| If you don't want to waste your postcard printing | | | | (leave the features for your brochures or sales |
| budget, you need to make sure your postcard | | | | letters), it should be clear, and it should be short. You |
| marketing campaign includes (at the bare minimum) | | | | only have a few seconds to grab people's attention. |
| the following elements. | | | | Be sure to test your headline with co-workers, family |
| A mailing list | | | | and friends to make sure it's an attention-getting |
| You need a solid mailing list, of at least a few | | | | headline that is clearly understood at first glance. |
| hundred people before you even think about sending | | | | An outstanding offer |
| out postcards. A better number is in the thousands - | | | | An enticing offer that is hard to resist is what brings |
| many companies send out postcards and other direct | | | | the sales in the door. |
| mail to a minimum of 5,000 people at a time. | | | | Your offer could be a discount coupon, a free item |
| You can either buy a mailing list from a broker or you | | | | or something that isn't your actual product or service. |
| can create an in-house list made up of current and | | | | A computer store could offer one year of free |
| past customers, and people you've researched | | | | Internet service with the purchase of a computer. |
| yourself. If you're doing the research yourself, you | | | | Just make sure that whatever you offer is somehow |
| should make sure you only make your list from | | | | related to your product or service. |
| names of people who have shown some kind of | | | | A call to action |
| interest in your product or service, or a similar | | | | A call to action is often related to the offer. "Call in |
| product or service. | | | | the next three days for 10% off your next |
| Check your list to make sure you have complete | | | | purchase" is a good example. It's specific and gives a |
| addresses, up-to-date information and no duplicates. | | | | time limit to take advantage of the offer. By adding |
| Even though postcard printing is one of the cheapest | | | | a time limit, you create a sense of urgency, which |
| ways to market your product, there's still no sense in | | | | prompts people to take action when they otherwise |
| wasting money by sending the same postcard to the | | | | wouldn't. |
| people multiple times. | | | | Make sure your call to action is easy to understand |
| An eye-catching headline | | | | and stands out from the copy surrounding it. Make it |
| Postcards have a distinct advantage over letters or | | | | easy to respond by including the necessary |
| brochures in envelopes - recipients have to at least | | | | information close-by (e.g. list the Web site right after |
| read a part of your postcard to know they don't | | | | the call to action if you want people to visit your |
| want it. This is why your headlines are so important. | | | | Web site). |
| Your headlines should promise some kind of benefit | | | | |