How to Design Realtor Marketing Postcards
A postcard is a great way to market houses for sale, especially if you've been keeping track of who's interested. But how do you design one? A good eye and the right tools are all that are needed. If you are printing the postcards yourself, it is very simple to create a design that sings. Read on for a guide to designing your first one.
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Instructions
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Decide how you are going to print and mail your postcards. If you have your own list and a decent laser printer, you can do it yourself.
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Take pictures of the property for sale. Get several shots inside and out. Use a digital camera.
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Get your mailing list together or purchase one. How many names are there? If it's more than 200, you can do a bulk mailing and save money on postage. Call a mailhouse and find out what size your postcards have to be, and any other design considerations you will need to know. Decide what size you want your postcards. The most common sizes are 4.25 inches by 5.5 inches (1/4 page letter size) or 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches (half a page).
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Import your pictures into your computer and create a new file. When printing yourself, you can use any program you are comfortable with. Try Microsoft Publisher if you have it. This programs include templates to make designing easier.
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Save your file and do a test print to make sure everything fits in your printer margins properly. Also measure your mailing panel (where the address or label goes) and make sure it's big enough to hold a mailing label or address with barcode if mailing it bulk.
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Print your cards and have them cut to size.
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Add labels and postage. Mail your cards.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are getting your cards done by a commercial printer, make sure you use the appropriate software. Ask them for a template if they have one and provide a PDF and/or printed sample to give an idea of how it should look.
Having a mail house do a small mailing may cost just as much as sending the postcards with first-class postage yourself. Compare costs before you mail.
Do not assume the color on your screen will look the same as it does on your printed piece. A computer screen uses light to create color, which gives literally billions of possibilities, while ink can only reproduce a fraction of that. This is why it's important to print a proof to make sure you know what to expect.
