We all have our favorite neighborhood businesses. The dry cleaner around the corner. The shoe repair guy down the block. And we can’t forget that tasty pizza parlor! The only way for a business to stay in business is by expanding their customer base. If you’re a big chain you can send out an email blast or a flyer tucked into the newspaper. For local businesses, the best way to attract new customers is with a simple postcard. This can provide a reminder or introduction of the services a business provides. They are completely effective because everyone reads the postcards that come in the mail. The challenge is to make sure they hang onto that postcard.

One of the concerns that small businesses have with postcard mailings is who to send them to. Fortunately, there are many services that can provide mailing lists and address labels. There is nothing wrong with this even if you address the postcard to “current residence.” You can target a postcard mailing by focusing on the surrounding zip codes of where your business is located.

The best way to attract new customers is by offering something special. Why do you think black Friday sales are so huge? A simple discount on their next purchase or a special added surprise for a store appearance could do the trick. The goal is just to get the postcard into their hands. Then let your services speak for themselves. Most online printing companies offer next-day shipping for postcard orders. This means that once you’ve signed off on your design and content those postcards can be printed and shipped to you right away. This is especially important for peak shopping times of the year when you want to attract those new customers. And don’t forget to build your own mailing list of existing customers. There is value in every name!