Create a direct mail campaign – Avid

Create a targeted direct mail campaign, assign packages to audience segments, and export a clean mailing list for production.

Use this article when

You want to send a targeted direct mail appeal to specific audience segments.
You need to assign different packages (letters, reply cards, postage) to each segment.
You must export a clean, production-ready CSV file for your print or mail vendor.

Applies to and prerequisites

Applies to: Organizations with Direct Mail enabled • Roles with Direct Mail access

Access to Direct Mail in your workspace
Your audience segments created and ready to use
A File layout configured for export (column names and order)
Optional: Your print vendor’s latest file specifications

Steps

In Avid, go to Direct Mail → Create campaign.
You see the campaign wizard with steps: Information, Audience, Packages, Selection, Review.
On Information, enter Name, Drop date, and Appeal code, then select a File layout.
Click Next. You move to the Audience step.
On Audience, add your segments as Targets, Exclusions, or Seeds.
Optionally enable filters such as one record per household, primary addresses only, and exclude deceased records.
Click Next. You move to the Packages step.
On Packages, add each package with Letter version, Carrier, Reply card, and Postage. Enter Cost to track budget.
Optionally enable Experiment to A/B test package variants.
Click Next. You move to the Selection step.
On Selection, use the grid to assign a Package to each audience cell.
Confirm the Constituent count for each cell and the overall campaign.
Click Next. You move to the Review step.
On Review, verify the total counts, package assignments, and estimated costs.
When everything looks correct, click Export. The export job starts and runs in the background.
After the export completes, download the CSV from the in-app notification or the export Download link in your email.
Save the file and send it to your print or mail vendor.

What you'll see

You created a direct mail campaign, assigned packages by audience segment, and exported a clean, production-ready mailing list for fulfillment.

Next steps

Use Experiment in your next campaign to A/B test packages and improve response rates.
Update File layouts so your CSV columns match your print vendor’s current requirements.
Set up a separate campaign for lapsed donors using tailored packages and messaging.

FAQ

What are Targets, Exclusions, and Seeds?

Targets are the people you intend to mail.
Exclusions are removed from the mailing list, even if they appear in a target segment.
Seeds receive the mail so your team can monitor delivery and creative.

How does “One record per household” work?

When you enable one record per household, the export keeps a single entry per household. This reduces duplicate mailings to the same address.

What does “Primary addresses only” do?

When a person has multiple addresses, the export includes only their primary address. This helps keep the mailing list consistent.

How do experiments work in Direct Mail?

When you enable Experiment on a package, the assigned audience splits evenly between two package variants.
You can then compare performance by version after the mailing.

My CSV columns are wrong. What should I do?

Edit the File layout to update column names and order, then re-run the export for your campaign.
Download the new CSV and send that version to your vendor.

Notes and limits

Exports always use the File layout configuration at the moment you run them.
If you change a layout, re-export the campaign to get updated columns.
Counts can change if audience definitions update before you export again.
If you change package assignments, return to Selection, update the grid, and re-export.
Large audiences may take longer to export. Wait until the export completes before sending files to your vendor.