A marketing postcard is one of the most basic pieces of direct mail that you can create. It’s small, requires no folding or assembly, and can include just about any message you want to deliver.

However, the simplicity of a direct mail postcard can be deceptive. You might be tempted to put too much information on that small space, and your customers might be visually overwhelmed. Let’s take a look at the parts of a direct mail postcard.

The card itself can be simple matte card stock or a glossy white. A postcard can be printed in single color or full color. Your graphic design service can help you to decide what types of paper and printing processes are right for your project and your budget.

The address side of the postcard has several requirements that have to be met in terms of address information, postage and the intelligent mail barcode. These requirements will dictate how you lay out the addressing information, but there may be additional space on this side that you can utilize for your message, but keep it simple.

The media side of the direct mail postcard is all up to you. There are no requirements for addressing and such, so you have a blank canvas to work with, which is both a blessing and a curse. Think about the reason for sending this postcard: if it is a notification of an event, put the event details clearly on this side of the postcard. If you are sending a coupon, use the whole area for the coupon so your customer doesn’t have to cut anything out, and the details are large enough to view and understand quickly. Be clear about your message and provide a way (via phone, web or email) for the customer to get more information.

Image – © DavidMSchrader – Fotolia.com