Mailing in your tax return? Use Certified Mail with Return Receipt to obtain proof that your tax return was accepted by the USPS®, delivered, and signed for. When you use this service, the USPS offers a mailing receipt, provides delivery information, and maintains a copy of the recipient’s signature for two years. Additionally, you can request a Return Receipt (electronic or postcard) for a copy of the signature. In the event of any dispute regarding mailing dates, Certified Mail has you covered… and so does Stamps.com!

Automate the Certified Mail process
With Stamps.com, all our customers can print postage for Certified Mail and fill out the standard USPS Certified Mail and Return Receipt forms, or make Certified Mail even easier with our wide selection of automated forms.

With Stamps.com’s automated forms, only available to our Premier members, you’ll never have to handwrite another Certified Mail form or go to the Post Office again! When you use Stamps.com’s automated Certified Mail forms, you can print postage, address and all Certified Mail requirements (including a mailing receipt or Return Receipt) in one simple step. You can print on our easy-to-use #11 Certified Mail envelopes or our highly-flexible label forms, which can be used on regular envelopes, flats or packages.

Learn more about sending Certified Mail with Stamps.com

With the holidays in full swing and the end of the year getting closer, now is a great time to say “thank you” to the customers who buy your products or services. Most businesses forget this simple step and a small note can make a big difference in helping your business stand out from the competition and generating returning purchases.

Stamps.com has several features to help you easily communicate a note of “thanks” to your customers.

#1 Thank You Message in your Shipment Notification emails
Stamps.com will automatically send out a shipment notification email to your package recipient.  This email notifies the recipient that the package has been shipped and includes the delivery address, mail date, mail class, estimated delivery date, special services, and a link with the tracking number so that the recipient can track their package.

You also have the ability to include a customized personal note in the email. This is a great place for a short “thanks for your order” message.

Get more info on shipment notification emails.

#2  Send Newsletters and Marketing Materials
If you need a bigger canvas to communicate your message to your customers, try sending a newsletter on a regular 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper for a quick and easy mailer.  With this option, you’ll be able to print your marketing message on both sides of the 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. On one side of the paper, leave enough room towards the bottom of the page (one of the three panels) for the address and postage to be clearly printed.   Using Stamps.com, you can print the return address, delivery addresses and correct postage on the empty panel.  Once printed, just fold the paper into a tri-fold, fasten the open edge with tape and drop it in the mailbox!

Get more info on newsletters

#3 Quick Direct Mailings with PC Postcards
These high-quality postcards are great for thank you notes, appointment reminders, invitations, and more.  And by using a postcard, you get to utilize the discounted first class postage rate of $0.32.

Using your favorite word processing program, you can print your marketing message on four postcards in one pass through the printer.  Then, on the opposite side, Stamps.com will easily print the delivery address, return address (optional) and postage on all four postcards.    If you are using MS Word, Microsoft has a number of templates you can use to customize the design on the postcards.

Get more info on PC Postcard
Buy the PC Postcard in Stamps.com Store

Going green at the office doesn’t have to be difficult, small and simple changes can actually make a huge impact on the environment.  Most people, when they think about going green, start at home. This is a great first step, but in reality we spend a lot of time at work.  We have outlined three simple and effective ways to start making your workplace more environmentally friendly.

#1 Swap this for that

Thinking like, “I need to buy green, all or nothing,” just doesn’t work.  Instead, try and swap out products for a more environmentally friendly versions when it is time to make a purchase and it is available. Switching to recyclyed paper, recycled legal pads, and even recycled furniture also isn’t as expensive as you would think. If you need more help, Shoplet.com has a neat “green your cart” feature that will actually show you if an item in your shopping cart has a green alternative.

#2 Double down and Double Side

Many times in the office we let supplies just go to waste. Not only are we harming the environment, but also our bottom lines. That is because every time we waste supplies we need to buy more; and more supplies means less money to spend on real business. One quick trick is to simply refill empty ink cartridges rather than tossing them aside. Also, when at the printer, try printing double sided; you’ll cut your paper usage (and paper budget) in half.

#3 The break-room, not the waste room

Coffee in the break room is sacred, but re-buying cups again and again is wasteful and harmful to the environment. Instead, consider providing employees with mugs with a company logo on them, which are not only better for the environment, but also great for team spirit and company branding.

If you need help going green at your office, visit Shoplet.com to receive 10% off your order. Shoplet.com has over 20,000 environmentally friendly products to choose from and over 400,000 total office and business supplies.

Box Image: Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Send Your Tax Return via Certified Mail with Stamps.com
Mailing in your tax return? Use Certified Mail to obtain proof that your tax return was accepted by the USPS, delivered, and signed for. When you use this service, the USPS offers a mailing receipt, provides delivery information, and maintains a copy of the recipient’s signature for two years. In addition, you can request a Return Receipt for a copy of the signature. In the event of any dispute regarding mailing dates, Certified Mail has you covered… and so does Stamps.com!

Process Certified Mail in just a few clicks with Stamps.com
The days when you had to go to the Post Office and manually fill out forms for Certified Mail are long gone. Stamps.com lets you complete every step from your computer in a just a few clicks. Our software gives you access to simple, automated forms and lets you print postage and addresses in one step. Want to confirm the delivery of your tax return? The software automatically records the tracking number for Certified Mail, making it quick and easy to verify delivery online. Return Receipt? Stamps.com does that, too. It’s our way of helping you get your taxes done right.

Find the right Certified Mail form at the Stamps.com Store

USPS Test Marketing New Service – First Class Tracer
To make it easier for customers to track envelopes with First Class Mail postage, the U.S. Postal Service is testing a new service called First Class Tracer at 50 retail locations near  Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

First Class Tracer is an adhesive label that includes a tracking barcode and is placed below the postage stamp on an envelope.

The First Class Tracer service uses scanning technology to let customers keep tabs on greeting cards, postcards and personal/business letters as they go through the mail stream.

How First Class Tracer Works:
To use First Class Tracer, customers apply an adhesive barcode to the mailpiece directly below the postage stamp area on their envelope. Each barcode has a unique number that can be tracked on the usps.com site, similar to how you would use track a package using Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation. The barcode also includes a unique Quick Response code that can be monitored on smartphones or other mobile devices.

First Class Tracer is being test-sold in two packages — a 5-label pack for $1.99, and a 10-label pack for $2.99.