Postcard Advertising

An advertising postcard is a postcard used for advertising purposes (as opposed to tourism and greeting postcards). Because the postcard begins as a blank sheet of paper, the options for what may be advertised are endless. Postcards are used in advertising as an alternative to or complementary addition to other print advertising such as catalogs, letters, and flyers. Advertising postcards may be mailed or distributed by other means.

An advertising postcard that is sent in the mail is delivered directly to the recipient. An organization may send advertising postcards to their current customers, their prospective customers, and/or names and addresses to which they want to target their advertisements. Direct mail advertising postcards offer an advantage over other direct marketing mail pieces, such as letters, because the recipient can see the message without having to open the piece of mail. However, they suffer disadvantages also. Because of their relatively small size (see postcards for more information), they cannot carry much content. Because their contents cannot be easily hidden from view, they are not a viable mail piece where privacy and security are a concern.

An advertising postcard which may also known as a free card or an ad card is a postcard which is designed and used to advertise or raise awareness of a company, service or cause. Advertising postcards are usually found in nightclubs, restaurants, bars, cinemas or other locations in major cities generally frequented by the trendy, young social group (ages 18-35). The cards are free to take to patrons of the establishment. They usually contain discreet advertising slogans but have attractive or ingenious images and are produced on good quality card stock with a postcard back. One of the marketing concepts of advertising postcards is that the cards are so attractive people want to pick them up, save them, show, or post them, to a friend and say "have you seen this".