Businesses and organizations are always looking for ways to make their operations, even their newsletters, more cost-effective. Before you fire all your writers or resort to delivering your newsletters by hand, consider a budget-friendly option offered by your local post office — bulk mail (standard presort).

• Make smart choices about the size, shape, and weight of your mail piece. The Postal Service separates all mail into one of four size categories: cards, letters, flats/non-letters, and parcels. "Flats" or "non-letters" refer to large envelopes, newsletters, and magazines. Generally, mail pieces that are 1/4-inch thick or less must be rectangular. Don't mail square pieces; they don't fit well into mail processing equipment and you may have to pay a surcharge.

• Always place the delivery address parallel to the longest side. Also, make sure that addresses are accurate.

• Presort the mail pieces by ZIP Code.

• Take your mail to the post office where you hold your mailing permit.