For those who think that physical mail no longer matters, think again.
Physical mail is still alive. A perfect example, according to Spectrum News, is how millions of Americans cast their Presidential vote via mail in 2024. During the 2020 election, the United States Postal Service (USPS) delivered about 135 million ballots to and from voters. While a large number, only actually accounted for 0.11% of the total mail volume!
All these figures support that physical mail still matters. And the best part is that you can now Send Certified Mail from home! Skip the trip to the Post Office and send crucial documents from anywhere.
Below are seven easy steps to sending Certified Mail with Send Certified Mail. You'll find Certified Mail instructions and mailing-from-home tips in this handy, comprehensive guide.
1. Determine if You Need Certified, Not Regular Mail
With the USPS handling millions of mail pieces, it's easy to see how some end up lost or undelivered. Such problems can happen anywhere. According to Vermont Business Magazine, lost mail is more common in certain states. We're looking at you Colorado, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Vermont!
In some cases, lost or undelivered mail can be recovered.
The USPS will try to Return to Sender. However, if they're non-returnable, they'll go to the Mail Recovery Center (MRC). The Postal Service's "lost and found" department, provided their contents are worth at least $25. The MRC holds non-barcoded items for 30 days and barcoded items for 60 days before they trash, recycle, donate, or auction them.
For those reasons, it pays to know the difference between regular and Certified Mail. Choosing the appropriate mailing service can give you peace of mind.
Regular Mail
Regular or standard mail is a basic Postal Service from the USPS primarily used for non-urgent mailings like:
- Personal letters
- Business fliers
- Postcards
- Small packages
Standard mail is the most cost-effective option of all USPS services, but does not offer detailed tracking features.
Certified Mail
If your mail requires a verifiable record that the recipient received it, go for Certified Mail. It involves a more secure mail certification process, including:
- Tracking: You can track the mailpiece's journey from dispatch to proof
- Security: Certified Mail requires a recipient's signature, improving security and making accounting for mailpieces easier
- Confirmed Delivery: Certified Mail provides proof of delivery that the recipient has received the mail
Some examples of documents or packages that you should send via Certified Mail are:
- Documents of legal matters, including court documents, legal agreements, or notices of default
- Business transactions, such as when sending critical business documents, contracts, or termination notices
- Documents with sensitive personal information, like medical records and financial statements
Certified Mail is the way to go when you need a paper trail. As it provides delivery confirmation and proof the recipient received and signed for the item. Since it allows you to track your mail from start to finish, it's much less likely to get lost. You also have the option to receive an Electronic Delivery Confirmation.
2. Choose a Reliable Provider of Online Mailing Services
Now that you know how domestic Certified Mail works, the next step is to partner with an online mailing service. One that provides several options for sending Certified Mail, such as:
- USPS Certified Mail® with Electronic Return Receipt (replaces the traditional Green Card)
- Certified Mail with Return Receipt (Signature)
- Priority Mail
- Express Mail
- First-Class Mail
At Send Certified Mail, we offer all those services (and more, such as Restricted Delivery). There are no monthly fees or long-term contracts. Instead, we use a "pay-as-you-mail" pricing method, which means you pay only for each letter you mail.
3. Sign Up for a Free Account
The next step is to register and create a free account. We'll only ask for a few details, including:
- Your name
- Address
- Phone number
Complete the registration by securing your account with a strong password.
4. Upload Your Letter
Once your account has been created it's time to being mailing.
Begin by uploading your PDF letter. Then, you will enter the sender and recipient information and address. Lastly, you'll select your mailing options.
Once you proof your letter and mailing label we will print, pack, and mail the ltter on your behalf.
5. Fund Your Account
Send Certified Mail uses actual, live USPS Certified Mail tracking numbers and barcodes. To confirm your order you can pay for the postage using:
- Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, and other major banks and credit cards
- Paper checks
- eChecks
- Bank wires
- Electronic ACH fund transfers
After funding your mailing, we will print your letter and label and prepare it for the mail stream.
6. Track Your Certified Mail Envelope
Once your transaction is complete a tracking number will immediately be provide. This live USPS postage number allows you to monitor your letter tracking until delivery. Send Certified Mail provides proof of mailing and multiple reporting options to meet your mailing needs:
- Certified Mail Labels Tracking Scan
- Certified Mail Tracking Summary Report
- Electronic Delivery Confirmation Report
- Electronic Signature Report
- USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt
- USPS SCAN Form
7. Send Certified Mail From Home
Our same-business-day print and mail online service offers a complete mailing solution. By merging printing and mailing tasks, we guarantee that your documents are both printed and sent out on the same-business-day the order is made.
Send Certified Mail is especially helpful for companies and individuals requiring the dispatch of urgent documents. By combining printing and mailing into one service, we remove the need for various service providers. Streamline the whole process and ensure a faster, more convenient, completion time with Send Certified Mail.
Sending Certified Mail Has Never Been Easier
So long as you follow these easy steps, you can send Certified Mail from anywhere and track your letters' or documents' journey.
Skip the trip to the Post Office and send same-business-mail by partnering with Send Certified Mail. Our free registration process and multiple online mailing services, allow you to send and track mail efficiently and conveniently.
Start mailing letters and documents from home today! Schedule a FREE Live Demo to see exactly how Send Certified Mail can best meet your mailing needs.