Get Real With Postcards! by:Kaitlyn Miller

One good thing about print postcards is that they depict reality

. Postcards offer a glimpse of what it is real. Picture perfect beaches. Enticing strawberry coated vanilla ice cream. Luscious dark chocolates. These are some of the more common subjects for print postcards. But have you tried something different but very obvious? These are your 'real' subjects.

Just what do 'real' subjects mean? In the same breath as a reality show, a good idea for print postcards is real subjects. Show what people really think about their every day job. About their spouse. About growing old. About their jobs. These subjects are closer to each and everyone's heart primarily because everyone can relate to them.

A real postcard ad for a milk brand would feature a milk man in white overalls carrying bottles in the doorstep. Add a good caption like, 'delivered fresh everyday' and you have something that a lot of people can relate to. How about a picture of a smiling elderly lady with all her wrinkles and creases and the caption, 'We care for them'? Do you have an idea that your business would benefit from this?

This strategy is a step backward. It veers away from the traditional way of portraying subjects - all dolled up and wearing fashionable clothes in front of a perfect backdrop. The reality that postcards show of how people really dress and act at home. They would have subjects like attitudes, jealousies and insecurities that rattle around inside every one of us. These subjects will make your postcards real and more appealing because this is what happens in our daily lives.

A word of caution though, not all 'real' subjects are acceptable. You have to really examine how other people would react to your subject. Some subjects are just too extreme for conservative ones. Sex is one subject that is very sensitive. The ugly side of life may also not appeal to many. However, most people will react positively if the softer side of people is presented. Children, pets, and happy thoughts are real winners.

For luxury consumer good, consider ads that explore feelings about "keeping up with, or surpassing, the Joneses." That is, the desire to be better than the guy next door, or the woman in the office down the hall. Here, we're talking about the desire to incite envy or jealousy. Or to show, "I'm better than you."

To inject realism into your postcard mailing ad you must understand people. Perhaps with your own insights into human nature. Or better yet, with qualitative research into the attitudes and behavior of the target audience.

Be natural and realistic in the copy or dialog you write, in the characters you cast. "Real" people are not "beautiful" people.

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For more information, you can visit this page on http://www.printplace.com/printing/postcard-printing.aspx and http://www.printplace.com/printing/postcard-mailing.aspx

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