# Could new email postal system save charities money on direct marketing?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/12/31/could-new-email-postal-system-save-charities-money-direct-marketing/
- Published: 2007-12-31T09:59:10+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

While email is an essential tool for fundraisers, we still rely on printed direct
mail to source and communicate with many donors. Yet direct mail can be expensive,
and postage costs are going up next year.

Viapost is a new postal service that might just help. It enables people to email
their letters to a central printing company nearest their recipient where it is 
printed out, folded and inserted, and then delivered ‘the final mile’ by the Royal
Mail to the recipient. By sending letters via email, or ‘Post Over Internet Protocol(
POIP)’, the system can cut down on the physical delivery costs of moving mail around
the country.

Letters costs 24p to send, but are delivered the next day. And that covers single
or double-sided, and colour. Viapost say the figure will remain the same when they
launch the facility to deliver mail internationally.

## Advertisement

The system works using a free downloadable driver for your PC. When you come to 
print your letter you will get the option of printing/sending via Viapost.

It sounds a very attractive idea for charities keen to reduce their mailing costs
and impact on the environment.

Viapost is launching soon and you can register your interest.

www.viapost.com

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