How does Every Door Direct Mail work?

July 17, 2025Adam Maloney

Want to reach people in your neighborhood without buying a mailing list? That’s exactly what EDDM is for.

If you run a small business and want to get the word out, Every Door Direct Mail can help. It’s an easy way to send postcards or flyers to every home in a local area. Let’s break down how it works.

What is EDDM?

EDDM stands for Every Door Direct Mail. It’s a service that lets you send mail to every address in a neighborhood, no names, no mailing list. You just pick an area, and your message goes to everyone on that route. It’s great for:

Restaurants and cafes
Real estate agents
Home services like plumbers or cleaners
Local shops
Gyms and fitness studios

Direct mail is the top marketing choice for 55% of local businesses seeking to target local customers. If you want to reach every home in a specific area without using a mailing list, EDDM is the best way to do it. You can use it to promote a special offer, announce a sale, or tell people about a new location. It’s simple, affordable, and focused.

How it works

Here’s what the process looks like:

1. Choose where to send

Choose the area you want to reach. Using an EDDM provider like EDDM.com, you can target by specific demographics and location, such as:

By zip code
By ethnicity
By age
By average household income

EDDM.com’s campaign builder tool will automatically recommend routes to target based on your audience specifications to make sure you’re reaching your target audience as efficiently as possible.

2. Create your mail piece

EDDM uses specific sizes, usually postcards or flyers that are easy to notice in the mailbox. Your piece has to follow these size rules:

Minimum: more than 6.125 inches tall or more than 11.5 inches wide
Maximum: 12 inches tall by 15 inches wide

Make sure your design includes:

A clear headline
Your offer or message
A call-to-action, like “Call now” or “Visit today”
Your business name, phone number, address, and website

3. Print your mailers

Once your design is finalized, it’s time to print your postcards using the correct size and paper type approved by USPS. A high-quality print job not only meets postal requirements—it also helps your mailer stand out and look more professional.

With EDDM.com, you don’t need to worry about logistics. We handle the printing and freight for you, delivering your bundled mailers directly to a USPS facility within 50 miles of your selected delivery area. This saves you time, effort, and potential shipping costs.

4. Prepare and bundle

After printing, group your mailers by route. Each bundle must:

Have 50 to 100 pieces
Include a facing slip (a USPS cover sheet)
Be sorted by route

We can handle this for you. But if you’re doing it yourself, USPS provides templates for the facing slips. They need to show the route number, date, and number of pieces.

Before you drop anything off, make sure you:

Count the number of pieces for each route
Fill out and print facing slips
Use rubber bands to bundle
Complete the USPS Retail form

5. Drop off at the post office

Bring your bundles and paperwork to the right USPS location. You can pay postage online or at the counter.

If you’re sending fewer than 5,000 pieces per ZIP code per day, you can use EDDM Retail. It’s simple and works well for most small businesses. If you’re sending more than 5,000, you’ll need to use EDDM BMEU. That option requires a business account and mailing permit.

Do EDDM the easy way

Want less hassle? EDDM.com has got you covered. We’ll print, bundle, sort, and track your mail for you. Our tools make the whole process easy from start to finish.

Why choose EDDM?

If you’re trying to grow your business locally, sending Every Door Direct Mail makes sense. Here’s why:

No mailing list needed
Target by ZIP code and route
Low cost
Big postcards stand out in the mail

You can use EDDM on its own or combine it with online ads, local events, or special offers. It’s simple. It works. And we’re here to help you do it right.

Tips for a successful EDDM campaign

EDDM is simple to set up. But a little planning can help you get better results. Here’s what to focus on:

Know who you’re targeting

Use route data to pick areas that match your customers. For higher-end services, choose neighborhoods with higher incomes. If you’re selling to families, look for routes with more households.

Give people a reason to respond

Offers work. Think about discounts, free trials, or limited-time deals. Use bold colors and keep your message clear.

Tell people what to do next

Want them to visit your store? Call you? Go online? Say it clearly and make it easy to act.

Track what works

Use a QR code, promo code, or custom link to see how many people respond. This helps you understand what’s working. With providers like EDDM.com, you can track delivery times, QR code scans, conversion rate, and more.

For example, if 20 people use your “SAVE10” code and each spends $50, that’s $1,000 in sales. If your campaign cost $800, that’s already an ROI of 25%!

Other tracking tools:

Google Analytics with UTM links
A phone number just for the campaign
A landing page made for that mail drop

Send more than once

One mailer is rarely enough. People need reminders. Send something each month or once per season to stay on their radar.

Let us handle it for you

Want it done right without the stress? We’ll take care of printing, sorting, tracking, and more. You focus on your business—we’ll handle the rest.

Who should use EDDM?

EDDM works well for local businesses that want more customers nearby. It’s great for:

Restaurants: Share your menu or a coupon
Gyms and fitness coaches: Offer a free class or schedule
Real estate agents: Promote listings or events
Auto shops: Send out service specials
Lawn care and home services: Advertise your availability

Even if you’ve never used mail before, EDDM is an easy way to start.

When to send your campaign

Timing matters. You can’t choose the exact day mail arrives, but you can still plan smart.

Try these tips:

Around local events: Send before a school break, holiday, or community festival
Avoid Mondays: Too much weekend mail piles up. Tuesday to Thursday works better
Think ahead: Restaurants might mail mid-week to boost weekend traffic. Home services might mail early to fill their week
Plan by season: Spring is good for yard work or home repairs. Fall works well for gyms and tutors

The better your timing, the better your results.

Frequently asked questions about EDDM

What is the success rate of EDDM?

It depends on what you send, when you send it, and who you send it to. Most of our customers see response rates between 1 and 5 percent. You’ll get better results if you send more than one campaign and include a strong call-to-action.

Adding a coupon or gift card can boost response rates up to 13.81%. What works best: a clear offer, good design, and sending regularly. We give you tools like promo codes, QR codes, and custom links to help track your results.

How long does EDDM take to deliver?

Once we get your order, your mail usually arrives in 2 to 5 business days. Timing depends on the routes you choose. We take care of drop-off and sorting so you don’t need to handle any of the logistics.

How do I use EDDM?

Using EDDM.com is simple:

Pick your target area using our ZIP code map
Upload your design or use one of our templates
We print, bundle, and deliver your mail for you

You don’t need a mailing list or a permit. You won’t have to go to the post office. We handle it all.

What’s the cheapest way to send bulk mail?

Our platform is built to save you money. Postage starts at just 21 cents per piece. You don’t need to buy a mailing list or work with multiple vendors. We bundle printing, design, and delivery so you save both time and money.

What’s the daily limit for EDDM?

You can send up to 5,000 pieces per ZIP code per day. It’s ideal for small businesses or regional campaigns.

Final thoughts

EDDM sends your message to every home in the area you choose. No mailing lists. No complicated setup. Just a simple way to reach local customers with a printed message they can hold.

It’s a smart, affordable option, whether you’re new to marketing or want to try something different. Want to reach more people in your neighborhood? Start your first EDDM campaign today.