Postcard Marketing Your Small Business

Postcard Marketing Your Small Business

One of the best marketing strategies a business or
organization can use is postcards. Even before the arrival
of online postcard printing and mailing services, postcards
had a good reputation amongst guerilla marketers because:

*They are fast, easy and relatively cheap - making them
a boon to small business owners who are short on cash and
time, yet need to build their brand and stay in front of
their customers.
*A beautiful, full color glossy postcard is not going
in the trash without first being read.
*You can add a personal note. Plus, postcards create
a pleasant emotional response because they are usually
received by friends and family.
*When you advertise your business anywhere else, your
competition knows it. But when you use postcards to
communicate with your customers, it is direct to them and
your competition will have no idea.

With the new web technologies for postcards, it's super-
convenient to just send one or as many as you need without
the effort of hand writing, addressing and mailing each one.

What is particularly nice about postcards is that nearly any
business or organization can benefit from a structured,
targeted postcard marketing strategy. Take a look at some of
the ways postcards can be used.

Thank you notes. You can send a quick thank you to anyone for
any reason and they will be so surprised and pleased that you
took the time. If someone sends you a referral or business
lead, gives you some information you needed, mentions you in
an article - send them a note that shows you appreciate it!

A follow-up offer or service. Within 30 days after a
purchase of a product or completion of a service, send them
a discounted offer for a related service or product. Don't
miss the opportunity for an after-sale contact.

Gift certificates or coupons. Show your best customers that
you appreciate them by sending a gift certificate that they
can use any time in the next year. Even better, leave a
space on it for them to fill out a friend or colleagues name
and give it to someone else to introduce them to your
business.

Announce a new project or completed work. Postcards are
perfect for photographers, web designers, architects,
graphic artists, or anyone else who wants to keep their
clients in the loop on what they are working on, with
something visual and tangible.

Secret sales and pre-sales for preferred customers. Treat
your existing and favorite clients to a sale that no one
else knows about - or give them an advanced peak at your
new product line.

Introduce products or services. Postcards are an economical
way to inform people about your product or services, or
announce new ones.

Announce a new web site. Create an announcement of your new
web presence and invite everyone you know to come check it
out.

Remember special days. Send your contacts a holiday greeting
or thank you note for Thanksgiving. If you keep track of
special dates in your customer's lives like birthdays or
anniversaries, you can send them a colorful postcard letting
them know you are thinking of them.

Reminders. Businesses that rely on repeat business can take
advantage of postcards to send reminders and its not just
for dentists any more! Why not remind your past customers of
upcoming birthdays or anniversaries, or special holidays
like secretaries' day or thanksgiving, at just the right
time? Or perhaps your database tells you when they have
likely run out of whatever they bought so you can send them
a reminder that its time to visit you again.

Just staying in touch. People like to be remembered and
postcards are an economical and easy way to say "thinking of
you."

Recognition. Send out a postcard to let people know your
good news about accomplishments and awards or reviews you
have received.

Invitations to an event. Postcards can be used to announce
seminars you are speaking at, open houses, book signings,
and any variety of special events.

Think about all the ways you can use postcards, and then
explore the many ways that you can automate the process
of sending them out quickly and cheaply. This is one of
those marketing strategies which looks much more costly
than it really is, and will return more than you put into
it. The best part is, practically any small business can
benefit.

© 2003 Eileen P. Parzek, SOHO It Goes!