Mike Porter

President, Print/Mail Consultants
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March 5 2024
In the past, on-premise software handled the task of processing large amounts of documents; but times have changed. Many document centers are reassessing their procedures, making a transition
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Feb. 7 2024
Documents you produce as an internal or external print/mail service provider should impact the recipient. Otherwise, there's no reason to send them (besides conforming to regulations). Docume
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Jan. 22 2024
A client conversation about running a direct mail campaign shouldn't begin with details like mail piece format (letters, flats, postcards, or self-mailers) or mailing list sizes. The discussi
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Jan. 8 2024
It's easy for businesspeople outside the print and mail industry to believe the days of postal mail are numbered. Email, social media, texting, and instant messaging apps have largely replace
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Dec. 6 2023
In the print and mail industry, continuous growth is essential for long-term success. Fortunately, print/mail service providers can execute many strategies to optimize the bottom line. •&n
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Nov. 27 2023
Organizational consultant and author Warren Bennis said, "The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there
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Nov. 7 2023
When pondering the costs of poor address quality, conventional wisdom steers us first towards wasted money spent on production and postage. However, a myriad of hidden costs and operational
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Oct. 26 2023
As you walk around your company's offices and worksites today, do you see lots of empty desks? Notice that people you used to greet every day aren't around so much anymore? Hear an echo? &n
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Sept. 5 2023
Did you know your mail center has a brand? Just like any other business, a mailing service has a distinct identity that sets it apart from its competitors. This identity, or brand, is a combin
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Sept. 1 2023
At the end of a busy workday, consumers retreat to their homes to find a collection of mail awaiting them. The routine collection of mail is there - bills, statements, notices, and a smatterin
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Aug. 22 2023
A batch of marketing people who are new to postal mail may be coming your way, now that direct mail has experienced a resurgence in popularity. That could present some challenges for seasoned
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July 10 2023
In today's fast-paced business landscape, print and mail service providers face a critical decision: adapt or risk a slow decline in the demand for conventional print/mail products and s
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June 5 2023
Print/mail service providers have long held the opinion that the mailing list was the client's responsibility. Yes, the mail service provider might do the CASS and NCOA processing necessary to qualif
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May 30 2023
In the world of high-volume mail production, it’s easy to get so buried in the details or caught up in handling the crisis of the day that we don’t pay much attention to the real reasons...
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May 2 2023
For as long as I can remember, print and mail operations have worked on ways to lower the cost of mail production and distribution. You’d think by now that managers couldn’t find any more...
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April 18 2023
As a print/mail service provider or in-house print/mail facility, your company probably does a great job. You make sure the mail you prepare meets postal regulations, goes out on time, and qua
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April 3 2023
What if you could increase revenue without adding more customers? As a print/mail service provider, it’s possible to sell billable services to your existing clients as a natural extension to
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March 31 2023
I don’t think it takes a great deal of insight to predict the path of direct mail over the short term. If you’ve read this column for a while, you’ll know I’ve advocated for...
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March 7 2023
Most mailing services I’ve learned about through the years could benefit from stepping up their marketing efforts. Often these companies have small management teams with no one dedicated to
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Feb. 3 2023
If your organization is creating and distributing paper and electronic bills for your clients, who's handling the payments? Does it make sense to offer payment processing to your cl

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