Postcards have been used for many years to send all kinds of information. Those who would travel found these postcards as a great means of contacting their families back home, as they often contain pictures of the places they have been or other eye-catching imagery. Over the years, postcards have evolved and are now used for many different types of communication. People often receive postcards from their doctors or dentists reminding them that they have an upcoming appointment. It is also not uncommon to receive a postcard that contains company profiles/services, weekly deals, events, or invitations. Many wedding invitations are often formatted to postcard size, as it easy to send and looks great. The use of postcards, especially for businesses, are extremely successful because they do not run as much risk of being tossed in the trash as letters or contents sealed in envelopes do. When individuals collect their mail and see a plain envelop from a company or person they don’t know, their suspicions often lead to spam or unwanted advertising. But, with the use of postcards, the information is placed right in front of the receiver’s face, catching their attention with the carefully placed graphics and text. Postcards can also be made 1- or 2-sided so you can place as much information on as you please. The next step after choosing to create postcards is to seek the services of postcard printing.
Postcards can be made in a variety of sizes with many different thicknesses when it comes to paper. The design is up to you – the colors you choose, the type of font, imagery, coating choices, and even the shape of the corners. The most common sizes for postcards, however, are 6” x 4” and 8.5” x 5.5”, and are usually chosen to be printed on glossy paper in full color on both sides, or with full color on the front and black and white on the back. When you’re ready for your postcard printing, you will be able to tell the printer exactly what it is you want and how you want it.
When dealing with mass mail outs, postcards can also be sent via e-mail or posted on your webpage. Electronic versions of your postcard are quite handy as they fit well into the body of an e-mail message, and are not too big to be posted on your website. Sending your postcards electronically is a good way to ensure that people will read the information contained once they open up the e-mail. While electronic versions are useful, postcard printing is still the most valuable way of sending out your information.
Postcard printing is generally less expensive than mailing out letters and brochures. Because it is one piece of paper, front and back, that does not require an envelope, both the printing and mailing costs are kept to a minimum.
The best coating to choose when planning out the design of your postcards is the single sided UV coating. This coating is very shiny, and will make your pictures and colors seem richer. Because the front of your postcard is mostly pictures and not necessarily important information, this is the side that would be finished with the shiny coating. The back of the postcard is left with a matte finish, as this is where most of your text and mailing information will be contained. This will be easier for individuals to read. Your postcard printing could take longer depending on the type of finish you choose.
Having your postcard printing done on 16 point paper, which is quite thick, will help your postcard to get noticed. People often pay more attention to items that are different, and don’t seem like your regular flyer or coupon sheet. Thicker paper makes people think that maybe that particular piece of mail is worth having a look at, especially since much work has been put into preparing it on a special type of paper.
There are many letter and postcard printing companies that can produce what you need for a lowered cost, but quality may be an issue. Research some companies in your area and online to find some great printing deals that don’t compromise on quality. Kick start your planning and marketing today.