USPS EDDM: The Dead-Simple Guide to Targeting Local Mailboxes

You know what's wild? The US Postal Service has this incredibly powerful marketing tool that most people have no clue about. I'm talking about Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), and honestly, it's like having a cheat code for local marketing.

Look, I've spent countless hours playing around with this system (probably too many hours, if you ask my wife), and I want to share the easiest way to use it. No fancy jargon, just practical stuff that actually works.

Getting Started: It's Simpler Than You Think

First things first - head over to eddm.usps.com. That's it. No complicated sign-up process, no hoops to jump through. Just pop that into your browser and you're ready to roll.

When you land on the page, you'll see four main parts:

• A search bar (pretty self-explanatory)
• Statistics (this is where the good stuff is)
• The map (where you'll spend most of your time)
• Order summary (keeping track of your selections)

Finding Your Target Area (The Fun Part)

Here's where it gets interesting. Type in a zip code or city name - let's say you're targeting Portsmouth, NH (03801). The map lights up with these pink lines that show you actual mail routes. Pretty cool, right?

Now, hover over those pink lines and - this is my favorite part - you'll see all sorts of juicy details about that route:

• Number of homes and businesses
• Age breakdowns of residents
• Average household income
• Total number of doors

A Quick Money-Saving Tip

Here's something I learned the hard way: You want to get as close to 5,000 pieces as possible. Why? Because if you're working with a service like The 9x12 Method (they're the folks who made the video I'm basing this on), that's their standard print run. Going over means paying extra postage for no reason - and nobody likes throwing money away, right?

The "Secret Sauce" of Route Selection

You might be tempted to only target high-income areas. I get it - I thought the same thing at first. But unless you're selling luxury products, here's the thing: everyone's a potential customer. I've found that casting a wider net often works better than being too picky about income levels.

The real trick is finding routes that add up nicely. You can use either the map (which I prefer) or the table view. Just keep selecting and unselecting routes until you get close to that magic 5,000 number.

The Numbers That Really Matter

When you're done picking routes, you'll need to note down some important numbers. They look something like "03801C002" - these are the actual route codes the post office uses. Keep these handy - you'll need them when placing your order.

And don't stress if you end up a few pieces over 5,000. If you're using an all-inclusive service, they usually cover those small overages. (Like The 9x12 Method mentions - they handle those extra costs in their $4,000 package.)

Final Thoughts (And a Reality Check)

Listen, EDDM isn't some mystical marketing unicorn - it's just a really solid tool that happens to be run by the post office. Who knew the USPS could make something this useful, right?

The best part? You can test this out right now. Just hop on the website and start exploring your local routes. Even if you're not ready to pull the trigger on a campaign, it's fascinating to see the demographic breakdown of different neighborhoods.

Just remember: start small, be strategic about your route selections, and don't overthink the income levels unless you absolutely have to. Sometimes the simplest approach is the best one.