WASHINGTON - It's now easier for small-business owners to harness the power of direct mail to drive traffic, attract new customers and increase revenue. That's because the U.S. Postal Service recently introduced Every Door Direct Mail, a simple, low-cost service that allows local businesses to market to every address in their neighborhoods without the need to rent mailing lists.

Every Door Direct Mail uses mail-delivery route information, instead of names and exact addresses, to reach targeted groups in specific geographic areas. The mail can be addressed to "Postal Customer," "Residential Customer," or "PO Boxholder" and dropped off at a local Post Office. Every Door Direct Mail saves mail preparation time and money and is delivered by local, trusted Postal Service carriers.

Businesses use a simple online tool at https://smp.usps.gov to identify neighborhoods and number of households, prepare mailing documentation and calculate postage. With Every Door Direct Mail, no permits are needed, and there are no special fees.

To teach local businesses about Every Door Direct Mail - including a demonstration of the online tool - local Post Offices are holding free Grow Your Business Days seminars throughout the summer.

"Every Door Direct Mail is ideal for restaurants, doctors' offices, hair salons - or any kind of local business that is not currently using the mail," said Paul Vogel, president and chief marketing/sales officer. "Direct mail has long been a proven advertising tool of choice of successful large businesses and Fortune 500 companies to promote products and drive sales. Now it's easier and less expensive for small businesses to grow using direct mail.

"Direct mail has strengths other advertising media can't claim - it's personal, tangible, portable (to re-read later and share with others), manageable and measureable," Vogel added.

According to the Direct Marketing Association, every $1 spent on direct mail generates $12.57 in sales.

For more information about Every Door Direct Mail and Grow Your Business Days seminars, visit www.usps.gov/everydoordirectmail.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

We're everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com