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Questions on mailshots

Fire away

Whether you’re producing your first mailshot campaign or you’ve done this before, you might have some questions. Here you’ll find the answers to frequently asked questions on everything from costs and legal issues to response services and other Royal Mail products.
 
  1. How can Royal Mail help with my mailshot campaign?
    We offer a range of products and services for businesses wishing to market themselves by mail. Whatever the size of your mailing, we have tailor-made solutions to help you send it out, and a range of response services that will make it easier for your customers to respond. We also have specific services for distributing magazines, fulfilment and lightweight ‘teaser’ mailings. For more about our mailshot products and services, go to Bulk Mail Savings and Mailshots.
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  2. What is the postage cost of sending a mailshot campaign by Royal Mail?
    The cost of our mailshot services depends on the size and scope of your campaign and on the geographical area involved. For the service that suits your campaign, go to Bulk Mail Savings and Mailshots Online.
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  3. What response services are available and how much do they cost?
    Our response services range from formal Business Reply Envelopes to a Freepost Name that you can write on any envelope or card. Which service you should choose depends on the aims of your campaign and the nature of your market. You can find out more at Response and Fulfilment or call us on 08457 950 950 for a copy of our brochure 'People Respond to Response Services'.
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  4. How do response services work?
    Your chosen response mechanism, such as a pre-addressed envelope or card, is sent out with your mailshot – it’s included as part of your mailing. This provides an easy and convenient way for your customers to respond to your offer - free of charge. You can choose to have the response delivered to you by First Class or Second Class mail. You can find out more at Response and Fulfilment or call us on 08457 950 950 for a copy of our brochure 'People Respond to Response Services'.
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  5. How can I set up a Freepost address?
    Visit our Freepost section or call us on 08457 950 950.
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  6. Can I send mailshots overseas?
    Yes. Royal Mail has a number of services for international mailshot campaigns. To find out more, visit Saving on Overseas Bulk Mail.
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  7. Can Royal Mail provide me with mailing lists?
    No, but we can give you advice on how and where to obtain lists. Go to our Mailshots section.
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  8. Can Royal Mail provide me with postcode maps and names and addresses of individuals and businesses within a postcode region?

    No, we do not provide postcode maps or prospect details. But there is a Licensed Resellers programme to which specialist companies belong, using Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF) as a basis for offering services of this kind.

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  9. How does Royal Mail's Door to Door service work?
    Unlike mailshot campaigns, door to door campaigns are unaddressed mail or door drops. You can find out which type of mailing best suits your campaign by visiting Mailshots or Door Drops. For more specific information on how we can help you run your door drop campaign, see Royal Mail Door to Door.
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  10. What other information on mailshots can Royal Mail provide?
    As the UK’s leading mailshot supplier, we can give help and advice on using mailshots to both new and experienced users. Our How to use mailshotssection will guide you through every stage of planning, developing and despatching a mailshot or door to door campaign. 
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  11. Where can I find the correct postcodes for a designated area?
    If you are looking for the correct postcodes for a small number of properties, you can use Postcode Finder. If you are after postcodes for a whole area or a number of areas, see our Address Products for specialist products and services.
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  12. Where can I find information about the area defined by a specific postcode?
    A number of Royal Mail's Licensed Resellers combine geodemographic information with either the Postcode Address File (PAF) or the National Change of Address (NCOA) to provide profiled data.
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  13. Where can I find general information about mailshots in the UK?
    This website contains detailed guidelines for preparing and executing a mailshot campaign. The What is a mailshot? section gives a general introduction and overview of mailshots and how they can make a real impact on potential and existing customers. Why mailshots work takes a closer look at the advantages of mailshots, showing the difference they can make in the minds and purses of your customers. How to use mailshots shows each step of the process for a successful mail campaign, from planning and creating it to evaluating its success afterwards.
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  14. How can I target the right customers?
    Targeting is a complex process, but when done properly it produces substantial rewards. For information, go to How to target mailshot campaigns and How to target door drops.
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  15. How do I set about producing an international mailshot campaign?
    Your starting points should be our International section, where you can find out about international mailing, and our International Response Services.
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  16. I don't have much experience of running a mailshot campaign. What are the basics?
    You will find a helpful step-by-step guide in our How to use mailshots section, which will take you through every stage of planning, developing and despatching a mailshot or door drop campaign.
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  17. Are there any VAT implications for mailshots?
    You will have to pay VAT in the normal way to mailshot suppliers such as graphic designers, printers and mailing houses. At present, there is no VAT on Royal Mail postage charges for domestic or international mailings.
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  18. Are there any legal issues to consider with mailshots?
    Mail marketing is governed by legislations about advertising and data protection. If you are planning a mailshot campaign, you need to be aware of these regulations. To find out more, see our Legal section.
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  19. How much does it cost to create and run a mailshot campaign?

    That depends on several things: the nature of your mailing, how many people you are trying to reach and whether you plan to do the work yourself or use specialist suppliers. Look at Mailshots Online for a simple, cost-effective answer to mailshot campaigns, and Royal Mail Door to Door for our nationwide door drop distribution service.

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