Systems for assembling mailings and methods for external control thereof

Systems and methods for selecting inserts. In some cases, the inserts can be advertisements or offers, and the inserts are included with an offer item that can be, for example, a scheduled bill or other planned mailing. In particular cases, the systems can include a multi-bay insert holder, an offer item, and an associated offer item holder. A microprocessor associated with a computer readable medium is included with instructions executable by the microprocessor to: receive an external tickler, receive a decision rule, receive a decision information, apply the decision rule to the decision information, and send a control signal to the multi-bay insert holder. The control signal indicates an insert associated with the multi-bay insert holder to be placed in the offer item. Various methods are also disclosed for associating inserts with offer items.