Will you need a mailing list? You can purchase one through your direct marketing service or use a list from your own sources. You also have the choice of traditional, fax, and email lists.

If you use your own sources, take advantage of any filtering techniques your direct marketing service offers. While most services check for duplicate addresses for you, some offer advanced options like verifying if the recipient is still at that address (the U.S Post Office has the tools to do this) and making sure you don't have two names that are in the same household. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's expensive to send a piece to a bogus address.

Don't think you have to stick to traditional snail mail lists either. You have the option of fax lists and email lists, which can work well if you don't think you have the money to put together and mail a print mailing piece.