Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Postcard Marketing Is Good Business For Many Reasons

By Deborah Sullivan


It is not unusual for people starting businesses to worry about money and count every penny. They sometimes try to cut costs on advertising expenses, but this is always a mistake. A professional website is essential, and if your market is local, you will also need a way to contact potential customers on a personal level. Postcard marketing is relatively cheap and extremely effective, if done correctly.

For one thing, postcards are inexpensive to print and mail. Even over sized cards are still economical tools that can be extremely effective, if you have a good mailing list. You may not be able to afford a multiple page glossy brochure advertising your business, but you could interest your clientele with eye-catching postcards and bullet points describing your product or service.

When your budget is tight, you have to get creative. If you use your imagination, you can put that box of extra cards to work for you. They make good business cards left at cash registers in local stores. Punching a hole in one corner will create a hang tag. If your cards are advertising special discounts, handing them out at community events is even cheaper than mailing them.

Because they don't cost much, you might use them to do some market testing. You might try an offer on a small group of residents to measure the success. If you get a good percentage of response, you can expand your reach and send the cards to a wider audience. Not everything is going to work. Testing with inexpensive mailers is a way to keep costs down and still learn what your target audience responds well to.

Sending postcards are a great way to keep your competition from knowing exactly what you are doing until it is too late for them to counter your campaign. When you put ads in the paper or on your website, everyone has access to the information. Don't be fooled. Your competition will be watching. Sending mailers makes it harder for them to compete.

Don't be fooled into thinking your audience will remember you from just one mailing. You have to budget for consistent mailings, offers, and discounts throughout the year. This is the way you will develop a lasting brand and name recognition. Customers may not rush to your shop or office, but with a steady advertising campaign, you will see an increase in your foot traffic over time.

Since postcards don't take up much room, potential customers are more likely to keep them, especially if you are offering a discount when they present them at the time of a purchase. They will also keep them if you have a code to enter on your website for a drawing or special limited time offer. Everybody loves a deal, and the cards are a great way to present yours to the general public.

Starting a business is hard, and a lot of people fail. Many times they fail because they don't spend the money to effectively get the attention of potential customers. There are inexpensive ways to maximize your exposure, if you have enough imagination.




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