Digital marketing is great, but even so, direct mail remains one of the most powerful, high-ROI solutions for making your marketing go the distance. Sending printed mail pieces can quickly rack up the costs. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution: the annual postal promotions from the U.S. Postal Service.
How Postal Promotions Work
Each year, the USPS offers a few specialty discounts to promote the use of certain types of mail, unique features, or technologies. With one exception in 2026 (more on that in a moment), each promotion has a specific registration period and a window during which qualifying campaigns run. Most of the incentives provide around 5% savings on First Class and/or Marketing Mail that meet the requirements of the promotion.
Even better: Certain discounts also qualify for stacking add-ons for even more savings!
Although the postal promotions are easy to use, brands can’t just start sending mail at a certain time! Participating in a promotion requires campaign registration and submitting details of your planned campaign (including samples!) to ensure it meets all the requirements of the promotion. It takes a little time and effort to get all those materials pulled together and submitted, but an experienced mailing partner like Allied can help you get it done without making extra work for your own team.
Once it’s approved and your campaign is ready to go, you sit back and reap the savings!
2026 Postal Promotions
Here’s a brief overview of the 2026 postal promotions, complete with their requirements and timelines:
- Integrated Technology: Marketing Mail letters and flats; First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats; and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that incorporate technology like enhanced AR, VR/MR, video in print, mobile shopping, AI integration, and others, can qualify for a 5% discount. Mailers can select their own mailing schedule, as long as it runs for six consecutive months during the 2026 calendar year. Registration is open all year.
- Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive: Marketing Mail letters and flats and First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats that use enhanced techniques (specialty inks, sensory treatments, interactive elements, and more) can qualify for a 5% discount between January 1 and June 30. Registration begins October 15, 2025.
- Continuous Contact: Marketing Mail and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that contain targeted follow-up content after an initial mailer are eligible for a 5% discount between April 1 and December 31. Registration begins February 15, 2026.
- Catalog Insights: Marketing Mail catalogs of at least 12 pages that meet all criteria for the “catalog” category are eligible for a 10% discount between October 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Registration began August 15, 2025.
- First-Class Mail Advertising: First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats featuring advertisements or marketing messages can qualify for a 5% discount between September 1 and December 31. Registration begins July 15, 2026.
For the second year in a row, in addition to these five promotions, the USPS is offering two “add-ons” that can be combined with the primary promotions for an additional discount. Mailers may add one or both add-ons to a single campaign, provided that all the requirements of the primary promotion and the add-on(s) are fully met and documented. Registration must be submitted at the same time as the primary promotion.
- Informed Delivery: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for using the USPS Informed Delivery omni-channel feature. Use of the eDoc Postage Statement Submitter tool earns an additional 0.5% incentive.
- Sustainability: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for demonstrating the paper used in the mailings is responsibly sourced and sustainability produced by exhibiting an eligible certification.
Why spend more than you absolutely must? The 2026 Postal Promotions can add up to major savings, and Allied is here to help all year long! Talk to us before planning your next direct mail campaign to learn how we can help you navigate the specifics, trim down costs, and increase your ROI.