How many more ways are there to use a postcard?

Published 14 May 2008

Also in this issue: alice's actions

Don't think of a postcard as just a medium for direct mail. It is so versatile that if you are able to let your imagination loose you could adapt it for so many different purposes.

Use a postcard to promote a new service or product you may be developing. To have a better impact target your postcards to a choice number of people who you know will be interested, and follow it up with a sample of your product, hand delivered in special packaging, to kindle their interest even further (especially if it is either useful or of good value).

If you're holding a seminar or talk to publicise your service, send out postcards in a ticket-format with a tear off slip or stamped self-addressed reverse, combined with a time-dependent call to action with a free gift or another incentive to guarantee returns.

pread your good news with a postcard - crow about your accomplishments, publish a glowing testimonial, share your fantastic results to impress your customers - let people know that you, your business and your product/service are succeeding!

Use it for PR purposes - newspaper editors might notice something different in their postbags rather than boring A4 press-releases. (And don't forget to hit them between the eyes with a mind-blowing headline and make your contact details really clear to get that call!)

Use the stamped self-addressed idea for a marketing questionnaire. Get some feedback from your client base, both past and prospective, to find out how to improve and provide a better service. (Don't forget to offer gifts and incentives by a particular date to get a response.)

Are there any more? Of course, we haven't explored postcard newsletters - marketing ideas from the USA. More in my next issue...

Ask Alice a question or visit my blog to find out more.

Alice's Action #19 – Break down your business

In my last newsletter I suggested breaking your business into its component parts, or small, bite-sized chunks and putting each of them onto a postcard. Why? - so your customers can have the opportunity to truly understand what it is you do. There may be some factors that they haven't associated with you before, leading to a "I didn't know you did that" scenario. Adapt it to play on their curiosity - tempt them into asking questions and lead them down different avenues - allow them to explore more possibilities. Display them for individual selection, or present them as a package in their own special folder.