You’re a smart cookie. So I know you already have business cards for in-person events and networking purposes (or you at least know you need to get them). But what else can you do to stand out in a crowd?
How about postcards!
When I was at Alt in January, I collected A LOT of business cards. They were well designed and fit pretty easily in my purse, but after I photographed the ones I loved and saved a few for reference, I didn’t have much use for them. BUT postcards are different. As least, they can be.
They are bigger than business cards, of course, so you can fit more information on them. And better yet- you can make them useful, something that the person you give it to is going to want to keep around.
That’s why I recently designed a set of my own. Here’s the story…
I’ve had this idea for print postcards for a couple of months now. I wanted to showcase some of my tutorials (from start to finish) in photos. That way when people received one of my postcards, they would keep it around if they were interested in making a similar project. And if they were interested in making a similar project, than they probably enjoy creating things with their hands. And if they love making things with their hands, they probably appreciate handmade goods from others too. And if they appreciate handmade goods from other makers, than they probably want to buy handmade goods as well. See where I am going with this one?
Convincing my target market to hang on to my promo materials with one easy postcard.
And if I want to get really fancy, I could include a little box of the materials they would need to complete the project on the postcard.
So I teamed up with PrintRunner to make my DIY postcard idea happen, and wanted to share my results. But I don’t want you to walk away empty-handed either, so we put together a giveaway for you too! Details below…
PrintRunner is generously giving away a set of custom postcards to a very lucky winner.
Here are the giveaway details”¦
**UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed and the winner has be chosen. Congrats to Sarah Snyder for winning a set of postcards from PrintRunner!
Whats up for grabs? One winner will be chosen to win a set of 100 postcards for free (with free shipping as well). Here are the details in terms of options for the winner: Size 5×7 / Colors 4/0 Front Only Printing / Paper 14 PT. UV Coating on Front / Rounded Corners Allowed / Ready to Ship In 4 Business Days / *Standard shipping Fee is for free. Expedited shipping will be shouldered by the winner / *Prize Substitution is not allowed
Giveaway open to US residents only (ages 18 years old and above). *Winner/s must not have won the exact same print giveaway from PrintRunner in the past 6 months.
How to enter”¦
Just leave a comment below explaining (briefly) what you might use your postcards for if you win OR how you would design your own set. The winner will be chosen on July 10th at 11:59pm and announced here on this post by the following day. Bonus entries for giveaway tweets (up to three) – just make sure to include @papernstitch and @PrintRunner in your tweet(s).
Good luck!
““
Disclosure: I was compensated by the advertiser for this editorial feature. All opinions, photos, and ideas, however, are my own.
75 comments | Click here to reply
Creative way to use postcards to market your business: http://t.co/2zdVoHct
(@ShopDelighted) (@ShopDelighted)I’d probably use them for mail-in sweepstakes.
Tim MossId use these to promote my hubby etsy shop.
Melanie Montgomerywould use them for my business!
Amy DeLongardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
i would donate them to our youth group at church for one of their events.
sarahTweet: https://twitter.com/momznite/status/222759049828114432
momzniteNeed postcards with your own design? Win 100 from @PrintRunner in giveaway hosted by @papernstitch http://t.co/HFVTtkGV
momznite (@momznite)I would create PR postcards to promote the YouTube channel of this talented teen songwriter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz-8eRGXZf8&feature=plcp
momzniteif i won, i would use them for our lawn service
susan smoaksI would use the postcards for making a collage for my parents with pictures of places we’ve been
Erin COokThis is awesome giveaway! I would use the postcard to print my photos and use them as the background packaging for my jewelry that I sell
Lucia MooreI would use them to promote my artwork.
JoshuaThis is such a unique idea. I would use these to support my up-and-coming Etsy shop. I might do a preview pop-up show and I think it would be awesome to send several postcards to some of my contacts who might be interested.
MargaretI would use my postcards to promote my published writing at conventions!
Patricia C.these are such a great idea!
wendywere i to win this giveaway, i would love to put photos of some of my large statement pieces of jewelry and collections of smaller pieces such as rings, brooches, earrings and bracelets on them.
i find that plenty of folks take my business cards with them, but they are small and too easily lost. the post card size is great to send to stores as an introduction to my work.
surely, fresh introductions and memorable, tangible images are part of building a better business.
thank you for this opportunity.
https://twitter.com/immortalb4/status/222034705632067585
Meghan FinleyUsing Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/qEPugtOM via @sharethis @papernstitch @PrintRunner
Meghan Finley (@immortalb4)https://twitter.com/immortalb4/status/222033617386356736
Meghan FinleyI’d make personalized invites for a birthday coming up
Meghan FinleyWhat a lovely idea! I would use the postcard to create Story Starters for children – ideas for kids to create their own stories about the world around them. This would be a wonderful way to encourage kids to be creative, something our company is all about!
CaronI tweeted about the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/kellybb31/status/221250958238294016
Kelly Beam BrownI would use them in my classroom for sending notes for kids to bring snack. I would really love to win them!
Kelly Beam BrownI would love to win these postcards! I am a jewelry designer and am looking for a larger card layout to include more information at the market I sell at this summer.
@adjewelry
anne keaneI would love to win these postcards! I am a jewelry designer and am looking for a larger card layout to include more information at the market I sell at this summer.
@adjewelry
anne keaneWhat a wonderful idea! I have a wedding stationery business so I would use the postcards to show off some of my top selling products and mail them off to a bunch of new brides! Following your idea of making it something they would want to keep around I would also include a few tips about send out invitations and save the dates.
Elle McCannI would show some photos of my work and include the dates of local crafts shows I’m doing this year.
VeronicaI would use the postcards for when I launch my new blog in early august (been waiting to launch until I pass my cpa exam!)
amylove, love.
postcards would be great to use at shows, giveaway from the studio, or mailing to folks.
I’d love to create some featuring some of my latest wisdom cards in the collection.
suzanne l. vinsonI work full time in the financial industry and postcards would be a fab idea to help me launch my side gig of photography…I really would love to quit my job and do photography full time. What a dream come true that would be!!!
Diane O'ConnorI would love to have recipes on the postcards, then you could file them in a recipe holder.
DebraI would definitely use these postcards to advertise my jewelry business. Thanks for the giveaway!
LisaI love the sweet little DIY postcard in your pictures! If I was designing a promotional postcard, I’d do a custom made pattern that could be framed as art so that people would always be reminded of my work! xo
Claire BrennanGreat idea with the DIY postcards! I have been toying with the idea of expanding my business a little and adding some cute, simple drawings into the mix – These postcards would be perfect to promote it!!
SashaI recently started a business designing modern, colorful jewelry made from treasures I find on Florida beaches. I’d love to develop a promotional postcard inspired by mid-century Miami vacation souvenirs, those beautiful “Greetings from Florida…” kodachrome relics. I think it would be cute, sunny, and definitely help my business be more memorable, but because I’m so small, I don’t have the capital to print it. This would be such an awesome way to help!
Cassidyto enter mail in sweeps
Janna JohnsonThanks for a great contest! janna johnson jannajanna@hotmail.com GFC: janna@feedyourpig
I love using postcards to showcase my art…and i send them as an extra gift to my customers! I would love to try out the Print Runner brand! What a great giveaway…so useful! 🙂
Casey VirataI would use the postcards to promote an event for my Fin Forward charity. We specialize in shark dives and marine encounters for cancer survivors. Just in time for summer:)
Brandon BetheaAnother great idea from @papernstitch: Using Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/4l2KVfEv
(@CWBusiness) (@CWBusiness)Using Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/PppspH0H via @sharethis
(@MixedKreations) (@MixedKreations)I would use the postcards to promote urban atavism or a return to animal instincts. Each card would have a picture of a wolf’s head captioned with the words “Werewolf Revival”.
Hope to win!
Theron WillisI would love to have a set! I would put my photography on them and hand them out when someone asks about our work!
Tina Fussellfor vacation pictures.
Shannon BaasOooh, @papernstitch is having a postcard giveaway! Enter to win a set of 100 postcards: http://t.co/bfAoTgve
(@EtsyNY) (@EtsyNY)I would use them to advertise my etsy site.
Carolyn Baker*fingers crossed* Entry submitted’ RT @tiffzippy: Using Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/xwTRX5Bf via @papernstitch and…
Leah Arnold-Smeets (@Mom_trepreneur)RT @tiffzippy: Using Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/k8bKjNpb via @papernstitch and @PrintRunner Postcard giveaway!
Leah Arnold-Smeets (@Mom_trepreneur)This is a fabulous giveaway and incentive! I love how you used social media marketing to get the word out and, potentially, gain TONS of new fans, followers, and clients! Way to go! I am in the business of small business consulting with a heavy concentration on social media & operations… so, when I saw a mutual follower’s tweet (@blah_cubed) and the words “postcard giveaway” I immediately clicked on the tweet to check it out. If I were to win the postcards, I’d use them in a direct mail campaign to target stay-at-home moms & wives looking to create businesses out of their hobbies, passions, or ideas. I know the feeling of wanting to be a mom but also wanting to do something constructive that I loved and that brought in some cash. So, I started my own business and have never been happier!!! 🙂 I want to inspire women to do the same… Follow their dreams and bring their passions to fruition. If I don’t win, I’m still going to promote the heck outta your products because I’m a big fan of what you do!
Leah Arnold-Smeetsthe size of the postcards really lend themselves to a variety of things, folding in half for a 3.5 x 5 card or bookmark holder.
MargeRT @tiffzippy: Using Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/k8bKjNpb via @papernstitch and @PrintRunner Postcard giveaway!
Tiffany C Harrison (@blah_cubed)I recently created postcards for my business too! I have a few inspirational phrases I use on my blog and put them on cards along with some other fun info. Love them! And your cards are so beautiful. Great idea!
TiffanyUsing Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway http://t.co/k8bKjNpb via @papernstitch and @PrintRunner Postcard giveaway!
Tiffany B. (@tiffzippy)I was thinking of using these postcards as “save the dates” 🙂
JessieI would use the postcards to target local vendors. I create wedding paper goods and I just recently started marketing to local wedding planners. A postcard would make a create addition to my marketing efforts.
Tiffany B.Ooh fun! I would totally use these for some awesome free tips for my artist clients. I love being able to give them a little value for no cost. And this would be a great way for the tips to stick around with them, instead of just saying them and then a day later “What was it that Laura told me yesterday about pricing my art?” This would be so wonderful!!
LauraI love this idea and would use them to promote my etsy shop! 🙂 I would make them with a shabby bohemjan feel.
tiaI’ve used postcards to market myself as an attorney before and got a really good response. I would like to market myself a little more creatively this time.
Brandyooo , great idea with a DIY postcard! I am looking to grow my wedding invitation biz and showing a few designs on a postcard to drop off at bridal shops / wedding photographers, ect would be awesome!
KristenI am doing my first craft fair in a few months and have been thinking about ways to stand out in the crowd!! Postcards would be perfect!
LuisaWow! What a great idea! I send biz cards and a postcard with a photo of a fawn that I took a while back. The front says “you’re a dear”
But i LOVE the idea of a adding a tutorial! I would definitely try the same!
-Tsuki
Tsuki aka LittleGrayFoxI would use the postcard to promote my new book blog. I would design it in photoshop – and set up a little photoshoot with my favorite books and my adorable pug Frank. Then I would send it to all my friends and business associates.
PS> this is a great giveaway! Really lovely.
CarolannI tweeted too
jessica whttps://twitter.com/jrwarfield/status/218051063415189504
I have started making item and would love to promote my blog when these items go out.
jessica wI would love to make my “save the date” postcards with PrintRunner. Great idea to add crafty ideas to yours 🙂 I’d keep it around!
KatieI am a fledgling eco-friendly home organizing and design company with an affinity for  using repurposed materials. Having these postcards for multiple uses will fit in with my business model perfectly.  I would display before and after photos of an unorganized space as well as  steps to breath life into tired old storage solution.  I’d place these cards at every vending opportunity as well as send them out to prospect and returning clients. Thank you for offering, and I hope you pick me!  http://www.Spruci.co
Nitika CollinsI am a fledgling eco-friendly home organizing and design company with an affinity for using repurposed materials. Having these postcards for multiple uses will fit in with my business model perfectly. I would display before and after photos of an unorganized space as well as steps to breath life into tired old storage solution. I’d place these cards at every vending opportunity as well as send them out to prospect and returning clients. Thank you for offering, and I hope you pick me! http://www.Spruci.co
Nitika CollinsI would use the post cards for a how to make a cute little pouch.
JeanellCool giveaway! I have an idea for a business-related infographic in my head, and I’d love to get it printed. I think it would have a good shelf life and people would hang onto it. This would be the perfect opportunity!
RobinI would use these for landlords and tenants, as I’m a real estate agent in NYC who is always looking to use new and innovative ways to reach clients.
The large space on the back is a Huge draw- and beautiful NYC map or neighborhood photos on the front.
Anyone looking to move into the city, email me at fwarburton@rapidnyc.com
Farinmy goal for this new year is to really grow my fledgling jewelry business. do a flea market or two, and really up my etsy presence. These postcards could be a fun way to do that. I love your idea of showing a DIY! I have some fun locket earrings, and it might be neat to show the process of putting something fun/memorable inside.
thanks for the giveaway!
erinkathleenI would totally LOVE those for my photography to show off more than one photo. I love you’re idea of the DIY projects in photo- I would totally keep it around. Great Idea!
margaretPostcards are on my list of things to do! I design and decorate kid’s rooms. I want to print postcards with a couple shots of rooms that I’ve done to leave in stores around town.
sarah snyderI’m just starting a small business selling bags and clothes handprinted with my illustrations on them and it would be incredible to have some postcards to send along with deliveries!
Meghannwould be super cute for launching my photography side business 🙂
annaWhat a great idea! I printed up a bunch of postcards for an event last summer. My mom still has hers up on the fridge, but I’m fairly certain the rest are in the trash by now. Now you’ve got me thinking up creative ways to keep them in my customers’ hands a little longer.
I’m Canadian, so can’t enter the contest — good luck, everyone!
ErinUsing Postcards to Grow your Biz + Giveaway: You’re a smart cookie. So I know you already… http://t.co/iIWGlyWw
(@papernstitch) (@papernstitch)