Postcard Direct Mail Marketing: 15 Ways To Grab Attention

If you use direct mail postcards to generate leads or sell a product or service, you need to create postcards that grab your prospect's attention. The place to do that is Side A, the side that doesn't have the stamp and address on it. Here are some creative ways to get the attention of your potential buyers, some of which have worked extremely for well for my clients.

  • feature a wacky photograph
  • use a photo of your product in an unusual setting
  • make an outrageous (but true) claim
  • state your unique selling promise in an intriguing way
  • present your prospect's problem (the one that your product or service solves) in a compelling way
  • ask a provocative question, and put the answer on Side B
  • feature a short quiz that stimulates interest in what you are selling
  • just be blunt and put your offer in big letters ("SAVE 20% ON YOUR ORDER!")
  • quote someone famous saying something profound about your product or service
  • quote someone famous saying something profound about your prospect's greatest problem (the one your product or service solves). Example: "I've been on a diet for 14 days and so far all that I've lost is 14 days."
  • show a before and after photograph
  • show a photo of your product in action
  • feature a series of photos that demonstrate your product in action
  • ask a question that includes a blank, like this ___________, which the reader fills in
  • borrow credibility with a photo of a famous person using your product
  • show a customer using your product in an unusual setting (a man sitting on a camel and talking on a cell phone, for example)
  • show a photograph of the postcard sender, and include a personal message from that person, in quotes
  • create a sense of immediacy by circling the date of your deadline for ordering on a calendar, and using that as your visual
  • present your offer visually (if it's a discount, show the amount of money saved as a pile of dollar bills; if it is a cruise for two, show two people dining onboard)
  • demonstrate that you understand your prospect's challenge by showing a photo of a prospect facing that challenge
  • dramatize your product with a close up photo of an unusual part
  • design your postcard to look like a high-end invitation
  • ask a "true or false" question that is answered on the other side (eventually)
  • make the postcard interactive by inviting the reader to fold it, hold it up to the light, bend it, or do something else with it that communicates your selling proposition in a compelling (and perhaps funny) way
  • whatever you do, remember that the goal of Side A of your postcard is to grab attention long enough that you arouse curiosity and motivate your prospect to turn the card over and continue reading
  • --
    Alan Sharpe is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter and lead generation specialist who helps business owners and marketing managers generate leads, close sales and retain customers using creative direct mail marketing. Sign up for free weekly tips like this at http://www.sharpecopy.com

    Latest News


    SpectrumDNA, Inc. Taps Seth Levenson to Lead Product Marketing
    MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
    Mr. Levenson will lead the strategic sales and product marketing activities for the company's properties and strengthen the strategic leadership team ...

    KENIC embarks on aggressive .ke marketing campaign
    NetworkWorld.com, MA - 17 hours ago
    KENIC has formed a joint marketing team comprised of registrars and other technical experts that are interested in the growth of .ke, said Vincent Ngundi, ...

    Media Learner Inc. and Professional Marketing International ...
    PR Web (press release), WA - 1 hour ago
    Media Learner, Inc. and Professional Marketing International (PMI) announced an agreement to form a strategic partnership, which will enable both companies ...

    BBC News

    Souvenir Sales as Obama Campaign Marketing Tactic?
    FOXNews - Aug 28, 2008
    by Cristina Corbin Those looking to purchase souvenirs from the Democratic National Convention in Denver Thursday night may have needed to offer up more ...
    Video: Obama Accepts Nomination Before Crowd of 84,000 AssociatedPress
    DNC Day 4: Some Dems falsely wring their hands over venue for ... Michigan Messenger
    Obama acceptance speech: An eye witness report Ynetnews
    all 1,056 news articles

    Homestead Hills Welcomes New Healthcare Marketing Director
    PR.com (press release), NY - 1 hour ago
    ... South Carolina developed by Senior Living Communities, is pleased to introduce Julie Senn as the new Director of Healthcare Marketing. ...

    Politics mirroring business strategic internet marketing
    Business Feet, UK - 19 hours ago
    Internet marketing strategies that have been used in business for some time are now being played out in the political arena, as the American presidential ...
    John McCain beats Barack Obama - at Internet search marketing TECH.BLORGE.com
    Rich Lowry: Obama swaps inspiration for connection Sacramento Bee
    Obama set to woo nation with historic speech CTV.ca
    MiamiHerald.com
    all 2,027 news articles

    Seattle Post Intelligencer

    Search Marketing & The US Presidental Race: Case Study: Sarah Palin
    Search Engine Land, CT - 15 hours ago
    After reading yesterday how savvy both US presidential campaigns seem to think they are about search marketing, I decided I'm going to take a closer look at ...
    Palin picked GoErie.com
    Ready for Another War on Christians? OpEdNews
    For Choice of Running-Mate, McCain Pitches Ovulating Curveball Adrants
    all 1,127 news articles

    Chamber members learn about marketing strategies
    South Carolina Now, South Carolina - 12 hours ago
    Woods said bartering or trading services is good for networking, but added that the best marketing tip “is to put your business out there. ...

    Apple (AAPL) iPhone problems undermine AT&T (T) marketing
    BloggingStocks - 11 hours ago
    The new Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) 3G iPhone is becoming more popular for all the wrong reasons. It drops calls and has trouble connecting to some cell carrier's ...

    Marketing A Boon For Ncaa Teams
    National Post, Canada - 20 hours ago
    "They do a wonderful job marketing their sport and because of that there's a great deal more money involved in the sport from TV contracts to charging more ...

    Resources


      Sorry Currently Unavailable