Are you looking for a new marketing strategy for your company? Online marketing may be a new frontier but offline programs like postcards have been used for years with great success. Postcard printing is an essential marketing strategy for businesses all over the United States. When printing your postcards in the past it was important to use color sparingly because it was extremely expensive and cost prohibitive. However, nowadays, full color printing costs less than black and white printing did 10 years ago. Printing online is very convenient and you can get products less expensive than your local providers.

There are four basic needs when printing your postcards.

1. Design Resolution: A good postcard resolution is 300 pi. If you aren’t printing in 300dpi your images will look blurry and unprofessional. Don’t use images off of the Internet because they will be blurry and they are also copyrighted. The exception to this rule is using online royalty free sites that have high-resolution pictures for purchase.

2. Postcard Size: Did you know that postcard sizes receive different postage rates? Only a 4”x6” is considered a postcard by the postal service. All other sizes are considered a “letter” and the postage rate is almost 50% more! Once, a customer spent an additional $9000 just because his postcard was 1/8th too big. It’s important to know that your postcard size is before you are committed to print

3. Paper Stock and Coatings: Postcard paper stock should be thick and rigid. It’s an important to express high quality in your printing products. If you were to send a flimsy card to your customers what does that say about your business? The other options you have are coating. You can either print your postcard with a UV glossy coating, or an aqueous coating. UV coating is slick and cannot be written on. Postcard printing with aqueous coating is better for the environment.

4. Postcard printing turnaround: Your turnaround is always something to take into consideration when purchasing printing. Many printing companies will give you the opportunity to save money by printing with a slower turnaround, and many will have a additional price for rush service. Turnaround can take as little as long as 10 days or as fast as same day. Make sure you plan ahead when printing postcards online. When you wait until the last moment, you risk your printing not being completed on time, or mistakes made. Always give your print company an extra day incase they have equipment breakdown.

If you think about these 4 items when ordering printing, you’ll definitely have a better product printed and will be extremely satisfied with the online printing company’s services. Many problems can be avoided by thinking about these things. Do you think you’re ready to set off on the path of online printing? We recommend using a printing company that is established. A lot of printers are very good at one size or quantity, but will be more expensive for others. It’s important to do research to determine the right print company for the right job.

Author's Bio: 

Stan Coyle has 25 years experience in Direct Mail marketing. He has taught seminars from New York to London and has settled in Tampa, Florida for a semi-retirement of fishing and relaxation. Not being able to leave work alone, he contributes to the success of postcard marketing customers all over the U.S. with his work at SonicPrint.com.

SonicPrint.com can help you with your Every Door Direct Mail marketing postcard programs. We have helped thousands of businesses with their postcard marketing and we are experts in the Every Door Direct Mail program.