When you launch an Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) campaign, it might feel like your postcard simply disappears into the void and—hopefully—ends up in someone’s mailbox.
But the truth is, there’s a carefully coordinated process behind the scenes that ensures your mailer gets into the right hands, on the right day.
Let’s take a look at what actually happens from the moment you click “send” to the moment your postcard is delivered to a local homeowner’s mailbox.
🖥️ Step 1: You Build and Launch Your Campaign
It all starts with you:
- You choose your routes using a mapping tool like Mapfire
- You upload or design your postcard
- You choose your drop date and checkout
Once complete, your campaign goes into production—automatically routed to the next stage.
🖨️ Step 2: Professional Printing Begins
Your postcard file is sent to a high-quality commercial print facility where:
- It’s printed on USPS-approved paper stock
- Trimmed and cut to size (based on your selection)
- Quality-checked to ensure your brand looks great in every mailbox
Pro tip: Taradel includes free design checks to ensure compliance and best practices before print.
📦 Step 3: Bundling & Sorting for USPS Delivery
Next, your postcards are:
- Bundled by carrier route (usually in sets of 50 or 100)
- Labeled with facing slips for each postal route
- Organized into trays or boxes for each USPS distribution center
Everything must follow strict USPS EDDM® Retail guidelines, including:
- Bundle count
- Route labeling
- Drop-off paperwork
This step is what ensures your postcard doesn’t end up in the wrong neighborhood.
🚚 Step 4: Transport to the Local USPS Distribution Center
Once bundled, your postcards are shipped to the appropriate local USPS Entry Point—typically the Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) nearest to your selected mailing routes.
This is where your mailer officially enters the USPS mail stream.
From here, it’s handed off to the mail carriers responsible for delivering to each route.
📬 Step 5: Your Postcard Gets Delivered—Mailbox by Mailbox
USPS carriers take the bundled postcards with them on their daily routes.
Since EDDM delivers to every address on a route, there’s no need for names or individual addresses. It goes to:
- Every home
- Every apartment
- Every business (if selected)
It’s efficient, reliable, and surprisingly personal—especially when your design is eye-catching and relevant.
Final Thoughts
What may seem like “just a postcard” is actually the result of professional printing, precise route targeting, and local delivery coordination.
Understanding the journey from click to mailbox builds trust—not just in the process, but in the results.
With EDDM, you’re not just sending mail—you’re launching a campaign backed by logistics, strategy, and human effort.
Want stress-free EDDM that shows up in every homeowner’s mailbox looking flawless? Trust Taradel to deliver.
