Boosting Your Business With Promotional Postcards

As you're gearing up for a new year of promoting your business, postcards can make it easy to take advantage of all the opportunities you have to tag onto holidays and milestone events throughout the year. Here are a few quick examples:

January: It's a New Year and I'm clearing out last year's inventory to make room for...

February: Give that special person in your life the gift of...

March: It's your lucky day! Take advantage of our new low prices on...

April: Don't be a fool! Get your massive discount for...

Here are some reasons why you want to take advantage of this small, but effective, method of advertising.

* You don't have to depend on someone opening them to get your message across.

* You can use attention getting graphics and pictures, so potential customers can't resist looking at them.

* Postcards are less expensive to mail than letters and brochures.

* Postcards are easier to mail - all you have to do is put on a stamp and label and pop them in the mail. There's no stuffing and sealing envelopes.

* Postcards are less expensive to print than brochures.

When using postcards for promoting your business, you want to keep the following points in mind:

* The copy needs to be benefit rich and get to the point quickly. There's no space to waste!

* You need to be very clear on the benefits of what you are offering versus the features. Benefits sell, features describe.

* There is no curiosity factor with postcards. What you see is what you get, so the copy and graphics need to be bold and entertaining.

* Postcards should be done on a regular basis to be effective, at least once a quarter.

* Postcards are especially good as a follow-up to a more elaborate direct mail piece, such as a letter and brochure.

Watch your junk mail to see what gets your attention and sparks your curiosity enough to look further, and then use that concept in your own promotions. To be really effective you need to do the research to find your target audience and send your direct mail campaigns out several times a year to that specific audience.

Most postcards I receive hit the round file because they are offering something I'm not looking for at that time, or they are dull and boring and do not hold my attention.

These tips will get you on your way to creating effective postcard campaigns, and help you easily keep your business in front of your prospective customers all year long.