Big Postcards Little Postcards
First, you have to answer the question “what is the purpose of this postcard”? Then, you have to determine the design of the postcard to convey that purpose. And the design will be about the message and whether it is short and quick or long and requiring lots of space. Announcing an event can be done easily and on a small card. A super sale with lots of inventory, on the other hand is probably best suited for a large postcard. You will also need to consider your other marketing materials such as letters, brochures and flyers and will the art coordinate throughout all of the pieces. The best size postcard generally is the one that expresses your marketing goals, will easily be embraced by your target market and, most important, fit into your budget.
The US Postal Service will also play a significant role in what size postcard you use for your marketing campaign. They determine the price. The price is set by its size and weight. First Class postcard rate is a rectangle at least 3.5 inches high by 5 inches long by .007 inches thick and no more than 4.25 inches high by 6 inches long by .016 inches thick. If your postcard is larger, then you are going to have to pay a little extra. Anything larger than the postcard maximum is considered a letter. Therefore, you’ll have to pay postage equivalent to a traditional envelope encased letter. Letters have maximum size allowances too. Your postcard can’t be bigger than 6 inches by 11.5 inches by .25 inches thick.
There isn’t an exact answer to which size you should use for your postcard campaign, but, there are a few styles that are more popular than others.The most commonly available is the standard size.This budget friendly postcard format is designed to reduce your costs while still delivering excellent results in the mail. The size is 4 inches by 6 inches. It does have a limited amount of space for art and message, but it is the most cost effective since it qualifies for the post office’s first class delivery times and the standard postcard mailing rate. These cards are perfect for things like announcements, reminders, save the dates, special offers, anything that has a minimal amount of content. This size is widely-used among advertisers who need to promote a single product, service, message, or event. The postcard works great with mass emails and has the opportunity to get your brand in front of the customer. If you have a short message, a small postcard may work perfectly. The type of business that should use the smallest size card is one that has relatively low competition in the market. The product or service offered should be easy to explain and can get the message across without clutter.
A large size postcard is 6 inches by 9 inches and it doesn’t qualify for the cheapest postal rate. But, it does come with many other perks that are worth the cost. Larger postcards have more space which means you have the ability to shout your message, include a call to action, and include photos. A large size postcard captures the reader’s attention right out of the mailbox because it stands out from all the other pieces of mail. Oversized postcards are perfect for introducing your business or products to new or prospective customers, announcing a grand opening and launching new products or services.
The colossal size or jumbo is 6”x11”. This large postcard is perfect for when there is lots of information to share with your existing clients. Companies using this size are generally in a high competition market. Auto dealers, furniture stores and yard services will mail this size with lots of pictures and contact information. A card of this size tells prospects you are serious about getting their attention and business, and this translates well in terms of response. Businesses that are new to a market or are unusual have success with the jumbo sized postcard. They want to get attention while gaining new business.
Postcards are one of the most effective forms of print marketing. No matter what size you choose, you are bound to capture your customers’ attention with this direct and to the point message. The right size card is the one that meets your marketing needs and sends the right message to your target audience and it fits into your budget. Postcards maximizes your visibility and can deliver a very powerful message.
Postcards are a great eye-catching, tangible marketing tool, formatted to your specific preferences and needs, with endless customization in a multitude of sizes – regular, oversized, and custom cut. We at Everest Direct Mail and Marketing, can create colorful, attention-grabbing designs with your images, logo, and any content you’d like to include – using your own design or one created uniquely for you by our talented and experienced designers. Postcards give a marketing advantage because they allow room for brief, targeted content; they’re an easy read, meaning less of a chance a client will get bored reading it, and no need to worry about open rates. Capture prospects’ attention through the visibility of a customized, colorful postcard in their mailbox and watch your response rates soar!
You want to win it all when you execute a postcard marketing campaign! You want the card, the art, the message and the mailing list to all come together and create a moment where every single card produces a new customer, makes your business incredibly successful and you live happily ever after! BUT … you have to figure out first what size postcard you are going to use
