Thursday, October 26, 2017

Postcard Marketing Is An Economical Way To Grow Your Business

By Deborah Sullivan


Starting a new business is risky, expensive, and stressful. Most owners budget carefully and count every penny. Spending money on advertising is not optional, and even though you need a good website to draw customers, if you are targeting local clientele, you will also need something personal to draw them to your shop or office. Postcard marketing is a great, inexpensive way to do that.

When every dollar counts, it is good to know you can advertise for pennies since postcards are so cheap to print and mail. Over sized cards may cost slightly more, but they are still a good value. Glossy brochures may be outside your budget, but colorful postcards with good copy and interesting offers will catch the attention of readers. You will have to obtain a current mailing list however.

When you're on a tight budget, you need to have a good imagination. Postcards don't just have to be for mailing. You could use them as business cards left on the counters of local establishments. If you add a hole, you can use them for hang tags. They also work well at trade shows and local events where you can rent a booth and display cards outlining the services you provide.

Since they are so cheap to print and mail, they are great for test marketing. You can start out targeting a small audience to see how they respond. If the response is positive, you can expand your target area to get more customers into your shop or calling you with questions. Not every marketing campaign will be a success. When you do something that doesn't turn out the way you hoped, at least you won't have spent a fortune on the marketing materials.

When you have early success, you will get the attention of your competition. It is a good idea to monitor what they are doing, because they will certainly be watching you. You can out maneuver them with mailings because they are private. Your website and newsprint ads are public. Your competition will have to work harder to find out what your strategy is with targeted mailing.

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.

Because postcards are small, they are easy for potential customers to keep in a drawer or purse. People are more likely to redeem them than something larger and bulkier. You can add a code they can enter on your website to redeem a special offer as well. Offering discounts and limited time offers is a great way to attract business.

Even businesses based on great ideas fail. This can happen for a lot reasons, but a main one is lack of marketing expertise. In order to succeed, the buying public has to know what you have to offer. Sometimes the simplest mailers make the most impact with target audiences.




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