Direct Mail Postcards - How to Make them Effective
Eye-catching: Your postcard doesn’t have to be art, but it helps if it’s attractive. Adding a high quality photo or other image will help
Simple: It’s a postcard, not a novel. Pretend every word is costing you $500. A jumble of information won’t do it. Simple, bold headlines like “SALE!” or “20% Your Next Order” work best - then explain where, when and a few other details
Timely: Messages such as “Your Service Contract Expires June 1st” work great - if you have a timely message of some kind for your customers, use it
Two-sided: Be sure to use both sides of your postcard, but not every inch. Use one side like a poster and the other for a few details. Or put an ad on one side and a personal message on the other
Multifaceted: A postcard can double as a coupon, gift certificate or event ticket. Ask people to present the card to claim an offer. It’s an easy way to measure effectiveness
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Signage - Crucial for Small Business Owners
Small businesses need to immediately gain visibility and build brand recognition in the minds of consumers, but how? This can be achieved in an easy and rapid way: through the use of effective signage. By putting a company name, logo, and contact information on things like window decals, car door magnets, and lawn signs customers are quickly introduced to your business for a very small investment.
But how and where you use these various products is paramount to success.
Building familiarity with a target market is as simple as displaying your company’s name, logo and message near a busy road. A professional and durable way to do this is to use one of the customizable lawn signs that are now on the market, and very cost effective. Many retailers offer these at low prices, so any small business can get 10 for well under $100.
Make sure to keep the sign simple so people can understand what you are advertising as they are passing. Using your logo and message on the sign will also help to build your brand. Someone may not be in need of your service now, but they will be more likely to remember you in the future if they are continuously exposed to your services. Holding specials or sales on a regular basis give you another great reason to draw people into your store. Displaying bright signs advertising the sale at the nearest busy road grabs people’s attention and alerts them of the event.
For service-based businesses who are often at different locations around town, a lawn sign is a must have. Displaying your sign at a job site advertises your business to your target market. Oftentimes you can enter into an agreement with a customer to display your lawn sign in exchange for discounts on products or services. If one person needs a housekeeping company more often than not their neighbors will as well. The lawn sign will give an idea of what service you provide and hopefully encourage a customer to contact you. For a landscaping business or painter, these signs allow potential clients to see firsthand the level of service you provide, which is extremely valuable. Always be sure to include a phone number and/or website on the signs so customers can contact you or find out more information.
A small marketing budget can seem like a curse for a company just getting started. In reality, this shouldn’t hold you back; it should just force you to be more creative. Using signage in different ways can help set you apart from the pack when used in unique ways. Some trial and error may be involved, but always be sure to ask your customers how they heard of you so you can get direct feedback on what works the best for your company.