aka: A QUICK LOOK AT POSTAL REGULATIONS
Knowing the correct weights, paper and size restrictions, and formatting for anyone working with mailed items. The ability to correctly design a mailed piece, cuts down on embarrassing problems that cost clients money. No one wants to add another stamp, or have the letters not go though the routing machines.
THE ANATOMY OF BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
- NO STAMP REQUIRED: Postage has been paid by the company already.
- HORIZONTAL BARS: must be 1/16” to 3/16” thick and evenly spaced. The bars must be at least 1” long and 1” wide.
- FIM: (Facing Identification Marks) there are two types, penalty mail which is mail sent by U.S. government agencies, and Franked mail and indicates that the postage for the mail has been paid. Get them at the US Postal Service website.
- BUSINESS REPLY MARK: “BUSINESS REPLY MAIL” must always be shown in all caps and appear above the address. Included in this area below is the permit number, issuing post office, and the addressee of whoever is paying the postage.
- DELIVERY ADDRESS: address that the card will be mailed to.
- BAR CODE: This represents the ZIP code information to allow for fast scanning. Each 5 lines represents a different number.
THE ANATOMY OF A BUSINESS LETTER
(image & information from international Paper’s Knowledge center )
- Return address
- Address window
- OCR read area
- Bar code clear zone
SOME RESOURCES
