Mail Merge is a mass-mail facility available within Microsoft Word that can take names, addresses, and other pertinent facts about recipients and merge the information into a letter or other basic documents (e.g. mailing labels).

The information (e.g. names and addresses) is taken from a database or other list and inserted into a standard document or letter to produce multiple copies.  This technique is used to create personalised letters and pre-addressed envelopes or mailing labels for tailored mass mailings.

The red box indicates where the window of the envelope will be.  This is a guide to make sure the address on the letter is visible when the letter is posted.  Use the preview to check your addresses will appear in the right place.

The code is for the Post Office to help them process the letter quicker.

This error message is most frequently caused by attempting to upload a letter where Strata Mail is expecting your data file and vice versa.  Try again and check you are uploading the file Strata Mail is asking for.

If this does not fix the problem, ensure your file is saved in the right format. Letters should be in Microsoft Word and should end in .doc.

Data files should, ideally, be saved as tab delimited and end in .txt.

You can add your own address to the bottom of your data.  This is easiest to do in Microsoft Excel before you save as a .txt file.  That way you will receive your "seed" letter the same time as your prospects get theirs and you’ll know it has gone out.

It is possible to use many of the features in Microsoft Word to create professional looking sales letters.  You can re-create your headed paper by adding images of your company logo, scan in your signature, use colour to create attention grabbing headlines and spread your copy over up to 5 pages.

You even have the choice of using double sided printing, to create a document of up to 10 sides of A4.  It’s possible to create a company fact sheet, mini brochure, or flyer using Word and attach it to the end of your letter as an enclosure.

Yes.  To include inserts, simply convert them into Microsoft Word format and add them to the end of your letter.  Use a page break to make sure they appear on the following page.

You will need to call your Account Manager to arrange an alternative payment method.  Only then can your Strata Mail job be processed.

Letters will go second class (or equivalent) as soon as your payment has gone through.