Postcards

If you are designing a post card you have to be careful regarding placement of the indicia and the amount of space you leave for the address and the bar code that we put on the mail to qualify for the greatest postage discounts. The indicia has to be above and to the right of the address, and the address area itself has to be at least 4 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches tall, and on a white or light background. I always ask my customers to email me a pdf, or fax me their design before sending it to their printer. Of course, if we are designing and/or printing, we'll make sure it's done right.

One more thing about postcards, there is of course the traditional postcard rate, which is currently 23 cents using a stamps, discounted to about 17 cents if it is sent presorted with the bar code. That is for first class service, but the post card has to be a maximum of 4 1/4 inches tall by 6 inches wide. You can mail a bigger postcard – up to 6 inches by 11 inches, but the first class rate for this is 37 cents. However, the bulk rate can be as little as 17 cents, and it’s one of my favorite mail marketing device for cold-calling customers. You get a lot of space, and color printing now is cheaper than ever – and even if it’s thrown in the waste paper basket by the reader, at least they get to see your message – unlike those flyers that are hidden in an envelope and sometimes never opened.

Below are some postcards that we have mailed and we like, notice how the mailing permit is at the upper left and there is plenty room for the address.

Postcards we have mailed - Eastern Athletic Club, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Pilo Arts Day Spa (click on them to enlarge)