Question 1

What is a community card?

Accepted Answer

A community card is a shared direct mail piece — typically a 6x11 or 9x12 postcard — featuring 12 to 16 local business advertisements. Each business gets an exclusive category spot (one plumber, one dentist, one restaurant). Community cards are mailed to 2,500 to 5,000 homes in a targeted neighborhood via USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). Also known as local spotlight mailers, community mailers, or the 9x12 method.

Question 2

What is the 9x12 method?

Accepted Answer

The 9x12 method is a direct mail strategy where operators create a 9-by-12-inch postcard with 12 advertising spots sold to local businesses. Each spot costs around $400, and the card is mailed to roughly 5,000 homes via EDDM. It’s one of the most popular community card formats because the larger size gives each advertiser more visibility. SpotDrops supports both 9x12 postcards and 6x11 community cards.

Question 3

What is a local spotlight mailer?

Accepted Answer

A local spotlight mailer — sometimes called a community card or shared mailer — is a direct mail piece that spotlights multiple local businesses on a single card. Each business gets a dedicated spot with their logo, offer, and a QR code. It’s an affordable way for small businesses to reach every home in a neighborhood for as little as $0.08 per household. SpotDrops makes it easy to create, sell, and track local spotlight mailers.

Question 4

When does SpotDrops launch?

Accepted Answer

We’re launching in Q1 2026. Waitlist members get early access and onboarding support. You’ll be first to know when we’re ready.

Question 5

What does SpotDrops cost?

Accepted Answer

Zero upfront. No monthly fee. SpotDrops takes a 7% platform fee when a spot sells. You only pay when you make money. Compare that to other direct mail software platforms that charge $97–$297/month.

Question 6

What are QR Drops?

Accepted Answer

A new kind of community card. Each spot features the business logo, offer, and a QR code that drives people to a rich landing page. Advertisers can add video, lead capture forms, full business details, and more — they’re no longer limited to a tiny box on a card to get their message across. SpotDrops handles the landing page, tracks every scan, and gives advertisers a portal to manage it all.

Question 7

What is EDDM and how does SpotDrops use it?

Accepted Answer

EDDM stands for Every Door Direct Mail — a USPS program that lets you mail to every household on a carrier route without needing a mailing list. SpotDrops has a built-in EDDM route planner that lets you select carrier routes on an interactive map, see household counts and demographics, and calculate postage automatically. No spreadsheets, no guessing.

Question 8

How do I find local businesses to sell spots to?

Accepted Answer

Use SpotLeads (spotleads.app) — our free companion tool that lets you build a prospect list of local businesses in any neighborhood. Search by category, see contact info, and export your list. It’s the fastest way to fill your first drop.

Question 9

Do I need technical skills to set up advertisers?

Accepted Answer

None. Share your drop link, advertisers grab a spot and pay online, and SpotDrops builds their QR landing page automatically. Zero technical knowledge required from you or your advertisers. Everyone wins.

Question 10

What if I'm brand new to direct mail?

Accepted Answer

Perfect. SpotDrops is built for operators who are just getting started with a direct mail business. Stripe sets up your payment processing — verification, taxes, payouts — so you don’t need a merchant account or payment gateway. SpotDrops handles card design, EDDM route planning, and print-ready bundles. All you need to do is talk to local businesses and share your drop link. Run your first drop in days, not months.

Question 11

What card formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

6x11 community cards and 9x12 postcards at launch. Our exclusive SpotDrop QR Cards need zero design — every spot is a scannable QR code with a full landing page behind it. SpotDrops handles spot management, advertiser info collection, EDDM route planning, and print-ready bundles.

Question 12

How does QR code tracking work on direct mail?

Accepted Answer

Each advertising spot gets a unique QR code. When someone scans it, SpotDrops tracks the scan with IP geolocation, device fingerprinting, and timestamps. The QR code leads to a rich landing page where clicks, calls, and form submissions are also tracked. Operators and advertisers both get real-time dashboards showing exactly how their community card mailers are performing.

Question 13

Is there a contract or commitment?

Accepted Answer

No contract. No commitment. Use SpotDrops for one drop or a hundred. Cancel anytime.

Sell every spot. Track every scan. Skip the headache.

Frequently Asked Questions