POSTCARDS – A Cheap and Effective Marketing Tool

Postcards are one of the oldest direct marketing tools that are still effective today.In our high tech digital world low tech postcards are still the best, fastest working direct marketing tools ever. If you don’t believe me, check your mailbox. Don’t think the companies that stuff your mailbox are stupid. If they didn’t make big bucks, you wouldn’t get all that mail from the same companies over and over again.

Postcards Get Noticed

A well-designed inexpensive postcard campaign with strong call to action copy will keep your company at the top of the mind of customs.

Postcards Are Cheap

Postcards when compared to other marketing tools are the cheapest to print than they ever have been. Online printing companies make it easy to find the best value cheap postcards without spending a lot of research time. As a matter of fact, full color postcards are cheaper than two color cards were just a few years ago, so you get more bang for your buck. You can buy 5,000 4.25 X 6 high quality full color postcards for under $160

Postcards Are Read By Almost Everyone

It’s harder not to read an interesting postcard than to avoid reading it. An eye candy design and a compelling offer can catch your eye and it’s difficult not to read it. Nothing else in your mailbox can capture that much attention except a large check from the government. Most junk letters never get opened unless they looks official. People don’t have the time or care to read. Flyers can also have too much to read and they instantly get tossed. On the other hand, postcards are noticed and read because the message requires just a second to decide if you’re interested or not. They don’t have to be unfolded and they don’t waste time with a lot of words.

Postcard Campaigns Return a High ROI

If you plan on sending only one postcard, you may be wasting your money if you are trying to determine the results.You don’t have to have a huge mailing list to monitor your postcard stats. If you don’t have a lot of money to test the direct mail marketing waters- and what small business does-, you can print wholesale inexpensive postcards in short runs of 100, 250, 500 or 1,000. The trick is to send them every 4-6 weeks to the same list. Each time with a different offer. It’s not the quantity, but the frequency that keeps your brand in front of your customer.

Postcard Effectiveness Testing is Fast and Easy

Use short run postcards to try different ideas and see which ones have the best returns. Once you know what works slowly increase your mailings and keep on checking results. The best value for short run postcards is about $55 for 1,000. You can send as few as 100 cards at a time to spread your mailing cost. Just make sure you change lists.

Postcard Printing Tips:

1. When buying cheap postcards online, don’t buy the cheapest deal you can find. Cheap looks cheap, feels cheap and can represent your company as cheap. Considering the size of a postcards, the paper stock should be the issue unless you are printing hundreds of thousands. The minimal card stock weight should be a heavy 14 Pt or extra heavy 16 Pt.- either UV or matte coated card stock.

2. If you’re distributing the card through the mail, the address area should NOT be UV coated. UV coating is a liquid laminate that can’t be overprinted with a personalization or address for mailing. There are two solutions for this issue. Order your cards with UV coating one side matte coating one side or pay a little more have your cards printed with spot UV coating so you can decide what is to be glossy. Spot UV coating is an eye candy wow factor effect that will catch attention so your card has a better chance of standing out and getting noticed.

3. Bigger is better when it come to postcards and diamonds. Postcards are available in many sizes. Small 4 X 6 and 4.25 X 6 postcards can be sent at lower postcard postal rates. You’ll save money but lose impact. If you’re going to do it, do it right.

4. Print “SAVE THIS CARD,” you’ll be surprised at how many will then save it. If you say it, they will be it.

5. Be sure to put a time limit on your offer. Add a tracking code so you can identify the mailing you sent out. The offer should be redeemable only with that code. Customers like to receive codes because they are identified as being special.

It doesn’t matter if you have a small local pizza takeout or you’re selling tours to Europe nationally, the key is to make sure you have a “can’t refuse” offer and your card looks impressive. You don’t have to spend much money to get a postcard campaign going. Plan to send six different postcards in 6 months and you will make money fast and easy once you get your program started. Remember it takes money to make money and cheap but high quality postcard campaigns will make you money and a high return on what you have spent.

Presentation IS Everything!!

Want to stand out from the crowd? Want to be noticed? Want to be remembered long after you have handled out your advertising? Want the key to separating your sales & marketing literature from all the others? Then you need to add a Wow Factor to your printed materials because Presentation IS Everything!!!

With new state of the art printing technology, it is now possible to create “Wow Factor” effects without breaking the bank. What is the “Wow Factor” The “Wow Factor” is hard to define but you know it when you see it. It’s that something extra that grabs your eye and attention. Going beyond good design and copy, it can be extra heavy printing stock, a printing technique such as spot UV coating or using metallic ink that is not commonly used by everyone. By combining heavy card stock with spot UV or using metallic ink to make your design stand out, you can create a sales piece that identifies you or your company as being forward thinking and caring about detail and quality.

If you want to separate yourself and your image from your competition, you need to find a vendor that can offer you added value services. You need more than just plain old vanilla gang run printing. There are so many printers offering great prices, it may take a bit of searching to find a printer that can provide the “Wow Factor”.

I can’t stress enough that printed sales and marketing literature such as postcards, fliers and brochures are tools to create sales and recognition. Finding the cheapest price online is not the best way to find a printing service. You need to find the best value. Look for free paper upgrades. Free file check is also important. You can’t judge a printers’ quality and service by their page ranking. What I am saying is if page ranking and price are the only two factors you consider in your selection, you are throwing dice hoping for a good outcome.

“Wow Factor” techniques are new and not available from most online printers. If you want to separate yourself from the crowd, you should take advantage of this. The first impression is the most important one and you only get one chance. By using these new techniques, you can achieve your goal by raising the bar of your presentation with the “Wow Factor”. Don’t let anyone tell you presentation does not matter, the truth is “Presentation is Everything”!

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST PRINTING PAPER FOR ONLINE PRINTING

Choosing the best printing paper for your job can be confusing. Many new and experienced commercial print buyers ask “what’s the best or the cheapest printing paper you have”? It’s not really a stupid question and it’s asked all the time. Commercial printing is very competitive and price sensitive, so searching for the best value, not the cheapest price will improve your marketing success. The most important thing is to know what your choices are. Picking the correct stock for your job is vital to achieve your goals.The most popular standard stocks online printing services use are: 14pt card stock is impressive for business cards, postcards, trading cards or anything requiring a heavy card stock. It feels high quality in the hand. Anything less than 14 pt. feels flimsy and cheap. 16 pt card stock has the same characteristics but is slightly thicker than 14 pt. It’s a good choice that holds up well in a pocket or in the mail. Some online printers offer 16 pt. as a free upgrade.

16 pt silk card stock is more expensive but worth the price. It has a smooth silky feel that says upscale elegance; it’s perfect for luxury products, services and professionals. It’s an elegant option for business cards and postcard and sure to make a strong statement of quality.

100 lb book (text) is the high quality standard paper stock for flyers, brochures, newsletters and the inside pages for a catalog. This stock is thicker than the average magazine paper and the coating allows this paper to perform better on press for color and detail. 100 lb. gloss Book is commonly used for flyers, brochures and the inside pages of catalogs. Most printing services with modern presses should offer free aqueous coating and satin coating or overall UV coating options. Printing services that don’t offer aqueous coating have old presses.

100 lb gloss cover stock is an excellent for those who want a heavier weight. For the highest quality100 Lb cover should be available in both gloss and matte/dull aqueous coating. Cover stock for brochures, catalog and booklet covers, spec sheets and special properties real estate flyers.

70 lb uncoated text (book) is an affordable lightweight smooth bright white paper that produces color faithfully. 70 lb. is equivalent to 28 lb bond paper. It’s a good choice writing paper and letterheads and envelopes. Due to the fact that it’s uncoated and absorbs ink into the fiber it should not be use for printing dark color over large areas which may have see trough on the back side of the sheet;

70 lb linen text (book) has a textured finish that is embossed after the paper is manufactured. It has the look and feel of linen fabric that makes it perfect to present as an elegant and impressive writing paper. It can be written on and is laser and inkjet printer friendly. It’s a top of the line choice for letterheads and envelopes. Linen paper is made of 25% cotton with 30% Post Consumer Recycled Fiber which makes it an eco-friendly option.

100 lb linen cover has the same characteristics as 70 lb linen; it is the matching heavier weight to it is ideal for business cards, postcards, presentation folders and multi page booklet covers. For the best green option it should be printed with soy or vegetable inks and water based solvents on the press. Linen paper is easy to deink and recycle for other uses.

10 pt EndurAce water proof and tear resistant paper is a unique product that consists of special materials that make it water proof, resilient, and give it a durability that will last for many years. They are great for restaurant menus, emergency services, insurance cards, business cards, maps, flyers and brochures. It’s the ideal solution for under water use and outdoor and harsh environments. This paper is very rouged and last for years.

When choosing the best printing paper for your job, keep in mind cheap is cheap and you don’t want to project your business or yourself that way if you want to be successful. The little money you may save by going cheap can destroy your marketing efforts.  I’m not saying you need to find the most expensive printing service to get the best quality. The things that count are competitive pricing, the highest quality and personal customer service.  You need be able to speak with printing professional that can help you make decisions, not a customer service rep that has no knowledge of what your choices are.