How to Design an Effective Postcard

If you are going to design a postcard for your marketing campaign,
take the time and do it right. This can make all the difference
between making this campaign an effective one or just creating more
junk mail in people’s mailboxes. There are several steps you need to
follow to make sure that your postcard gives you maximum leverage in
grabbing attention and working for you. You could just have a
marketing company handle it for you, but if you decide to do it
yourself, here are some simple rules to follow.

Tip 1. Make your postcard demand attention

We now live in a time referred to as the ‘attention age’. People have
shorter attention spans because there’s so much going on around them.
Your first question however is, how do you get their attention. The
most common way to do this is through the headline. A powerful
headline on your postcard design can work wonders in your marketing
efforts. When writing your headline, keep these things in mind:

• Use Powerful Phrase
• Know your target market
• Use a question
• Be controversial
• Pique Their Curiosity
• Promise A Benefit


Tip 2. Use a Nice Large Image on the front

Have you ever heard the term “a picture is worth a thousand words?”
You don’t want to clutter the front of your postcard. Use a powerful
headline and a large clean image. You can buy royalty free images
online. You could also use a graphic design company to create a unique
design that will help uphold your brand and separate you from the
competition.

Tip 3. Be consistent with your color scheme

I would recommend 2 to 3 color maximum between your background color
and your text color combined. Use colors that compliment or go well
with each other. Remember that your image might already have multiple
colors, so you want to go easy on the background color.

Tip 4. Use the correct size and shape

Postcard design and take many size and shapes. The standard size of a
postcard is 4” x 6”, but there are also jumbo postcards like 5” x 7”,
5.5” x 8.5” or 6” x 9” and even larger. When deciding on the size you
must keep your advertising budget in mind because a larger card will
cost more to mail. Not all postcards are used in direct mail
campaigns, however; some are just used for distribution. You can die
cut postcards to different shapes also. These are mostly used at trade
shows and other events.

Tip 5. Include more detailed information on the back

If you plan to mail your the postcards, you must first find out what’s
the mailing criteria for the back of your postcard at your post
office. Some post offices won’t mail unless sufficient white space is
at the back of the card. You can list more detailed information about
your company or whatever you are advertising towards the left of the
postcard. Include your logo, company name and contact information
also. You could also offer coupons or discounts on the back.
Tip 6. Some final points on creating that perfect postcard

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts:
• Try to avoid borders. It makes your postcard look old and end up
with an uneven look after the postcards are cut down to size.
• The design should be done at a high enough resolution so that the
appearance will be clean and clear.
• Choose your postcard printer wisely, this will save you a lot of
headache and money.

Follow these simple steps and you should have a postcard that’s
effective and works for you. For printing see postcard printing
company