Postcard Marketing Is Good Business For Many Reasons

By Deborah Sullivan


Starting a new business is risky, expensive, and stressful. Most owners budget carefully and count every penny. Spending money on advertising is not optional, and even though you need a good website to draw customers, if you are targeting local clientele, you will also need something personal to draw them to your shop or office. Postcard marketing is a great, inexpensive way to do that.

For one thing, postcards are inexpensive to print and mail. Even over sized cards are still economical tools that can be extremely effective, if you have a good mailing list. You may not be able to afford a multiple page glossy brochure advertising your business, but you could interest your clientele with eye-catching postcards and bullet points describing your product or service.

When your budget is tight, you have to get creative. If you use your imagination, you can put that box of extra cards to work for you. They make good business cards left at cash registers in local stores. Punching a hole in one corner will create a hang tag. If your cards are advertising special discounts, handing them out at community events is even cheaper than mailing them.

Since they are so cheap to print and mail, they are great for test marketing. You can start out targeting a small audience to see how they respond. If the response is positive, you can expand your target area to get more customers into your shop or calling you with questions. Not every marketing campaign will be a success. When you do something that doesn't turn out the way you hoped, at least you won't have spent a fortune on the marketing materials.

When you have early success, you will get the attention of your competition. It is a good idea to monitor what they are doing, because they will certainly be watching you. You can out maneuver them with mailings because they are private. Your website and newsprint ads are public. Your competition will have to work harder to find out what your strategy is with targeted mailing.

Don't be fooled into thinking your audience will remember you from just one mailing. You have to budget for consistent mailings, offers, and discounts throughout the year. This is the way you will develop a lasting brand and name recognition. Customers may not rush to your shop or office, but with a steady advertising campaign, you will see an increase in your foot traffic over time.

Brochures are often large and bulky. They can end up in files or in the trash because they take up valuable space on a desk or counter. Postcards, on the other hand, are small and easily tucked into a drawer or purse. People tend to keep mailers that can be redeemed for discounts or special offers if presented at the point of purchase. Limited time offers are great ways to get customers into your store.

Starting a business is hard, and a lot of people fail. Many times they fail because they don't spend the money to effectively get the attention of potential customers. There are inexpensive ways to maximize your exposure, if you have enough imagination.




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