Letter Mailers. Direct Mailers. Postcards.
Most of the mail we receive in our mailboxes every day falls under this category: letters and postcards. First class presorted rates divide postcards and letters into two pricing categories, while standard mail combines them into one pricing category.
This can be confusing for those who have not worked within the mail industry. All of these qualify as letter mailers for standard mail: folded 8.5"x5.5" tabbed newsletter, a 2.5 oz letter consisting of a return envelope, two letters, insert, and #10 envelope; a 4.25"x5.5" postcard, a 6"x9" postcard, a 8.5"x5.5" small stapled catalog, tabbed, under 3.5 oz. You can see why it's confusing. That is why PSS Mailing Solutions is a great company to handle your questions. We understand the postal system to make sure your mail pieces qualify by size, weight, and all the other regulations of the USPS.
Whether you are sending a letter to a customer reminding them of an upcoming change; a newsletter to those in your organization so they know the monthly events; or a year-end appeal postcard by a non-profit to gather more donations, the majority of our mail comes to us as a letter or postcard. We can provide all of these and so much more to meet our clients' needs and that includes postage rates such as presorted non-profit, presorted marketing or standard, and presorted first class mail.
Letter Mailers
Many companies and businesses send out letters to their current customers to thank for business or to share upcoming events. They may also need to inform employees of changes to a 401K policy, tax information, wellness incentives, etc. These can all be easily done via mail.
Direct Mailers
Direct mailers are usually initiatives taken by companies or businesses to get more business in the door, a product reveal, or coupons in the hands of customers. Politicians or city governments often use direct mailers to sway or inform their constituents of upcoming changes or election information. Direct mailers can be letters or postcards, but are also called 'junk mail' in common terms.
Postcards
Sizing of postcards can range from 4.25"x5.5" to 6"x11" in the letter category. They typically serve the same purpose of letter or direct mailers, but since information is all included on the outside of the mailer, no private information about the recipient can be included such as voting record, employee number, etc. Postcards are also a major cost saver as it takes less materials to mail these out since only one sheet of paper.
Start a Conversation
If you're not sure where to start, the simplest thing to do is contact us! We provide knowledge and expertise in the field. There are many questions to ask and be answered when it comes to mailing out letters, postcards, or direct mail. If you need answers, we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a mail list to start on mailers?
No. We have the ability to make mail lists for you in order to mail to the customers or clients you want. This may mean sending out EDDM or purchasing a mail list in order to find the clients you specifically want. Check out our mail lists page for more information.
How do I decide between a postcard and a letter?
It depends on two major things: what information do you want to get to the recipients and what is your budget? Depending on your answer to these questions, we can make major decisions on which route to take. After this, it's a more refined process with more questions to follow of course.
Does mail even work?
Yes! Absolutely! But with everything, there are certain strategies and ways to do things. Digital marketing has its place, but physical mail marketing is great too. According to a WorldMetrics report from 2026, direct mail has a 20% higher engagement rate than email. We are experts in the field, so we know what works and what doesn't when it comes to direct mail. Need more statistics? Here's the link to the report.
Do you design and print my materials?
We absolutely would love to do that. We have graphic designers and print specialists in-house. Of course, if you already have a print house or have designs ready to go, we work with you on this as well.