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, side that doesn’t have stamp and address on it. Here are some creative ways to get attention of your potential buyers, some of which have worked extremely for well for my clients.

1. feature a wacky photograph
2. use a photo of your product in an unusual setting
3. make an outrageous (but true) claim
4. state your unique selling promise in an intriguing way
5. present your prospect's problem (the one that your product or service solves) in a compelling way
6. ask a provocative question, and put answer on Side B
7. feature a short quiz that stimulates interest in what you are selling
8. just be blunt and put your offer in big letters ("SAVE 20% ON YOUR ORDER!")
9. quote someone famous saying something profound about your product or service
10. 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."
11. show a before and after photograph
12. show a photo of your product in action
13. feature a series of photos that demonstrate your product in action
14. ask a question that includes a blank, like this ___________, which reader fills in
15. borrow credibility with a photo of a famous person using your product

Postcard direct mail marketing tips and ideas

Postcards are perhaps least expensive way of reaching a large number of people with your sales message. Although they have their drawbacks, they are cost-effective at attracting new customers. But only if you follow some simple rules that professional direct mail copywriters follow.

Grab their attention on Side A

Side A is side with picture on it. One beauty of a direct mail postcard is that your prospective customer does not have to open it. There in morning mail is your sales message, seen by all. So make sure you put something on Side A that arrests attention of your prospect. Here are some ideas:

1. a wacky photograph 2. a photo of your product in an unusual setting 3. an outrageous (but true) claim 4. your unique selling promise stated in a clever or intriguing way 5. your prospect’s problem (the one that your product or service solves), stated or presented in a compelling way

The only goal of Side A is to arrest attention and stimulate interest. OK, so that’s two goals. You must motivate your prospect to turn your postcard over to read other side. So make sure Side A is arresting and interesting but does not tell your whole story.

Sell them on Side B

Side B is one with address and postage stamp. Here you create desire and motive your reader to take action. You do not have much real estate upon which to give your sales pitch, so stick to your strongest benefit. Describe in clear, compelling language what your reader gets by buying your product or service. You don’t have enough room here to say enough to make a sale, so just sell next step.