you probably did not think it involved converting numbers. Surprisingly enough, transliteration also involves converting numbers. For instance, transliteration can convert Roman numerals to Japanese numbers. The table below shows the transliteration of five roman numbers to Japanese numbers.
What Does Transliteration Mean In Address Verification?By now, you have a good idea of what is transliteration and the process behind it. But, how does transliteration apply to address verification? First of all, the transliteration in address verification applies to your business if you have international customers and business partners. So, let us say you have customer address data from every corner of the world. We are talking about addresses in different languages, such as Chinese, Russian, Arabic, etc. There is no way you can read all these languages by yourself and have no way of telling the customer’s location. This is a situation where transliteration can help your business. “But, what does transliteration mean in this situation?” you may wonder. Well, it allows you to spell out the addresses in different languages in your native language, which in this case is English. Ensure CRM CompatibilityBefore searching for a transliteration tool for your business organisation, you should first check your CRM. If your business website or app already supports foreign languages, things should be pretty smooth and straightforward for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for transliteration capability for future international customers, ensure your CRM can keep up. Ask yourself, what does transliteration mean if your CRM cannot support different languages. Without a good CRM, you cannot provide the services you wish, even with transliteration. Address Parsing and Address StandardisationAn advanced address verification tool like PostGrid provides superior address parsing and standardisation capability. Our system breaks down your addresses into small units and rearranges them into a standard format. The standard format PostGrid is the official address format obtained directly from the official postal service provider. For UK addresses, PostGrid uses the standard address format defined by Royal Mail; for US addresses, it is USPS standard format and so on. Transliteration vs TranslationWe have already established that transliteration and translation are not the same. If you are unfamiliar with a language, translation and transliteration can give you a good idea of what a word means. However, you can not use translation and transliteration interchangeably. Translation Is Interchangeable. Transliteration Is Not.Let’s take the Japanese word KONNICHIWA. It will help you understand interchangeability in translation vs transliteration. You can do an easy exercise here. Type in KONNICHIWA in Google translate in Japanese, which is こんにちは. The result should say the translation of こんにちは is HELLO. Now, try the same by typing in the English word (HELLO) and looking at the result, and it should show こんにちは. In that sense, translation words are interchangeable. Now, try to transliterate the English word HELLO and check the result. The Japanese transliteration of HELLO is ハロー. Here is where the translate vs transliterate argument becomes interesting. If you try to transliterate ハロー back to English, your result will be HARŌ. As you can see, transliteration is not a two-way street. It doesn’t work both ways like translation, and you may lose some information. More importantly, it is unlikely that you will get a meaningful word using transliteration. ConclusionBusiness organisations with customers from all over the world can benefit from transliteration. It allows them to ensure the validity of addresses even if they are utterly alien to their customer’s native language. However, it is not the same as translation. A business organisation should never confuse transliteration and translation because their results can be entirely different. Transliteration does not take into account the underlying meaning of the words. Hence, the outcome of a transliteration process may seem random. However, transliterating specific phrases and numbers can be helpful for address verification. Investing in a robust address verification tool like PostGrid with bulk mailing capability enables you to streamline communication with your domestic and international customers. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post What is Transliteration in Address Verification appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/what-is-transliteration-in-address-verification/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-is-transliteration-in-address.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/689531728225828864 TABLE OF CONTENTSWhat Is the DMA Mailing Preference Service and How Can It Benefit Businesses?Do you repeatedly get items in your mailbox that you don’t want? It can be annoying to receive unsolicited mail for most people, primarily junk mail from businesses promoting themselves. We cannot disregard the significance and popularity of direct mail. About 76% of the UK adult population opens all the mail pieces they get. Also, traditional mail drives nearly 70% of people to a digital engagement with the company sending it. ![]() Hence, businesses can continue mailing to relevant prospects using the mailing preference service (MPS) file. It consists of all the names and delivery addresses of people that do not wish to get advertising mail. This postal preference service safeguards recipients from unwanted items. And businesses can save money by not mailing people who aren’t interested. In this blog, let’s discuss everything you need to know about the mail preference service and how you can benefit from it. What Is the Mailing Preference Service?The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) UK runs the MPS service to enable people to opt-out of unwanted, personally addressed mail. Customers can register for this service for free, making it more convenient for anyone to stop getting unsolicited items. It is also known as the ‘do not mail’ list that blocks junk mail by businesses. The primary concept behind this mail preference service is to respect your customers’ preferences and connect with them only when they want. Thus, companies must check their mailing lists against the mailing preference service register to ensure they don’t mail to anyone who has already opted out. Moreover, all DMA members must follow this rule religiously to avoid getting into trouble. The DMA set up the MPS register in 1983, but many businesses are still unaware of it. Often, people want to get their details removed from the postal mailing list because:
Hence, try accessing the mailing preference service file before every campaign to avoid wastage. Also, it allows you to preserve your brand reputation and save company-customer relationships. Please note that both Royal Mail and ICO support the postal preference service UK- which regulates advertising mail. What Are the Benefits of Having a MPS Licence?Businesses can buy a licence to access the MPS file now and then. It enables them to: Reduce Marketing ExpensesCross-checking your database against the mailing preference service register helps you filter out customers who are not likely to convert. Hence, you can save costs by not spending millions of dollars on printing and shipping items to people who despise promotional mail. Keep Wastages LowRecipients have the option to send back unsolicited mail to the sender. They don’t need to pay anything to mail your items back to you, but you would have to bear the postage. Thus, the postal preference service Royal Mail allows you to prevent wastage caused by mailing to people who have voluntarily opted out. Showcases Your Brand In Good LightBy following the DMA guidelines and not sending anything to customers on the mailing preference service list, you showcase yourself as a responsible marketer. It allows you to boost your brand image and strengthen your marketing strategies. These people might see your email or social media ad and contact you. But, you will be blowing your chances of getting conversions if you have already hurt your reputation by spam mailing. What Is the Cost of an MPS Licence?Many people are confused regarding- Can businesses use the mailing preference service, and the answer is yes! You can purchase an annual mailing preference service licence for £1,150, excluding VAT. It gives you access to the DMA’s MPS register, and you can download it online from their website. This list includes the names and addresses of all the people who have registered for it in the UK. Businesses that do not mail regularly have several more postal preference service options. Instead of getting a licence, they can buy a one-off data file that costs nearly £290. They can purchase it any number of times, making it an excellent option for non-frequent marketers. Local businesses who want to conduct location-specific marketing to small neighbourhoods or areas also need not get a licence. They can purchase a small section of the MPS register for only £60. But, using PostGrid’s direct mail services for your mailing campaigns allows you to cross-check your lists against this register for no added costs. Is Sending Mail to the People on the Mailing Preference Service File Illegal?It isn’t illegal to send mail to customers on the MPS register. But, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 states that companies should avoid doing so repeatedly. However, following the mail preference service regulation is mandatory under the DMA’s code of practice. Also, the organisation has the right to investigate the matter and pass it on to the Advertising Standards Authority if someone files a complaint against you. Having an MPS licence protects you against such claims that tarnish your image and lead to negative publicity. Therefore, you must screen your mailing lists against the postal preference service UK before launching every advertising campaign. What Are the Other Options for Customers to Subscribe Out of Unsolicited Mail?There are many other ways in which your customers can register themselves in the do not mail list, including: Put Up a ‘No Junk Mail’ Sign on the LetterboxIf a customer has this sign on their door or letterbox, the postal carrier does not drop off junk mail there. However, it isn’t the best option as some delivery people might ignore the sign. Instead, they should use the mailing preference service for free to take a firmer step towards not getting junk mail. Contact the Post OfficeRoyal Mail does not deliver unaddressed mail to people who have opted out of junk mail using the mail preference service. All the customers need to do is fill out a form or drop an email to the Post Office. Royal Mail stops sending unaddressed advertising to them within six weeks for up to two years. You can mail items to such customers if they don’t renew their subscription to the mailing preference service after two years. Register with the DMA’s ‘Your Choice’ ProgramDMA also lets people get marketing mail of their choice. It limits the number of items they receive by enabling them to select the categories of mail they want. Again, customers must fill out a form or call the DMA office to register under this free scheme. The duration of every registration lasts from 12 weeks to two years. However, the mailing preference service takes up to four months to come into effect. Companies can mail their promotional pieces to customers until their registrations are approved and active. Stop Charity MailContact the Fundraising Mailing Preference Service if you don’t want to get charity solicitation mail items. Keep the charity organisation’s name or registration number handy while making a call or filing a request on their website. Then, the Fundraising Preference Service would ask the organisation to delete your contact details from their database within 28 working days. Along with these methods, customers can also contact the electoral registration office or reach out to the mail senders directly. The good news is that you only need to run a check against the DMA mail preference service file as it is updated monthly. How Can PostGrid’s Direct Mail Services Help You Send Mail to Relevant Prospects?As discussed above, sending mail items to people who aren’t interested makes no sense and can lead to wastage. It can hamper all areas of your marketing and sales operations for a long time. Thus, accessing the mailing preference service register and filtering out contacts is your best bet. But, you may not want to buy the files or get a licence. It is when PostGrid can help you out! Our direct mail API helps businesses from all sectors, like healthcare, real estate, insurance, etc., send advertising items effortlessly. They don’t need to do anything manually or manage campaigns themselves. Also, PostGrid verifies addresses and checks them against the mail preference service register to avoid returns. Thus, companies can only mail to a laser-targeted audience and optimise their marketing budget. ConclusionBeing socially responsible and not indulging in spam mailing help companies attract genuine customers. They can save their precious time and effort by not trying to connect with people who made it clear they weren’t interested. Using the DMA’s mailing preference service lists, you can channel your marketing plans toward a relevant audience and reach your goals easily. PostGrid’s direct mail services can help you send mail to PAF-certified addresses that assure deliverability. Along with the mail preference service register, it processes your addresses against the NCOA file to update any recent changes. Thus, it is your all-in-one solution to create, print, and mail items to deliverable addresses, helping you improve your ROI. Request a demo to learn more of our features that help you use the mailing preference service to conduct accurate mailings! Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post UK Mailing Preference Service appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/uk-mailing-preference-service/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/uk-mailing-preference-service.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/689074968006426624 TABLE OF CONTENTSStandard Envelope Sizes In The UK: What Are They And How To Use Them?Most companies have no clue about the envelope size they should use for their business mailers. They don’t pay attention to it until something goes wrong and they are left with a pile of unusable wrong-sized envelopes. So, if you are among those companies that have no clue about the standard envelope sizes, don’t worry you are not alone. ![]() However, when it comes to business operations, ignorance is NOT bliss. Instead, you could lose valuable money and resources by not paying enough attention to what is the size of a standard letter envelope you use. It pays to know the standard envelope sizes if you wish to use an integrated marketing strategy in the future. Unless, of course, you are planning on automating your postal mail process. But even with an automated system, it is worth learning about the envelope sizes to optimise your campaigns. What Are The Standard Envelope Sizes In The UK?Every country or, more accurately, every postal mail service provider has a set of standard envelope sizes for sending your mail. The Royal Mail also use some standard envelopes for sending your postal mail. The envelope you send your business mail in can vary depending on what you are sending. For example, suppose you want to send an important document and don’t want to fold it. In that case, you might want to consider a larger envelope. Also, if you want to save yourself the trouble of printing the address twice, you can use a window envelope. Either way, the standard envelope size will vary. Categorising Standard Envelope Sizes UKIt might surprise some of you that every envelope you use, whether it is for sending postal or something, has standard envelope dimensions. They don’t make envelopes as per some random measurements. Most envelopes you buy follow the standards set by ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) 269 standards. However, The Royal Mail does not use all standard envelope sizes from ISO. Most of the postal mail uses one of the two envelope categories, and they are
While the DL envelope is a single-size envelope, the C series envelopes include a variety of standard envelope sizes ranging from C0 to C10. Generally, the standard size of envelopes the Royal Mail uses falls between 28 mm x 40 mm to 917 mm x 1297 mm. However, categorising postal envelopes does not depend on the envelope dimensions alone. After choosing the right size for your envelope, you can also choose the style or type of envelopes you want to use. The major envelope types or styles you can choose for your business mailers include
DL EnvelopesThe DL standard size envelopes are the most common envelope to send business mailers. It can comfortably fit an A4 size folded into thirds. It is the envelope that we consider “the” letter envelope. You might have noticed that most of your standard post arrives in a DL standard size envelope. And since DL envelopes allow you to send A4 documents and marketing materials, you can send the following items with DL envelopes.
Besides direct mail marketing, businesses like insurance companies send letters regularly. Insurance companies sending letters like monthly billing statements, cancellation letters etc., often use DL envelopes. So, if yours is an insurance business, it is worth knowing the standard envelope size for DL envelopes. DL Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C7 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C Series EnvelopesAs mentioned above, most of the postal mail letters in the UK use C series envelopes as the standard envelope size. It is worth noting that most envelopes use a C series paper. The geometric area of the C series paper lies between the A and B series papers of the same number. In other words, the C4 size is bigger than the A4 size and smaller than the B4 size papers. When it comes to practical application, it means that you can comfortably fit A4 size papers or documents in C4 standard-size envelopes. Royal Mail typically uses every envelope size from C0 to C10 for their mailers. However, as you can guess, not many people use a sizeable page-size envelope for their mailers. Nonetheless, we discuss every C series envelope you can use to send your business mailers. C0 EnvelopesThe C0 envelope dimensions are relatively big, so you can use it to send extra-large documents. As you can figure, the basis of the C0 envelope size is the ISO 269 paper size standard. The practical use of C0 envelopes is limited, especially regarding business communication. However, you can comfortably fit an A0 size paper inside the C0 envelopes. The A0 paper is ideal for holding technical drawings. You can also use it for sending posters. So, if your direct mail marketing campaign involves sending marketing posters, then the C0 standard envelope size can help you. C0 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C0 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C1 EnvelopesThe C1 envelopes are smaller than the C0 but not by a large margin. So, as you can guess, the C1 envelope dimensions are pretty big, and you can find out exactly how big it is by going through the table below. But first, let’s talk about what you can fit inside the envelope. It can accommodate a standard A1 size paper inside it. And much like A0 papers, you can use them for sending technical drawings. But more relevantly, you can use the C1 standard size envelope to send large-format advertising materials, including posters and maps. C1 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C1 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C2 EnvelopesThe third-largest envelope size among the C series envelopes is the C2 envelope. You may not be aware of this, but the A2 paper format is a trendy paper format that businesses often use. However, that does not necessarily mean that the C2 standard size envelopes are just as popular. The common uses of A2 size papers include printing
It is not uncommon for businesses to send calendars and even posters as part of their direct mail marketing campaigns. So if you want to implement a similar marketing plan, the C2 envelop dimensions are perfect for your mailers. C2 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C2 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C3 EnvelopesYou might have noticed how the envelope dimensions decrease as you count the envelope size from C0. The C3 envelopes are much smaller than the C0 envelopes. It is relatively common for business organisations to use C3 envelopes for their marketing mailers. The C3 envelop can easily fit unfolded A3 papers inside it. But to get a better real-life idea of C3 envelope dimensions, think of it as double the size of a standard A4 format paper. In other words, the C3 envelope and A3 paper are still pretty big and may not fit all printers. You can use A3 paper for printing out
C3 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C3 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C4 EnvelopesThe standard envelope dimensions start becoming much more practical once you reach the C4 size envelopes. Even in today’s digitised world, offices are overflowing with A4 size documents. You can fit any of those office documents comfortably inside the C4 envelope. The C4 envelope is possibly the most popular among all the standard envelope sizes UK because a wide variety of documents come in A4 size. Your company can use the C4 envelopes for sending any unfolded A4 copy to your customers. The materials you can send via a C4 envelope include
In addition, you can also send A3 documents folded in half using the C4 envelope. Doing so, you can save yourself some money on your direct mail campaigns. C4 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C4 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C5 EnvelopesThe C5 standard size envelopes are much smaller than the C4 envelopes. You can easily fit an A4 paper folded in half inside the C5 envelope. Hence, C5 envelopes are ideal if you want to send A4 size marketing materials with minimum folds and waste as little paper as possible. In other words, you can send an A4 size marketing material in a C5 envelope if you don’t mind folding it. Of course, you can always ship A5 size paper in C5 standard size envelopes without folding it. Some popular A5 size printed materials include magazines, leaflets and flyers. You can use a specialised service to print business flyers, leaflets, and other marketing materials. C5 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C5 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C6 EnvelopesThe C6 standard envelope size is perfect for your business if you want to send folded A4 documents or marketing material. Furthermore, A6 paper is widely popular for foldable printouts, including flyers, cards, advertisements, and leaflets. On top of all this, A6 paper is also a popular size for postcards. C6 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C6 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C7 EnvelopesWhen you get to the C7 standard size envelopes, you will notice that the size of your material has become significantly smaller. The A7 paper is ideal for printing discount cards or coupons for your marketing campaign. You can also use it for sending folded A5 documents or marketing materials. C7 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C7 envelope in mm, cm, and inches.
C8, C9, & C10 EnvelopesThe standard envelope sizes C8, C9, & C10 are the smallest you can find, and they are useless in most practical situations. However, you could fit the following items into these envelopes
C8, C9, & C10 Envelope DimensionsThe following table shows the accurate size of a C8, C9, & C10 envelopes in mm, cm, and inches.
ConclusionPrinting and mailing your marketing material is hard enough as it is. No business organisation can afford to spend hours researching online what is the standard size envelope for sending your mailers. And as you can see from all that we discussed above, many envelopes are available for sending business mailers. Innovative business organisations bypass the struggle of printing and mailing their marketing materials using a service provider like PostGrid. Employing PostGrid’s specialised print and mail API solution takes care of everything. It includes choosing the correct envelope dimensions for your business mailers. But that’s just a tiny part of what PostGrid can do for your business. PostGrid’s fully automated direct mail software can print personalised marketing materials, schedule delivery, and more. For such an advanced system optimising the standard envelope size for your business mailers is a simple task. Hence, every business organisation that wants to streamline their direct mail communication must employ a robust print and mailing system like PostGrid. Ready to Get Started?Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid The post Standard Envelope Sizes UK appeared first on PostGrid UK. source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/standard-envelope-sizes/ source https://postgridunitedkingdom.blogspot.com/2022/07/standard-envelope-sizes-uk.html Via https://suzannefcox.tumblr.com/post/688980627168608256 |
ABOUT MEI am Sarah. I am a senior UI developer with 5+ years of experience and specialization in Android app development. Designed applications that increased user satisfaction by 20% and resolved persistent browser compatibility issues for Firefox users whilst rigorously adhering to project deadlines. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |