Determine if postcards are right for you

Assess your marketing needs to see if business postcards will help you achieve your goals. Postcards can help you test market a new product or offer, as well as drive traffic to your Web site. You can also track the results of your mailing campaign by assigning a specific discount code or sending potential customers to a unique page on your Web site created specifically for a particular offer or product.

I recommend: Check out Postcard Marketing Secrets and Chuck Green's Ideabook for templates and creative ideas for your marketing campaign.  Find direct-mail marketing consultants at Business.com.

Get postcard design help

Take advantage of Web sites offering postcard design help. Your postcard shouldn't try to include every detail of your offer. Eye-catching graphics and a brief summary of the main points of your offer are more likely to get the attention of potential customers.

I recommend: Get professional help with your postcards through a full-service shop such as Track Marketing Group, Creativepro, Positronic Design, PostcardMania and Small Business Printing.

Compare postcard prices

Post card design and printing prices will vary according to the size of the postcard, whether it is going to be printed in black-and-white or color and the print quantity. Some sites even offer free printing to attract you as a customer.

I recommend: If you're looking to have business postcards printed for free try VistaPrint or Bestprintingbestprice.com.  For a list of competitive postcard printers, see Business.com.

Make your own printable postcards

To make your own printable postcards, download templates from the Internet that will work with design software such as InDesign and Quark. Or take advantage of free online postcard templates to make printable postcards.

I recommend: PsPrint offers free postcard templates for printable postcards. Try OvernightPrints if you want 24-hour turnaround on your postcard order. For a 48-hour turnaround, use 48hourprint.com.