Timing is Critical When Ordering a Mailing List

January 23rd, 2013

When should I order my mailing list?

Timing is critical. Your mailing list is custom ordered; it’s not sitting on a shelf waiting to be mailed. Mailings lists are available by e-mail within hours of making your purchase, but you must allow time to receive a specialty list. A general rule of thumb would be to order to order your mailing list before ordering your print material. If the list you have ordered has gone through an update, or a count was pulled a few weeks before your count may change. A discrepancy of even 500 names may affect printing and mailing costs.

If you have dated material to mail – make sure you allow enough time for your mailing piece to be delivered. The post office has 2 working days to process your mail – but don’t forget that the mail piece can go through 3-4 different post offices before being delivered. It could be 6-8 days before your piece actually reaches the destination. If you have taken your mail to the post office a week before your sale, you run the risk of it being delivered on the day of the sale or after the sale has already occurred – resulting in disastrous consequences.

Remember to plan in advance when purchasing your mailing lists and planning your direct mail campaign.