Intro

ZAP~POST Is an automated Direct Mail Platform intended to provide your business with the ability to send programmatically driven direct mail campaigns composed of bespoke content for each of your customers.

Overview

With ZAP~POST you can create your direct mail campaigns, design your content and submit your data used to create the ZAPs. From there ZAP~POST take care of all of the industry standard processes such as mail cleansing and mail sorting to provide the most affordable and effective direct mail solution possible. This document will guide you through the various processes and UIs contained within the app so you can understand how it works and how you can use the platform to assist with your role.

FAQ

Glossary

The ZAP~POST designer is a tool that allows you to easily create direct mail designs for specific mail campaigns. With the design tool, you can add images, text, customisations, and QR codes to your Zap designs.

You can keep your designs on-brand and within your brand guidelines by uploading your own fonts into ZAP~POST. You can also save designs for later; these will be ready to use again whenever they are needed.

Accessing the Designer

Once on zappost.com, the designer can be accessed from three different pages:

ZAP~POST Designer

When visiting the designer for the first time, you'll have the option to select one of our premade designs, or to start from scratch.

You can filter designs by different sectors or campaign types.

To start from scratch, select the blank template

Start from scratch

Printer's Marks

Depending on the paper stock you have chosen for your campaign, there will be a number of different lines shown on your canvas. Simply put, these lines are quality control methods that help to achieve the professional print and finish your designs deserve.

The visibility of these lines can be turned on/off using the view settings submenu.

There are 3 key printer's marks shown on the Impact, Mini and Secure paper stocks:

1. Bleed area - The red-shaded bleed area extends out an extra 3mm from the solid black trim line. All images or colour that print to the edge of your design should be fully extended into this area to avoid the chance of white lines appearing. This will ensure that when trimmed, your design is printed edge to edge. Make sure not to place any important content or artwork elements in this area, as it will get trimmed off.

2. Trim Line - The solid black trim line shows the finished size of the document. Anything placed outside of this area will be trimmed off.

3. Safety Line - We recommend that no text or barcodes are placed outside the red dashed safety line, as anything placed outside of this box will risk being cut off.

Postage and Returns Management Areas

The grey, un-editable boxes shown on the canvas are for the postage and returns management areas. Text and barcode widgets can be placed in these areas but they will become opaque and you'll be presented with a warning. Any images placed in these areas will sit behind a white box outline of the area when printed.

Assets

Using the asset bar shown below, you can add a number of different assets to your Zap designs. ZAP~POST assets may include the following media types:

You can use the asset explorer on the right of the designer screen to select, rename, reorder and delete assets.

Duplicating Assets

Assets can be duplicated by either using CTRL C and then CTRL V, or by clicking the duplicate asset icon. This is useful when you might want to preserve the formatting of an asset, rather than starting from scratch on a new asset with default formatting.

Static Images

Clicking the static image icon will open the static image window.

Using the static image tool, you can click ‘upload’ to add up to 3 files at once. Accepted formats are jpeg, jpg, png, pdf and tiff. Files can be up to 5MB in size, however, tiff files can be up to 50mb.

These uploaded images are added to your static image library where you can access them at any time.

You can delete any unwanted images from your image library by selecting them and then clicking ‘delete’. You can also create folders in your static image library to organise your images.

To add an image into a Zap design, select it in the static image window then select ‘choose’. When an image has been added to the design, you can use the handles on the sides of the image to resize or rotate the image to your preferred size & position.

Text

By clicking the text icon, a text box will be added to the centre of a Zap design. You can use the handles on the sides of the text box to resize and reposition it.

Select the box to view the text controls in the sidebar. There are two controls worth mentioning here: variables and copy fitting.

Variables

This is how you add personalisation to your Zap designs. Select from the dropdown list to choose a personalisation.

When inserted into the design, a placeholder text will appear, this will look similar to ‘<~D:firstname~>’. When you upload your recipient data to ZAP~POST, any personalisations will be replaced with the relevant field from your data.

To preview how personalisations will look, you can toggle the preview personalisation to swap out the placeholder example data. By toggling this on you can then cycle through different sets of example data.

Date and Time Format

Along with customisation and variables, you can specify the date and time format that's displayed on their designs.

If the data contains a date or time as a custom field, you can select from the below.

Date Formats: Original Formatting MM/DD/YYYY - 12/25/2023 DD/MM/YYYY - 25/12/2023 Month DD YYYY - December 25 2023 DD Month YYYY - 25 December 2023 Time Formats: Original Formatting 24 Hour - 13:00 12 Hour - 1:00pm

Copy Fitting

This is directly related to Variables. If using a personalisation that potentially has different lengths of data (eg. a first name), copy fitting will ensure that the text will be automatically resized to still fit inside your text box. There are two types of copy-fitting:

1. Shrink Copy to fit area - this will decrease the font size to make the text fit inside the text box if it is too long.

2. Grow Copy to fit area - this will increase the font size to make the text as large as it can be within the text box.

'Shrink copy to fit area' is turned on by default, but both of these settings can be toggled on and off using the toggles.

QR Codes

QR codes can be inserted into any design by clicking on the QR code icon. When added to your design, you have four options to select from, Standard, Phone, Email and Tracked QR.

Standard QR

There are two options when defining a URL for the QR code. You can either choose a customisation that will use a URL stored within your data, or you can manually enter a URL using the text box field in the QR Code control sidebar. You can select the barcode colour along with the background colour and set a transparency for the background.

Phone QR

When selecting phone, you can either use a customisation found in your data or enter a fixed number. when this is scanned on a mobile device, that users phone will automatically start a call phone call to the number entered.

Email QR

When selecting email, once again, you can use customisations or enter the email address, subject and bodt text manually. When this is scanned, that user will automatically compile an email using the stating subject and body.

Tracked QR

If you select 'Tracked QR' from the drop down, you'll be shown a list of fields to populate, this will then create a UTM tracking URL for a Google Analytics campaign.

Website URL - the full website to direct your customers to (e.g. https://www.zappost.com) Campaign ID - used to identify which adds campaign this referral references. Use utm_id to identify a specific ads campaign. Campaign Source - use utm_source to identify a search engine, newsletter name, or other source. Campaign Medium - use utm_medium to identify a medium such as emails or cost-per-click Campaign Name - used for keyword analysis. Use utm_campaign to identify a specific product promotion or strategic campaign Campaign Term - used for paid search. Use utm_term to note the keywords for this ad. Campaign Content - used for A/B testing and content targeted ads. Use utm_content to differentiate ads or links that point to the same URL.

Adding ZAP Insights to QR Codes

QR Code usage can be easily tracked using ZAP~POST. By turning on the 'Add ZAP Insights' toggle switch, you can measure how many scans you receive from your Zap submission.

Fonts

With ZAP~POST, you can upload custom fonts for use in your ZAP designs. To do so, you should first select the ‘fonts’ icon from the asset bar to navigate to the font management area. From here, you can upload fonts in either .ttf or .otf file formats. You can view, edit or remove their existing custom fonts. Any fonts uploaded will be available to use in the text editor tool.

Background Colour

You can select a background colour for your design. On the right hand side under assets you will see an option called background. There are multiple ways you can choose your colour, RGB value HEX value HSV value

Saving Designs

There are two reasons you will want to save your design: 1. To be able to come back later and amend them 2. If you sign up to an account, the design will be waiting for you in the ZAP APP

Saving you design is easy, click 'file' and then 'Save' or click on the save icon in the designer.

AutoSave

The Auto Save feature ensures that your work is continuously saved after every change you make, providing a safety net against unexpected disruptions or crashes.

You have the flexibility to toggle the Auto Save feature on or off, based on your preference and workflow. To turn autosave on, click the toggle next to the save icon in the designer.

Autosave will be turned on by default when you create a campaign. If you have not yet saved a design for that campaign, then autosave will create a file for you. This file can be found in your saved designs folder in the Zap Designer accessed from the file dropdown menu.

Create an account

When you're happy with your design, and you've saved your changes, you can create an account by clicking Sign up

Intro

The ZAP~POST Web App or 'ZAPP' is the app that provides most of the ZAP~POST functionality.

ZAP~POST allows you to send Direct Mail to your customers, just as easily as sending them an email. Using the ZAP~POST app you can:

• Create multiple direct mail campaigns to send to your customers.

• Design direct mail (Zaps) to look exactly how you want it, and personalise it for each and every recipient.

• Upload your customer’s address data to create timely and relevant direct mail which will drive re-engagement. A basic overview of task roadmap in ZAP~POST:

5. Tracking your Zap campaigns

How to Authenticate

You have two options when logging into Zapp. You can authenticate via your ZAP~POST username and password or via your existing SMARTSlip account.

If you wish to log in via your SMARTSlip account, you will be redirected to the SMARTSlip login page. You can then provide your username and password and will be automatically returned to the ZAPP.

Password Reset

Initial Sign up

In order to sign up to ZAP~POST, you will need to provide an email address and a password.

If you have any issue with this process you can either utilise the chat widget to communicate with the team or email 'help@zappost.com' using the subject line 'Support Required'.

Activation Email

Upon successful completion of the form, you will be sent an automated email asking you to activate your account by proving ownership of the email account provided. As this email has an expiration period, you should activate your account as soon as possible.

Once you have followed the link, you will be successfully signed up to the app and will be able to log in to continue your sign-up process.

Successful Activation

Expired Activation

If you are late when attempting to activate your account, you will be presented with an error and the option to generate another email to try again.

Company Information

With your account setup completed, the next step is to set up your business on ZAP~POST. To complete this step, you must fill in your company name, contact phone number, and company address. You can also upload a logo for your company.

Invite Users

The next step of the account creation process is inviting your colleagues to your company account. You can invite up to 10 people at this stage of the process by entering their email address and then selecting their roles/access within ZAP~POST.

The roles available are:

• Admin - Admins can access all features, settings, and user permissions.

• Billing - Provides access to billing information on the portal.

• CP Editor - Users can edit and save content in the content portal editor.

• CP Publisher - Users can publish content in the content portal editor.

• Reporting - Provides access to reporting screens for Zaps, including existing campaigns.

• Data - Users can upload and download data to the Zap account.

This step can be skipped if you do not wish to invite any users at this stage.

Plan Selection

The next step is for you to select which Zap plan you are signing up for.

There are four categories of plans to choose from:

Monthly plans (Basic, Standard, Pro, Premium, Enterprise)

With monthly plans, you will pay for a set number of Zaps which must be used in the following month. Data cleansing and returns management are included as standard in all of our plans. With a monthly plan, any unused Zap credits will not be rolled over to the following month for use. Any Zap credits which have been earned from data cleanses will be available to use in the following month. With a monthly plan, you can cancel with 30 days' notice.

Annual plans (Basic, Standard, Pro, Premium, Enterprise)

With annual plans, you will pay for a set number of Zaps which can be used at any time in the following year. Data cleansing and returns management are included as standard. Any Zap credits which have been earned from data cleanses will be available to use in the following month from which they were earned. With an annual plan, you can cancel with 30 days' notice.

Trial plans (Basic, Standard, Pro, Premium, Enterprise)

With trial plans, you will pay for a set number of Zaps which can only be used within the trial period (3 months). Trial plans have access to the same rates which annual users enjoy. Data cleansing and returns management are included as standard. Any Zap credits which have been earned from data cleanses will be available to use in the following month from which they were earned (provided the client upgrade to either a monthly or annual plan following the trial period). With a trial plan, there is no need to cancel following the trial period.

PAYG plans (Basic, Standard, Pro, Premium, Enterprise)

With PAYG plans, you only pay for the Zaps you use with no monthly cost. Data cleansing and returns management are included as standard in all of our plans. With a PAYG plan, you can at any time.

Template Selection

Zaps come in a number of different formats. On this screen, you will choose the material and size of paper which is used to send out your Zaps. This choice can be changed from within the app once signup is complete.

Summary

This is the final stage of the setup process.

Once you've created your account and set up your company with ZAP~POST, you will be taken to the ZAPP. This is the web application from which you can manage the creation of your Direct Mail campaigns.

The dashboard is the screen you arrive at once you have logged in to ZAP~POST. From the Dashboard, you can navigate to the rest of the ZAP~POST app.

App navigation

From the dashboard there are two ways you can navigate to the other parts of ZAP~POST:

Header Nav

Using the icons at the top of the page in the header section, you can navigate to the different areas of the app.

Tiles

Using the links on the tiles on the dashboard page, you can navigate to specific areas of the app you will need to visit in order to start sending Zaps.

Trees

To get started, follow these steps:

Campaign Creation

Designer

Adding a dynamic image to your design couldn't be easier, choose 'Dynamic Image' from the widget toolbar.

By selecting 'Dynamic Image' a placeholder will automatically be added to the canvas. Once on the canvas you can treat it as any other image by moving and resizing as desired.

When clicking on the placeholder, you'll see the management area. Here you need to click on the 'Custom Field' drop down and select the field you would like the image to be mapped to.

Using the management area, you can adjust the exact width and height of the placeholder.

Proofing

At this point your campaign should be set up, the design created and published, and ready for data upload.

Uploading Data

On the 'campaigns' screen you should see an option to 'Upload CSV to send Zaps'

Once you have the CSV upload icon, you will be asked to select a send date for your campaign.

After choosing your send date, you will be asked to select a CSV. This will then go through validation; this includes checking header names, missing columns, missing mandatory data, etc. You will either receive a confirmation or failure to upload.

Field Mapping

When initially viewing field mapping, the ZAP APP will try to automatically map fields it can identify irrelevant of casing. For example, the template header expects to see Firstname, as the CSV header is First Name it is automatically mapped.

For any fields that cannot be automatically mapped, you will be able to select the drop down under 'CSV Headers' to choose with field the ZAP APP should get the data from.

You will not be able to confirm your changes until, as a minimum, all mandatory fields are mapped.

Upon clicking confirm, the ZAP APP will continue validation, checking missing mandatory data and any validation requirements.

You will either receive a confirmation or failure to upload.

Data Upload (Failure)

If the ZAP~APP fails to upload the CSV, you will be given two options: 1. Ignore and continue - this will process the CSV, ignoring any failed records. 2. Download and fix records - this will automatically download a failure report, highlighting which records failed and why.

After you have corrected or removed any failed records, you can upload the file again from the campaigns page.

Null Handling

If you find yourself wishing for Null to appear on one of more of your records due to being a Street Name or even a Surname, then The ZAP APP can handle 'Null' entries when it comes to CSV uploads.

After uploading a CSV if the ZAP APP identifies a 'Null' record then it will be highlighted after the field mapping process.

Data Upload (Success)

Once your CSV has uploaded successfully, you will see a confirmation of upload. Upon clicking the 'Next' link in the bottom right, you will be shown a 'Campaign confirmation'.

This will confirm: - Number of Zaps - Campaign Name - Date of Send - Estimated Arrival - Zaps Used (out of the total remaining on your account)

Clicking the 'Confirm' link will save your data and campaign.

Uploading Data using an Integration

Various integrations are available to connect your data directly with ZAP~POST, these include:

• Klaviyo

• Hubspot

• DotDigital

• Patchworks

Deceased and gone away checks are included as part of ZAP~POST's data cleansing process. These checks are performed against a list of 3rd party services/agencies.

Deceased services/agencies

The Bereavement Register MPS (Mailing Preference Service) Mortascreen

Gone Away services/agencies

GAS (Goneaway Suppression File) Information Works Goneaway NCOA Suppress (National Change of Address)

Data cleansing is the process of checking the accuracy of records using the Postcode Address File as well as a database of Deceased or Gone Away recipients. Data filtering, PAF check, and data cleansing are all included as part of the ZAP~POST process.

As part of the data cleansing process, we provide all clients with a 'Cleanse Report' at the end of each campaign. This report will highlight any records from the original submission that failed a PAF, deceased, or gone away check.

Accessing Insights

Once a submission has been created, the next step track how well it performs. To access the Insights area of the Zap App, select the ‘insights’ icon in the ZAP~POST header

QR Code Scans

First click the 'Insights' icon in the app header. You will then reach the page shown below, which shows two graphs. The graph on the left shows a breakdown of how many QR codes have been scanned for each campaign you are currently running. The graph on the right shows the total number of QR scans across all of your Zap campaigns on a per monthly basis.

You can also download csv files of the date using the download button at the top right of each graph. Finally, you can change the date range shown on the graph by using the date filters at the top of the page.

As part of address processing, ZAP~POST takes the records you've submitted and uploads them to the Postcode Address File aka PAF.

The UK Postcode Address File (PAF) is a database that contains all known 'delivery points' and postcodes in the United Kingdom. The 'delivery points' held on the PAF are routing instructions used by Royal Mail to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately.

During this process, we check your submission records against PAF. Any discrepancies from the submission are then amended in the PAF - this file is owned and maintained by Royal Mail.

The tours have been designed to help you through the app for the first time or if you just need a reminder of how things work.

The following tours are available: Dashboard Campaign Management New Campaign Wizard Designer Processing Account Settings

These tours are available by visiting the relevant page, clicking on the user drop down and selecting 'Tour Page'

If you would like to take all of the available tours in one, you can always choose 'Take Zapp Tour'

ZAP Processing page

To navigate to the ZAP Processing page, click the ‘processing’ icon in the header of ZAP~POST.

From the ZAP processing page, you may see important information relating to each submission: - Date Submitted - This is the date the original submission was uploaded to the campaign - Submission ID - A unique submission ID (for future use with ZAP~API) - Count of Records - The number of records on initial upload, prior to any data cleansing results and a link to download the original submission data. - Paper Stock - The paper being used for the submission - Campaign Name - The name of the campaign the data has been submitted against - View/Edit Design - You can use this to amend which design a submission uses - Accepted Data - The number of accepted records following the PAF and Cleanse process - Failed Cleanse Records - Details of all records that fail the PAF and Cleanse process - Zaps Created - The number of Zaps to be printed and posted - Frequency Rejected - Details of any records that have been rejected due to the accounts frequency settings - Scheduled For - The date Zaps are due to send - Download Returns - Provides a list of records for any Zaps that have been returned to sender - QR Code Tracking - A report highlighting which customers scanned a QR code and when

Downloading Original Submission Data

Users can download their original submission data by clicking the download icon in the 'Count of Records' column on the processing page

View or Edit Design

If you've already submitted data and realised you need to change your design. You can make changes to your design, save and publish your changes and select the new design from this screen.

Click on the View/Edit Design icon and select 'Change Design'

You'll then be prompted to select a new front and back panel.

Once you've selected your new design, you'll be able to specify which submission(s) you would like to update.

Once you've selected which submission is updated, click 'Save and Exit'

The paper stock screen (found under 'Settings') in the ZAP~APP allows you to choose which paper stock is used when printing your ZAPs.

ZAP~POST: Send Direct Mail

ZAP~POST is the UK’s leading Direct Mail platform, created for marketing teams and agencies to design, automate, and send high-impact, data-driven campaigns that are printed and mailed in the post. Our seamless integrations, smart personalisation tools, and tracking features make it easy to connect with customers through highly targeted print.

Our website contains all the answers to your questions on ‘who we are’ and these documentation guides aim to solve any further technical topic you may wish to learn about.

Drop-in Designer: Instant Access to Direct Mail Creation

• No sign-ups required upfront

• Choose from expertly-crafted templates for all industries

• Or start building from scratch

• Full customisation options including fonts, colours, QR codes and variable data

Our Drop-in Designer lets you create, customise, and preview campaigns in minutes. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to print, getting started has never been easier.

What are ZAP Credits?

ZAP Credits are the currency used within the ZAPP to facilitate sending Zaps. Each tier of plan awards more credits which are then consumed with each ZAP send.

Credit Refunds

We give some clients credits after each campaign has been completed. Credits are given if a ZAP is not sent following the Data Cleansing process. As the data cleansing process is included in the cost of Zapping, we can't refund it. Therefore, we issue a credit in its place. ZAP credits are associated with your account rather than your plan. They will also only roll over to the next billing period - after that, they are lost.

User management (found under 'Settings') is where you can enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your account.

This screen also allows you to see your total number of current users, a breakdown of user roles, and a table outlining each user, email, role, and status.

The account details screen (found under 'Settings') in the ZAP~APP allows you to view and amend your company details, logo, and sector. This screen includes an address finder for updating your company address.

Notifications (found under 'Settings') allows you to make changes to your notification preferences within this dedicated page.

See below for a list of available emails with a brief description of each one.

Notifications

• Data Submission - Confirmation of a submission upload whether that's via the app or API

• Invited User - When a new user is added to your account

• Campaign Creation - Confirmation a campaign has been successfully created

• Cleansed Data - Confirmation when your records have been cleansed

• Publish Confirmation - Confirmation of a successful design publish

Reminders

• Feedback Requests (Publisher) - Request for feedback when a design is published

• Feedback Requests (Campaigns) - Request for feedback when a campaign is created

• Notice of Upcoming Renewal - Reminder that you ZAP Plan is due for renewal

• Inactivity Reminder - Reminder when there has been no activity on your ZAP account

• Publish Reminder - Reminder that a design has been saved but not published

Updates

• Mailing Updates - Update informing you that your ZAPs have gone to print

• Changelog Updates - News on when new exciting features are released to the ZAP app

• Summary Email - A weekly email highlight the summary for that week, including sent and returned ZAPs

Required Emails (opt-in essential)

• Plan Cancellation - A confirmation that you've opted to cancel your ZAP Plan

• Change of Plan - A confirmation that you've either upgraded or downgraded your ZAP Plan

To enable or disable emails, simply check the box next to the relevant email and click save changes.

The plan page (found under 'Settings') in the ZAP~APP allows you to view your current plan type as well as upgrade. downgrade and cancel your plan.

It includes how many ZAPs are remaining on your account, how many credits have been issued, and any extra ZAPs that have been used over your initial sign-up limit.

Upgrade/Downgrade

To upgrade or downgrade your plan, click on 'Change Plan' and select the new plan you wish to change to, you'll have the option to change to a monthly or annual plan.

Once you've selected your new plan, you'll see a confirmation pop up to confirm your changes. When downgrading your plan, this will happen on your plans renewal date. When upgrading your plan, you have the option to upgrade now or upgrade on your next renewal date.

Once you've chosen to either downgrade your plan or upgrade it on the next renewal date, you'll then have the option to cancel your changes.

To cancel your changes, go ahead and click 'Cancel Upgrade'.

Cancellation

To cancel your plan entirely, click on 'Cancel Plan', you'll see a pop up confirmation asking if you wish to proceed, plan cancellations always happen on your next renewal date.

Accessing the Designer

Once a campaign has been created, the next step is to create a design. There are various ways to get to the ZAP~POST designer: - By selecting the ‘design’ icon in the ZAP~POST header - Or via the dashboard.

Users may also get to the designer by clicking the design button next to the specific campaign on the campaign overview page.

ZAP~POST Designer

The ZAP~POST designer is a tool that allows you to easily create direct mail designs for specific mail campaigns. With the design tool, you can add images, text, customisations, and QR codes to your Zap designs. You can keep your designs on-brand and within your brand guidelines by uploading your own fonts into ZAP~POST. You can also save designs for later; these will be ready to use again whenever they are needed.

Printer's Marks

Depending on the paper stock you have chosen for your campaign, there will be a number of different lines shown on your canvas. Simply put, these lines are quality control methods that help to achieve the professional print and finish your designs deserve.

The visibility of these lines can be turned on/off using the view settings submenu.

There are 3 key printer's marks shown on the Impact, Mini and Secure paper stocks:

1. Bleed area - The red-shaded bleed area extends out an extra 3mm from the solid black trim line. All images or colour that print to the edge of your design should be fully extended into this area to avoid the chance of white lines appearing. This will ensure that when trimmed, your design is printed edge to edge. Make sure not to place any important content or artwork elements in this area, as it will get trimmed off.

2. Trim Line - The solid black trim line shows the finished size of the document. Anything placed outside of this area will be trimmed off.

3. Safety Line - We recommend that no text or barcodes are placed outside the red dashed safety line, as anything placed outside of this box will risk being cut off.

Postage and Returns Management Areas

The grey, un-editable boxes shown on the canvas are for the postage and returns management areas. Text and barcode widgets can be placed in these areas but they will become opaque and you'll be presented with a warning. Any images placed in these areas will sit behind a white box outline of the area when printed.

Assets

Using the asset bar shown below, you can add a number of different assets to your Zap designs. ZAP~POST Assets may include the following media types:

Duplicating Assets

Assets can be duplicated by either using CTRL C and then CTRL V, or by clicking the duplicate asset icon. This is useful when you might want to preserve the formatting of an asset, rather than starting from scratch on a new asset with default formatting.

Static Images

Clicking the static image icon will open the static image window.

Using the static image tool, you can click ‘upload’ to add up to 3 files at once. Accepted formats are jpeg, jpg, png, pdf and tiff. Files can be up to 5MB in size, however, tiff files can be up to 50mb.

These uploaded images are added to your static image library where you can access them at any time.

You can delete any unwanted images from your image library by selecting them and then clicking ‘delete’. You can also create folders in your static image library to organise your images.

To add an image into a Zap design, select it in the static image window then select ‘choose’. When an image has been added to the design, you can use the handles on the sides of the image to resize or rotate the image to your preferred size & position.

Text

By clicking the text icon, a text box will be added to the centre of a Zap design. You can use the handles on the sides of the text box to resize and reposition it. Select the box to view the text controls in the sidebar. There are two controls worth mentioning here: variables and copy fitting.

Variables

This is how you add personalisation to your Zap designs. Select from the dropdown list to choose a personalisation.

When inserted into the design, a placeholder text will appear, this will look similar to ‘<~D:firstname~>’. When you upload your recipient data to ZAP~POST, any personalisations will be replaced with the relevant field from your data.

To preview how personalisations will look, you can toggle the preview personalisation to swap out the placeholder example data. By toggling this on you can then cycle through different sets of example data.

Date and Time Format

Date and Time Format

Along with customisation and variables, clients can specify the date and time format that's displayed on their designs.

If the data contains a date or time as a custom field, clients can select from the below.

Date Formats: Original Formatting MM/DD/YYYY - 12/25/2023 DD/MM/YYYY - 25/12/2023 Month DD YYYY - December 25 2023 DD Month YYYY - 25 December 2023 Time Formats: Original Formatting 24 Hour - 13:00 12 Hour - 1:00pm

Copy Fitting

This is directly related to Variables. If using a personalisation that potentially has different lengths of data (eg. a first name), copy fitting will ensure that the text will be automatically resized to still fit inside your text box. There are two types of copy-fitting:

1. Shrink Copy to fit area - this will decrease the font size to make the text fit inside the text box if it is too long.

2. Grow Copy to fit area - this will increase the font size to make the text as large as it can be within the text box.

'Shrink copy to fit area' is turned on by default, but both of these settings can be toggled on and off using the toggles.

QR Codes

QR codes can be inserted into any design by clicking on the QR code icon. When added to your design, you have four options to select from, Standard, Phone, Email and Tracked QR.

Standard QR

There are two options when defining a URL for the QR code. You can either choose a customisation that will use a URL stored within your data, or you can manually enter a URL using the text box field in the QR Code control sidebar. You can select the barcode colour along with the background colour and set a transparency for the background.

Phone QR

When selecting phone, you can either use a custimation found in your data or enter a fixed number. when this is scanned on a mobile device, that users phone will automatically start a call phone call to the number entered.

Email QR

When selecting email, once again, you can use customisations or enter the email address, subject and bodt text manually. When this is scanned, that user will automatically compile an email using the stating subject and body.

Tracked QR

If you select 'Tracked QR' from the drop down, you'll be shown a list of fields to populate, this will then create a UTM tracking URL for a Google Analytics campaign.

Website URL - the full website to direct your customers to (e.g. https://www.zappost.com) Campaign ID - used to identify which adds campaign this referral references. Use utm_id to identify a specific ads campaign. Campaign Source - use utm_source to identify a search engine, newsletter name, or other source. Campaign Medium - use utm_medium to identify a medium such as emails or cost-per-click Campaign Name - used for keyword analysis. Use utm_campaign to identify a specific product promotion or strategic campaign Campaign Term - used for paid search. Use utm_term to note the keywords for this ad. Campaign Content - used for A/B testing and content targeted ads. Use utm_content to differentiate ads or links that point to the same URL.

Adding ZAP Insights to QR Codes

QR Code usage can be easily tracked using ZAP~POST. By turning on the 'Add ZAP Insights' toggle switch, you can measure how many scans you receive from your Zap submission.

Fonts

With ZAP~POST, you can upload custom fonts for use in your ZAP designs. To do so, you should first select the ‘fonts’ icon from the asset bar to navigate to the font management area. From here, you can upload fonts in either .ttf or .otf file formats. You can view, edit or remove their existing custom fonts. Any fonts uploaded will be available to use in the text editor tool.

Background Colour

You can select a background colour for your design. On the right hand side under assets you will see an option called background. There are multiple ways you can choose your colour, RGB value HEX value HSV value

Saving and loading designs

There are two reasons you will want to save your designs:

1. To be able to publish it to be the live design for your campaign

2. To use the design again in the future without having to start again from scratch.

Saving your designs is easy. Click ‘file’, then click on ‘save’. If you are saving your design for the first time, a window titled ‘your saved designs’ will launch. You will then need to give your design a name before hitting ‘save’ on the window. If you have already saved your design previously, then clicking save will overwrite the existing save with the design shown in the design area. If you want to change the name of the design or create a new copy, click ‘file’ and then click ‘save as’. Give your design a new name by filling in the bottom text box in the window, then click 'save'.

To open a previously saved design, click ‘file’ and then click ‘open’. This will launch the window of your saved designs where you can click on the design you wish to load into the panel. Once you have clicked the thumbnail of the design you want to load, click ‘choose’ to load it into the panel.

To make finding your saved designs easier, you can also create folders within the ‘your saved designs’ explorer.

Saved designs are specific to either the front or back of your Zaps, but can be used across multiple campaign types. If a saved design uses a variable that is not available in a different campaign type, you will be warned of this when you load the saved design into the new campaign. You will then need to change the variable before you can proceed to save or publish the design.

AutoSave

The Auto Save feature ensures that your work is continuously saved after every change you make, providing a safety net against unexpected disruptions or crashes.

You have the flexibility to toggle the Auto Save feature on or off, based on your preference and workflow. To turn autosave on, click the toggle next to the save icon in the designer.

Autosave will be turned on by default when you create a campaign. If you have not yet saved a design for that campaign, then autosave will create a file for you. This file can be found in your saved designs folder in the Zap Designer accessed from the file dropdown menu.

Proofing

Before you start sending out your campaign, you may wish to generate a proof to check that your design works how you intend it to. The proofing process will create a pdf using either your data or a sample set of data, which you can then download to your computer to check if it is up to standard.

How to proof your designs

To begin the proofing process, click the proofing icon. This will take you to the first step of the proofing wizard. You can leave this wizard at any time by clicking the ‘back to content portal’ link at the top left.

The first step of the wizard requires you to select the saved design you wish to use for the proofing process. You will do this for the front of your Zap, and then repeat the process on the next step for the back of your Zap. If you need to go back and change your selected designs, you can do this by clicking ‘back’ in the bottom left corner of the screen.

With the designs for the proof chosen, you will now be presented with two options:

1. Use example data

2. Use your own data

If you choose to use the example data to generate your proof, any variable and address info in your designs will be completed using a predefined data set. This enables you to get a proof generated even if you don’t have any data yet ready to try your design with. The predefined data set consists of 20 example customers resulting in a pdf of 20 Zaps (front & back).

If you prefer utilising your own data to create your proof, simply upload a CSV file for your campaign through our user-friendly proofing wizard. Please note that the maximum limit for records on the uploaded CSV is 50. Once uploaded, we'll generate up to 50 Zaps for you, incorporating your design and data.

The final step of the wizard is to click ‘generate proof’ and then wait for your proof to be made. Once it is ready, a download link will appear which you can click to download your Zap proof file.

Common Problems with Proofing

Publishing

In order to start uploading data to your campaign, you must first publish one of your saved designs.

How to Publish your designs

To publish a design for a campaign, make sure the campaign you wish to publish for is selected within the designer. With the campaign selected, click the ‘publish’ button to show the publishing options:

1. Publish - clicking this will launch the publish wizard

2. View published design - clicking this will launch a pop up showing you what the current published design is for this campaign.

3. Share published artwork - clicking this will copy a link to your clipboard. Anyone who clicks this link will have pdf of the published design for this campaign downloaded to their machine.

Publishing Wizard

On the first screen of the wizard, choose the saved design you wish to publish for the front of your Zap campaign then click ‘next step’. On the following screen, choose the saved design you wish to publish for the back of your Zap campaign. With both sides of your Zap chosen, you will now need to create a proof which you will be required to sign off on in order to publish.

With the saved designs for the campaign chosen, you will now be presented with two options to generate the proof:

1. Use example data

2. Use your own data

If you choose to use the example data to generate your proof, any variable and address info in your designs will be completed using a predefined data set. This enables you to get a proof generated even if you don’t have any data yet ready to try your design with. The predefined data set consists of 20 example customers resulting in a pdf of 20 Zaps (front & back).

If you want to use your own data to generate your proof, you can do this by uploading a CSV for your campaign to the proofing wizard. We will generate up to 50 Zaps for you using your design and data. If you upload a CSV with more than 50 records, then we will take the first 50 records from the CSV and use those to create your proof.

The next step of the wizard is to click ‘generate proof’ and then wait for your proof to be made. Once it is ready, a download link will appear which you can click to download your Zap proof file.

After you have downloaded the proof file and checked it is all ok, you will be able to click ‘next’ and proceed to the final sign-off and publish page. Here, you will see a summary of what you are publishing: the materials, the data source, the campaign you are publishing for, and the saved designs you are using. If you are happy with all of this, click ‘sign & publish’ to publish the designs for the campaign. You should now be taken back to the designer where you will see a notification to let you know your design has been published.

After publishing your designs, you are now ready to upload data to your campaign and start sending Zaps.

Paper Stock Design File Download

You may download Adobe InDesign files for each of the Paper stock options here:

• Zap A5 Postcard - 210mm x 148mm postcard, 250gsm, FSC paper

• Zap A5 OPM - 336mm x 210mm, tri fold, 350gsm, FSC paper

The InDesign files are designed to provide you with the creative guidelines to produce imagery and content for your Zap campaign. You can use these file to create designs in InDesign and export them into the Zap App or you can design your Zap directly inside the Zap App.

Important things to remember:

Add any variable text, or dynamic content like variable images or QR codes directly in the ZAP App, as opposed to saved into the images you export out of InDesign.

Best practices:

• 300dpi/ppi print resolution

• Images in CMYK colour space (not RGB) as .jpgs with no compression

• Ensure images extend to the red bleed line to allow for trimming.

• Keep important text or detail inside the safe zone, denoted by the red dashed line

• When exporting jpg images from our templates, use settings as shown: (Note - ‘Use Document Bleed Settings is ticked on)

ZAP~POST is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and, in doing so, adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines.

This site has been built using a high standard of HTML and CSS. The site displays correctly in current browsers and using high standard HTML/CSS code means any future browsers will also display it correctly.

Whilst ZAP~POST strive to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website.

We are continually seeking out solutions that will bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility. In the meantime should you experience any difficulty in accessing the ZAP~POST website, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

To get started, follow these steps:

Campaign Overview page

To navigate to the campaigns overview page, click the ‘campaigns’ icon in the header of ZAP~POST.

On the campaign overview page, you can create new campaigns, edit existing ones, or view archived campaigns. Make sure to configure the campaign settings appropriately.

Creating a Campaign

To create a new campaign, click the ‘add new campaign’ link at the top right of the campaign overview page, this will launch the campaign creation wizard.

The first screen of the wizard requires you to choose a paper stock.

Paper stock

After you have selected your paper stock, you can either choose to 'Use Template' or to 'Start From Scratch':

Choosing to use a template

If you choose to use a template, you will see the screen below. The templates shown will be based on your chosen sector. If you change the sector in the dropdown, you can then see the templates available for different sectors. When you have made a selection, you will have two options: 1. Next Step - Navigates to naming you campaign 2. Edit Fields - Gives you ability to edit the campaign fields

Starting from Scratch

Custom Field Setup

After choosing 'start from scratch' for your campaign, you will now be able to create and edit the custom fields. These custom fields allow you to choose data specific for your campaigns and customer data to be displayed on your Direct Mail campaigns.

When selecting 'add new custom field', you will be able to create the following:

Further options on the field creation wizard include the data type. All data types are listed below, including variable fields based on each data type.

The final customisation option when creating a new field for your template is 'Validation Expressions'. This can be used to define a collection of regular expressions (should the field require its own unique validation).

When you have finished setting up your field, please click the 'save changes' button in the bottom right of the page followed by the 'submit' button.

Naming your Campaign

The following screen is where you will give your campaign a name. When you are finished naming your campaign, click the ‘next step’ button again.

This will take you to the final screen of the campaign creation wizard where you have two options.

1. You can press the ‘save and download CSV' button which will save the campaign and download the CSV template which you will need later to upload data into ZAP~POST.

2. You can press ‘save and exit’ which will save the campaign and take you back to the campaign overview page.

You can still download the campaign CSV template from the campaign overview page at a later time.

The final step is confirmation that you can use on of our integration partners.

Default Data

When sending a Zap Campaign, there is a set of required data that every campaign must have in order to send out a Zap. There are a few bits of validation around the Default Data which are important to note when trying to troubleshoot issues with data uploading via CSV or ingestion via the API.

Campaign Statuses

There are four possible campaign statuses in ZAP~POST. These can be seen in the column marked ‘status’ on the table of your campaigns on the campaign management page.

Will it work with my website?

Where does the paper come from for ZAP~POST?

What is the quality of the printing presses used?

We use the highest quality HP Indigo colour production grade printing presses for our Zaps. Not to get too geeky about it, this print tech has unmatched colour and ink capabilities, can print on a broad range of substrates in the digital print industry and deliver the highest speeds for high print quality. Most importantly this ensures your Zaps are in the hands of your customers quickly and to a high standard- reflecting your brand in the best possible way.

The frequency screen (found under 'Settings') in the ZAP~APP allows you to determine two things, GDPR purge and ZAP sends.

GDPR Purge

How often the ZAP~POST system will purge customer data. The countdown timer will begin on the send date for each ZAP campaign.

ZAP Sends

More is not always better. In the same way as bombarding your customers with too many emails will turn them off of your brand, direct mail is no different. This allows you to prevent individual recipients from receiving more than one ZAP within a configurable time period.

To navigate to the Settings page, click on the settings icon in the ZAP~APP navigation bar.

Once on the settings page, you have access to amend or view the below. - User Management - Add and manage users associated with the ZAP account - Default Paper Stock- Select the paper size used for ZAPs - Frequency - Set how often a GDPR purge occurs and prevent individual recipients from receiving more than one ZAP within a configurable time period - Account Details - Change company details - Notifications - Manager your notification preferences - Plan & Billing - View plan settings including used and remaining ZAPs - API Consumers - Generate and view API Keys for the ZAPI - Zap History - View a breakdown of your send history - Webhooks - Generate, view and manage your webhooks

How much does it cost?

How long will it take to get set up?

Quicker than you can say ‘Zap me baby one more time’... But in all seriousness you can be up and Zapping in minutes. Select your campaign, customise your design and with your integration(s) connected - we’ll take care of the rest.

What's a ZAP credit?

A credit given should a zap not be sent following the “data cleanse process” of all ZAP~POST addresses provided.

Why can't I get a refund instead of a Zap credit?

Data cleansing is usually subsidised by ZAP~POST. Most companies charge a separate fee for data-cleansing services. As ZAP~POST doesn't charge for it, we can't refund it, but we issue credits instead.

How long do the ZAP credits last

Zap Credits roll over to your next billing period. Use them or lose them.

If a plan is upgraded or downgraded, what happens to any Zap Credits?

Zap Credits are associated to an Account not a plan.

What's included in the Zap tier pricing?

The kitchen sink. The price of a zap includes print and post, but it goes way beyond that. Data filtering, PAF check and data cleanse is included. Portal access to upload and your creatives and add any dynamic codes, QRs and barcodes. Any available data integrations are included too, and we're adding more all the time. Returns management is also in the price.

Why are some tiers cheaper than others?

Economies of scale. The more we send, so the price goes down. Think of it as the opposite to easyjet - surge pricing in reverse.

I can send booklets for the same as your postcards?

Zapology: Less is more. Be relevant, personal, and timely. Your goal is to drive users back to your website where products and services will always be up to date. Remember the NEXT Directory?

How soon can I cancel?

With a rolling monthly contract, you can stop your account anytime. You will be able to keep on Zapping until your next billing date, and after that you’ll need to restart your plan to send more Zaps.

Technical

Plan and Pricing

Artwork and Content

Data

Mailing

Environmental

Colour profiles

You should upload artwork output to CMYK, not RGB as this is a print campaign. Remember, your computer screen is RGB, so the colours will look different when you upload to the content portal but don't worry - the printed output will match your CMYK images.

Preferred file type

The Content Portal accepts PDF, .JPG and .PNG. Our advice is to use .JPG for images and .PNG where the image is mainly text.

Max file size you can accept?

Each image must be not more than 5mb. You can upload multiple images per side or panel.

Can I use my own Fonts?

Yes, upload any fonts you have permission or licence to use as long as they are .ttf and .otf formats.

What do you mean by 'print-ready artwork'?

ZAP~POST takes care of everything to do with printing - the only thing you need to make sure of is that the images are full bleed - in other words, they cover the white image canvas entirely, if that is your design intention.

Can you offer Design assistance?

Yes, we have in-house design services at ZAP~POST - use the chat window, or drop an email to hello@zappost.com to find out more. You can buy Design time in 2, 5 or 10 hour chunks.

A 3rd party agency does my artwork - can they send it to you directly?

You can add your agency as a user so they can upload directly to the Design tool in the app. That way you and your agency can work collaboratively to create the results you want, first time.

Can you give me some inspiration and examples?

What do other brands do with QR codes?

QR codes are your fabulously flexible friend :) . A top tip is 'go deep, or go home'. A QR can be dynamically created to create a personalised experience for each recipient. QR code best uses in a Zap include linking straight to a customer's basket, wish list, email subscribe page and a personalised page of product recommendations.

Can I add my branding to the design of my Zaps?

Logos, images, text, custom fields and trackable codes; all this and more can be part of your designs. It’s also easy to create your Zaps for each campaign with our intuitive drag & drop editor.

I don’t know what to put on my Zap?

What do other brands do with discount codes?

If you want to keep things simple, Zap advice is to generate a one time, single use code with an expiry date no more than 30 days from the intended send date. Discounts can be either Percentage off, or an absolute value, on a minimum spend. Both work. If you're unsure which works best, the easy answer is to test both, and see which one is the winner - split testing is easy - start a chat session to down below to find out how.

Can I make QR Codes personal to each customer or do they have to be generic?

If ZAP~POST had a middle name, it would be 'Personalisation'. Our strong advice is every recipient of every campaign should receive a personalised Zap. Honestly, if its just generic one-size-fits-all content, you can get it done cheaper elsewhere, but don't expect the same level of results.

Can you help me create the QR codes?

Unique QR Code generation is part and parcel, out-of-the-box functionality. Select the QR code, add variables, and add tracking too, so you have a dynamically created, personalised and trackable QR code for every Recipient. If you need help setting it up, hit the chat button below, or drop an email to support@zappost.com

Will I receive a proof to approve?

You can download a proof of every campaign at any point. Once downloaded, you can print it locally on any device. If you want a printer's proof from ZAP~POST, you can request one, but of course it will delay your campaign going live. We recommend adding yourself and one or two colleagues as 'seeds' in your recipient data so you get the actual printed version through your own letterbox.

I don't want to send a postcard - is that all you do?

Do you track QR codes scans or do we?

Yes! QR codes in ZAP~POST are automatically set to trackable. We can provide insights into which of your customers are scanning the codes and when.

What's PAF?

Do you use Royal Mail or other carriers?

In the UK, ultimately 'Postie' always delivers, regardless of which carrier is used. ZAP~POST will use any carrier based on factors at that time, including price, performance and network availability.

What if we don't want to send on your schedules?

We'll get to daily sends soon enough, but if you want to do a solo send, yes, just let us know the date you want a campaign to land and we'll advise the best send date.

I want to time the landing of my campaign with a new product launch - what's the timeframe to do this?

When you're ready, choose a send date in the app, or via the API. You can expect your Zaps to start landing two or three days after the send date. If your preferred send date is not in the app, start a webchat, or send an email to hello@zappost.com to request one.

Can I send first class or only second?

Zap pricing is based on second class mail. If you want to go first class, great, but we'll need to give you some first class pricing :) First class pricing is not available on the website so please get in touch.

What's a good volume for a trial?

There's your time and effort to consider here, not just the ZAP~POST cost. Zap advice is go for a minimum of 1,000 recipients for a trial, and try two different messages or offers, so you have enough data to make an informed decision about your programmatic direct mail future.

Why are your postcards so big?

Some times, 'less is more'. Not when it comes to Zaps. There are two postcards: "Impact" and "A5". Impact Zaps are huge, premium postcards. If there's a crowd on the doormat, or on the kitchen table, a Zap stands out from the crowd. Impact cards are printed on 350gsm high quality FSC paper stock.

A5 Postcards are just that, 148mm x 210mm. They are printed on premium 250gsm FSC coated stock.

What about returns?

Because your data has been cleaned before posting, you can expect a tiny percentage of returns. Zaps come back to Zap HQ to be processed and you can always download the latests returns from the app.

What's included in the Zap tier pricing?

The kitchen sink. The price of a zap includes print and post, but it goes way beyond that. Data filtering, PAF check and data cleanse is included. Portal access to upload and your creatives and add any dynamic codes, QRs and barcodes. Any available data integrations are included too, and we're adding more all the time. Returns management is also in the price.

Which Regions/Countries is ZAP~POST available in?

The Webhooks page (found under 'Settings') inthe ZAP~APP allows you to create webhooks as well as edit and delete them.

What is a webhook?

A webhook is a way for an application to provide other applications with real-time information. Webhooks provide a powerful mechanism for integrating different services and enabling automation in a streamlined manner.

Any created webhooks also have the option to view the logs giving you more insight into any successes and errors.

Adding a Webhook

To add a webhook, simply click 'Add New Webhook'. A slide out will then appear allowing you to create your webhook. You'll have the ability to set the following values.

Name - An easily recognisable name for the webhook being created. Target URL - The URL endpoint to which events should be sent. Event Trigger - When the specific event happens in the ZAP APP, it triggers the webhook. Basic Auth Username - The username built into the HTTP protocol. Basic Auth Password - The password built into the HTTP protocol. HTTP Headers - These let you and the server pass additional information with an HTTP request or response. They're most often used for authentication purposes. Status - Determines if the webhook is active or inactive.

Once you're done, click 'Create Webhook' and your details will be saved.

Event Trigger

When creating a webhook, you have different options for Event Trigger.

New Submission - This triggers when a new submission is uploaded to the ZAP~APP either manually or via the ZAP API. Records Rejected - This triggers during the PAF and Cleanse process and includes any records removed from the send due to failing these checks. Zap Returned - This triggers when a ZAP is returned to sender and includes the recipients details. QR Code Scanned - This triggers if your design contained a QR code, when scanned by the recipient it'll confirm who scanned it and when.

Editing Webhooks

To edit a webhook, click on the edit icon on the webhooks page and you can amend any details you need.

Deleting Webhooks

To delete a webhook, click on the bin incon on the webhooks page, you'll see a pop up asking if you're sure you want to delete.

Webhook Logs

To view the logs for one of your webhooks, click on 'View' from the webhooks page. This will then give you an overview of all logs for that webhook with a quick visual of the Status Code for each event.

You can filter this page based on Target URL, Status Code, From and To Dates and Time.

To see the request and response for each log, click on the view logs icon.

Requests

When viewing a log, you'll be able to see the request header, a webhook request header is part of the HTTP request sent to a specified URL endpoint when an event triggers the webhook. These headers contain data about the request and help ensure that the receiving server can interpret the incoming data correctly and securely.

You'll also be able to view the request body, a webhook request body contains the actual data payload sent from the source application to the receiving server when an event triggers the webhook. This payload includes detailed information about the event and any relevant data associated with it.

Responses

You're also able to view the webhook response header, A webhook response header is part of the HTTP response sent by the server that receives a webhook request. These headers provide information about the response and can include status information, content type, and other metadata.

A webhook response body is the data returned by the server receiving a webhook request. It provides feedback about the result of the webhook processing.

What if our data is really old and out of date?

There's one way to find out. Submit a csv (you can download the template from the 'Campaign' page). We'll do three checks on it and give you the results. If its over 60% undeliverable, ZAP~POST will respectfully suggest your data is not worth spending any money on. If its anything better than that, the campaign will proceed and you'll just get Zap credits for those that are undeliverable. (See Zap Credits).

How far back should we go for Lapsed customers?

The more recent the better. As the data gets older, you'll find more of your database has moved on, in one way or another. We wouldn't want to put a number on it, because it depends on too many factors as to how far back you should go. The answer is to test it. Split your segments up into lapsed age bands and do one campaign at a time. Test, test and test again, just like you will do with your email campaigns.

How long is too long for targeting a Lapsed Customer segment ?

The answer depends on your Customer demographic. If your target Customers are Gen Z, we'd suggest 2 years would be your max. If Silver Surfers are more your bag, a lapsed customer campaign up to 5 years has been done before. The good news is ZAP~POST allows you to test these segments in small doses, so you'll know the answer without exposing yourselves to too much risk.

How do you clean my Data?

ZAP~POST has partnered with the best in the business to provide you with the cleanest data sets possible. There are actually three levels of process to deliver a fully cleansed data set:

1) Filtering and validation, 2) PAF (Post Code Address File) checks, to remove any unrecognisable and undeliverable addresses and 3) Deceased and gone away checks, comparing against multiple databases.

Do I get the clean data back?

Yes. And no. ZAP~POST will enable you to download the records that failed simple validation. Same goes for addresses that were rejected in the PAF process - you can download those records too. Recipients who have moved or gone away, they cannot be shared, unless you have opted for advanced data cleansing (the difference between "Surpress" and "Flag").

Other mailing houses charge me to clean my data - how come you don't?

ZAP~POST ethos is to make Automated or Programmatic Direct Mail really simple. Everything is built into your Zap pricing, including Data cleaning. Zap data cleaning happens as standard for every recipient, and there's a Zap credit system for those that are rejected and removed for members with a Monthly or Annual plan. Search Zap Credits for more information.

Do I have to send it in a CSV?

CSV data is the most reliable method of sending data in a file format. Ultimately, your Zap campaigns are powered by your Ecommerce store, your marketing automation platform or your CRM / CDP tools and they should be connected to ZAP~POST via API.

If you cannot connect via API, then export records from your Data Source, and import them into ZAPPOST.

How do you protect my data?

ZAP~POST is ISO 27001 accredited. Your recipient data is transferred and 'at rest' fully encrypted. By default, all recipient data is anonymised after 180 days.

How long do you keep our customer data for?

Default data retention period is 180 days post send, after which time all recipient data is anonymised. You can change the default in account settings any time.

What if I don't want my data cleansed?

If your data is 'clean', that's great. It won't hurt to run it through the Zap machine, and it will not cost you a bean, or a Zap. By default though, every recipient record gets put through the mill to ensure highest possible deliverability which means you get the highest possible conversion.

Is your paper recycled?

The paper we use for our Zaps is ethically sourced and FSC accredited.

Can it be recycled?

Yes, of course.

Whats FSC?

FSC stands for 'Forest Stewardship Council'. The FSC certifies forests all over the world to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards. Products made with wood and paper from FSC forests are marked with the 'tick tree' logo.

Are you part of any other environmental initiatives?

What is Veritree?

Veritree is a restoration platform for companies and planting partners looking to make, measure and communicate nature-positive impact.

What do Love Paper do?

Love Paper is a global campaign promoting the sustainable and attractive attributes of print, paper and paper packaging.