Printing and mailing services often compliment each other. After all, as a marketer creating the message is just the first part, you still need to find an effective way to deliver it, and deliver it to the right person. For this reason choosing a supplier who will professionally manage the entire process can deliver exceptional results AND remove your workload and worry. This also reduces the moving parts within the supply chain, giving you a single point of contact and a true one-stop shopping experience.

Several questions you can familiarize yourself with when evaluating a supply chain partner include:

• Do they have USPS certified staff available?
• What experience exists with list management and data processing?
• Are NCOA, CASS and PAVE just sets of letters or do they mean something to your supplier?
• Can your supplier offer key materials during your design process to make mailing easier and better?

USPS certification Just this year, key changes in tabbing (wafer seals that hold mail closed) and Intelligent Bar Coding have impacted what is required to prepare mail properly. Without this trained guide, you may not realize the maximum postage discount available, or worse, create undeliverable mail. Look for a supplier who has invested in continued training with USPS standards and requirements, like SCG.

List Management means reaching your audience We recently assisted a customer who wanted 5000 targets for her franchise. These people had to meet specific demographic criteria, as well as reside within a 2 mile radius of the store location. Using intelligence and list processing techniques, we delivered these contacts, saving money on list purchases, as well as increasing the ability to reach those people most likely to respond to her offers.

NCOA, etc. Since the USPS handles millions of mail pieces daily, they've instituted requirements that marketers must following when compiling mailing lists. Standards such as NCOA (National Change of Address) and CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) ensure the deliverability of mail, and can impact your postage costs. By working with a supplier who understands this importance you heighten your ability to reach your audience AND stretch your marketing budget.

Other Key materials Indicias, Business Reply Mail templates, and envelope layouts are available through the USPS. A trusted, professional supplier can either secure these on your behalf, or offer you limited use of their materials. Contacting a supplier like SCG can be a great first step to discussing these elements and how to use them successfully.