Postcards With An Edge (7 Ways To Use Postcards In Your Marketing Campaign)

They make a bigger impact than email, are more cost-
effective to send than letters, and get instantly read by
recipients because they stand out from a plain bundle of
envelopes.

This is the wonder that we call POSTCARDS, and many
marketers haven't yet used them as effectively as they
actually could.

Here are 7 ways YOU can use postcards in your own marketing
campaigns -- and increase your chances for better sales and
higher profits:

1) Use It As A Sales Letter

When you have a special offer in mind -- AND a list of
specific clients who will appreciate a nudge for unique
opportunities -- then send your announcement through a
postcard rather than a fax, letter, or email.

Postcards are easy to read, instantly giving your prospects
all the information they need in one quick glance.

Plus -- when designed attractively enough -- they stand a
much better chance of being kept on as bookmarks &
keepsakes, compared to the more disposable paper faxes &
email print outs.

2) Use It For Your Press Release

Do you want your press release to stand out from the flood
of faxes & emails that media people often face in front of
their desks?

Then send them your news release teaser & photo on a
brightly colored postcard...

...Just make sure they can easily contact you once they
perk up & take notice.

3) Turn It Into A Newsletter

This may be a bit more expensive to maintain than an online
mailing list, but with everyone now getting at least 5
ezines in their inbox everyday, it could come as a relief
(and a welcome surprise) to have a newsletter coming in
through the mailbox for a change.

Postcard newsletters are especially effective for keeping
in touch with clients who've already made actual purchases
from your company.

Besides the fact that they are more likely to respond to
marketing messages from you, you can also work in the cost
of postcard marketing into any subscriptions/purchases they
make, making your campaign profitable AND economical as
well.

So what kind of articles / information can you cram into a
regular postcard-sized mailing?

Recipes / Activities
--------------------
Whether it's for cooking, crafts, or some other hobby,
step-by-step instructions for a new & creative activity
will appeal to anyone aged 3 to 93, especially if it
targets their specific interests.

This kind of newsletter becomes particularly profitable
when your company sells most of the materials needed for
each activity -- you can package each set of materials
into a complete do-it-yourself kit, ready for ordering
through the web, fax, or phone!

Tips & Ideas
------------
Useful for any business that provides a service, the "tips
& ideas" newsletter serves you best by making you more
dependable and approachable to clients -- the two qualities
that will inspire their loyalty to your company and YOU.

Inspirational Stories
---------------------
Turn client testimonials & experiences into inspiring
stories, and you will have the kind of content that makes
people feel positive about doing business with you.

Send out this content in the form of convenient-to-read
postcards -- and more likely than not, your recipients
will be sharing their mail with other people, too!

4) Make It Your Brochure

Who says postcards are only supposed to have 2 sides?

If you print your company information on card stock that's
double the regular postcard size, you can fold it in the
middle and -- viola! -- you get an instant 4-panel brochure
to carry around or send through the mail.

On the other hand, there is no hard-and-fast rule that says
effective brochures have to be multi-paneled, either. A 4½
by 6 inch postcard can carry 2 medium sized images,
prominent recipient & return addresses, plus 325 words in
10 point Arial font -- which may be more than enough to
invite new clients to try out your service.

5) Send A Series As A Mini Course

Taking off from the idea behind successful correspondence
courses & schools, you can offer to teach a special skill /
expertise through a series of postcard-sized modules --
otherwise known as the postcard mini-course.

Whether you're sending them as a free service or as a
purchasable product by itself, the postcard mini-course
appeals to busy "students" who can't make time for longer
instructional materials, but are attracted to the idea that
they can still improve themselves on a regular basis.

(Which practically describes most busy business owners &
internet marketers. :-) )

6) Design Them As Tickets or Coupons

We've already seen theater & concert tickets designed in the
size of a regular postcard; maybe we've even kept them as
souvenirs because we just couldn't bear to throw them out.

We can use this same "special event" appeal when we send
postcards designed as tickets or coupons to our most
valuable clients, offering them unique discounts or
inviting them to an "online event."

Even after your sale/event is over and done with, chances
are they'll still keep your postcard close, reminding them
of you & your services for many months to come.

7) Finally -- Why Not Turn Postcards Into A Marketing Kit?

One graphic arts company did just that: they designed
their entire marketing message using high-impact
inspirational quotes on a set of 7 postcards, then bound
the cards in ribbon before presenting to prospective
clients.

On one side of each card they showcased the inspiring quote,
then inserted a small statement underneath about how the
quote describes their company.

On the other side of the card they used the same inspiring
message as a jump-off point to discuss one of their specific
abilities / achievements, ending always with their full
contact information.

Each quote was powerful enough to encourage clients to
display the cards on their company bulletin boards -- and
their strategy practically made their marketing kit as
welcome to their prospects as valuable gifts.

Whether you've used postcards before or are just about to
try and see how they'll affect your sales, remember that any
marketing strategy can only be enhanced by your own
creativity.

So jumpstart your imagination and add your own ideas into
postcard promotion -- and all your efforts are sure to get
that winning edge!

© Tatiana Velitchkov