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Postcards are a wonderful solution for giving out information. They can be used if you want to advertise your business, announce an event for your family or community, or to say hello to someone. They cost less to print than brochures or flyers, and can be mailed for less too. Here are some basics about postcard printing.
Before beginning, you need to make two major decisions. You need to decide the size you want your postcards to be and if you will send them by mail. One these decisions have been made, it is time to start creating the postcards.
There are specific dimensions required by the United States Postal Service for postcards. These are the dimensions which can be considered postcards: the length should be a minimum of five inches but not exceed six inches, and the height should be three and a half inches but not exceed four and one quarter inches. The minimum dimensions must be met, otherwise the item cannot be sent through the mail. If the postcard exceeds the maximum dimensions, it must have the postage for a first class stamp.
Do not forget to leave a space for the address and stamp if you are planning to mail the postcards. This space has to be located on the right side of the postcard. Ensure the space in the upper corner is free of designs for the stamp and that there is ample space to write an address.
You are also able to send the postcards inside an envelope. Ensure there is an envelope that fits the postcard size you choose. No one wants to design their postcards and discover later that they cannot be mailed to the intended recipients.
Once you have made the decisions about mailing the cards and their size, this is when the design process can begin. It does not matter if you are using these postcards to advertise a business or for a personal matter, always remember to keep it simple. You have lots of options when designing a postcard. You could use full color, or all the colors you want on both sides, or just a few simple colors, or black and white only. There is also the choice of paper. You could choose to use a plain paper or one that is glossy. Be sure to select a paper choice that is heavy weight, like that of card stock. These special options will affect the price. Using full color for both sides and using a specialty paper will increase the costs.
Make sure to list the basic information required by the people who will receive the postcard. If advertising a business, describe in a few key words regarding what your business has to offer. You could always add a promotion to the card, an incentive for first time visitors or give away a free item if the customer brings the postcard to your business. These principles apply for events and for personal correspondence. Always make sure you have listed the time, date, and location for the event.
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Postcards are designed to grab attention. Do not forget to give your contact details: your telephone number, email address, and website so the person who receives your postcard can contact you. Postcard printing can be done by yourself. Check to see if your word processing program has templates for postcards and if your printer is able to print on specialty paper. If you cannot do it yourself, a local printer will be able to assist you with your printing needs, including presentation folder printing.
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