Planning and design get all the attention, but execution is where EDDM campaigns actually succeed or fall apart. Miss a USPS requirement and your mailers get held up, reprinted, or rejected at the counter.
This guide breaks down the execution process step by step, from preparing your mailers to dropping them off at the post office.
In This Guide:
- Why Execution Matters
- Choose Your Carrier Routes
- Prepare Your Mailers
- Bundle Your Mailers
- Complete the Paperwork
- Pay Postage
- Drop Off at the Post Office
- Monitor Delivery and Results
Why Execution Matters
Even the best-designed postcard won't succeed if you miss USPS requirements. Proper preparation ensures:
- USPS accepts your mailers without delays
- Mail is delivered on time to the right routes
- Your campaign stays within budget and avoids reprints
Step 1: Choose Your Carrier Routes
Use the USPS EDDM Online Tool to select your delivery area.
- Enter your business ZIP code or address
- View available carrier routes, including household counts and cost per route
- Decide whether you want residential, business, or both
Tip: Balance cost and reach. Don't overspend by blanketing areas outside your service radius.
Step 2: Prepare Your Mailers
Your mailers must meet USPS size and format requirements, covered in Part 3.
- Double-check dimensions: must qualify as a flat (height over 6.125 inches or length over 10.5 inches)
- Paper quality: use cardstock for durability
- Indicia space: leave the required area for the EDDM Retail Indicia (printed postage)
If you used a professional printer, confirm they applied the correct indicia and left proper margins.
Step 3: Bundle Your Mailers
USPS requires you to bundle your mailers into stacks before drop-off.
- Bundles should be in stacks of 50 to 100 pieces
- Each bundle needs a Facing Slip (provided by USPS) on top
- Secure with rubber bands or straps. No loose stacks.
Tip: Print facing slips directly from the USPS EDDM tool while selecting routes.
Step 4: Complete the Paperwork
USPS requires a short form before drop-off.
- For EDDM Retail, you'll complete PS Form 3587 (the EDDM Retail Facing Slip)
- Generate it from the EDDM Online tool, which auto-fills your ZIP code, route number, and delivery type
- Add your total mailpieces per bundle, total bundle count, company name, and post office of mailing, and list any do-not-deliver addresses
- Print one and attach it to each bundle before drop-off
Running your first EDDM drop and want help making sure everything is ready? AdvisingIQ has been through the process many times. Contact us if you want a pre-submission checklist review.
Step 5: Pay Postage
You can pay EDDM postage online or at the post office.
- Current postage cost: $0.247 per piece (EDDM Retail rate as of April 2026; verify current pricing at usps.com)
- Payment options: credit/debit card or USPS account
- Ensure your indicia matches the correct "EDDM Retail" format
Step 6: Drop Off at the Post Office
Take your prepared bundles to the local post office that serves the chosen carrier routes.
- Use the "EDDM Retail" line if available
- Provide your forms and payment confirmation
- USPS will process and deliver your mailers, usually within 1 to 3 business days
Step 7: Monitor Delivery and Results
Once your mailers are out, track delivery and monitor your campaign.
- USPS typically delivers within a few days
- Track responses with coupons, codes, or call tracking numbers
- Compare against the goals you set in Part 2
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to bundle properly, which can delay acceptance
- Using the wrong indicia format
- Dropping mailers at a post office that doesn't serve your chosen routes
- Failing to proofread before printing (typos mean costly reprints)
Wrapping Up: USPS Made Simple
Executing your EDDM campaign with USPS may sound intimidating at first, but once you've gone through the process once, it becomes routine. With the right prep, bundling, and paperwork, you'll be ready to launch campaigns quickly and confidently.
Next: EDDM Part 5 covers how to measure ROI from your campaign, including tracking, analytics, and how to optimize your next drop.