5 Quick Steps to Send Direct Mail Postcards

While it’s true that direct mail has never gone out of fashion, it also remains, to this day, a favorite means of correspondence — whether it’s from your besties or brands you trust. According to communications and advertising giant RR Donnelley (RRD), 63% of Gen Z are excited about getting real mail, while 62% of Millennial consumers feel the same. RRD’s data also revealed that these audiences believe that direct mail is more personal and more trustworthy, and that it catches their attention better compared to email.

And you must admit, a beautiful postcard that stood out in the pile of mail and you opened yourself is harder to lose than an email that can drown in dozens of messages you receive in your inbox any given day. If you’re new to direct mail services, you’d want to read and bookmark this article in which we put together a quick and easy reference on how to send postcards via direct mail.

Step 1: Set goals for your direct mail campaign.

Successful postcard campaigns, no matter how straightforward, thrive on structured planning. Consider a product launch: specify product details, event title, date, time, and location. Plan your postcard send-out early for timely RSVPs. Identify your audience – loyal, lapsed, or new customers – to tailor your message effectively. Lastly, set measurable goals, like sales targets or boosting brand awareness, to track your campaign’s success.

Step 2: Design your postcards.

Once you’ve outlined your campaign goals, it’s time to get creative. Our guide on how to create an effective postcard design will help you get started with your custom postcard: from writing your copy, coming up with a design strategy, down to picking out software you can use — this guide will put you on the right track to acing your postcard design.

PrintPlace offers a free online design tool with free customizable templates. You can also upload your design and personalize both sides of your postcard easily.

For direct mail, consider USPS for affordable rates. Remember, postcards must be rectangular, sized between 3.5″ x 5″ and 4.25″ x 6″, with a thickness of 0.007″ to 0.016″.

Step 3: Prepare your mailing lists.

Your postcard campaign’s reach and success rely heavily on your mailing lists. One way to secure your mailing list is by putting together your existing customer database into an Excel file and uploading it to the site upon checkout. It is also a common practice to rent or buy mailing lists. PrintPlace can help you secure a targeted mailing list; all you need is to add it to your cart as you order for your custom postcards. We will also make sure that the mailing list you use has no duplicates so you can maximize every postcard send-out. Our mailing service also comes with CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) Certification which helps us ensure that the addresses in the list are correct and match respective US ZIP codes.

It’s important to note that the bigger your mailing list is, the higher the total cost of postage could be. But don’t worry, USPS rates start at $0.32, and you can start with as little as 25 postcards for every order with PrintPlace.

Step 4: Address for your postcards.

Writing addresses doesn’t need to be a tedious task. Whether you’re using the back of your postcards or sending them in envelopes, you need to carefully label your mail, so they are delivered to the right recipients. USPS, for instance, follows a four-line format for addresses for sending direct mail. Use this format and have addresses on your mailing list printed on address labels that you can stick on the postcard or the envelope.

Recipient’s Name
Street Address and Apartment Number
City, State, and ZIP Code
Country Name

USPS also recommends that addresses are written in all uppercase letters and that senders skip punctuation marks. You may include the company name of your recipients in the second line but keep in mind that USPS recommends not exceeding five lines per address.

Step 5: Choose a postage rate.

It can be tricky to calculate postage costs on your own. In fact, it’s strongly recommended that you bring your postcards to the post office so that the staff can help you determine the final cost of the direct mail service you’re using. And while stamps are still a thing, you can also arrange for metered postage for your postcard campaign, especially if you’re looking into doing send-outs more often or in bigger quantities.

PrintPlace Direct Mail: Your Perfect Postcard Partner

Maximize your direct mail campaign with PrintPlace. We offer an online design tool and a range of paper types and sizes for personalized postcards. Choose First Class Mail for 2-5 day delivery or standard mail for cost savings (7-20 days). We assist with mailing lists and postage costs when you create an account on PrintPlace.com. Engage existing customers and generate leads year-round.