A successful local mailing campaign rarely fails because of lack of effort. More often, it fails because the system behind it was fragmented. Design handled in one place, printing in another, mailing rules misunderstood, and bundling done incorrectly at the last minute. That is why understanding the full USPS Every Door Direct Mail template system is critical before you invest a dollar into postcards, routes, or postage.
This guide focuses on the comprehensive workflow, design, print, and mail working together as one connected process. When these elements align, Every Door Direct Mail becomes one of the most reliable and cost effective ways to reach households within specific neighborhoods, without the complexity of purchasing mailing lists or managing individual addresses.
Instead of treating EDDM as a single template or postcard file, we approach it as an integrated system that removes friction at every step.
Step 1: Design (Or Let Us Do It Free)
Design is the foundation of your EDDM campaign, and it is where most businesses either gain momentum or lose it immediately. A USPS compliant Every Door Direct Mail template is not just about dimensions or bleed settings. It is about designing for how people actually interact with physical mail.
Unlike digital ads that are skimmed or scrolled past, a postcard arrives in someone’s hands. That moment is brief, but powerful. Your design must communicate value instantly while guiding the reader toward one clear action.
A strong EDDM design typically includes:
- A bold headline that addresses a local need or offer
- A clear visual hierarchy so the eye knows where to look first
- One primary call to action, not three competing ones
- Proper placement of the indicia and mailing panel to meet USPS rules
While many businesses attempt to design their own postcards, the hidden risk is non compliance. Improper margins, incorrect indicia placement, or unreadable fonts can delay or even reject a mailing. That is why we often recommend starting with a professionally built USPS Every Door Direct Mail template, or letting our team handle the design at no additional cost when you print with us.
Beyond aesthetics, compliant design protects your timeline and your budget.
Step 2: Route Selection & Quantity
Once the design is finalized, the next critical decision is where your postcards will land. Every Door Direct Mail does not rely on names or addresses. Instead, it uses USPS mailing routes, which are predefined delivery paths managed by the postal service.
Selecting the right routes is less about casting the widest net and more about aligning geography with intent. A restaurant promotion may benefit from tight residential routes, while a home service business might focus on neighborhoods with higher home ownership rates.
Using the USPS EDDM online mapping tool, you can:
- View carrier routes by ZIP code
- See household counts per route
- Filter by residential, business, or mixed delivery
- Calculate estimated postage instantly
Your total quantity is determined by the number of delivery points on the selected routes. This is not a number you guess. It must match exactly, because EDDM postage is paid per piece.
At this stage, your USPS Every Door Direct Mail template must already be finalized, because changes to size or format after route selection can affect eligibility and cost.
For official USPS guidance on route selection and eligibility, the postal service maintains a dedicated resource here:
https://www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm
This is the authoritative source we reference to ensure every campaign aligns with current postal requirements.
Bundling Services: We Pack in 100s for You
Printing the postcards is only half the job. How they are prepared for drop off determines whether your campaign moves smoothly through the postal system or stalls at the counter.
USPS requires EDDM mail to be bundled in specific quantities, typically stacks of 50 or 100 pieces, depending on the route and post office. Each bundle must be secured and labeled correctly. This step is often underestimated, but it is one of the most common failure points for first time mailers.
Our bundling services remove that burden entirely. We pack your postcards in bundles of 100, secured properly, and organized by route. This means you are not scrambling with rubber bands, recounting stacks, or guessing which bundle belongs where.
Bundling is not a convenience add on. It is a compliance safeguard.
Why the “Facing Slip” Matters
Every bundle of EDDM postcards requires a USPS facing slip. This slip tells the postal carrier exactly what is inside the bundle and where it belongs. Without it, the bundle may be rejected or delayed.
The facing slip includes:
- The route number
- The number of pieces in the bundle
- The delivery type, residential or business
- The originating ZIP code
When bundling is done incorrectly, facing slips are often missing, mismatched, or handwritten incorrectly. That creates friction at the post office counter and increases the chance of your mailing being sent back.
By handling bundling and facing slips as part of our full service EDDM system, we ensure every bundle arrives ready for acceptance.
Beyond the Template: Paper Quality
While templates and compliance are essential, the physical feel of your postcard plays a major role in how it is perceived. Paper quality influences trust, attention, and brand credibility long before a single word is read.
Thin, flimsy postcards are easy to ignore. Thicker stock communicates value and professionalism instantly.
That is why paper selection should never be an afterthought.
14pt vs 16pt: Feel the Difference
Two of the most common paper options for EDDM postcards are 14pt and 16pt cardstock. On paper, the difference may sound minor. In hand, it is noticeable.
- 14pt cardstock offers durability while remaining cost effective for large campaigns
- 16pt cardstock provides a heavier, more premium feel that stands out in the mail
If your campaign focuses on high value services or brand positioning, the added weight of 16pt can reinforce that message without changing the design at all. For price driven promotions, 14pt often strikes the right balance.
In our experience, response rates are influenced as much by tactile perception as by messaging.
The Gloss Coating Advantage
Beyond thickness, coating adds both protection and visual impact. A gloss coating enhances color vibrancy, improves contrast, and protects the postcard from smudging or moisture during transit.
This matters more than many realize. Mail passes through multiple hands and machines before reaching a mailbox. A coated postcard arrives cleaner, brighter, and more professional.
Gloss coating also improves readability by preventing ink absorption into the paper fibers, keeping text sharp and images crisp.
For most EDDM campaigns, gloss is the preferred finish because it balances durability with visual appeal.
Timelines: From Upload to Mailbox
One of the biggest misconceptions about Every Door Direct Mail is how long it takes. Many businesses assume mail is slow by default. In reality, delays usually come from misaligned expectations between production time and transit time.
Understanding this distinction helps you plan promotions accurately.
Understanding Production vs Transit Time
Production time includes design approval, printing, cutting, coating, bundling, and packaging. Transit time begins once the mail is accepted by the post office.
A typical timeline looks like this:
- Design approval, same day or next business day
- Printing and finishing, 2 to 4 business days
- Bundling and preparation, included in production
- USPS delivery window, 3 to 10 business days depending on location
When these stages are coordinated within a single system, timelines become predictable. When they are handled separately, delays compound quickly.
Our full service EDDM approach is built to eliminate handoffs and uncertainty, so your campaign launches when you expect it to.
Launch Your Campaign Today
Every Door Direct Mail works best when it is treated as a system, not a shortcut. A USPS Every Door Direct Mail template is most effective when paired with professional design, accurate route selection, compliant printing, and proper bundling.
When those elements work together, you gain a repeatable, scalable way to reach local households without the overhead of list management or complex targeting tools.
Whether you are launching your first postcard marketing campaign or refining an existing one, the key is integration. Design that prints cleanly. Print that bundles correctly. Bundles that move smoothly through USPS routes.
That is the system we have built, and it is why businesses continue to rely on EDDM as a core part of their local marketing strategy.
If you are ready to move from idea to mailbox without friction, this is where your campaign begins.
Resources: https://postalpro.usps.com/mailing/every-door-direct-mail