It’s a New Year, which means it’s time to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new.

This includes antiquated marketing strategies that just don’t work anymore.  It’s easy to hop on the “this is the most amazing marketing strategy since sliced bread,” bandwagon, but at the end of the day, these so-called miracle marketing strategies have a short lifespan and you’ll likely find yourself bouncing from strategy to strategy to try and keep your business relevant.

If you don’t want to subject yourself to becoming a slave to every new marketing fad, perhaps in 2016, what you REALLY need to do is get back to the basics.  And by that, we mean stripping things down and going back to marketing strategies that have withstood the tests of time, yet still successfully deliver results.  As it turns out, postcard marketing happens to be one such strategy.  If you REALLY want to take your marketing efforts up a notch this year, keep on reading…

If you want to create the absolute BEST postcard marketing design for your business, keep these helpful tips in mind:

1. Develop a specific purpose for your postcard campaign that will grab the attention of your prospective customers. Craft this idea with value in mind and make it as exciting and interesting as possible. For example, perhaps you’re running a 30-day sale where all purchases over $50 are 10% off. Or maybe a birthday card campaign where the recipient gets free dessert with the purchase of an entrée.  The possibilities here are endless.

2. Keep your message as simple as possible, even if you decide to use over-sized postcards. Don’t make it too wordy or oversell. The purpose of the postcard is to create interest enough for them to call.  Sell when they call.

3. Using short, bold-faced headlines is best. Avoid jumbled, muddled information. Don’t attempt to explain every little thing in your postcard message. And make sure to include your contact information.  It may sound silly to have to remind you of something so basic, but you would be amazed at how many people forget.

4. Use timely messages, including offers that have deadlines. Encourage your prospective customers to act in quick manner. Give them good reasons to “act now,” such as a coupon with an expiration date or a special offer with a deadline. There needs to be a sense of urgency in whatever your promotion is going to be.

5. Design your postcards to be eye-catching. Use high-quality images, colors and graphics that stand out. Choose high-quality, glossy printing option for your postcard design. This makes the most impact, and usually doesn’t cost much more than standard printing options.

6. Every postcard has two sides, so it’s a good idea to use both of them. The side without your contact info should contain the biggest and boldest colors and images. The opposite side should have your offer, contact info, and other details.

In addition, here are some bonus tips:

1. Don’t forget that postcards can be multi-faceted. You can use them for reminders, new product or service announcements, coupons, gift certificates, – and even tickets.
2. Measure the results of your postcard marketing campaign. Measure both the immediate and the long-term results of your campaign. Notate which postcards generate the best results.
3. Track your ROI. Your postcard campaign can potentially return at least 4 times your original cost, although some of the most successful campaigns land closer to 8-12 times your original cost.

For step-by-step instructions on how to create the perfect postcard campaign, download the “Insider’s Guide to Mastering Postcard Marketing.” (psst…to the right of your screen)

If you’re ready to kick off 2016 with a successful postcard marketing campaign, give us a shout today at 877-222-6010 to learn more about why we are the perfect partner!