Mailing Categories and Fulfilment Methods

This article is about how to create and manage Mailing Categories and Fulfilment Methods in Spektrix. You’ll also find information on how to segment in Customer Lists based on the types of Mailings received.

What is a Mailing Category?

A Mailing Category is used to help you identify the types of Mailings logged in Spektrix.

When setting up new Mailings (Integrated or Standard) you’ll be asked to assign a Mailing Category.

Why should I create Mailing Categories?

Mailing Categories can help you to easily identify the purpose of the Mailing and group together different Mailings for reporting purposes. Mailing Categories are particularly useful if several teams in your organisation log different types of Mailings.

Marketing
Fundraising
Access
Creative Learning
Membership Welcome

You can use Mailing Categories in a Marketing Segment when building a Customer List to identify customers based on the types of Mailings they’ve received. For example, you can look for customers who have clicked a link in any Fundraising email you've sent.

For more information, read Global and Local Segments.

How to create a Mailing Category

To create a Mailing Category, follow these steps:

In Insights & Mailings, go to Mailings > Mailing Settings:
Scroll down to Custom Mailing Categories. Click Add:
You’ll see the Add Mailing Category screen. Enter a descriptive name and click Add:

What is a Fulfilment Method?

The Fulfilment Method is recorded against a Mailing as the method you’ll use to send it.

When you log a Mailing in Spektrix, you’ll need to select a Fulfilment Method.

You can set up as many Fulfilment Methods as you need to reflect the different ways you deliver your Mailings. When setting up a new Fulfilment Method you will be required to enter the cost per send of each Mailing using that method.

For example, if a Mailing House charges you $2 per item to send out each letter in a Standard Mailing then you’d set up a new Fulfilment Method named Mailing House with the cost of $2.

Examples of common Fulfilment Methods include:

First class post
Next day delivery
Integrated Mailing
Mailing House

TIP: The default Fulfillment Method for Mailings is Integrated Mailing. This Fulfilment Method is applied to any Email Campaigns sent through Dotdigital. The cost per email is automatically calculated.

When you set up a new Mailing, you will need to select the Mailing Type (Standard or Integrated), the Mailing Category and the Fulfilment Method.

Why should I create Fulfilment Methods?

Creating Fulfilment Methods enables you to define the different types and costs of Mailings in Spektrix.

You can use Fulfilment Methods to report on the cost of each Mailing you send out. Furthermore, if you use Fulfilment Methods correctly, you can use this data to track the cost-effectiveness of your Mailings using the ROI Report.

TIP: When sending an Integrated Email Campaign, the cost per email is automatically calculated.

Along with Mailing Categories, you can use Fulfilment Methods in a Marketing Segment when building a Customer List. This lets you segment customers based on the Fulfilment Method of the Mailing they’ve received.

For more information, read Global and Local Segments.

How to create a Fulfilment Method

To create a Fulfilment Method, you’ll need to enter the cost per item. When calculating the cost per item, you should take into account the cost of any materials used. For example, postage, stationery, and delivery charges / mailing house costs.

TIP: To access Insights & Mailings, you’ll need the Insights & Mailings User or Insights & Mailings Administrator Role. If you don’t have these Roles, ask the Spektrix administrator in your organisation to add these Roles to your User Account.

To create a Fulfilment Method, follow these steps:

In Insights & Mailings, go to Mailings > Mailing Settings:
Scroll down to Fulfilment Methods. Click Add:
You’ll see the Add Fulfilment Method screen:

Enter the following:

Name: Enter a descriptive name, for example, first class post, priority mail.
Cost per item: When calculating the cost per item, you should take into account the cost of any materials used. For example, postage, stationery, and delivery charges / mailing house costs.

Click Add to save the Fulfilment Method.