by Eileen Turtle Parzek
ezine@soho-it-goes.com
SOHO It Goes!
http://www.soho-it-goes.com
One of the best marketing strategies a business
or organization can use is postcards. Even before the arrival of
online postcard printing and mailing services, postcards had a good
reputation amongst guerilla marketers because:
* They are fast, easy and relatively cheap -
making them a boon to small business owners who are short on cash
and time, yet need to build their brand and stay in front of their
customers.
* A beautiful, full color glossy postcard is not going in the
trash without first being read.
* You can add a personal note. Plus, postcards create a pleasant
emotional response because they are usually received by friends
and family.
* When you advertise your business anywhere else, your competition
knows it. But when you use postcards to communicate with your
customers, it is direct to them and your competition will have
no idea.
With the new web technologies for postcards, it's
super-convenient to just send one or as many as you need without
the effort of hand writing, addressing and mailing each one.
What is particularly nice about postcards is that
nearly any business or organization can benefit from a structured,
targeted postcard marketing strategy. Take a look at some of the
ways postcards can be used.
Thank you notes. You can send a quick thank you
to anyone for any reason and they will be so surprised and pleased
that you took the time. If someone sends you a referral or business
lead, gives you some information you needed, mentions you in an
article - send them a note that shows you appreciate it!
A follow-up offer or service. Within 30 days after
a purchase of a product or completion of a service, send them a
discounted offer for a related service or product. Don't miss the
opportunity for an after-sale contact.
Gift certificates or coupons. Show your best customers
that you appreciate them by sending a gift certificate that they
can use any time in the next year. Even better, leave a space on
it for them to fill out a friend or colleagues name and give it
to someone else to introduce them to your business.
Announce a new project or completed work. Postcards
are perfect for photographers, web designers, architects, graphic
artists, or anyone else who wants to keep their clients in the loop
on what they are working on, with something visual and tangible.
Secret sales and pre-sales for preferred customers.
Treat your existing and favorite clients to a sale that no one else
knows about - or give them an advanced peak at your new product
line.
Introduce products or services. Postcards are an
economical way to inform people about your product or services,
or announce new ones.
Announce a new web site. Create an announcement
of your new web presence and invite everyone you know to come check
it out.
Remember special days. Send your contacts a holiday
greeting or thank you note for Thanksgiving. If you keep track of
special dates in your customer's lives like birthdays or anniversaries,
you can send them a colorful postcard letting them know you are
thinking of them.
Reminders. Businesses that rely on repeat business
can take advantage of postcards to send reminders and its not just
for dentists any more! Why not remind your past customers of upcoming
birthdays or anniversaries, or special holidays like secretaries'
day or thanksgiving, at just the right time? Or perhaps your database
tells you when they have likely run out of whatever they bought
so you can send them a reminder that its time to visit you again.
Just staying in touch. People like to be remembered
and postcards are an economical and easy way to say "thinking
of you."
Recognition. Send out a postcard to let people
know your good news about accomplishments and awards or reviews
you have received.
Invitations to an event. Postcards can be used
to announce seminars you are speaking at, open houses, book signings,
and any variety of special events.
Think about all the ways you can use postcards,
and then explore the many ways that you can automate the process
of sending them out quickly and cheaply. This is one of those marketing
strategies which looks much more costly than it really is, and will
return more than you put into it. The best part is, practically
any small business can benefit.
© 2003 Eileen P. Parzek, SOHO It Goes!
Credit:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eileen 'Turtle' Parzek is a veteran marketing designer and online
communications consultant who has been working from home and virtually
since 1995. You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter called
Increase Your Reach: Infuse Your Marketing with Technology at http://www.soho-it-goes.com
Related
Information:
NBA
Benefit Provider - Trainor
Business Forms & Printing
NBA
Resource Article - Designing
a Business Card That Sells!
NBA
Resource Article - Thirty
Creative Ways to Use Business Cards
Reprint of this article does not constitute an
endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is
for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web
site.
|
