subject: Increase Profits By Using Postcards To Advertise Your Small Enterprise [print this page] Newer businesses usually don't have a lot of money left over for advertising once you open your doors. Long-time businesses often haven't thought about giving their business a boost through direct marketing since they first opened. If either sounds familiar, then you could benefit from using postcards to market your business.
When you advertise your business you need to determine the best ways to reach the most people for the least amount of money. You also must assess your target audience to determine what medium will not only reach the most people, but will actually be noticed and read by those who receive it. A colorful and tightly worded postcard is a good option.
There are several great sites on the internet that allow you to use their templates to design your own postcard quickly. You will be able to proof it and then place your order from a small quantity to large. Most will also offer a mailing service as well for an added fee and postage costs. Local printers in your town or city are also able to supply marketing products and mailing services.
Keep in mind though that using online sites will add shipping costs to your bottom line versus a local printer who you meet with face to face. However local printers may not be able to match the per unit price of online shops. It is a trade off that usually does not amount much price different at the end.
Depending on how well your local print shop follows business trends, they may also offer you templates and easy review and uploading via their website. If not, then they often have a designer on staff, or a list of designers for hire, who will develop a postcard and deliver the files for printing. This may also be a costlier than designing yourself or online, since you will pay for the designers time in addition to the printing costs.
If you are at all savvy about laying out promotional materials for printing, or you have the right computer software, you can complete the design and pay only for the printing. It all depends on how valuable your time is versus the costs of having someone else complete the job. Whichever option you choose, the printing costs will always go down on each piece as the quantity produced goes up. There is value in quantity.
When putting together your postcard, the goal is to catch the recipients eye. Make it colorful enough to jump out from that pile of boring white envelopes in their mailbox. Keep the text simple and uncluttered. You want them to be able to pick it up and read it quickly. Always offer people a discount or free gift for bringing the card to your shop, or mentioning it on the phone when they schedule an appointment.
Another reason for including a discount or gift is to track your success in reaching customers with this method. Instruct your staff to keep the cards and place a date on each one when it is presented, so that you can keep track of the number of people reached and how long it took them to come to your shop or call for your services. If this proves effective you may then want to use postcards to announce special sales, a business anniversary or expansion news.
Postage will always be your highest cost. But, think of how much time and money you save by sending a postcard versus standard mail plus folding and stuffing an envelope. If this is a one time thing, then purchase rolls of stamps at your post office to stick on yourself to save money. If you think you will do this often, then you may want to apply for a bulk mail permit and pay the annual fee associated with this option. You will be given a discounted rate and a meter to put postage on your mail.
Don't forget, once you reach your customers and they start to frequent your business, to always provide quality service. In the long run this will be your best and cheapest marketing plan. You can't put a price on loyal customers and their referrals, but it will be what keeps you in business for a long time to come.
