Postcard Promotion Ideas and Moo Giveaway
It’s no secret that lots of us FreelanceSwitchers love Moo MiniCards. I think Moo may love us right back, because they gave us the first scoop on their new product. Later this week Moo is adding Postcards to their product range, and to celebrate they’re offering two sets to FreelanceSwitch readers!
With that in mind I thought I’d cover an old-school but effective tool for new leads – the postcard promotion.
I haven’t seen any postcard promotions recently thanks to email, but there was a time not so long ago when every creative worth their salt would use postcards for self-promotion. For those of you that have never heard of or done a postcard promotion, think of them as cold-calling with style and panache. Want to get your foot in the door with a new agency or client? Then a postcard promotion is for you. You can send the relevant person (or people) in an agency a beautiful postcard with your contact details and hopefully pique their interest. With that in mind, here are a few of the best ideas I’ve seen in the past using postcards:
- The Puzzle: Want to get your foot in the door at a larger agency? Try making a postcard puzzle. Send a different piece of your puzzle to each staff member there, and encourage them to put the puzzle together. People who work in offices love any excuse to get out of their desks, and this will stand a far higher chance of getting their attention than a regular pitch email or call (N.B. Make sure the final image packs a punch otherwise they’ll wonder why they wasted their time!)
- Cryptic Clues: If you want to build intrigue, try a cryptic postcard campaign. I know of a freelance agent who was moving to New York and wanted to build some contacts before she arrived, and she did this to great success. By the time she arrived in NY potential clients were comparing notes, trying to figure out who she was. Create a postcard series that have ‘clues’ to your identity, always prefaced with “(Your cool company name) is coming…”, “(Your cool company name) will be here in two weeks…”, “(Your cool company name) will call you tomorrow…”. The cards will need to be beautiful, and your company name will need to be obscure and exciting. This is a tough one to pull off, but if you manage it people will be looking forward to your call, just to find out who you are and what you offer.
- Just Bizarre: Do something to surprise current or potential clients. I know of a photographer (admittedly this was in the 70s and he was a fine art photographer) who sent a postcard series to his clients. They were pictures of his toes in various locales and situations. He did another series of his tongue. Now this might terrify your clients (understandably), but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something a little weird and/or interesting to get a potential client’s attention, or remind an old client that you’re still around.
- We’ve Moved: One of the best postcard series I ever saw was for a creative agency that had moved premises. They took a series of photos of seemingly banal elements of their new location (the guys at the local kebab shop, the postman and the local graffiti) and used them as markers of their new location. The series entertained their clients and made sure everyone knew they had moved.
- Our Team: If you’re a freelancer and you have an extensive network of other freelancers who can fulfill the needs of your clients, why not let your clients know? Take a photo of you and every member of your network and send a postcard series to your clients. You can spread the word about your added services and cement your network. You can also offer sets to the other freelancers to send to their networks too. Hopefully you’ll all get more work and can work together on more projects.
- Personal Projects: Have you done work for a charity or completed a personal project? It’s easy to let your clients know with a postcard series. Keeping them in the loop with your “my-time” projects, They’ll remember you and respect you more too.
Once you have your idea, you’ll need to create and produce your postcards. Make sure they’re gorgeous (your aim is to have people want to stick them up in their office), and (unless mystery is part of your idea), make sure they have your contact details somewhere. The point of a promotion postcard is not to do a hard-sell, it is to gently remind people of you and have them enjoy receiving a postcard.
Now is the perfect time to bring back the postcard! People receive less and less physical mail, so the postcards you send will be bound to get extra attention. Until recently printing small runs of postcards was quite an expensive business, but as soon as Moo releases them they will become very affordable indeed (US$20 for a set of 20).
So now on to the giveaway! This week Moo is announcing their new product – postcards. To celebrate they’re giving away two sets of postcards to two lucky FreelanceSwitch readers. To enter, simply answer this question in the comments “What would you do with your Moo postcards?” The two best entries will win a free set of postcards delivered to their door.
A postcard pack has 20 cards, each with a different image (that you can upload or get from Moo or their partner sites), and are 105mm x 146mm (4.1“ x 5.8“).
Entries close at Midday (Sydney time), on Monday October 22nd. So get your entries in and stay tuned to find out if you’ve won! NB. The competition has now closed. Thanks to all those who entered!
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Great ideas!! I love postcard tactics, it’s the only passive method that works well and is a must for passive clients. Good luck to the contestants!
Oh this is sweet! I love the Moo Mini Cards so this should be sweet. Hmm what would I do with a pack of post cards? I’d send them to the top top companies that are popular now: Freelance Switch (#1 most popular, of course), Google, Dell, Apple, etc. just for fun!
Good luck to the contestants!
I’d use them to get back in touch with those clients I’d let slip through my fingers when I was green in the business. Now I need them more than ever before since I am sitting in the middle of a market recession. Everybody counts.
I would use the Moo postcards to market my site at InteriorDesignAdvice.com to targeted zipcodes — using unique photos from the site as the card photos.
I’ve used Moo minicards in offline promotions and guerilla marketing and they work great. I think the response from the postcards would be even better.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Joe
Nice with postcards and perhaps even nicer that it’s a new Moo-product. Moo tends to do really cool stuff out of quite ordinary things.
If I would those post cards I think I would use them to promote our local non-profit concert organizer and get some new visitors and/or bands to come there.
Very nice ideas indeed, unfortunately, I fall short of it when it comes to paying for the postage. Luckily most of the techniques that you described also work if you hand the cards out… (Kind of kills the mystery one though… Unless you dress up)
Definitely sound advice here, as if I expected anything less? Of course not. To answer the question for the giveaway “What would you do with your Moo postcards?” I’d send them to some of the local small businesses whose sites (IMHO) are in dire need of a redesign of course. I may also hand a few out in the local Starbucks, to the other Freelancers there (the writer, the project manager, the Photoshop guru, etc.)
I’d use them to send a thank-you to the longest subscribers of my W3Counter service.
What would I do with the Moo postcards?
Simple: Send one two to each of my clients encouraging to hand the second one out to a friend. Anything left over would be sent to myself in hopes of looking cool.
Great article!
I would print the cards with different photos and images of different styles and use them in moodboards.
Taking advantage of postcards. Hmm.
Probably take pictures of normal looking places in BW, like they were taken in the “old” times. Like a kid playing with his new nintendo DS lite, and next to it written – Can you spot the time difference?
Just a few ideas to explore still.
Kind regards,
Peter
What would I do with some free postcards? Why, I’d put my contact details on them along with teaser images of my web design work.
Next up, I’d pay a visit to the nearby libraries and head to the sections containing info on business start-up/management. I’d identify the books that are checked out regularly & pop a postcard inside. Everyone needs a bookmark… hopefully the next wannabe entrepreneur to open a book that I’ve stuffed is looking for a website too.
I would prepare a list of magazines and reviews that work on the same topic my website is about and would send them a package with a press release and the postcards. Journalist tend to stick photos on walls so they will always be reminded of our site when they look at the cool sunset-with-a-bike image on the wall…
I’d take pictures of the outside of potential clients offices (making sure that I got the window frame of my car in the shot) and add the following as the headline: “I was driving by your place the other day…”
THe otherside would then be something along the lines of, “…and I had a few ideas that might help you grow your business. Gimmie a call at 513-xxx-xxxx if you’re interested.”
I’ve got a bunch of different tiny projects I’ve worked on, I’d send a series of cards the each feature a different site.
OK just being honest here. I’d probably horde them for a little while, show them to everyone who came to see me but not let them touch or breate on them too heavily, then after I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them (and annoyed my husband over procrastinating) I would very gingerly address them and mail them to everyone I know.
Maybe I can create a wall decoration from postcards just like this;
http://www.creasoup.com/_toys/moo/cowmoo.jpg
I would probably use them as an “educational piece” on SEO and SEM, how it helps Internet business, etc. Then I would place them in magazines at bookstores. They would be small business and entrepreneur magazines as those that read them are my perfect demographic. Being that there are only so many publications at each store, this would likely cover a large chunk of the city.
I would create an image to subdivide into 20 pieces, have the cards printed, and create a mural in my office. As clients wandered in and needed contact info, I’d peel a card off the wall and hand it to them. Easy peasy.
I would use them to help promote my business that I FINALLY starting to get me out of corporate IT and into doing something I actually love– photography & design.
Postcards? Hmmm…I think I would add a different image to each card and create an origami jack-o-lantern to decorate my desk. If these came orange on one side and full color photo on the other, you could achieve some interesting effects from the inside out.
I’d make myself into a human bill board, it’ll give me an excuse to walk around all day doing nothing!
I personally think that postcard promotion is a boring idea.
I would much rather make something from scratch that is in a format not so common.
But if I won the postcards, I’d print my favorite photos on them and frame them in my office.
What would you do with your Moo postcards?
———>> I would probably create a series of mosaic images showing of a mix of stunning photographs, stunning designs and stunning websites. Some people love mosaic as they are amaze by how many nice small picture there is in that card, so they hook it on their wall to view them more than one – People keep what seems to have taken hours an hours of work.
First off, I love this site. You all contribute great articles having to do with freelancing. It’s great!
As far as what I would do with the postcards…I’d dress up as a ninja, you know, totally black-like and stuff the postcards in my belt. Then, on Halloween, I’d run around to all the businesses I want to work for and chuck them through the front door like ninja stars! On the front side of the postcard, I’d have a picture of me in my ninja outfit, pigtails and all and on the other side, I’d have printed “You just got hit by a ‘star.’ Call Nikki today!”
Of course, my plan might backfire if I start poking eyes out but hey, it’s one of the perils of being an art director, wouldn’t you say?!?
Thanks guys.
I would plan a get-together with friends-and the activity of the get-together would be revealed when each friend placed the postcards together at the destination (maybe it would spell out bowling-or hiking). But to get to the destination-each person would have to go to a random spot noted on their card-and then have a friend pick them up from there. Then the person who got picked up would look at their postcard for the second piece of info–directions to get to the next person-and continue on until a large group finally met at the destination. It’s not completely worked out yet-but the idea is there. A Scavenger hunt of people that ends with a puzzle reveal of an activity.
Each person could take their card home in the end-a memory reminder of the fun day
However-I would take a photo of the puzzle postcards when all placed together-and then send that photo to friends afterwards-another fun way to remember the day.
just a thought…
almost as if each postcard was a passport to some fun adventure and then artwork in the end–and a memory…..
In addition to my freelance gig in the evenings I work by day at a retail store. If I won the free pack of postcards I’d get them printed up with examples of my design work and slip them into customers bags to hopefully attract some new clients!
I would send them to friends & family and hopefully brighten someone’s day!
Oh! I know exactly what I will do with my MOO postcards, whether I win or not. I am a web developer focusing my efforts on photographers in my area, so I will do the same thing with my MOO postcards that I did with my MOO minicards: I’ll find the best photos I took on my trip to New York City to place on my post cards. Then, instead of keeping them in my wallet as business cards and as I did with my minicards, I will craft a message to place on the back and snail mail the cards to photographers I want to work with!
I am afraid of plain old cold-calling, but having my post card to talk about will help me get over that fear. And my potential clients will immediately see that we have photography in common.
I love my Mini cards…so do friends, clients, etc.
I’d most likely use the cards as a motivational tool for my ongoing clients. I work with students who are preparing their dissertations (and often are stuck). I think something bright, happy, and cheerful often make this most difficult and lonely of tasks a bit easier. And it’s always nice to get something in the mail to show them that I’m thinking of them.
I’d take creative pictures of some local business locations I am trying to get work from, then send them a card with a picture of their business saying something along the lines of: “This postcard is a small example of just how personalized your website should be.”
I’d use the new Moo Postcards to make some noise for my new Design Resources Website. I’d love to see pattern, icons and beautiful vector-objects on the cards.
I will use the MOO postcards to introduce my new blog to all my friends! Hope I get the Free postcards soon
–blog for dream–
I would write small reasons why I love my mom on each postcard, and send her one every week. We haven’t seen each other for a year and a half and it’s difficult for both of us, and since I’m usually pretty busy, we don’t get to phone often.
I would send them to my 38 best friends around the world and keep two for my kids to remember the Moo in their scrapbooks.
I may opt for the “Cryptic Clues”, route as mentioned above and would use the cards to solicit interest from potential clients of a web application that I am building with messages like. “Shh! Your secure web forms are not so secure.”
My competition has done a lousy job of providing service to their clients so using this approach hould make it quite easy to sell my shiny new product.
Thanks for the great marketing ideas, Cyan.
Brandon Burke
I would have one website marketing “tip” per card and distribute them to my existing clients w/ a thank you note.
or
I would print random reasons why a small business should consider hiring a web developer and then send them out to the local businesses that I feel could benefit the most.
or
I would print my favorite family photos on them and use them as holiday cards.
or (and most likely)
I would randomly select one of the brilliant ideas already mentioned.
If I won the postcards, the first one I’d send Freelance Switch as they’ve been extremely helpful to me. The next set I’d send to each of my clients, past and present to keep in touch with them, since it’s far more personal than an email. I’d also save one for family back home, since studying away from home it’s a nice way to keep in touch.
What would I do with Moo Cards? That’s easy! I’d make some for my postcard website…www.9teen87sPostcards.blogspot.com and I’d use some for unique postcard swaps with friends from around the world that I’ve made on postcrossing.com!
~Brenda
I’ve recently jumped head first into the freelance life, and aside from walking away from a very comfortable (but going nowhere) job at Apple, aside losing all the awesome benefits for me and my daughter (sympathy points, I am a single dad), and aside from freaking out daily about all the other stuff that comes with this life, I am excited to get out there and grow my business.
I’m wanting to send out postcards to various large company marketing managers, to get them interested in my company’s new motto of being their best friend (in an agency sense). It would feature shots of everything a best friend does, from holding back your hair after a long night, helping you move, loaning you a few bucks, and more.
This would be combined with a scant bit of clever copy, and the tag, “come meet your best friend on November 6th”, the date our website relaunches (and hopefully get lots more clients!)
I will use it for promotion of my web design firm using some cre8tive pics on em’ .
What would I do with MOO postcards ? Everything creative and possibly even make a T-shirt and stick them all on my T-Shirt promoting myself because god knows I need it.
this is great. I would use them to send to potential clients for my new business.
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