Postcard Design

imageMEDIA is the online industry authority when it comes to designing postcards and postcard printing. We have four design options to choose from. You can design your postcards online for free using your own photo files or custom designs, download free postcard templates and design it yourself, choose one of our premade templates and have one of our designers customize it for you, or let one of our postcard designers create a postcard or postcard template for you from scratch.

Determining what qualifies as good postcard design can be very subjective. Everyone has their opinion, and there’s really no right or wrong answer. In our profession, being an online commercial printer, we’ve seen our share of brilliant designs. Some take a minimalist approach, while others tend to create a design that dissolves every spec of white space available on their palette. But the bottom line remains the same. You know you have a good postcard design when you see a good return on your mailer. Once you experience this, you’ve found that right formula.

Though postcard design can vary greatly according to industry and product offerings, there are a couple of guidelines you can keep in mind when designing.

First and foremost, a “good” design in terms of marketing doesn’t mean that it has to be pretty. You’re not trying to win an award for being artist of the year (or maybe you are… but it won’t help your bottom line). The truth is, a good postcard design doesn’t have to look good at all. But, for this article, we will touch on creating a pleasing postcard design, with the component’s needed to make it effective. Let’s take a look at a couple of different approaches.

The Straight Forward Approach

This type of postcard design takes very little creativity and relies more on the verbiage and offer then on the design itself. For instance, if you’re promoting a furniture store, you might use 3 images on your photo postcards. One photo displays a leather sectional sofa, another photo shows a dining room set, and the last presents your audience with a lavish bedroom set. These images can be displayed in linear fashion straight across the center of the postcard. It’s pleasing to the eye, somewhat minimal, but nice. The headline reads “Spring Savings – up to 70% Off of Seasonal Selections – no payments for 12 months!”. Pretty straight forward. Will it be effective? If you’re targeting new homeowners, renters, or anyone shopping for furniture,… absolutely. This would be a “good” postcard design if you get clients to come shop at your store. Nice work.

Abstract Creative Approach

This type of postcard design tends to take more of a creative approach. The design is unique and the text is cleverly thought out. Let’s take this example. A different furniture store decides to create postcards. This time, the imagery is of three guys sitting on empty milk crates in an empty room with a bowl of chips placed on another milk crate in front of them on the floor, soda in plastic cups by there feet, watching what is assumed to be a sporting event on a small, old-fashion tube tv with rabbit ear antenna’s. The headline reads, “Ready for an Upgrade?”. On the back of the card is a picture of the same three guys sitting in theatre seat recliners watching a 50” flat panel TV. The text reads “It’s game time! Up to 70% off of select furniture – this weekend only”. Now, will this be effective? If you’re directing your mailer to the local apartments across the street from the local University,… Absolutely! This would also be a “good” postcard design if you get those college students to your showroom.

So what determines if a postcard design is good or not is not the design at all, but the results of the efforts put into the approach you’re taking creatively for your intended market. A good design is only good if it’s producing results. Period.