Postcard Design Ideas
Postcards are a multipurpose marketing tool. Not only can they be mailed, they can be used as handouts during conferences, posted on announcement boards, left on countertops as pickup items or even as over-sized business cards in a pinch. Design postcards by using a printer's template, a graphic designer's skills or personal ideas to build leads and increase business.
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Design For Mailing
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Begin planning your design by learning mailing requirements. You can send postcards through the United States Postal Service as bulk or first-class items. Postcards will need to be at least 3 1/2-by-5 inches in size but not over 4 1/4-by-6 inches. They must be at least the thickness of an index card. First-class mail provides forwarding and return mail service. Bulk mail does not provide these services and is slightly less expensive.
On one side of your postcard, you will need to leave blank spaces for a stamp, the recipient's address and your return address.
Using Templates
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Many online postcard printers provide templates to their customers. Templates take the time and worry out of getting a design idea just right. They provide placeholders and layout, and you fill in your business information and campaign details. Some templates include photographs, and others allow you to upload your own photos. You also can purchase postcard and other marketing templates through businesses such as Stock Layouts and Smile Templates.
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Find a Designer
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Hiring a graphic design company allows you to create design continuity in all of your marketing products. Continuity uses consistent colors, fonts and styles to plant visual branding in the minds of potential customers who receive your postcards. Graphic designers know how to interface with printers and copywriters to provide the right artwork and instructions for printing. To find a nearby designer, check with the AIGA, the professional association for design.
Desktop Postcard Design
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Save money by designing a postcard on your computer and sending them in small batches. Programs such as Microsoft Publisher and Corel Draw provide templates for postcard design. Customize them by adding your own photos, logo and persuasive text. Collect postcards from other businesses for inspiration and ideas. Mailing in small batches allows for personal follow-up with each customer.
Create Personal Designs
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Consider designing a postcard that evokes the feeling that it was sent from family or friends. Use fonts, photos and an overall format that appears to be a personal message, such as a travel postcard. This may prevent your card from being tossed immediately or from getting lost in the jumble of mail received that day.
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