Envelope Size Chart Quick Guide

It’s easy to get confused when selecting the correct envelope sizes for invitations, business letters or Direct Mail pieces… A2, A4, A7, #10, #9, #10 Window…

So we decided to build this common envelope size chart with the goal of providing a sort of cheat-sheet or quick reference for envelopes for our customers and anyone who can use it.

If you find it useful or know someone who could use it, please share it!

 Need Envelopes Printed? Get A Quote Now! 

 

You can also download a High Resolution Print Ready Version of the Envelope Size Chart Quick Guide [PDF].

or view the large version on your browser [JPG]

 

Envelope Size Chart Quick Guide Cheat Sheet

 

This envelope size chart is provided as a quick reference when selecting the proper envelope size for your projects. If you have questions or are in need of an envelope size not listed in the envelope size chart, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us right away!

 

 

Saving Money on Direct Mail with QR Codes

Although QR codes are quickly being adopted by major companies and industries, adoption is moving slowly throughout the small business sector.

In an effort to promote Direct Mail and create awareness of the benefits of using QR codes in Direct Mail, the United States Postal Service is offering a special postage discount during the months of July and August 2011:

Direct Mail marketers and mail houses can save 3% on their First Class Presort Mail and Standard Presort Mail postage simply by including a QR Code that must be easily visible on the outside of the mail piece. Simple as that.

 

Although the savings can be substantial, it is important to keep in mind that if your Direct Mail campaign is not thought out thoroughly and optimized for success, then all of your efforts and cost of printing and postage will go to waste.
On the bright side, you can always learn from your mistakes.

Direct Mail is about trial and error and consistency; improvement and repetition. I don’t think any one Direct Mail campaign can be the one or the best one for that matter.

 

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If you are thinking of taking advantage of the 3% postage discount and this would be your first QR Code Direct Mail campaign, the following paragraphs will help you begin with an advantage.

Incorrect Use of QR Code QR Code Malpractice

Creating and Reading QR Codes is easy and FREE! But the biggest issue lies with what happens after the QR Code is scanned.

Obviously (or maybe not obvious enough), a QR Code is scanned with a smart phone which typically has a screen size between 2 to 4 inches. This being the case, wouldn’t you expect to be taken to a mobile-friendly website that is compatible with your smart phone’s screen size?
Well, believe it or not, this is a very common mistake made by marketers that makes the whole Direct Mail/QR Code campaign a complete failure.

Let’s say your Direct Mail piece is a postcard that promotes a new product that you are selling and the customer scans your QR code. The customer lands on a mobile friendly page that contains a great description of the product but does not have a Buy Now! button anywhere on the page. The purpose of your Direct Mail piece is to offer a product that you sell, yet a way to purchase the product is not easily made available. This Direct Mail campaign can pretty much be considered a lost sale opportunity.

QR Code Best PracticesQR Code Best Practices

A complete Direct Mail campaign using QR codes must include a mobile landing page where a call to action is the main focus of the page. Whatever the purpose of your Direct Mail campaign is, it should reflect in your mobile landing page.
If your QR Code directs the user to a video preview, make sure the video is formatted for mobile screens and should start playing right away.  The purpose of a smartphone is accessibility and convenience – No downloads!

 

The following are a few key rules to follow to create a successful Direct Mail QR Code campaign:

  • Use a vector QR Code in your artwork to make sure that it prints clear and works 100% even on low megapixel cameras. I find BeQRious lets you generate vector QR Codes you can download in PDF format easily
  • Test your QR Code on at least 4-5 different QR Code scanning apps and different smart phones before printing the whole run
  • Include information on how to scan the QR Code
  • Your QR Code should direct the user’s mobile phone directly to the landing page
  • Your Landing Page must load quickly, keep images to a minimum
  • Include Call-to-action buttons or links such as “Buy Now!”, “Sign up here!”, or “Call us now!”
  • Keep the focus of the page on the purpose of the campaign and the Call-to-action buttons/links
  • Make your QR Code link using a link shortening service such as goo.gl or bit.ly (free versions) so that you can track the number of scans and other analytics

How have you used QR Codes in your latest

Direct Mail or Marketing Campaign?

Please share any lessons you have learned when using QR Codes in Direct Mail campaigns below…

Design a Winning Business Letterhead

Full Color Business LetterheadBusiness letterheads not only reflect what your company does or what it is, but it reflects the type of customers you serve. Make your customers feel at home each time they open correspondence from you. Help them remember who you are and what your purpose in their lives is. A good letterhead carries more than just your company’s information; it carries character and the type of familiarity that makes your clients feel at ease when doing business with you.

Print your business letterheads in full color to reinforce your brand and marketing message. You can add different features, such as a simulated custom watermark, a design for the back side, or anything you can think of.
Invoices, receipts, or any formal correspondence should always be printed on company letterheads. Your customers will notice and appreciate the difference and convenience this brings them when archiving, sorting, or preparing business reports.

Make sure your logo dresses up your stationery with vivid, bright colors.

Letterhead Business Information Placement

Here is some information to keep handy while constructing your business letterhead design:

Your logo and basic contact information should always be part of your letterhead. Keep the background subtle and sober, you do not want to distract the reader from the information provided in the body of the letter.

Letterhead-business clean design

Divide and Conquer

You may divide the information in two parts; header (at the top) and footer (at the bottom), this allows more space in the body of the document for the content of your letter. The header should consist of your logo, company colors, and basic contact information. The footer usually contains more formal copyright, business entity, and disclaimers. Include company colors in the footer as well. A hairline bar, separating the footer from the body content, for instance, can tie the brand together across the page.

Size it Up…or Down

Make sure your font does not go below 8, or it would be incredibly difficult to read, on the other hand, make sure it is not so big that it makes the content look cluttered and unrefined. Look at your page as a whole, and determine whether the relationship of the sizes (logo, font, lines) is smooth and appealing.

Backdrop or Watermark

It is interesting to have something in the background of your letterhead, it could be your logo in a 10% tint or an image representing your product or service. However, all with moderation. The background should not be the most visible part of your letterhead, and should definitely not upstage the content of your letter, or even worse, make it unreadable.

Letterhead Design with Watermark

Background

Beautiful business letterheads are printed on uncoated paper for ink-jet printing and ballpoint pen writing ease; the industry standard. There are many premium stocks available that include textured finishes to give your letterhead that extra oomph of professionalism.

Business Letterhead Paper Stock Options

For inspiration, below are a few letterhead designs that stand out above the rest:

Business Letterhead by Diversionary

Business Letterhead by ChasedbySilence

Business Letterhead by Kiq

Business Letterhead by Silverspoon102

Are there any business letterhead designs that you would like to share?

Please share your comments with us below………