January 10th, 2012
It’s January 2012 and that means another round of price increases at the Post Office. The USPS has posted all of the new prices effective January 22, 2012 which affect every type of mail and postal service available. Instead of a simple price increase chart, you need to download the spreadsheets for the type of mailing services you use.
Here are some of the most popular types of mail and their new prices:
- Regular letter up to 1 oz. – $0.45
- Postcard – $0.32
- 1-3oz Package – $1.95 (up from $1.71) – the prices for packages appear to have the largest percentage change
- 1oz Large Envelope – $.90
- Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope – $18.95
- Medium International Flat Rate Box – $47.95 (up from $45.50) (lower in Canada)
- Small Flat Rate Domestic Box – $5.35
- Delivery Confirmation – $0.85 (remember you can avoid this by printing the postage at home/office)
Remember that you can save money on shipping by printing your postage at home/office and by making sure you are using the correct flat-rate box. There are several sizes and flat-rate options that you need to order as the local post office does not stock them. These include the “Regional Rate Box” and the “Padded Flat-Rate Mailer” – both options we use a lot here at CloudContacts. The Regional Rate Box is the same rate as a 2lb Priority Mail package but you can fit up to 15 pounds in it. The supplies are all sent free so stock up!
Lastly, don’t forget that for some shipments, using UPS or FedEx might be less expensive. I find that for commercial deliveries, UPS Ground can cost about the same as USPS but UPS offers full tracking and basic insurance. Make sure to signup for an account at both UPS and FedEx to get the best rates.
December 22nd, 2011
From the staff at CloudContacts, happy holidays to all of our customers, partners, colleagues and best wishes for an even better 2012! We’ve grown so much in 2011 and our roadmap for 2012 looks to be even more exciting. We can’t unwrap it just yet but I can assure you that you will want to be part of our family.
During this holiday time please rest assured that our support channels, both email and phone on 347-952-4329, are available as always.
December 16th, 2011
I remember my first job out of college working at an accounting firm in Manhattan. I arrived the first day in my new suit and tie and the floor manager showed me to my desk. My desk was filled with various company manuals, client literature, a computer and a small black plastic box. That box was to hold the business cards that I picked up as I met with my clients and other contacts. I remember having a fun discussion with a colleague about how to organize the box – the box contained index cards for each letter of the alphabet. But there seems to be no set rule on whether the letters are for people’s first names, last names or company names. That black plastic box was a small Rolodex called a, “business card tray”. Do you have a story about your Rolodex? Leave it in the comments below!
We’ve processed our share of Rolodexes here at CloudContacts. Customers have sent us their huge Rolodex filled with cards and other customers just send us the little plastic slips filled with cards. We’ve gotten pretty good at getting those cards out so we can do our scanning and transcription. I always find it interesting to look at the Rolodex and how it was organized.
What was life like when everyone had a Rolodex and before CloudContacts?
Wikipedia’s Rolodex entry explains that the Rolodex was created in 1956 and people would hand-write (later type) the data onto the special cards to fit in to the holder. We’ve seen all types of cards come in for processing – handwritten cards, typed cards, business cards taped onto the special cards, business cards with holes punched in them to fit into the slots, and even special business cards that have the holes pre-drilled into them to help getting the card into the Rolodex.
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December 5th, 2011
Since I know a lot of our awesome CloudContacts customers ship their cards to us via FedEx and UPS, I wanted to pass along the links to their updated 2012 shipping rates information documents. Both shippers will be raising their rates for 2012 for ground and air shipments but will provide a lower rate for their fuel surcharges.
- FedEx – “FedEx Express package and freight rates will increase an average of 5.9% for U.S., U.S. export and U.S. import services. The rate increase will be partially offset by adjusting the fuel price at which the fuel surcharge begins, reducing the fuel surcharge by 2 percentage points.”
- UPS – “UPS today released new published rates for 2012, including a net increase of 4.9 percent for UPS Ground packages and a net increase of 4.9 percent on all UPS Air services and U.S.-origin international shipments.”
Check out my post about ways to save on shipping and don’t forget that if you ship with the postal service using the flat rate boxes, to check out the new Regional Rate flat-rate boxes - you need to order these boxes in advance but I’ve found that they are a great way to save at least a couple of dollars on each shipment.
November 19th, 2011
Several times a week we get calls and emails from our awesome CloudContacts customers (and sometimes prospective customers) about which CRM tool is right for them and their business. I generally explain that there isn’t one size fits all and that their best bet is to try out a few of the services that we recommend and find the one that works best for them. It’s also important that they allow their team to try out the service as well. Feel free to contact us if we can help provide some guidance on which CRM tools are worth considering for your business.
I asked our newest team member Kayla to put together some great resources if you want to learn more about the variety of CRM services that are available and also keep up-to-date on CRM news and views. Here’s her list of ten of the top CRM resources:
1. PGreenBlog
Paul Greenberg, author of “CRM at the Speed of Light: Social CRM Strategies, Tools, and Techniques for Engaging Your Customers”, has been labeled by many the “godfather of CRM”. He is involved in a variety of CRM organizations, as well as having an award-winning blog. While the blog lacks in design and eye-appeal, reading his posts reveal why he received SearchCRM’s “Blog of the Year” award. Greenberg’s latest posts have been intensely detailed reviews of CRM businesses, and explaining new ideas of CRM. A recent move from Greenberg that will add fuel to the CRM flame is the creation of “CRM Idol”, a contest that is giving small, CRM-related companies the chance to shine.
2. destinationCRM.com
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