Marketing Postcards

Marketing postcards that are well-designed and directed toward the correct audience can be very helpful in increasing sales and generating leads. Postcards are popular marketing tools because they are inexpensive to send and can be used in a wide variety of marketing campaigns - seasonal sale announcements, appointment reminders, new location openings, etc. Postcards are also popular because they are read more than other mailed advertisements. The recipient rarely has to expend any effort (i.e. opening an envelope) in order to read the message.

Reaching the Target Audience
A mailing campaign involving marketing postcards or any other printed material only works if the marketer can reach his or her target audience. No matter how great a postcard looks, the wrong recipient will just trash the card instead of investigating further. The best way to obtain a database of the "right" addresses is build it, not buy it. Current clients, friends, associates, and referrals, should all be in this database and it should be updated on a regular basis. If necessary, though, mailing lists containing the addresses of a specific target audience can be purchased or rented.

Designing the Postcards
Marketing postcards should be designed to immediately grab the recipient's attention. The text should be bright, clear and easy to read - no clashing colors or hard-to-read fonts. Any images used should be obviously relevant to the product or service being sold. For example, a landscaping service might incorporate images of perfectly manicured lawns or an image of a lawnmower on their postcard. For any business, the consumer should be able to get a good idea of what is being sold from the images on the card alone. Postcards can be easily designed on the most common graphics programs.

Printing and Mailing the Postcards
Rather than paying a professional to print out marketing postcards, a budget-conscious marketer can print the cards on his or her own. A home laser printer or access to a copy machine is all that is needed. Card stock can be purchased in bulk and then cut for free at any copy store. Perforated card stock that has been specially designed for postcards is also available. If large number of postcards is sent out on a regular basis, then qualifying for a bulk postal rate should be investigated.