101 Postcard Ideas...#1

If you're on a budget and need marketing materials, you can't beat a postcard for flexibility, but you have to decide how you're going to use it before you design it.

As Chef Margaret Personal Chef Service and Into the Pan, I've mailed postcards in the past, but currently I use them as "throwaways" at networking meetings, give them to business partners as informational pieces, put them into giveaway bags at various events, and display them at trade show type events.

When I say "throwaway" I mean exactly that. Most people will throw your marketing materials away - er, I mean recycle them - no matter what they are. Would it make you more comfortable if they're throwing away your expensive brochure, or your "cheap" postcard? Don't get me wrong on the "cheap" - I refer to the price only. A glossy postcard done right looks fantastic!

Because I don't mail them out I can utilize the back to a greater degree; I prefer to focus on one or two ideas rather than try to incorporate all my possible services onto the small space. In the example shown, the front, or colored side describes my "dinner" chef service, and the back side describes my Mini Chef. It is in fact verbose because I use it as a little mini brochure about dinner service. Not every piece you print has to be short and sweet, and short and sweet - in my area everyone thinks a personal chef is a caterer - would not have served my purpose for this card.

If you did the same, you could still mail them out; you'd have to buy some appropriately-sized envelopes and stick it inside. That seems sort of a waste to me.

Postcards are extremely budget friendly, so for the cost of a more expensive single item, like a rack card, for example, you can design and print two or more separate postcards, one for giving and one for mailing.

A postcard is sized (approx.) 5.5 x 4.25", or 6 x 4"; it depends on where you get them printed. Glossy front, and matte back. Online printers will tell you what size(s) they offer; a local printer will print whatever size you want. It all depends on how much money you want to spend, and online printers have the best price. You can also get a half-sheet size, or 8.5 x 5.5". They use more paper, so they'll be a bit more expensive.

Ask yourself some questions before you go to print:

1. What is the purpose of the card? Educational/informative or call to action?

2. Are you promoting a specific service, a special deal or special day?

3. What size? Does it need to stand out in people's Great Mail Piles? Handing it out to your dietitian or personal trainer partners? Using it as a counter card at the local hair salon or organic store? Does it have to fit into a specific space?

4. How many do you need? If you have a bunch of "leftovers", can you use them in another way or do you have to toss them?