Direct mail
Direct mail is prominent in today’s marketing landscape, leveraging new concepts and technology to create highly targeted campaigns. Companies can optimize their best results by direct mailing with digital marketing. However, businesses experiment with different combinations to identify the most effective strategies, enabling them to drive better conversions. In this blog, you will get to know how to Get paid to mail postcards
Despite the potential of this approach, some companies have chosen to focus solely on digital marketing, potentially missing out on valuable opportunities. Direct mail marketing’s unique impact lies in providing a refreshing alternative to the overwhelming digital media landscape, meeting the growing need for a more tangible and personal connection with audiences.
What Is Postcard Marketing?
Postcard marketing has been a popular choice for direct mail marketers since its inception due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. In the past, sending and receiving postcards was a common and enjoyable practice. Postcard mailing services serve as a perfect communication medium for a wide range of occasions, including holidays and special milestones.
As a result, it was a natural decision to introduce postcard marketing to reach prospects and existing customers. This approach continues to be utilized by many companies, as it allows for the delivery of promotional messages and offers directly to the target audience.
While some may view postcard marketing as traditional, it remains effective, as people tend to hold on to postcards with relevant offers for future reference. Direct mail services can significantly enhance engagement, boost sales, and bring good results when executed correctly. Also, segmenting mailing lists and integrating data from various digital channels enables personalized communication, ultimately driving greater attention and response.
How Effective Is Postcards?
Postcards are a powerful marketing channel and are also known for cheapest direct mail postcards that continue to be effective in engaging audiences. Unlike digital communications, people tend to appreciate receiving physical direct marketing postcards and are more likely to engage with its content. This is particularly true for individuals who experience digital fatigue and are looking for a break from overwhelming online interactions.
Marketers often leverage direct mail for various strategies, such as Account-Based Marketing (ABM). ABM necessitates close collaboration between marketing and sales teams, with the shared goal of targeting specific accounts. Direct mail is particularly well-suited for ABM campaigns due to its capacity for creativity and generating responses.
One of direct mail’s advantages is that it does not require recipients’ initial permission, making it a relatively straightforward channel for reaching ideal customers. Also, it enables organizations to simultaneously reach a large number of people and create personalized experiences, thereby contributing to its effectiveness in engaging recipients.
Get paid to mail postcards
In the postcard marketing business opportunity, individuals have the chance to engage in a system where they can promote a specific program to others through the mailing of postcards. This involves signing up for the program and encouraging others to do the same. These opportunities often operate as multi-level marketing (MLM) companies, which means that participants can earn from the recruitment efforts of those they have brought into the system.
Also, in some instances, participants have the option to utilize the system to advertise the company’s products or other offers of their choice. However, being aware of scams and the steps to get paid to mail postcards is essential. Now, let’s dive into the steps.
Choose a niche
When getting into the business of selling postcards in a cost-effective way, it’s essential to consider the level of competition you’ll face in the market. To stand out, it’s crucial to think about creating a postcard design that is unique and appealing to your potential customers.
One option to consider is whether you plan to create your imagery for the front of the cards or offer custom postcards templates for customers to personalize with their photos and messages with the benefit of every door direct mail. These approaches have their positive approach toward the potential customer, and it’s important to weigh the advantages of each and bring out great results.
Regardless of the route you take, it can be advantageous to focus on a specific niche market. Identifying a niche or target audience, which refers to the group of people most likely to purchase your products, can help you tailor your offerings to meet their specific needs and preferences.
For postcards, potential niche markets could include those featuring local landmarks, ones with humorous or sarcastic messages, original artwork, vintage images, or humorous and adorable animal photos. These are just a few examples, and the key is to identify what sets your cards apart from the standard fare available at local retailers. Researching unique postcards on online marketplaces such as Etsy or Amazon can provide more inspiration and insights into what appeals to customers.
Criteria for the research post office
To ensure a piece of mail qualifies as a postcard by the standards of the United States Post Office, it must meet the following criteria:
– It should be rectangular.
– It must have a minimum height of 3.5 inches and a length of at least 5 inches.
– The thickness should be at least 0.007 inches but not exceed 0.016 inches.
– It should not be longer than 4.5 inches in height and 6 inches in length.
While larger postcards can be sent, it’s important to note that the average postcard stamp may not cover the postage costs. When mailing postcards to another country, be aware that size requirements may vary, and it’s advisable to recommend international customers to consult their local post office for more details.
Also, buyers should be cautioned against attaching thick stickers or magnets to their cards, as these can disqualify the card from postcard status or make it unmailable. While attaching items like washi tape or thin stickers directly onto the card is usually permissible, anything that affects the flatness of the card may pose a problem.
Make your postcards stand out by choosing UV coating. When used on postcards printed on 13- or 16-point cover stock, UV coating effectively protects your postcards from tears, bends, and scratches during transit. However, the benefits of UV-coating postcards go beyond just durability.
Similarly, Aqueous coating is a water-based coating applied to printed materials, such as postcards. It is composed of a mixture of acrylic emulsion, water, and other additives. The coating is applied to the paper’s surface using a roller or spray nozzle. Once applied, the coating dries rapidly, resulting in a smooth, glossy finish.
First-Class Mail or first class postage is the cheapest option for mailing by the United States Postal Service. It is a cost-friendly solution to send letters, postcards, invoices, documents, etc., with prices starting at only $0.68 per piece. This is the cost of a Forever stamp that allows you to ship mailers weighing up to an ounce.
Consider utilizing bulk mailing services from companies like 48HourPrint for your postcard printing and mailing needs. These companies take care of the entire process, from printing to mailing, which can help you save valuable time and energy. Partnering with such companies can also allow you to generate income by overseeing bulk mail campaigns for various businesses.
Every Door Direct Mail, abbreviated as EDDM postcards, is a marketing technique offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that allows businesses to send postcards or flyers to specific geographic areas, targeting every residence within those chosen zones.
The last size of a postcard is what we call a “jumbo postcard”. These postcards are much larger than the average postcard. These postcards can be a maximum of 6″x11″. If you go any larger than this, your direct mail campaign will no longer be classified as a postcard.
opt for Demand print service
Looking to establish a successful online postcard business without the hassle of managing inventory, printing, or dealing with intricate cutting processes? Consider the print-on-demand (POD) business model, which can significantly save you time and money by taking care of order fulfillment on your behalf.
To get started, register with a print-on-demand partner such as Gelato, Printful, Shopify, etc., where you can choose from a wide range of premium postcards and greeting cards to showcase your designs with a personal touch. Integrate your POD account with your online store, and once a customer places an order, your POD provider will handle the printing and shipping directly to the customer’s address.
When evaluating potential POD providers, be sure to consider the following factors:
• Variety of card stock options available
• Quality of customer service and support
• Shipping destinations and rates
For instance, at Gelato, they leverage a network of over 130 local producers worldwide to deliver custom postcards to 32 different countries dependably and sustainably. With transparent pricing and exceptional customer support, we can empower you to enter the postcard design industry without the need to oversee the printing process.
Select the designs for your postcards
When designing your postcard, you have several options. Many printers offer their design studios. There are user-friendly tools that allow you to design your card either freehand or using a postcard template for your desired result. If you prefer, you can use a free online postcard maker like Adobe Express to create the image for your card.
If this is your new business and you’re not confident or handling your design abilities, consider hiring a professional designer or a graphic designer from a site like Upwork or Fiverr for postcard printing. Once your design is complete, use your POD(Print on Demand) account postcard maker to position it on the front of your card.
If you choose to add a message, pay attention to details such as fonts, icons, and other elements that reflect your unique style. For the back of your postcard, you can incorporate either a horizontal or vertical divider. The USPS accepts both types as long as they follow specific address requirements:
– Vertically divided cards: The left side of the card is for the message, and the right side is for the recipient’s address and postage.
– Horizontally divided cards: These are commonly used for marketing. The message area should be positioned opposite the recipient’s address.
Lastly, remember to leave room for a stamp! Once you’re satisfied with your design, order samples to ensure it looks great in person.
Adhere to Postal Regulations
The agreement with the USPS should clearly outline the licensing terms governing the use of USPS trademarks. If your contract lacks these provisions, you should reach out to your Contracting Officer to have them included. Any use of USPS trademarks must receive prior approval from USPS’s Brand Equity and Design Department/Division.
The trademarks of the United States can be associated with postcards in several ways:
1. Design and Branding: Many postcards prominently feature trademarked images, logos, or slogans. For instance, postcards showcasing famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, or the Golden Gate Bridge often include trademarks owned by the entities managing these landmarks.
2. Postal Service Trademarks: The United States Postal Service (USPS) has its own trademarks. These trademarks can be found on postcards, particularly those sold or distributed by the USPS. They serve to safeguard the USPS brand and ensure its proper representation.
3. Historical and Cultural Significance: Postcards often capture significant historical and cultural moments. Some images or phrases featured on postcards may be trademarked to preserve their significance and prevent misuse.
4. Commercial Use: Companies that produce postcards may trademark their designs or specific series of postcards to safeguard their intellectual property and prevent unauthorized replication of their unique creations.
The prepress team is a benefit
The prepress team is an essential part of the postcard production process. Their involvement includes several key tasks:
1. Design Preparation: The prepress team thoroughly reviews the postcard design to ensure it is ready for printing. This involves checking the resolution of images, verifying correct color profiles, and ensuring proper embedding of all fonts and graphics.
2. Preflighting: This step involves a comprehensive review of the digital artwork file to ensure it meets all the necessary specifications for printing. The prepress team checks for issues such as incorrect bleeds, margins, and color settings.
3. Proofing: Before final printing, the prepress team creates proofs for review. These proofs are essential for catching any errors and ensuring that the postcards will appear as intended in the final product.
4. Creating Printing Plates: In the case of traditional offset printing, the prepress team is responsible for producing printing plates based on the final approved design. These plates are used to transfer the ink onto the postcards during the printing process.
5. Quality Control: Throughout the entire process, the prepress team conducts thorough quality control checks to ensure that the postcards will be printed accurately and meet the highest quality standards.
By diligently managing these tasks, the prepress team ensures that the final printed postcards are of the highest quality and free from errors. If you have any specific questions about the prepress process, feel free to ask for more information.
Initiate your online store
Once you’ve registered for an account on your chosen sales channel, it’s time to make it your own. Brainstorm an original and unforgettable name for your shop and start considering the color scheme and fonts that best represent your brand.
If you’re using a website builder such as Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce to create your e-commerce store, you’ll have ample opportunities to integrate your branding into the site’s design seamlessly. Even on Etsy, which has more limited customization options, you can still upload a banner image and a logo to personalize your shop.
You can easily create a free logo using sites like myfreelogomaker, which can assist you in finding the perfect font, image, and color combination. Once you have finished designing your logo, simply save and download it for use in your shop and marketing materials.
Next, it’s time to start uploading your product photos and descriptions. It’s crucial to feature high-quality photos for each item in your shop.
Be sure to capture several great images to use for your display photo and listing photos. As you write detailed product descriptions, remember to include keywords and document specific product details such as size, material, weight, and coating options.
Set up payment and shipping options, and clearly outline your refund and return policy. Lastly, determine a price for your postcards that allows for a profit after considering any costs from your print-on-demand partner and e-commerce platform.
Remember not to overprice your products if you want to remain competitive. Conduct a bit of market research by visiting other sellers’ shops to get a sense of the typical price range for postcards in your niche.
Introduce your postcard business
After your online shop goes live, the next crucial step is to attract potential customers through digital ads. Not necessarily that you need years of experience, but effective marketing is essential for the success of any online and offline business. One strategy is to create dedicated social media accounts for your shop. By doing so with a marketing expert, you can build a network of potential buyers and connect with other online business owners or top producers.
When designing promotional posts for social media, be sure to incorporate key elements like brand colors, the purpose of your postcards, fonts, and images to maintain a cohesive brand identity to receive remarkable response rates from past clients. These posts can then be used as both paid and free social media ads to attract buyers to your shop.
Another effective tactic is to consider creating a monthly newsletter where you can share exclusive discounts, promotions, and updates about new products with your subscribers. This can help to engage your customer base and keep them informed about your shop’s offerings.
Conclusion
Venturing into the world of postcard business can be an enriching and profitable endeavor. By carefully following the comprehensive roadmap provided in this guide, you will be equipped to navigate the complexities of the postcard market and lay the foundation for a successful business. It’s imperative to delve into understanding market trends and customer preferences, master the art of designing captivating postcards, and establish the core framework of your business, as each of these steps is instrumental in shaping your path ahead.
Alongside these fundamental aspects, it’s essential to realize that devising effective marketing strategies and sales techniques will be pivotal for your business’s growth. Whether it’s through online marketing, direct mail campaigns, or forging strategic partnerships, the exploration of diverse channels to connect with your target audience is crucial.
Also, prioritizing customer engagement and fostering continuous growth should be ingrained in your business philosophy. Nurturing lasting relationships, actively seeking feedback from your customer base, and diversifying your product offerings are indispensable strategies to foster evolution and expansion.
Now that you’re armed with indispensable knowledge, it’s time to embark on the inaugural steps of your journey. Start by taking measured strides, gradually expand your network within the industry, and maintain meticulous organization to track your expenditures. Embracing a culture of continuous improvement and unwavering passion is pivotal to stay ahead in this competitive landscape. Remember, calculated risk-taking is also a cornerstone of success in the pursuit of establishing a thriving postcard business.
