When it comes to shipping and mailing, there's a lot you can do to deliver your products while keeping costs to a minimum. Think about what it means to your business and your customers - lower costs, higher margins and great customer service. When preparing to mail your packages, take advantage of the services offered by the various shipping companies to help you make smart, business-savvy decisions.

The United States Postal Service

The USPS provides business owners with an easy-to-navigate online shipping portal that's filled with helpful information. Create decorative shipping labels that match your company's brand and print them as needed to avoid extra clutter in your home office. Click-N-Ship is a downloadable software package that provides USPS services at the click of a mouse. When your product is all packed up and ready to go, you can order a pickup from your home to save time and money. And it's easy to track the package, so you know where it is at any point in time. 

United Parcel Service

UPS offers an e-commerce program that makes it easy to save money and take advantage of cost-effective shipping options. If you sell on Amazon, check out the UPS Savings Program, which can reduce standard UPS shipping rates by up to 37 percent. Also utilize the company's electronic billing system to track and pay invoices from your computer. 

DHL Express

The DHL website offers advice on the most efficient and cost-effective methods of shipment using its services. Enter the weight, size and quantity of the shipment into the virtual shipping calculator to receive shipping advice directly from DHL professionals. Also access small business advice and resource forums about reducing your shipping costs. And, with DHL's Country Facts, you'll receive specific information about currency conversion and the requirements associated with mailing packages to international customers.

Federal Express

Federal Express offers a variety of money-saving services on its interactive website. Using the web integration system, create a customized HTML code at no cost. The wizard tool even helps with the development and coding of FedEx Web Services for your personal website. Exclusive small business offers provide discounts on a variety of products and services. 

Shipping Tips

Regardless of the shipping services you decide to use, there are some universal methods that save money on shipping costs and get your packages to your customers on time. Significantly reduce shipping fees by taking advantage of the free box and supply delivery offered by many of the major delivery services. This is especially handy when shipping fragile objects, which may be best packed by nesting a smaller box inside a larger box with packing material filling the space between the two. 

When quoting a shipment date to a customer, don't guess or assume. Remember that some shipping companies do not make deliveries on certain holidays or days of the week, which may affect your customers' delivery needs. For the best customer experience, use the shipping company's delivery calculator to provide a more accurate arrival date. Federal Express maintains a national and international holiday calendar on its website to help you make the best shipping decisions.

If you work from home, use shipping tools that get your packages to your customers in a timely and cost-effective manner. Visit each shipping company's website to discover what each has to offer and determine which service best meets your needs. Whether you are shipping craft projects or antique decor, you'll have useful resources available to enhance customer satisfaction and reduce your costs.