But as with all good technology, it hasn't actually brought sales teams, marketing departments, or customer service departments any closer to customer at all! Technology is a cold hard process that rarely subsitutes for a human voice and social interaction.

I really feel sorry for companies that struggled with software, dumped thousands and thousands of dollars into consulting sessions, developed training manuals and trained trainers, held meetings and issued management memos only to find that problem of customer loyalty was same if not worse.

They had right idea but they were listening to those lame marketing gurus again! The same guys who have been promoting direct mail postcards as best choice for farming prospects at a whopping 1-3% response rate!! (Whopee! Where do I sign up?) Seeing technology as a cure all for customer service is a grave mistake.

First of all there is a serious problem with oxymoron Client Relationship Management. Intimate loving families can't manage their relationships! How in heck is a company that sees its clients only a few hours each year going to manage relationship?

At best, you can sustain, grow,and cultivate relationship. At worst, you will lose it due to changes in client's circumstances, competition, economic and political factors, changing markets or (heaven forbid) your own terrible customer service and shoddy workmanship. But you will never be able to manage your clients. As a matter of fact... it is client who manages you. They tell you what products they want, and what your product is worth, how they want it delivered, and like green french fries or dirt flavored jelly beans, whether they want it at all!

Companies that have to fight for their customers are doing something wrong. It usually stems from not understanding customer. Going to a computer program to glean information, or find out what customer wants is just plain crazy.

So why postcards? Here are ten reasons to market with postcards:

10. They are affordable marketing strategies.

Postcards are among most affordable marketing print strategies for products and services. They are most ideal especially for small and medium sized businesses. One client relates that it only cost her $6 per name per year in her mailing list when she chose to do her marketing campaign using postcards. And she happily went on and advertised for one year.

9. They don't advertise to your competitors.

Unlike advertisements in newspapers or magazines, competitors won't know your marketing unless you accidentally sent one to them. Best technique is to simply send your postcards to names in your mailing list. That way, your competitor won't know about it till one of your recipients show and tell.

8. They make it easy to track results.

One client used her postcards to bring people and clients to her store. She made postcards into a special discount card which made her clients go to her store and use it.

7. They are very versatile.