How Shared Direct Mail Works

Multiple local businesses share one oversized postcard, splitting the cost to reach thousands of households. It's simple, affordable, and it works.

SpotDrops community card demo showing how local businesses share one oversized postcard

The Community Card Model

A community card is an oversized postcard (typically 9×12) featuring 12–16 local businesses. Each business gets its own dedicated spot with a unique QR code. The card is mailed to every household on selected USPS routes — usually 2,500 to 10,000 homes per drop.

Because the cost is shared across all the businesses on the card, each one pays a fraction of what solo direct mail would cost. A business that might pay $2,000+ to mail on its own can reach the same households for $200–$600.

What makes it work:

Shared cost — 12–16 businesses split print and postage
Category exclusivity — only one plumber, one dentist, one pizza place per card
QR tracking — every ad has a unique code so you can measure engagement
USPS EDDM routes — targeted by neighborhood, income, and household demographics
Fridge-door staying power — community cards with local deals get kept, not tossed

Two Sides, One Platform

SpotDrops connects the people who organize community cards with the local businesses who advertise on them.

Operators

Operators are the people who run the drops. They pick the neighborhoods, set the pricing, and handle printing and mailing. SpotDrops gives them the tools to sell spots online, collect business info, plan EDDM routes, and track results.

Create drops and set spot pricing
Plan mail routes on an interactive map
Collect payments automatically via Stripe
Export everything for print and mail

Learn about operating

Local Businesses

Local businesses buy a spot on a community card in their area. They pick their spot, pay online, and submit their logo and business info. When the card hits mailboxes, their QR code tracks every scan.

Browse drops and see pricing upfront
Reserve an exclusive category spot
Submit business info and logo online
Track QR scans and engagement in real-time

Learn about advertising

From Drop to Mailbox

Here's the lifecycle of a community card drop:

Operator creates a drop

They pick a neighborhood, select USPS mail routes, choose a card format, and set spot pricing. The drop goes live with a shareable link.

Businesses buy spots

Local businesses find the drop, pick an available spot in their category, pay via Stripe, and submit their logo and business info through the intake form.

Card locks and goes to print

Once all spots are sold (or the deadline hits), the operator locks the card, exports the artwork and business details, and sends it to the printer.

USPS delivers to every home

The printed cards are mailed via USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) to every household on the selected routes. No mailing list needed — every home on the route gets one.

QR codes track engagement

When someone scans a QR code on the card, both the operator and the business see it in real-time on their dashboard. Scans, page visits, and clicks are all tracked.

Get Early Access

SpotDrops is launching soon. Join the early access list to get notified when we go live.