Tips and Frequently Asked Questions About Canadian Direct Mail

How do I address a Canadian mailpiece?

When sending a package or letter to a Canadian address, you can mark the destination by hand or through printed label. Many direct mail fulfillment companies have technology available to quickly shrinkwrap, label, and apply postage to your mail and packages. However, if you need to address a single letter or package by hand, here is the correct format:

 

  MY COMPANY C/O JIM SMITH
  321 PENNY LANE
  SUITE 324
  TORONTO ON   M1R 0Z7

JOHN JONES
MARKETING DEPT
123 MAIN ST
TORONTO ON M1R 0E9

Some rules to keep in mind when addressing Canadian mail:

  • The first line(s) should list the recipient name; the second line(s) should list the address; the third line should list the municipality, province/territory, and postal code
  • Use UPPERCASE letters, especially for the address and postal code
  • Canadian postal codes have six figures. You should separate the first 3 characters from the last 3 characters with a space (do not use hyphens, only a space is accepted).
  • Don't use punctuation unless it is part of a proper name, e.g., ST. JOHN'S
  • Format the return address the same way as the destination address and place it in the top-left corner of the envelope or package (or on the back of the item at the top).

What is Canada Post Lettermail??

Canada Post Standard Lettermail is primarily used to send paper items, such as letters, cards, or reports. Provided they meet the criteria, other items can be sent through Standard Lettermail (flexible magnets, for example).

The following items are not accepted as Standard Lettermail by Canada Post:

  • bottle caps
  • keys
  • seeds
  • loose coins
  • liquids
  • anything fragile or perishable
  • food stuffs
  • pencils
  • anything that may soil or harm other mail, postal
    equipment, or can cause injuries to persons
    handling them
  • glass
  • pens
  • jewellery
  • powders

 

If you would like to send these items, they will be categorized as either Non-Standard or Oversize and additional postage will apply.

What is Canada Post Neighbourhood Mail??

Neighbourhood Mail is one of Canada Post?s Marketing products. If you want to send a flyer, postcard, or other material to households according to geographic area, Neighbourhood Mail is usually the best option. Neighbourhood mail does not allow you to personalize by individual address, though you can specify whether you would like to deliver your materials to apartments, houses, and/or rural addresses within a postal code area.

Postage for Neighbourhood Mail can vary by size and quantity. If you have a question about how Neighbourhood Mail works, or how to design the most cost-effective flyer for this type of mailout, contact Canadian Mail Exchange.

What is Canada Post Personalized Mail??

Personalized Mail is another one of Canada Post?s Marketing products. With Personalized Mail?, you can send mail to specific addresses. You can also personalize the addresses and even the content of each individual mailpiece.

To qualify as Personalized Mail, your mail pieces must do one or more of the following:

  • All have the same purpose, although the content doesn?t need to be identical.
  • Promote a product, service, program or event.
  • Solicit donations or contributions.
  • Report on financial performance, primarily for promotional purposes.
  • Support your loyalty card program. Includes all mailings relating to loyalty card programs. Excludes credit and/or debit cards with or without reward points.
  • Go out to more than 100 Canadian addresses.

Personalized Mail? can be extremely effective, especially if you are advertising using a contact list. However, there are often a few more steps involved in Personalized Mail, such as cleaning up your mailing list and addressing your mail. Canadian Mail Exchange often partners with advertisers to support this process.

What is the best way to send publication(s), such as magazines or catalogues, to Canadian addresses?

For a cost-effective publication mailout, your mail fulfillment company should:

  • Clean up your mailing list to prevent returns or incorrect deliveries
  • Address your items properly and polybag if required
  • Sort and bundle items according to Postal Code/delivery area (working with a mail fulfillment company who can do this this will significantly lower your postage costs)
  • Package your mail in regulation-sized, labelled boxes

All these steps can save publishers and distributors thousands in postage and fees. For more information on mailout services, contact us today.

I want more information about Canadian Direct Mail options. Who can I ask?

Canadian Mail Exchange frequently receives questions from printers, advertisers, US direct mail companies, and other businesses. After decades working with Canada Post, we are experts in Canadian mailout processes, standards, and cost-saving measures. If you have a particular question, contact us today and we will gladly assist you.

Direct Mail advertisers may also find this guide from Canada Post helpful as they plan their campaigns and design their flyers.