The Basics of Postcard Marketing

Businesses that are successful in their marketing strategy always begin with a plan. The plan serves as their bible; their guide to their day to day operations. Big businesses often have pages after pages of their plan whereas small businesses only have at least a dozen page plans. No mater how long or how intricate your plan is, what is important is it realizable.

In creating an effective marketing plan, you need to start small. If you are on a tight budget, the more important it is to start with the low cost yet incredibly effective campaign. One good strategy to start with is postcard marketing. Contrary to popular belief, these cards still remain a significant part of marketing in today’s high-tech world. When reaching your customers on a personal level is your goal, then what you need is the postcards.

In essence, the post cards are an ideal form of communication. They can be used to announce events, introduce new products or services, and promote special discounts. They can also serve as reminder cards to important appointments and meetings. They can be created at less cost than flyers, allowing you to get more savings. If you are considering these cards to include in your marketing campaign today, here are some important things to consider:

• You need to first decide on two things: size and mailing option. How big would your cards be? Will you mail your cards, have the printing company mail it for you, or hand it out personally? There is a standard size followed for postage in the US: 3.5 inches by 5 inches. You can go as big as 4.25 inches by 6 inches, but if you go larger than that, your cards can cost more in mailing cost.

• Because there is no need to use an envelope to mail your cards, be sure to leave enough space to put the address and stamp. The upper right corner is often intended for the stamp, so be sure to clear that space.

• There are some people who still send their postcards in an envelope. You can do this, but this would cost extra for the envelope.

• No matter what the purpose of your cards is, whether it is for business or pleasure, it should be kept simple. Although it is tempting to put a lot of images and texts in your cards, it is best to use only one or two colors, or just black and white.

• Keep your message brief, clear, and straightforward. No beating around the bush. Just stick with your message and deliver it immediately.

• Decide if you will use plain or textured paper. It is also best to use a heavy weight and thick paper stock to make sure your cards last a long time and reaches your target audience in good condition. There are choices in color and specialty papers, but keep in mind that if you choose this kind of paper, you would need to spend extra money.

• Do remember to put all the basic contact information in your cards such as your phone number, mailing address, and email. If there is extra space, describe your products and services. You can also put a personal message to make your customers feel more at ease with you.