Postcards are a great way to grab attention and promote your business, product, or services. Creating a strong marketing piece is key to successfully attracting interest and new customers. It can be challenging to design one. There are endless possibilities when it comes to postcard marketing. Whether used as a business postcard or as invitations, they are useful.
Common Uses for Postcards
Below you’ll find a few ways how to use postcards.
- Advocating a Cause
- Property sold postcards for Realtors
- Invitations for an upcoming event
- Thank You notes
- Holiday cards
- Advertise a business, product, or service
- Announce the launch of new products
Before you get started, our design team listed a few postcard design tips.
Keep Your Audience in Mind
Ok, so how do you design a postcard? It is essential to remember your target audience when creating the design. Make sure you understand the tone and style of design, as it may attract some and possibly repel others. Finding the right tone and style of your target audience will be most effective. When thinking about the nature of the card, it should match your business to create a coherent whole.
Provide the audience with the information you want to pass along; this may include using text, coupons, and a call-to-action. By adding a CTA, it takes the guessing out, allowing recipients to understand their next move. This can ultimately increase customer response.
Use High-Quality Images
We’ve all heard the phrase – A picture is worth a thousand words. A single image can convey an idea. Including great photos can help support your text message. They work hand-in-hand and can make the postcard stand out and, depending on the design, evoke a positive emotional response. It’s essential to make sure the image being used is at 300dpi.
We know it can be challenging to find high-rez photos, so we’ve listed the Top 28 Websites that Offer Free Stock Photos. When selecting your image, make sure that it doesn’t overpower your message, but compliments the message.
Maximize the Space
Postcards are available in a variety of sizes to meet your needs; for either a small or large business. Depending on the postcard size selected, it can be challenging to communicate your complete message. Sometimes they are referred to as “over-sized” postcards because they stand out in the mail compared to other mailings.
Work to maximize the space by using images that complement your text; the imagery and text should together reveal the message. Including hi-res pictures, logos, and bright colors all can help add interest and can show what you are trying to communicate.
Try to keep the text limited to one or two font types and avoid large blocks of text and light-colored text that can be difficult to read. You want to make sure the recipient can understand your message, but most importantly, be able to read it. The goal should be to capture the reader’s attention and make them want to find out more.
Standard Postcard Size Information
When looking into postcard designs, you’ll want to determine which size will work best for you and your marketing campaign.
We provide a large selection of postcard sizes, including the following popular sizes:
- 3.5″ x 5″
- 4 “x 6”
- 5″ x 7″
- 5.5″ x 8″
- 6″ x 9″
- 6″ x 11″
- and many more.
Desgin Format
Keep them clean and simple, without an overload of visuals or text. Use contrasting elements such as light and dark, large and small, and opposite colors to catch attention, but try to keep the elements balanced overall by distributing them relatively evenly in the design.
Make sure any colored backgrounds or images fully extend into the bleed area for a professional look. Rounded corners, Matte finish, Velvet laminated, and other options, including Spot UV and Stamped Foil, can give them a unique feel and look, making it stand out from competitors.
Advertise a Compelling Offer
Creating a special one-of-a-kind offer can drive action! When you are determining your targeted audience, make sure that your offer relates to them and their needs. If possible, make it a limited time offer to increase the urgency of using the postcard.
Remember the Back
Depending on how delivered in the mail, seldom the back displays first, so consider using that space to grab the attention of your audience. Both sides should work together to attract the reader’s interest and convey your business message. Always proofread your text and review the details before finalizing it. Keep in mind, you’ll want the design to be simple, so the recipient understands your message. A double-sided postcard can be useful.
They are a great way to attract the interest of your audience; spending time carefully with a postcard design can let you reap the rewards later.
If you would like to request a custom design, contact one of our in-house graphic designers. They will be happy to assist with your project.
Postcard Mailing Services
Postcards are ideal for mailing to potential customers. Reach new customers with one of the following mailing services. Do you want to reach a specific audience? You can contact them with EDDM®. This service allows you to easily select certified USPS® mailing routes or zip code(s). To learn more about EDDM® and the benefits, download our free EDDM® Success Guide.
Resource: The Complete EDDM® Marketing Checklist
Resource: Postcard Mailer Design Tips
If you have purchased a mailing list, you can use our Direct Mail service. With Direct Mail, you’ll be able to target demographics including age, income, voter registration and more.
Postcard Template
We offer a downloadable postcard template. By using our “Certified Templates” ensures proper, speedy, accurate production of your job through our specially-created automation systems.
