The Benefits of the USPS 2020 Tactile, Sensory, & Interactive Mail Promotion

Do you want to create awesome direct mail pieces that stand out and get results? Well now you can do that, and save 2% on your postage! This USPS promotion runs from Feb. 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020, and all eligible pieces can claim the discount. The purpose of this promotion is to encourage sensory engagement with physical mail pieces, and it's my favorite promotion the USPS is running this year. Why? Because only direct mail can provide a tactile experience — no other marketing channel can do this.

There are three featured categories in this promotion:

Specialty Inks

Qualifying inks may include but are not limited to:

• Conductive inks: Inks with a circuit that can be used to activate an electronic device. Users press a “button” to activate lights, sound chips, or other electronic sensors and components.
• Leuco Dyes/Thermochromics: Heat sensitive dyes or inks change color in variation in temperature.
• Photochromic: Changes color with UV light exposure.
• Optically Variable Ink: Contains metallic materials that change appearance when viewed from different angles.
• Piezochromic: Change appearance under pressure.
• Hydro chromic: Change appearance when exposed to water or liquids.

Each of these inks are very unique and interactive. They can make your mail piece fun for your customers and prospects.

Specialty Paper

The specialty paper must have one or more treatments such as scent, sound, taste, visual and/or textural. They must be connected to the marketing message on the piece.

• Scent: Paper infused with scent such as catnip, fresh bread, or bubble gum, and grass.
• Sound: Paper that incorporates sound chip or speakers.
• Taste: Paper that incorporates edible components.
• Visual: Paper that incorporates special effects such as filters, holographic, or lenticular.
• Textural: Paper that incorporates textural treatments. Paper surfaces may be coated, or made of unique materials or incorporate techniques such as embossing or other surface treatments like sandpaper or soft touch.

I don’t think that using taste on a self-mailer is a good idea, but if you have a message that is best conveyed with taste you can enclose the piece in an envelope to keep it clean. On the other hand, I really love soft touch, I can’t help but to keep petting the mail piece. There are so many coating you can use for a wide range of different experiences.

Interactive Elements

The mail piece must include an experience that engages the recipient and adds dynamic effects in order to benefit from the promotion. Some examples are:

• Infinite Folds: These fun folds provide a message at each turn of the fold and are usually folded through at least twice as they drive curiosity. Check out an example.
• 3-Dimensional: These can be really unique and drive interest. As they are not flat pieces of paper but all kinds of things in boxes or tubes. Check out some examples.
• Pop-ups: These mailers are fun and a little scary. They deliver flat and when you open them the pop up into a form. Check some out examples.

My two favorites from this group are the infinite folds and pop-ups. There are so many ways you can create interactive mail pieces.

You are only able to claim this discount for presorted standard and nonprofit letters and flats First class, presorted first class, bound printed matter, periodicals, and media mail do not qualify. All mail pieces must be submitted via USPS mail to the TSI Promotion Office for review and approval no later than one week prior to the mailing date. You can get all the requirements here.

Are you ready to get started?