tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222673842009-10-24T06:21:07.359-07:00Direct mail and printing advice from PostcardSmart.comBrandonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-9424679091648135052009-08-29T08:23:00.000-07:002009-08-29T10:01:39.309-07:00

Postcard templates can simplify the design process by giving your a pre-designed layout to work with. But if you're not careful, they can also limit your response rates. In this article, I'll offer some tips for using postcard templates the right way, without restricting your marketing message.What is a Template Anyway?Before we go any further, we should define what a postcard template is in the

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-35041453027819480382009-04-01T08:30:00.000-07:002009-08-29T08:09:53.990-07:00

People often write me and ask which direct mail printing companies I recommend, and why. But this is a hard question to answer across the board, because it depends on what kind of services you need.Generally speaking, direct mail companies offer a wide range of services. But the range of services will vary from one company to the next. For example, some specialize in postcards only while others

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-33722778701808946702009-03-18T18:15:00.000-07:002009-03-18T19:30:15.676-07:00

I've always been struck by the offers for discount postcard printing that are plastered all over the Web. In some cases, the printer will explain what this means, by comparing their prices to those of leading competitors. In other cases, they'll use the word "discount" without backing it up.This is where it pays to be a smart shopper. You have to dig beyond the marketing pitch to find out if

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-25891422744450676642009-03-06T10:02:00.000-08:002009-03-18T12:40:25.386-07:00

If you've been learning about postcard marketing campaigns by reading the websites of postcard printers, you've probably been given some one-sided advice. For example, most of these companies will tell you the repetition is the key to success with any direct mail marketing campaign.But here's what you have to keep in mind. These companies make money based on the amount postcards your order, not

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-2982307917533865552009-02-16T17:48:00.000-08:002009-02-16T18:19:21.405-08:00

Web printing companies are not new. They've been around for at least a decade. But the concept of web printing has exploded in popularity over the last couple of years, largely because of exciting new technologies and a rise in the number of web-to-print companies.But how does web printing work, and how can you use it to simplify your company's print program? These are the questions we will

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-50477289867031949082009-02-10T10:38:00.000-08:002009-02-10T11:14:25.179-08:00

Where do you get ideas for a direct mail marketing campaign? How do you go from a blank slate to a well-crafted marketing message for your postcards or letters? In this article, I'll offer a variety of direct mail marketing ideas you might consider, and I'll also explain the "secret" to creating the best idea of all.In fact, let's start with the best-case scenario. The most effective marketing

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-74901639393402927812009-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:002009-02-07T12:10:13.238-08:00

We've covered a lot of material on this website over the years, and much of it has revolved around postcard marketing success and how to achieve it. So in this article, I thought I would round up some helpful articles from years past in the form of a new article. So without further ado, here are nine steps to achieving postcard marketing success (with links to further reading).Step 1 — Identify

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-88581590795610257122009-02-06T08:16:00.001-08:002009-02-06T09:10:48.386-08:00

Economic hardships have changed the direct marketing industry. Many companies who used to thrive in this sector simply could not survive the economic downturn, being forced to shut down instead. So we thought it was about time to make an updated list of direct marketing companies in the U.S. that are still open for business.The following list includes companies that provide general direct

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-28332349011257833582009-02-06T06:45:00.001-08:002009-02-06T07:19:14.536-08:00

Reader Question: Which postcard sizes are best to use for direct mail marketing campaigns? Are there any studies that show one being better than the other, like a standard size versus a jumbo postcard?The message and offer you create for your postcard campaign is far more important than the size. When most marketers conduct A/B testing to see what gets the best results, they usually test

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-79397129252837747162008-11-25T11:22:00.000-08:002008-11-25T11:51:45.719-08:00

If you are looking for a company to handle your custom postcard printing and mailing needs, there is a new service to consider. VistaPrint has offered postcard printing services for a long time, but they recently launched a mailing service to go with it. Now they offer everything you need to print and mail custom postcards to your audience.They also offer something else you might be interested in

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-59606965044808337772008-10-09T06:41:00.000-07:002008-10-09T08:38:19.903-07:00

I often refer to the Internet as the "Great Equalizer" in terms of business competition. With the right Internet marketing strategies, your small business can compete with (and often surpass) your larger competitors.Online, it really doesn't matter how big your marketing department is, or what your annual budget is. All that matters is how well you manage and promote your website. So if you do

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-41653252825690408042008-10-09T05:19:00.000-07:002008-10-09T05:28:41.083-07:00

We have created a new section of the website called the Marketing Encyclopedia. And as the name suggests, it will offer information on a variety of marketing topics. Most of the information will fall into one of three categories:General Marketing Topics - The section covers some of the general concepts behind marketing. How to plan a campaign, the tools you can use along the way,

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-49639673363865493902008-10-07T09:16:00.000-07:002008-10-07T09:27:33.317-07:00

Marketing letters have long been an effective tool for increasing sales and overall business success. They are easy to produce, easy to deliver, and they are virtually guaranteed to be read most of the time.But success with marketing letters often comes down to the writing ability of the person who creates the letter. Sure, it all starts with a great product or service. But in order to convey the

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-2261392636173188712008-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:002008-08-20T08:40:40.899-07:00

by Brandon CornettEverything I'm about to say assumes that you already have a product or service worth selling. If you feel that you do, and you're researching direct mail postcards as a promotional channel for that product or service, then these copywriting tips are for you!Many first-time postcard marketers make the mistake of starting with the copywriting process before anything else. "What

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-21083516138905294132008-08-01T17:56:00.000-07:002008-08-01T18:06:34.981-07:00

As a former employee of a direct mailing service, and as somebody who still uses these services to this day, I've tried quite a few direct mailing companies over the years. I would say a half-dozen or so.Once in a while, I'll come across a company who is doing something unique or special in some way. Typically, this means simplifying the direct mailing process.Because let's face it. At the end of

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-57173979749816877832008-08-01T17:27:00.000-07:002008-08-01T17:40:53.969-07:00

Before you order a bunch of business postcards for marketing purposes ... before you start laboring over the postcard design or headline ... before you start segmenting your list in preparation for a mailing ... you need to ask yourself an important question:What makes you so different?To be more specific, what makes your products and/or services different? Better? Easier? These are crucial

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-20570490869880128642008-01-03T18:57:00.000-08:002008-01-03T19:16:53.704-08:00

How can postcards be used for prospecting purposes? This is a common question among marketers looking for another way to reach their prospective customers.To answer this question, we first have to answer another question: What is prospecting in the first place?Prospecting is a form of marketing. In fact, the two terms are nearly synonymous. When you send out a marketing message in hopes of

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-49417424403196151262008-01-03T15:42:00.000-08:002009-10-24T06:20:51.291-07:00

Let's talk about printing color postcards, and how you might use this kind of service to enhance your business. I'm assuming you already realize the basic benefits of postcard marketing here. If not, you might want to star with this overview of using postcards as a marketing channel.So how do you choose a full-color postcard printing company? Well, if you want to take the easy route, you can

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-62232662991525645852007-12-28T15:46:00.000-08:002007-12-28T16:11:44.343-08:00

An explanation of the two most common direct marketing techniques being used today (and how you might use them to further your own marketing objectives):Technique #1 - Direct Response EmailThis marketing technique is exactly what it sounds like. Here, the marketer sends an email (or series of emails) to a targeted list of prospects, with the hope of generating a direct response from some of the

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-34026702291050574822007-11-08T10:13:00.001-08:002007-11-08T10:14:43.541-08:00

I wanted to share a new section of my postcard marketing website that I was forced to create recently. I thought at the least you would find it amusing ... or maybe saddening, I don't know.I won't go into much detail here because it's all spelled out in the story linked below, and I don't want to tarnish this blog with any kind of negativity. But click the button below to read this partly amusing

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-7514815091600525872007-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:002007-10-11T07:22:19.953-07:00

What is custom postcard printing and how can it help you improve your direct mail postcard program?This is one of many things that confuses some people about postcard printing services. Part of the reason for confusion is all the overlapping (and often misused) postcard terminology. What one printing company refers to as custom postcard printing might not meet another printing company's

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-33338848975707886412007-08-16T09:31:00.000-07:002007-08-16T09:38:29.294-07:00

We have posted a new article that explains some of the best practices of direct mail advertising.In the context of this new article, "best practices" refers to certain tried-and-true techniques that will help you get the most out of your direct mail advertising campaign (i.e., better response rates).Article excerpt:Once you have experimented, tested and tracked your direct mail advertising

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-15934087703442126612007-08-06T15:22:00.000-07:002007-08-06T15:28:09.778-07:00

The following is an excerpt from the e-book, Postcard Marketing - A Modern ApproachAlternately, I could have labeled this section "Modern Challenges to Marketing in General" because the challenges I'm about to list apply to all marketers. But this is a book on postcard marketing, so we shall narrow our focus to that medium.Challenge #1 - An Army of Marketers As the postcard marketing industry

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-13788011614796842052007-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:002007-06-25T16:15:46.477-07:00

If you are reading this introduction, it's probably because the article's headline did its job. That's what you must do in your postcard marketing campaigns, and you must do it in five seconds or less. This is where postcard headlines come into play.What's a Postcard Marketing Ninja?Postcard marketing ninjas are rare. At last count, there were only about a dozen of them worldwide. So while you

Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22267384.post-21022156747504862652007-06-25T08:24:00.000-07:002007-06-25T08:30:43.688-07:00

What is direct mail fulfillment, where can I get it, and how much does it cost? These are common questions among those who are entering the world of direct mail marketing.But "fulfillment" is a broad word with many different applications. So in order to choose a direct mail fulfillment providers, you must first understand the many different elements of direct mail fulfillment. Then you can make a

Brandonnoreply@blogger.com