Whether you are using postcards to advertise your business, make announcements for family or community events, or to keep in touch with people, postcards are a great solution for your needs. You can print them for less money than flyers or brochures and their postage costs less. Here are some suggestions for postcard printing.
Before you start, you have to make two decisions. First, will you mail your postcards? Second, what size should they be? Once these decisions have been made, you can start the process of creating your postcards.
The United States Postal Service has specific dimensions for postcards. The sizes that can be sent as postcards are as follows: the height must be at least 3-1/2 inches but not more than 4-1/4 inches, and the length must be at least 5 inches but not more than 6 inches. If the item is smaller than the minimum dimensions, it cannot be mailed. If the item is larger than these dimensions, it does not qualify for postcard postage, but must pay the price of a first class letter.
Do not forget to leave a space for the address and stamp if you are planning to mail the postcards. This space has to be located on the right side of the postcard. Ensure the space in the upper corner is free of designs for the stamp and that there is ample space to write an address.
You are also able to send the postcards inside an envelope. Ensure there is an envelope that fits the postcard size you choose. No one wants to design their postcards and discover later that they cannot be mailed to the intended recipients.
Now that you have made these decisions, you can start designing your postcard. Whether using them for business or pleasure, keep it simple. You have a lot of options within the design. You can opt to use many colors, a few colors, or just black and white. You also need to decide whether you will use plain or glossy paper. Make sure your selection is heavy weight, like card stock. These extra options, like full color and specialty papers, should all be factored into the overall price of the card. Using specialty paper and multiple colors is the most expensive option.
Do not forget the basics. Make sure the people who receive the postcard have all the information they need. If you use them to advertise a business, make sure to describe what you do. Think about giving away an item if someone brings the postcard to your business, or offer a discount for first time visitors. These are principles you can apply for your events too. Do not forget to give the time, date, and location.
Postcards are meant to grab your attention. Make sure to list your contact information, like telephone number, website, or email address so people can get in touch with you. You may be able to do your postcard printing at home using templates from your word processing program and specialty paper. Otherwise, contact a local printer to help you with presentation folder printing.