Marketers know postcards are powerful marketing tools, especially when it comes to website marketing. Instead of ushering the death of direct-mail print marketing as originally predicted, the digital world has fueled a revolution in the direct-mail industry as print marketing has proven itself to be one of the most effective means of driving web traffic. Postcards, in particular, are exceptional at motivating customers to go online; as such, here are 10 ways postcards can drive web traffic.
1. Promise information
You can use postcards to present teasers and promise customers more information when they visit your website. This is a great way to promote a niche blog; for example, a financial adviser might send postcards that offer customers a few tips for saving big for retirement, then promise even more great tips on its blog.
2. Earn social media fans with a discount
Offer customers a discount if they become a fan or follower on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Postcards can be a great way to deliver this message to a targeted audience who is likely to respond.
3. Promote mobile app downloads
Mobile apps can be quite lucrative, provided you have the ability to tell the world about your app. Postcards can be great ways to reach your targeted audience without competing against high-powered competitors.
4. Interactive technology
Let customers instantly visit your website, watch a video, or get more information with smartphone scannable interactive features such as QR codes and augmented reality.
5. Generate email newsletter subscribers
Send postcards to your target customer base with an invitation to subscribe to your exclusive, information-packed email newsletter. It’s a great way to collect email addresses for future ‘in-house’ email marketing.
6. Offer a coupon or coupon code for purchases
If you sell retail or services online, consider turning your postcards into coupons or coupon codes, redeemable at checkout for discounts, buy-one-get-ones, or some other offer.
7. Promote gamification
Many companies have learned how gamification can bolster sales; if you similarly gamify the customer experience, you can print postcards as ‘game pieces’ to promote your customer program.
8. Attract customers with value
Add value to your customers’ lives with free tools, such as the popular calorie trackers many online companies provide. Promote your free tools with postcards and generate thousands of new users overnight.
9. Encourage petition signs
If you have a political cause and an online petition, postcards can be simple ways to encourage thousands of new signatures - especially since you can send them to such ideologically and geographically targeted audiences.
10. To seek non-profit donations
Nonprofits always have the task of balancing a marketing budget against the need for project funds. Postcards are cheap ways to motivate instant online donations, especially if you incorporate QR codes and other ways to make the giving process easy and rewarding.