Out With the Old and Ineffective and In with the New Digital Mail Platform

You write a letter, toss it in an envelope, throw some postage on it and lastly slip it into the mailbox. Then what happens? Well, chances are you forget about it and get back to your busy life. Have you ever really stopped and thought about what happens to the mail when you are done with it?

The Inefficient

Clearly, it ends up in the hands of the mailman and, at the end of his route, the post office. After that, it’s sorted and eventually placed in the hands of a mailroom clerk.

Now, way back, everything was done in the mailroom was done by one of these mail clerks. But now, with all of our technological advances, the mailroom has become far more efficient as the sorting is done quicker and more accurately by a sorting machine than a human being.

The Rarely Used

Now, you are probably thinking they have sorting machines and other technologies to make the mailing process quicker, so that means they use them right? Unfortunately, no, that is not always the case. While many businesses and even the USPS have access to these advancements and some may even use them, not all of them do. There are many reasons for this.

It could be the funding, or it could just be that not everyone accepts change as easy as others. Whatever the reason, it doesn't change the undeniable fact that those types of mailrooms are just plain old. They aren't as fast, and human error can really create havoc when it comes to ensuring flawless delivery.

What can happen is that you may find that your bill is late or that birthday card arrives a few days late. While these are just minor and unwanted inconveniences, they are still something that doesn’t happen. And, when you are a business and this happens, it can mean higher expenses, lost revenue, and a tarnished reputation.

The Solution

What to do? Well, if you are really looking for a change, it would definitely be a good idea to look for someone else to handle your mail, whether you run a business – big or small – or just want to have your personal mail handled with skill and efficiency.

We, at Advanced Mailing Services of Albuquerque, are the choice for you. When it comes to mail services, we can proudly say that we are the best. Offering a variety of mailing services, including electronic mailing and a digital mail platform, you can be assured that our partnership will make inefficient mail services a thing of the past.   

Don't Settle for Less when it Comes to Your Critical Mailing Services

We are the best Albuquerque has to offer in terms of mail service. Having been a revolutionary force within the mailing services industry in New Mexico since 1992, Advanced Mailing Services uses the best technology in the industry, promises on-time delivery, and only provides the very best in customer service. It's no wonder why we are Albuquerque's best mail servicing firm.

Our goal at Advanced Mailing Services is to be your only choice when it comes to having a full-service mailer partner.  Our company proudly serves on the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber. Also on our brag list is that we are a Diamond Member of Keep it Querque. Our roots run deep when it comes to servicing Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other cities within New Mexico.

An Array of Premium Mailing Services

·         Direct Mail Services: Advanced Mailing Services is Albuquerque's prime Direct Mail Services provider, which means we can handle all of your advertising and/or bulk mailing needs! We will even prepare your first class, standard, and periodical USPS mail for you. Do you send out a lot of mail? Made a mistake? Not a problem because we offer a free address correction for your USPS mailings as well as Onecode Confirm: Destination and Origin. Various other services are also offered that will make your direct mail needs a snap.

·         First-Class Mail Presorting: You can save money! That's right! Advanced Mailing Services is here to help you and your business save like never before. This ingenious process is actually pretty simple. The presorting part works effectively to decrease the amount of postage needed for mailing and that saves you money! Call today for a quote on our First-Class Mail presorting. You can reach us at 505-899-3104.

·         Mail Room Facilities Management: At Advanced Mailing Services, we operate on the mantra of 'save, save, save' and that is exactly what we intend to do for you! Our Facilities Management solution helps us assist you with controlling those overhead costs related to the cost of employees, leases, and machines typically involved in the mailing process if you were to handle it all in-house. Instead, having us as a partner means that you just sit back and relax. We can handle the rest for you and, most importantly, help you to significantly reduce the cost of outbound mailings.

Choose Us…

…and you won't be disappointed! With our top-quality service and the professional and high-touch standard of our staff, it is easy to see why we are the best and Albuquerque's number one choice for all your mailing needs.

Check out our website (http://www.advmailsvc.com/) for more information, or you can give us a call and speak with one of our friendly customer service representatives for more information today! We look forward to assisting you!

The Cure for Mailing Headaches: The Advantages of Comingling

Small businesses with big mailing lists often complain that a huge part of their overhead is spent on the cost of mailing. Even with bulk rates, it is a huge financial pinch to get those monthly newsletters, advertising flyers, and other pieces of mail to customers and potential customers without breaking the bank.

Maybe it is time to consider using a mailing service that can offer the kind of services that your business needs. Just because you have a small business does not mean that you cannot benefit from using a service like Advanced Mailing Services. In fact, there is a service called comingling that can make at least some of those headaches disappear.

Businesses in Albuquerque want to spend their money wisely and keep their overhead to a minimum. Getting their message out to customers can be a costly investment with postal rates that look as if they are going to go up again.

So, how can savvy business people in New Mexico get the most from their mail business dollars? That’s simple. Let Advanced Mailing Services comingle your mail with other businesses locally so that you can get the best rates possible.

What Exactly Is Comingling?

Comingling means merging many groups of mail into a single mail stream that is then processed. All clients whose mail is handled this way enjoy substantial discounts when certain levels are met. For example: The U.S. Postal Service requires at least 150 pieces of mail with the same zip code before granting the discount. When savvy businesses band together to comingle their mailings, that number is much more likely to be reached and the discount granted.

If you have very large mailings, the cost of comingling may outweigh the savings, but when your business is smaller, the savings will definitely be worth the investment. When you comingle and combine it with drop shipping, your savings increase even more.

Our website has a complete list of the advantages to comingling your mail. As New Mexico’s only authorized USPS full service mailing facility, we can get the job done and save you money doing it.

An Experienced Partner

Advanced Mailing Services has been in Albuquerque and around New Mexico for that past 20 years and we are specialists when it comes to all types of mailing services, including the trend toward digital mail.

Utilizing the latest technology and offering  the latest digital mailing service, including serving as a Volly reseller, we can get your mail delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

Is Digital Mail the Next Big Thing?

If you use email, you already know how easy it is to send a message to one of your friends. But, here are some other things to think about:

·         Do you pay your bills online?

·         Do your business connections bill you via digital mail?

The future is now when it comes to digital mail, but not everyone has a computer or is computer savvy.

What will it mean for those who still don’t spend time online? If you have a business to run, you want to know that you have the most efficient and effective way to keep you in touch with your customer base. Whether you are contacting your customers with promotional materials or sending out a bill, using digital services is something you should consider.

Don’t Be Afraid

Using digital media for everything from advertising to billing is certainly the wave of the future, but there are still a lot of business owners who are reluctant to give up the paper trail. There are some common concerns that may sound familiar to you:

·         What if my computer breaks down?

·         What if I lose all my records?

·         How will I be able to search the records to find the information I need on one of my customers?

The truth is that digital records are just as safe and secure as paper records if you make use of available services.

What the Heck is the Cloud?

You have probably been hearing a lot lately about the “Cloud” or about “Cloud computing.” The cloud is not really a mystery. At its most simple, the cloud is a group of resources and applications that are available on the internet from an internet connected device. When you use the cloud, you are allowing a service at a distance with the ability to store huge amounts of data and make them available to you whenever you need them.

It’s at the heart of the digital mail platform and provides an incredibly powerful way to share and access information no matter where you are – at home, at the office, or even on the road – so you can keep the workflow going.

Will Advanced Mailing Services Save Me Money?

Yes! Advance Mailing Services utilizes a form of cloud computing that lets you and your customers access necessary records and information from any computer, iPhone, iPad, Android or other tablet devices.

By using Advanced Mailing Services for your digital mail needs, you can eliminate the paperwork and lower your overall monthly expenses. It also means that you will be able to deliver necessary business communications to your customers whenever you need to. And, you can connect with your customers in ways that you may not have thought of whenever you want.

Yes, Digital Mail is definitely the next big thing – and Advanced Mailing Services will make it a lot easier for you to join in on this trend.

Helping Businesses with Migration to Digital Mail Opportunities

 Advanced Mailing Services is ramping up its Volly services as an authorized New Mexico Volly reseller, Albuquerque Volly reseller, Rio Rancho Volly reseller and Santa Fe Volly reseller. The AMS Volly reseller services is part of the Pitney Bowes Volly program, which is helping to evolve businesses to a digital mailbox for all their needs and offering multi-platform access that makes it easy to use through a computer, iPad, or smartphones like Android and the iPhone.

Understanding What Volly Does

Launched by Pitney Bowes in 2011, the Volly service offers a secure channel for approved businesses to contact customers digitally to avoid the costs of traditional direct mail while also ensuring that the online messaging is not viewed as spam. This is critical, considering the rapid evolution of mail service and the ongoing changes with traditional mail delivery and the associated costs.

For businesses like yours, you will be able to rely on one, efficient, and effective mailstream to serve your customers by offering them different channels for receiving information whether that is sales and marketing information, payment information, or product and service information. And, it certainly does not mean giving up the traditional channels through which you reached out to customers – if anything, you actually can integrate multiple channels for greater coverage and engagement without incrementally expending your entire budget.

The Volly platform handles print and mail production, serving as a conduit to help businesses and consumers take care of all their needs whether it involves bills and statements or it offers a way to connect through coupons, catalogues, direct mail and valuable content. It also enhances the experience by allowing businesses to understand their customers’ preferences in terms of what content and what channel they want to receive it while also being able to provide alerts to inform customers of new information that they need.

Benefits of Using the AMS Volly Service

The key benefits of the AMS Volly service include:

• Eliminate paper mail and related paper processes, including invoices, statements, coupons and discounts, and promotional materials.
• Lower overall monthly expenses.
• Connect with customers in new ways that are more likely to reach and resonate with them. 
• Offer a convenient digital platform that can be used and accessed when they need it. 

• Ensure that critical business communication reaches client through a secure digital platform.

An Authorized New Mexico Volly Reseller

To spread the service, Pitney Bowes has been carefully selecting mail service firms across the United States to form authorized reseller relationships, one of which is Advanced Mailing Services in New Mexico. The Volly service will launch to consumers during the second half of 2012, helping to encourage the migration to electronic billing, statement, and payment services and away from paper-based services.  To learn more about this cutting-edge service, please contact Advanced Mailing Service at 505-899-3104 for more information.

The United States Postal Service’s New Business Plan Model

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is at a crossroads. It currently owes the United States Treasury $12.9 billion and projects to lose $18.2 billion annually by 2015 if legislative action and reform does not take place.

In light of this financial crisis, the USPS has developed an aggressive five-year plan to achieve financial solvency and continue operating. The measures proposed are ambitious, but if implemented, the USPS believes they can come out a leaner and meaner business which serves the American people in a cost-efficient manner.

What This Five-Year Business Model Means to You

The Postal Service’s five-year plan revolves around a number of steps to achieve their goals. They have proposed the following changes to achieve financial solvency:

Cost Reductions: A reduction of annual operating costs of $20 billion by 2015 is planned with an increase to over $22 billion by 2016. A plan has been introduced to eliminate one day of mail service (Saturday) and move to a five-day delivery schedule. This will realize an annual savings of $2.7 billion.

Projected Lost Revenue: Current projected loses of First-Class Mail volume have shown a 25 percent reduction since 2006. If this trend continues, consumers should expect to see the cost of first-class stamps rise. The notion of a first-class stamp costing $.50 is well within the limits of possibilities. The issue here is that legislative action is needed to implement these changes.

Health Care Costs: A plan has been developed which addresses the spiraling costs of health care. A retooling of the way the USPS manages their healthcare costs are being explored. One model has the Postal Service providing their employees with health care benefits separate from any federal programs. A cost saving of $7.1 billion annually is projected from this move.

Business and Consumer Impact: Having one less day for mail to arrive and facing increasing stamp costs means rethinking how you use the mail system. You will have to think more carefully about your direct mail campaign costs in terms of targeting and also utilizing more email-related and digital campaigns – all tools that Advanced Mailing Services can provide you.

Action is Needed Now by Congress

Without comprehensive action by Congress, the United States Postal Service will face an almost insurmountable debt load. If legislative action is taken quickly and the above mentioned issues are addressed, the Postal Service believes they can be solvent and become profitable into the future and will not need the assistance of taxpayer money.    

The Road from Here

As the United States Postal Service navigates and implements changes to improve their bottom-line, consumers will increasingly see significant changes to the Postal Service. The rising cost of stamps is inevitable. The use of the Internet and other electronic sources has cut sharply into the USPS revenue. As you embrace these changes and challenges at the Post Office, Advanced Mailing Services is here to help. We are Albuquerque’s most trusted mailing services provider.

In addition, we are New Mexico’s only USPS certified full-service IMB mailer. Put your trust in us and let us assist you in navigating these changes. Stop by our office at 2701 Girard Boulevard NE in Albuquerque or call us at 505.899.3104 and get the answers to all of your questions.       

The Right Solution at the Right Time

Our goal at Advanced Mailing Services is to provide the best set of services to assist our customers with their business goals and objectives. We search long and hard to equip our customers with the tools which will increase their revenue and slash their overall cost of doing business.

We are also focused on staying abreast of the industry’s changes to ensure our customers stay informed of relevant information. This is important because it helps our customers ensure that they are making the best decisions possible when it comes to their mailing needs.

Up and Coming Changes From the USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced plans to implement a five-year plan to increase profitability. They will focus on strategic goals and structural improvements to reestablish their financial health and implement plans for long-term solvency.

The Post Office has partnered with Evercore Parnters, Inc. to analyze their plan model based on revenue projections from The Boston Consulting Group and prior analysis’s from McKinsey & Company. Their cost analysis and business plan has bolstered the Post Office’s confidence that they can steer into financial viability. At the heart of the Post Office’s plan is a $20 billion reduction in annual costs within three years and with this number rising to $22 billion by 2016.

The plan includes a change to a five-day mail delivery with additional terms that will require legislative reform in order for them to be enacted. Additional information on the United States Postal Service five-year business plan can be found on their website.

A Great Summer Discount Program

However, this is not the only changes under way at the USPS. Throughout the summer, the USPS will give a 2% discount on mail that supports the mobile barcode. This service sends the consumer to an e-commerce or personalized websites. This powerful tool and attractive discount can spur revenue and add growth throughout the summer months for customers who take advantage of this program.

To qualify, customers will have to use the Commercial First-Class Mail® and Standard Mail® that use an Intelligent Mail barcode®. The promotion runs throughout July and August, and we encourage our customers to use this service to their advantage. For additional information and eligibility on the Summer Mobile Barcode Promotion, click here.

And, last, but certainly not least, the Post Office has announced that POSTNET™ will no longer receive automation rates beginning January 2013. Under the new structure, automation rates will be for mail with Full Service, beginning January 2014. We are proud to say that we are the only USPS certified mailing service in New Mexico for Full Service.

So Many Changes   

With all the exciting changes and new programs, let Advanced Mailing Services guide you through. Give us a call at 505.899.3104 and we will be happy to answer any questions you have about the changes with mailing and shipping under the new USPS business plan and service framework.

The Changing Face of Social Media: Understanding the Legal and Regulatory Risks

The evolution of social media has presented challenges that must be addressed to ensure businesses are fully protected against legal and regulatory issues. The value of social media mediums, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, cannot be dismissed. They can assist businesses in engaging and informing their target audience.

Social media can also increase your revenue and target specific clients to increase market share and influence consumers. Businesses engaged in direct mailers and other closely related areas should pay particular attention to the complex issues we are now confronting. Savvy businesses have a game plan to address these issues before they become a problem.

Consider the following legal and compliance risks you may face in the world of social media and how you can avoid being swept up into an unexpected legal issue or regulatory fine:

Review legal issues: New case law is being introduced daily which deals with e-discovery. These include email, files, and other electronically stored information (ESI) which can be used against a business in legal proceedings. As case law evolves there can be instances where social media communications and interactions can be used in court cases involving copyright laws, trade libel, and other corporate litigations. Mailers who engage in social media should be aware of the legal ramifications using social media and prepare a course of action to preserve social media communications in the event of litigation.

Be aware of regulatory rules and regulations: Mailers who engage within the financial world should be aware of the recent statements by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). They publicly stated that social media was becoming a relevant issue within their examinations and cautioned against ignoring social media’s increasing high profile. Regulators are moving toward developing social media compliance for the financial industry. Savvy business owners will address social media issues head-on and confront them before any problems arise. FINRA has the power to levy stiff fines against businesses who engage in practices they deem inappropriate as in the case of a California-based broker who was fined and suspended for tweeting what was deemed “misrepresentative and unbalanced” information.  

Develop a broad-based social media plan: The legal and regulatory risks of social media cannot be overlooked. Take the time to organize a comprehensive social media policy which addresses corporate liabilities and regulatory risks, employee conduct within social media as well as public conduct within your social media sites.   

Reflect on your long-term company objectives: Mailers should determine their social media policies and view their long-term goals and objectives to ensure compliance and long-term storage of communications. Focus should be placed on implementing social media policy and understanding the ever-evolving world of social media to ensure your company is well-protected in the event of corporate litigation or regulatory oversight. 

Maximize Your Profits: How Automated Address Correction Can Generate Huge Savings

We are all in the business to make money and any way we can reduce our capital outlay and maximize our bottom-line will only strengthen our operation and make us more competitive. This is why Advanced Mailing Services is always on the lookout for ways to assist their customers in receiving the best value for their money.

Each dollar a company saves can be used to reinvest in equipment, invest in research and development, or hire additional employees. Continued growth is good for business and we are on the forefront of offering valuable services to our clients to facilitate their potential.

The Little Problems That Cost You Money

Mislabeling and not having an accurate address can prove costly to your business. In today’s ever evolving business climate it is more important than ever to use each and every resource to its full advantage. Having the correct addresses for your targeted customer base can generate substantial sums of revenue and promote the growth of your business.

According to the National Change of Address services (NCOA),  approximately 80% of all mail is undeliverable due to incorrect addresses. This is a substantial figure and any tools you can utilize to increase your address success will provide you with a more competitive edge.

We Have Compliance   

Your best bet for success depends on your ability to reach your target audience. With automated address correction services, you can be guaranteed of reaching your customers. Beginning in May of 2011, the United States Post Service (USPS) began requiring the Intelligent Mail barcode which increased efficiency and speed of delivery. And, this can only mean more money in your pocket. Any avenue that increases your postal compliance, cuts down on return mail, and saves you money on processing is sure to be a winner.

Your secret to savings depends on:

Returned Mail: The expense realized by returned mail drives up your overall business costs because you end up reprinting flyers and catalogs and then resending them.   

Customer Connection: When you lose your ability to engage your target audience, you lose your potential sources of revenue. In addition, you lose the opportunity to engage with your customer in a meaningful way and devalue your own commitment to customer service.

United States Postal Service Compliance: By holding your company to the highest standards to ensure quality, you can increase your ability to receive USPS mailing discounts which can reduce your overall mailing costs.

Strategic Market Analysis: It is imperative that you determine population trends to assurance you are reaching your targeted demographics.

Eliminate Unnecessary Operating Costs: You can increase revenue through the elimination of fees associated with collections and reinstatements, misdirected mailers, and notifications.

Advanced Mailing Services has the Solution

Every problem has a solution and Advanced Mailing Services is ready to assist you in all your mail related needs. Simply call us at 505.899.3104 or visit us on the web at  http://www.advmailsvc.com/ to learn about all of the valuable services we offer.

 

Advanced Mailing Services Embraces Exciting New Territories

Exciting, new changes are afoot at Advanced Mailing Services. We have recently overhauled our website and we are pleased with the outcome – and we are sure you will be too!

Our new website is extremely user-friendly and assists you with better understanding how our services can help. The site also provides you with a one-stop shop for mailing. Our colorful and interactive new website makes navigating our site easier than ever. Come along with us as we take a guided tour through our new website and you can discover what all the fuss is about.

At the Click of Your Mouse  

As you browse our new website, you will see each category is clearly marked so that our clients can quickly locate the service or services they are searching for. Our Web designer, Design-First, has conveniently located our main services across the top for easy access and navigation. As you continue down the left side, you will see additional links for Volly™, our direct mail services, and our first-class mailing services. We have also included a continuous feed on our Twitter account as well as an easy Facebook link. Each link is accessible and gives you the ability to find each service quickly and efficiently.

Tweet, Tweet 

The idea for the continuous feed on Twitter was suggested as a way for our clients to be kept abreast of any new services, specials, or announcements that might otherwise go unnoticed. We have the unique ability to reach our clients via Twitter even if they have not gotten on board the Twitter train. These quick Twits inform our clients of extra savings and additional services available. Sign onto Twitter today and link to our Twitter page to learn about all the ways you can save money on mailing services and more.   

Our Facebook Link

We are excited about embracing social media to interact and engage with our customers while informing them of our services and products. We are committed to providing outstanding levels of customer service, and our Facebook page allows the ability to engage in dialogue about our services with our customers. We have always been responsive to our clients’ needs, and Facebook serves as an additional tool to facilitate communication.   

Where We Go from Here

As we settle into our new website design, we will continue to work with Flyline Search Marketing to investigate and utilize Internet marketing to engage and inform our clients. At Advanced Mailing Services, our clients have always been our top priority, and we look forward to serving you now and into the future.    

Climbing the Ladder of Success with Direct Mail Advertising Automation

Your time and money are important to you and you expect and demand that your advertising dollars return real dividends. This is the only way to succeed in today’s highly competitive business market. You must constantly adjust your strategies and methods to achieve a greater level of success.

Here, at Advanced Mailing Services, we are on the forefront of changing technology and continually look for ways to assist our clients in achieving their goals. This is why we have introduced and campaigned for the use of direct mail automation to support our clients in their specific financial and marketing objectives. Take a few moments to learn of the advantages of direct mail automation.

Direct Mail Automation

Our clients continually ask us to explain direct mail automation. The premise of direct mail automation is mailing addresses are converted into a postal-certified barcode and printed directly on the mail before it is shipped to the post office. When you convert to automation bulk mailings, we use post office approved software to encode your mail. Before your mail leaves our store, it is ready to be shipped and delivered to an address.  

Saving Money the Old-Fashioned Way

Anytime you remove a step from a process, you save money. This is where automation comes in. When we ship mail to the United States Post Office, it has to have its address scanned and converted into a barcode. Then the barcode is either printed directly onto the mail or an address label is created.

With automation these steps are eliminated and the mail gets shipped directly. Thus, the post office reduces the cost of the mailer. These savings are passed directly onto you. Your cost to send bulk direct mail advertising is reduced substantially and these savings can be used to increase your marketing audience or in other areas of advertising if you choose.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Direct mail automation will reduce your overall cost to send out your advertising and increase your response rate. Your goal is to streamline your services and increase your customer response and company revenue. Advanced Mailing Services is here to help. Our direct mail advertising automation will help you coordinate, manage, and process your direct mail campaign.

Our Team is Standing By 

Our experienced staff is ready to assist you with all your mailing needs. Talk to one of our friendly customer service representatives and discover how affordable it is to get started with a direct mail automation platform. Don’t wait to begin increasing your sales units. We can have you up and running shortly.