The Identity Architect – Positioning & Personal Branding Blog

I’ve had a lot of questions about the video on my website about the envelope with the automatic pop-up mechanism. I used this kind of envelope in a direct mail marketing project about a year ago and made the video demonstration to show my newsletter subscribers how to make one themselves.

The biggest question asked is always:

“the idea is really neat, but won’t this take a long time to make each one?”

It does take a while to do the first one. This is the prototype or the template. Once this is done, you just print all of the envelopes on both sides with an ink-jet or laser printer, then print all of the inserts cut them to size. With everything already printed and cut to size, the gluing is easy. On the video I show how to print a guide line on the back of the pop-up message note to show you where the glue goes so you won’t mess up.

It really doesn’t take that long. And when someone opens it, they read the message and then try it over and over to see how it works.

The next question is about the envelope styles.

“The video shows a rectangle flap envelope, can you use the triangle flap envelope?”

I’ve never tried using a triangle flap envelope. It would probably work, but it would depend on the envelope. All I can say is give it a try and let me know how it works.

The next question:

“What kind of glue works best”:

I don’t think the type of glue really matters. I just use a plain old glue stick. They do have a “restickable” gluestick though that is pretty handy. It lets you reposition the paper after it has been glued. It’s pretty much the same thing as the glue on the back of a sticky-note. This kind of glue stick really works well for attaching “grabbers” at the top of direct mail letters – especially if it’s something reusable or that will be kept by the recipient like a real dollar bill, gift certificate, etc.

The next question:

“I just watched that great video you have on your website about making a
“pop-up” envelope. I think Bill Glazer mentioned this technique in the
newsletter recently and you video explains it really well. Except one
part: how do you mail an unsealed envelope? Would USPS accept it?”

The only time I’ve used it or seen it used was as an insert inside another package. The main package was an 8 1/2 x 11 envelope with a large sales letter. The popup envelope was an additional piece inside labeled “Open this only if you’ve decided not to order.”

You could probably send the envelope by itself if instead of sealing the envelope as usual, you tuck the flap inside. It would most likely remain closed through the whole trip. Just make a few, address them to yourself and drop them in the mail at the post office to see how they arrive in your mail box.

Another way might be to use a sticker “seal” instead of licking or sealing the whole flap. Maybe even a sticker that said “lift here”. The easier it is to open quickly, the more likely the person opening it would lift the flap and have the envelope work.