April 2014

A printing mistake is almost never going to be the end of the world, but it could cause some serious embarrassment or a significant chunk of money. That's why learning about the most common design errors is a good thing to do - the more you know, the less likely you are to end up with a pile of custom postcards that can't be sent to your clients or prospects.

Your postcard designs don’t have to be fancy or overly complex to get your message across to your audience. Applying some basic design standards can make the difference between a postcard that gets noticed, or one that gets trashed without a second glance. A working knowledge of color modes, typography and file formats is also necessary to ensure you’re on the same page with your print provider. Here’s a list of 10 inspirational print and design blogs to help you on your way to becoming a postcard design superstar!

Full bleeds, safe areas, and cut lines - it can sound like a scene from a horror movie, right? Well, it can definitely turn into a horror story if you're trying to print your own postcard and don't know what these terms mean.

If you plan on using a design template for your next direct mail advertising postcards project, then it's high time to learn the lingo that these templates use. Better yet, let's walk through the entire process and everything will start to make sense.

Print still remains not only a valid and effective option for marketing, but with less competition in the mailbox, it gives small businesses a competitive edge. Not only are you able to attract new audiences to your brand, but a well-timed fast postcard direct mailing can bring those longtime customers coming back for another round. Still, to use print effectively you need to know what you're doing. Many a marketer has made the mistake of not fully understanding the way that print works and ending up with boxes of printed postcards that look ill-designed and not at all professional despite appearing great on-screen.

The problem: knowing the difference between RGB and CMYK colors.

As a follow up to one of our most popular posts, Why Do Some of My Mailed Postcards Have Smudges or Scuff Marks?, we thought we'd create a video to allow you to see what actually happens throughout the printing, sorting, and postcard mailing service process at QuantumPostcards. Whenever you mail postcards with us, your cards go through sorting machines that are specifically calibrated for postcards to lessen bouncing that can cause smudging. We also offer UV coating for a protective layer that will minimize tearing and smears.

Watch the video and if you have additional questions, contact our support team. We're here to help. You can also check out all of our postcard printing and mailing options here, including "UV Coating" options.

When you look at a marketing postcard, it’s easy to visualize the contribution of the designer, the copywriter, and the editor involved in its creation. Each plays a major role in crafting the visual identity, style, and effects of the direct mail campaign.

It’s often harder to visualize the role that the printer plays in a successful postcard direct mail campaign. From offset printing to digital printing, the type of printer you select for your custom postcards can have a real effect on your campaign’s results.

In this quick guide, we compared two different printing options – offset printing and digital printing – to find out which offers the best combination of convenience, value for money, and quality for marketers sending direct mail advertising postcards.