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Postcards

9 Creative Ways Photographers Can Market Their Talents with Postcards

It’s not easy breaking into professional photography. In addition to having the skills, the equipment, and the freedom to explore a career outside the traditional 9-5 framework, you also need to have a keen sense of how to market yourself and stand out from the competition. On the bright side, your work speaks for you. If creating beautiful photography, your marketing materials will be inherently impressive. That’s where postcards come in.

beautiful postcard design

Photography postcards for marketing are one of the most effective ways of showing off what you can do in a concise, creative format. Because of their size, postcards give your prospects a (literal) big picture look at what you can do, with plenty of room left over for branding and contact information. Here are nine innovative ways you can take your marketing to the next level with postcards.

1. Mix black and white with color

Make your message jump off the page by overlaying a black and white image with colorful text and/or a colorful logo. Postcards, like photography, are visual mediums—use the eye that got you into the business in the first place to play around with color on your card, thinking specifically in terms of how you can highlight the most important information on it while also highlighting your image in a strong manner. The juxtaposition of grayscale with something bright will immediately catch the eye of the postcard recipient, and will also provide a necessary balance to space.

2. Embrace the season

Seasonally-focus your postcards to make the biggest impact during specific times of the year. Photography is inherently connected with the calendar—think graduation photos in the spring, wedding photos in the summer, holiday photos in late fall and early winter.

You can easily take advantage of these natural associations by incorporating seasonal aspects into your marketing postcards. Add a spattering of snowflakes and a touch of gold glitter to your postcards around the holidays, for example, or embrace blush pinks and white for wedding season. These seasonally-inspired details further your message in a subtle and effective way.

3. Make it pop

die cut postcard

Postcards lend themselves very well to three-dimensional marketing. Turn your postcard into a pop-up, or use special folds to display more images and show off your range of work.

Dimensional mail gives you more bang for your buck, with the best direct mail response rates for prospect mailing lists. While your upfront cost is a little bit higher, so is your potential for a high ROI. Think of ways to give your postcard heft and separate it in appearance from the pieces of flat mail your prospects are picking up at their mailboxes (our print consultants can help you brainstorm dimensional mailer ideas).

4. Create a digital version of your postcard

Do double duty with your postcard by creating a digital mock-up of your print product and displaying it on your website and social media pages. This creates continuity between your print and digital marketing efforts and also gets you more use out of a creative design. You’ve already put in the work, so you may as well exhibit your postcard in as many places as possible.

5. Include a QR code to your online portfolio

A postcard shows a snippet of what you can do, while your portfolio tells the whole story. In inspiring prospects to learn more about your work, you want to make sure that they have a clear and well-defined path to more information.

A great way to do that: include a QR code on your postcard that leads directly to your portfolio. Your card recipients will be able to scan the code on their phone and be taken right where you want them to go. You can also direct a QR code somewhere else, such as to a page where someone might be able to sign up for a session, or a video of your skills in action.

6. Turn your postcard into a promo

Everyone loves a good deal. Include a promo on your postcard, such as “Present this card for 10% of your first shoot” or “Mention this card when you schedule your session and receive five free prints.” Not only will you increase your chances of snagging business from a client who may otherwise have wavered, but offering a promotion also affords you a great way to track and measure how successful your postcard marketing efforts are.

7. Go big

Standard postcards range from 4.25” x 5.5” to 6” x 11”. The bigger you go, the more likely you are to attract attention in a pile of mail. Larger postcards are ideal for highlighting impressive image details, such as the perfect way you’ve captured the light in someone’s eyes. It’s one of the most simple ways to separate yourself from the competition, giving you an immediate boost in both the scope and the appearance of your card.

8. Use templates to customize your cards for individual services

two nice postcard designs

Using the exact same photography postcard template you can easily swap out key details to target your postcard for its ideal recipient. That way, you’re not dropping off graduation-focused postcards at a bridal convention or newborn-focused postcards at corporate functions. You want your postcards to speak directly to their targeted prospects and their needs, so use templates for simple customization of both image and text.

9. Have a clear call to action

Create a sense of urgency with your call to action. Simple text like “Hurry—spots are booking up fast!” or “Book in the next few weeks to make sure you have your photos in time for the holidays” will incite action among your recipients, especially those who need a little more fire under them to take that next step. Whether you go general or specific with your call to action will depend on whether your postcards are intended to be used year-round or if you’re using them for something more timely, like the holiday season.

Design your photography postcard today! Our experts are ready to help, so get in touch to speak to a print consultant and get a custom photography postcard.

Need help with your postcard printing? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978.

Use a Postcard Mailer to Get More Voters

Political_Postcard_HEADER_08182016It’s the homestretch to the voting booth and if you’re on a political campaign or running for office, then you’ve got to start leveraging every channel to get your message out there. Obama won both elections in large part due to his online savvy, and you should certainly focus efforts on building a robust, smart, targeted digital campaign, but even today there’s room for getting attention with a political flyer. People are already keyed into the election cycle, and you can’t get away from talks about the presidential campaigns. Leverage that top of mind influence to get your own message out there.

Political postcards are a great addition to your campaign. They are affordable, can leverage the US Postal Office’s special Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) service to reach people in a local area and they can easily connect the dots between physical and digital marketing.

Tips for Making the Best Political Postcard Campaign

We’ve been printing political mailers for local and national politicians for over twenty years. We’ve seen some really great political postcards and we’ve seen some that should have never been inflicted on mankind. Here are some of our tips on how to make a great political mailer.

Use a Graphic that Stands Out

If you can afford a graphic designer with your campaign funds, don’t hesitate to hire one. They are worth the money, helping you design a catchy image, logo, or general design that will get your message out there.

On a political mailer, use a striking, memorable image. That doesn’t mean gaudy or cheap. Political designs are moving toward more modern looks – all the major candidates in the last decade have been using simple, flat designs. Your political mailer should heavily feature your branding and logo.

When to Use a Photograph of the Candidate

It isn’t always a great idea to use the candidate’s actual photograph. If you aren’t getting on television, or already featuring your actual image in billboards and commercials then you don’t gain a lot by putting your face on a political mailer – you aren’t reinforcing any ideas. Spend that space on your message.

On the other hand, if you’ve a look that is unique and resonates with your voters – why not play it up? Managing your personal image is something best left to campaign managers but know that it’s OK to not include your face – voters care about message more.

Make Your Message Stand Out

Reduce your message to the primary components that make you the best choice. Depending on your area, that may mean you launch an attack on your opponent or you stick to your own ideas. Whatever you choose to do, make sure your message is short, actionable, and easy to read on the postcard. Tell them why you want their vote. Make the messaging about them, not you.

Avoid putting text over complex images. Don’t use colors that hide the copy – make it bold and easy to read. Make it short – postcards can almost guarantee they’ll be read but the message has to be concise

Voting Information

Great political mailers always include info about when voting starts. This is valuable information for the voter, and if you can be useful in a postcard you’re likely to keep their attention.

Plan for the Label and Stamp

Don’t forget to plan for the label and stamp! Your message won’t work if it’s under an address label. Use a great blank postcard template for Word to design your card properly.

Give Them A Call to Action

Usually the call to action is to get out and vote – but that may be months away! Give your reader a chance to participate in your campaign today. Give them a call to action that drives them to your website, to your phone lines, or somewhere else where they can take real action to help you. Postcards are great because they can deliver a call to action boldly and without any interference. Use it! Why not drive them to your website to add them to your digital marketing and outreach efforts?

Don’t Forget Your Disclaimer

Political postcards need disclaimers. Check with your local ordinances, campaign legal counsel or others to figure out exactly what you need to say, but don’t forget to account for disclaimers in your design.

Use a Political Mailing Service

If you want to save the time, hassle and headache of sending these postcards out on your own, consider using a political mailing service to manage the mailing to hundreds or thousands of constituents.

Need help with your print? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978.

Use Postcards to Make an Impact with Holiday Marketing

Holidays_Are_coming_HEADER_08182016v2

We know…who wants to think about the holidays in the middle of the summer? While it’s not tops on our list of fun things either, we recognize that in between pool sessions and BBQs we should probably be thinking about holiday promotions. They’ll be here before you know it, and if you take the time to plan for them, you’ll be able to sit back and watch the business roll in this fall and winter.

If you’re like many businesses, you may rely heavily on email marketing. You may even have a marketing automation solution that is automatically sending your holiday promotional content! If so, good for you, and by all means continue to try and engage your fans through email.

But there’s a dark side to holiday email marketing. A dark, black hole. According to the 2016 Email Marketing Metrics Benchmark Study by IBM, there’s an 18.8% lower open rate for emails sent between Nov 27-Dec 31 (p21). There’s also a significantly higher rate of email send during that time, with companies “often doubling the number of [email] sends” during that holiday window (p21).

How Do I Get My Business Noticed?

So more email, lower open rates…what’s a business to do? The best answer is to use all the channels available. Continue your email outreach, but make sure you’re not lost in the digital onslaught. How? Use a well designed postcard and Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) delivery from the US Postal Service to get your message literally into the hands of your buyers.

The numbers show that, despite common wisdom, people love opening direct mail. It can survive a trip through the holiday black hole. In the 2015 DMA Statistical Fact Book, the Direct Marketing Association lays out some compelling stats about the efficacy of direct mail. Did you know:

  • Direct mail has a 3.7% response rate, compared to 0.62% of all digital channels combined
  • 42% of direct mail recipients either read or scan the mail piece
  • Only 44% of advertisers are using three or more channels, which means more opportunity to get noticed using mail

Best of all, EDDM® is easy to set up, easy to use, and gives you great bang for the buck. Let’s dig a little deeper and see just how easy it is to get started.

Using EDDM® Postcards – Your Secret to Success

When you use EDDM®, you should keep a few things in mind. First, the very name is a reminder of what you’re doing; you’re sending a promotional mailer to every door that exists on a specific postal route. Because EDDM is geographically targeted, it’s a great tool for engaging your customers and prospects that are close to your location.

Next, think about what to send. Using EDDM ® will have some impact on your mailing options, since there are specific size requirements for these mailings. See Templates for EDDM® mailers here.

One tried and true piece of collateral is the postcard. Whether you choose standard sizes or opt for a large version, a vibrant postcard with a strong call-to-action will make an impression and get results.

If you haven’t designed a postcard before, take the time to learn some of the recommendations and best practices for building a strong piece. Our EDDM® Success Kit is a great place to see examples, learn best practices, and understand how to track the impact your campaign has on business.

When thinking about the postcard for your campaign, consider custom options to help your message stand out even further. Own a pizza parlor? Send a postcard die-cut to look like your best-selling pie. Include scented ink to get their mouths watering. What’s that? Yes, there is scented ink and it really smells like pizza. Want something more hands-on? Use a scratch off covering to hide a coupon code.

Best of all, EDDM ® mailings are cost effective. Whether you are sending 5,000 or 15,000 pieces, you can usually get into the hands of your audience for less than 40¢ per piece.

How Do I Get Started with Postcard Marketing?

There’s really no bad time to start your campaign, but as you think about the holidays you should be thinking sooner than later. Consumers are gearing up for big holiday spending and you need to be top of mind as they’re heading out the door.

Give yourself at least two weeks of lead time from when you place your order to when you want your piece in the hands of your audience. That’s enough time to have your postcard printed, get your mailing list vetted and let the postcards flow through the mail.

You can compress that timeline, but since you’re getting in front of it early, there’s really no need. Good job!

Ready to get started? Contact us today to talk about postcards and EDDM. Call (800) 930-7978 or email us to get your EDDM ® postcard campaign going. Your business, and your customers, will thank you. 

Your Guide to the Best Holiday Gifts for 2015

 

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes a golden opportunity for companies everywhere—holiday gifting.

Done right, gifts create a one-to-one interaction that goes a long way in building a relationship.  Done wrong, they can feel like an obligatory, generic blast to all your customers. You know you can do better than the age-old fruit basket—but what to send? Finding a holiday gift that appeals to all audiences, is business appropriate and still makes a genuine impact can be a tricky game.

That’s why we’ve put together our favorite gifts for 2015. Whether you’re working with a big or small budget, or just plain stumped on what to send, we’ve got you covered.

Need help with your print? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978.

Your 2015 Holiday Gifting Guide

2015 Gifting Guide

Postcards: Not Just for Vacation Anymore…

Yes, by all means, mail a postcard of the Roosevelt Arch to your favorite Aunt Gerty, she loves hearing from you. Postcards are indeed for thoughtful vacationers, but more than that, postcards are a tool to expand your business.

According to recent findings by the USPS, direct mail is considered more valuable than any digital method of advertising. The value of reaching out to your potential customers via traditional mail is stronger than ever in light of massive inundation via digital channels. The fact is, postcards get read. Colorful, well designed postcards have the potential to drive consumers to your business for increased sales.

Hundreds of direct mail pieces pass through our presses on a weekly basis. We’ve seen the best and the worst. The design and value of your piece is important because you don’t want the recipient to classify it as “junk mail”.

Equipping you with the knowledge you need to create a successful direct mail piece is a top priority for us. The key is to develop a card that grabs the attention of your target audience and even invites them to interact in unique ways.

POSTCARD IDEAS THAT WILL HELP YOUR DIRECT MAIL PIECE BE A SUCCESS:

  • Include a call to action on the postcard (i.e. Bring This Card in Before March 17th to Receive 25% off Your Entire Purchase of $50.00 or more!)
  • Incorporate vibrant colors and high-quality images.
  • Use a QR Code or Scratch-Off to increase interaction with your postcard.
  • Enhance the basic card with visually appealing elements like foil stamping.
  • Increase tactile interest with an embossed section or creatively use a die cut.
  • Add a coupon or time-sensitive offer; this is a super way to make the piece valuable.
  • Consider using scented inks or scratch and sniff to make the mailer original.
  • This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked: Make sure all your contact information is on the piece and, if applicable, your location.
  • Don’t make your design too busy. Make sure you have some “white space” for the eye to land on.
  • Folds and glued-on extras (i.e. a free song download card with access code) are another way to stand out from the ordinary.

Need help with your print? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978.

Artist Nancy Wiley turned Mark Twain’s shoe into a paddleboat.

Printing For Less recently printed note cards for artist, Nancy Wiley. As noted on her website, she is a nationally recognized doll artist and painter. Wiley’s creations include whimsical doll figures made of paper clay or porcelain, figurative sculpture, mixed media pieces and paintings. Her work, inspired by fine art, mythology and fairy tales, is exhibited in museums and galleries and sold to private collectors. Her prolific career spans more than two decades.

With her work of Mark Twain, if you look carefully, the Mississippi River runs down his leg and his shoe is a paddleboat.  This work was shown at the Muscatine Art Center and is also featured in A Dollmaker’s Art: The Creations Of Nancy Wiley.

Need help with your print? Talk to a live print expert today: 800-930-7978.

mark twain model