What is USPS Informed Delivery?

Have you ever wondered what's arriving in your mailbox before you get home? That's exactly what USPS Informed Delivery was designed to do.

Informed Delivery is a free service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that allows you to preview incoming mail and track packages before they arrive. It's a simple tool that gives both homeowners and businesses greater visibility into their mail. 

How Does Informed Delivery Work?

The USPS captures images of letter-sized mail as it moves through its automated sorting equipment. If you're enrolled in Informed Delivery, you'll receive a “Daily Digest” email showing images of many of the letters scheduled to arrive in your mailbox that day. It’s like a "sneak peek" of your mail.

More Than Just Mail

One of the biggest benefits of Informed Delivery is that it not only tracks letters. The service also provides updates on incoming and outgoing packages. If you're expecting a package, you can often see delivery status information directly in your “Daily Digest” email or on your online dashboard.

For businesses that regularly receive shipments, this can be a helpful way to stay informed about upcoming deliveries.

Why Businesses Should Pay Attention

From a marketing perspective, Informed Delivery has become an increasingly valuable tool.

When companies send direct mail campaigns, recipients often receive a digital preview of that mail before the physical piece arrives. This gives marketers another opportunity to capture attention and increase engagement.

In some cases, businesses can even enhance their direct mail campaigns with interactive content. This allows recipients to click a link, visit a website, view an offer, or learn more about a product or service directly from their Informed Delivery email.

By combining physical direct mail with digital engagement, businesses can extend the reach of their marketing campaigns and create additional touchpoints with customers.

Who Can Sign Up?

Informed Delivery is available to most residential addresses, eligible PO Box locations, and many business addresses throughout the United States.

While the majority of addresses qualify, there are some exceptions. Certain apartment buildings, condominiums, and other locations may not be eligible if individual mailboxes cannot be uniquely identified within the USPS system.

The easiest way to find out if your address qualifies is to visit the USPS website and check your eligibility.

Is It Worth It?

For most people, the answer is yes.

The service is free, easy to use, and provides valuable visibility into your incoming mail and packages. Whether you're waiting for an important document, tracking a shipment, or simply want to know what's arriving that day, Informed Delivery offers a convenient way to stay informed.

For businesses, it also highlights how direct mail continues to evolve. Modern direct mail marketing is no longer limited to a printed piece alone. Through tools like USPS Informed Delivery, companies can combine the power of print with digital engagement to create more effective marketing campaigns.

Hatteras Can Help With Direct Mail Campaigns

At Hatteras, we help organizations maximize the effectiveness of their direct mail marketing campaigns through data-driven targeting, printing, mailing, and postal expertise. As direct mail continues to evolve, tools like Informed Delivery provide even more opportunities to connect with customers and measure results. Want to learn more?  Visit the USPS website or call us at 313-624-3300.