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Single Send Overview

What it is​

A single send is a one-time mail order placed through Send Mail or the API. You pick a creative (or a separate front and message), add recipients, and submit. Once the order processes, printing and mailing happen automatically.

Single sends are distinct from campaigns. A campaign runs automatically over time based on a trigger. A single send is a deliberate, one-off action you take at a specific moment.

When to use it​

  • You want to send a batch of mail right now with full control over every piece.
  • You're following up with a specific group of contacts after an event or announcement.
  • You want to send to a one-time list you won't reuse - no need to set up a campaign.
  • You're testing a new design or message before committing to an automated flow.

Use a campaign instead if you want mail to go out automatically as contacts are added, on recurring dates, or at a paced daily volume.

How to do it​

Option 1 - Send Mail​

  1. Click Send Mail in the sidebar, or click Send it on a creative in Creatives.
  2. Choose the mail piece, then pick a creative on the Completed Creatives tab. You can also choose a front and write the message separately (Separate front & message), or build a creative without leaving the send (Make creative now).
  3. On Select Recipients, click Add Recipients and use any mix of these sources:
    • Manually Enter Address - enter individual addresses one at a time.
    • Use an Existing List - pick one or more saved lists from your account.
    • Upload a CSV (bulk) - upload a CSV or Excel file, match each column to a field (name, address, city, state, postal code, and optional columns such as %CUSTOM1% for replacement variables), and check the first verified rows before using them.
    • Radius Search - mail the addresses nearest to one you choose.
  4. On Review & Confirm, click Submit Order & Send Now.

See the Send Mail Walkthrough for a detailed guide.

Option 2 - API​

Developers can trigger single sends via the REST API. Pass a creative_id to send a saved creative exactly as it is designed. See API Overview and Finding Template IDs.

To check what an order will cost before placing it, post the same request body to the matching estimate endpoint (/api/v2/estimate/{mailer-type}). Nothing is charged and no order is created. See Estimating an Order's Cost.

Tips & best practices​

  • Preview the proof before confirming every order. Orders enter the print queue quickly and can only be cancelled within one hour of placing the order.
  • Use replacement variables (%FIRST_NAME%, %YOUR_COMPANY%) to personalize each piece even in a bulk batch.
  • Run Check my message on a new message before a large send.
  • If you're sending the same design repeatedly, save it as a creative, then click Send it on its card next time.

Re-sending a past order​

If you want to send a new order based on a previous one, use Re-Submit from the Order Details page.

  1. Go to Orders in the sidebar, find the order, and click Details.
  2. Open the Re-Submit dropdown and choose one of these options:
  • Keep Same Addresses - Starts a new order with all original recipients and opens the Review step.
  • Only Failed Addresses - Starts a new order with only failed recipients and opens the Review step. This appears only when the order has failures.
  • Choose New Addresses - Starts a new order with the same design and message but no recipients, and opens the Select Recipients step.
  1. Review the order and place it when ready.

Sending to people on a mailing list​

On a mailing list's page, click Send to this list to start a send to the whole list. To mail only some contacts, tick them and click Send to selected, or choose Send to this person from a contact's menu. This sends a one-off piece outside of any campaign schedule, and Send Mail opens with those recipients already added.

Does Send Mail save my progress?​

Send Mail keeps your progress while the browser tab stays open, so you can reload the page or move between steps without losing anything. If you close the tab before clicking Submit Order & Send Now, the send is discarded.

If you are not ready to send, save your design as a creative first (Creatives → New creative). A creative you build with Make creative now during a send is saved to your Creatives as well, even if you don't finish the send.

Delivery times​

Once you place an order, mail enters the print queue and typically ships within 1-3 business days.

PostageTypical delivery after order
Standard7-10 business days
First Class3-5 business days

Delivery timelines depend on USPS routing and destination. For time-sensitive sends, use First Class. See Postage Options for details.

Limits & gotchas​

  • Duplicate Prevention applies a 36-hour window. If the same recipient appears in a new order within 36 hours, the duplicate piece is skipped. Note: Duplicate Prevention cannot be disabled for Gift Cards.
  • CSV uploads must include a valid physical address for each recipient.
  • Closing the browser tab discards an unfinished send - save your design as a creative if you want to come back to it.