How to Advertise Using Postcard Prints
Why Use Postcards?
Postcards have long been a go-to marketing tool for businesses looking to promote new products, announce special offers, and connect with customers, both new and old. They’re simple, affordable, and personalized, which makes them stand out among other marketing strategies that rely on fast-paced and easy-to-read content.
As one of our other articles has pointed out, postcards offer several unique advantages:
- They are tangible and personal. Postcards give your audience something physical to hold, making the message more direct and memorable than a screen-based ad.
- They are cost-effective. Compared to many digital or print advertising methods, postcards are affordable to produce and mail, making them great for both large and small businesses.
- They have attention-grabbing designs and creativity. Their compact format encourages bold visuals, clever headlines, and simple messaging that catches the eye quickly.
- You can integrate them digitally. Today’s postcards can include QR codes, social media handles, and personalized URLs to connect with your online platforms.
Beyond these benefits, postcard promotions offer other perks that set them apart from other promotional products:
- There’s less competition in the mailbox. Unlike email inboxes that get flooded with dozens or even hundreds of promotions daily, a physical mailbox usually contains far fewer marketing pieces, giving your postcard more room to stand out.
- Postcards offer instant visibility. Recipients don’t have to open an envelope or click a button to see your message. Your content is immediately visible, making it more likely to be noticed and read.
With all these elements combined, postcards can be easily adapted to suit any promotional activity. But rather than focusing only on what postcards can do, let’s dive into how to use them in your marketing strategy.
Steps to an Effective Postcard Advertising Campaign
- Set Your Objective
- Identify Your Audience
- Develop a Strong Campaign Message
- Plan Your Mailing Schedule
- Integrate Physical with Digital
- Include a Clear and Actionable Offer
Before launching your postcard campaign, clearly define what you want to achieve. Your goal could be to drive more traffic to a store, announce a new product, or promote seasonal sales. A well-defined objective will be the basis for all your marketing decisions, from the message and design to the delivery timeline and audience.
Speaking of the audience, try to know and understand who your ideal recipients are by considering demographics, location, and buying behavior. Tailoring your message to specific groups helps your postcards resonate more deeply. A client who previously purchased may respond better to loyalty offers, while new customers might need a first-time discount or a personalized, welcoming message.
Craft a clear and relevant message and align it with your overall marketing goals. Whether your campaign is part of a more extensive cross-channel promotion or a standalone effort, consistency matters. Ensure your tone, branding, and call to action match what customers would see in your postcards, emails, poster ads, flyers, and website.
Timing is a key factor in postcard marketing success. Send postcards to align with buying seasons, local events, or store promotions. For example, holiday offers should be mailed in a few weeks ahead. Work closely with your postcard printing and mailing provider to coordinate an efficient and timely delivery schedule.
Link your campaign to digital platforms to maximize its reach. Add QR codes that lead to landing pages, encourage social media interaction, or tie the postcards into a special offer. This multi-channel approach boosts visibility, makes tracking more manageable, and offers multiple ways for your audience to engage with your brand.
Your postcard should feature an easy-to-follow call to action. Include limited-time discounts, online codes, or QR links that track engagement. A clear, enticing offer motivates recipients to act fast, whether visiting a website, redeeming a deal, or signing up for something online.
Measuring the Success of Your Postcard Campaign
Wondering if your postcard campaign made an impact? One of the best ways to find out is by observing changes in sales or customer engagement after your postcards are sent. This is where digital integration becomes valuable—it allows you to connect offline efforts with trackable online actions. Here are some ways to measure success.
- QR Codes: QR codes are a simple way to monitor postcards' performance. Try linking your analytics with postcard-only QR codes and see how many people have visited your website through them. You can also generate unique QR codes for different campaigns or periods to compare results and see which message or offer had the most significant impact on engagement.
- Vanity Links and URLs: Instead of sharing your main website link, create short, branded URLs that redirect to specific landing pages. These vanity links make it easy to measure how many visits came directly from your postcard and help you gauge that postcard's effectiveness in driving traffic.
- Maximize Discount Codes: Offering exclusive discount codes on your postcards doesn't just reward customers; it also tracks visits and marketing performance. When someone uses a specific code during checkout, you'll know the postcard influenced their purchase, making it easier to see which offers resonate most with your audience
- A/B Testing Your Postcard Campaigns: Try sending postcards alongside your digital marketing and compare the results with periods when you didn't use print. If you run yearly promotions, compare this year's postcard-based campaign to last year's digital-only effort to measure how postcards boost your results.
Conclusion
Postcard advertising isn't just affordable—it creates strong connections with your audience. A well-designed postcard campaign delivers messages in a personal, tangible way that customers appreciate and remember. When integrated into your marketing strategy, postcards enhance brand awareness, increase engagement, and leave lasting impressions. Whether you're promoting sales, inviting people to events, or keeping your brand top-of-mind, postcards offer a creative way to connect. Incorporate them into your next campaign to stand out and build stronger audience relationships.