Advertising with Postcards ~ Biz.com Small Business

Advertising with postcards will not break your bank. Here are examples of postcard advertising that you can use in your small business.

By Lanee' Blunt

Small business advertising on a budget can be challenging, but you have to advertise anyway. You need something that works, and will not hurt your wallet. Postcards can be inexpensive, which will allow you full control of all cost.

Postcards are a great way to advertise. The advertisement is written on one side of the card which allows the prospect to read it even briefly. You have a better chance of getting the postcard read because it has no envelope. They are easy to create too.

Mailing List

Make sure that you stay in touch with your former customers, prospects, and referrals. Get the addresses of your customers because your house list is an ideal mailing list to mail your postcard. Rent or purchase a mailing list from a mailing list supplier. You can also develop your own mailing list by using a business directory from your library.

Inexpensive

Postcards are inexpensive; first class postage for a postcard is about $0.28 U.S. According to Jay Conrad Levinson’s book, Guerrilla Marketing, “Today postcard decks are the fastest growing area of marketing. The cost is very low and the response rate is in the 20 percent range.” You can make your own postcard with card stock paper: weight 110(LB) for use in a laser, ink jet, or a multi-function printer. You can print up to four postcards on one sheet, or two to a sheet it depends on what size postcard you decide.

Create the Postcard

Postcards are relatively easy to make. With any desktop publishing program will give you a good selection of different choices. You can buy the perforated card stock, which lets you run the postcards in the computer and tear the cards apart after printing, or you can have your postcards printed by a professional vender with full four color lamination.

Advertising

It should have an offer. What does your company offer the prospect? Your response rate will be much higher if your small business has an offer. You might offer free shipping, or a special bonus offer, or a discount on your service.

Keep it Simple

You can use your color printer to print nice looking postcards. You can use color paper stock with your black ink. Make sure that you use large print and that your contact information is large enough for the prospect to read on the post card.

Have a great offer, use the best mailing list, and you will receive a response from your postcard mailing.

Reference:

Jay Conrad Levinson; Guerrilla Marketing; Houghton Mifflin