Postcards are so versatile and inexpensive. These days, most people find it easier to hit the delete button than to pick up a pen and write a few lines or send out a picture to a friend. Sure, we seem to be communicating more through social networking these days, but for many businesses who want a more personal way of reaching their audience and prospects, the quality of an actual letter is hard to beat.
What is a Postcard?
Until recently, until the early 2000s, the postcard was a means of sending messages that continued to be used on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve, holidays, or birthdays, although not for communication purposes only. Friends and families living in different cities or countries lay the foundations of a spiritual bond by sharing joy, sadness, and longing through these delightful cards.
In the recent past, postcards, which often featured photographs of popular celebrities of that period, were not only a way of communicating but also a unique way of collecting memories. Colorful cards with different stamps, interesting handwriting, and a wide variety of visuals acted as the protagonists of a story when they came together.
While trying to answer the question of what a postcard is, it is very important not to mention the place of postcards in our lives.
Postcards, which can be used especially by people who prefer to protect the traditions that are about to disappear, maintain their existence in our lives by succeeding in appealing to many styles and tastes thanks to the opportunities provided by technology today. These cards, which are also used by companies for promotional purposes or preferred as gifts for employees on special occasions, can continue to function, albeit for different purposes.
History of the postcard
Since the beginning of postal services, writing and sending messages on cards has been done by individuals. The earliest known picture postcard is a hand-painted design on a card, published in 1840 by writer Theodore Hook in Fulham, London, bearing a black penny stamp. This card, which went down in history as the first postcard, was sold to an enthusiast in 2002 for £31,750.
In the United States, the tradition of sending a picture or blank card with a message by mail at letter speed began in December 1848 with a card containing a print advertisement. Of course, the increase in its popularity brought with it the commercial enterprise. John P. Charlton of Philadelphia created the first commercially produced card and patented the postcard in 1861. On these cards, only small drawings were made without landscape pictures.
In Britain, the first unofficial postcards began to be printed by the Post Office in 1870 and were printed ready-made as part of the design, with a stamp included in the purchase price. The postcard, which was initially designed in small and large sizes, has become a standard due to the ease of use of the large size. The first known printed picture postcard was created at Camp Conlin in France in 1870 by Léon Besnardeau (1829-1914). It is the subject of the Franco-Prussian war in these years.
The first known picture postcard was sent from Vienna after it was realized that the painting served as a souvenir over time. The first advertising card was also used in Great Britain in 1872. Images of the newly built Eiffel Tower in 1889 and 1890 gave impetus to postcards and led to the “Golden Age” of picture postcards in the years after the mid-1890s.
Why Send a Postcard?
Even though emailing and instant messaging are becoming the most convenient modes of greeting people, sending a postcard before Christmas is still a unique way of expressing love during the holiday season.
- Postcards will forever remain popular. They are versatile and have a lot of advantages over other forms of marketing. Despite having all the excellent features, the best thing about them is that they come cheap. Plus, you do not have to depend on anyone to get your message across. Postcards can be used for a variety of functions — no matter what you have to say; postcard printing can ensure that it reaches your clients and customers in an effective manner.
- Postcards are very personal and carry a lot of your personality into them. Something about them makes them more appealing than just sending an email or a text. It is like having a tangible paper cut out of your thoughts. There’s nothing more fun or exciting than receiving or sending postcards to my friends and family. I always look forward to writing something on it, creating it, and making it great.
- Postcards are inexpensive, easy to create, and quite effective. There are many benefits of using postcards, especially when you want to promote your blog through physical action. The main benefit of postcards is that they stand out among the usual flyers, coupons, or discounts that can be found in your mailbox regularly. Postcards have become less popular with the rise of email marketing and social media marketing over the years, but we feel that’s not entirely true as studying the recent statistics shows us that postcards still remain effective for any business and, most importantly, for bloggers.
How to Write a Postcard
Although we do not use postcards to send the news as in the old days, we always attach a message or a note to them. Whether it’s a congratulatory message or a humorous piece of writing, there is a way to use a postcard, that is, to write a note on it.
The standard size of a postcard is usually 10×15. Therefore, there is not enough space to write long articles. In addition, when we consider the stamp and address sections, it is useful to keep these articles short and concise. The upper right corner of the postcard is the section reserved for stamps or stamps. The person’s address to be sent should be written just below, that is, in the lower right corner. The part on the left is the area where you can attach the note, greeting, or photo you want.
Postcards do not need to be put in an envelope to be sent. And here is the exciting part: your card manages to reach its owner unharmed among hundreds or even thousands of postcards.
Design Your Own Postcard
The first thing to consider in postcard designs is to make the design with the right dimensions. A standard postcard will be 15×10 cm in size, but spaces must be reserved for cutting in designs made suitable for printing. Therefore, the most eastern way to design is to design using the Ready-made Postcard Template offered free of charge by Type Calendar.
After setting the correct dimensions, you must accept what kind of design you will make. No matter what kind of design you make, you should use all images, including the logo, in high resolution. It is also useful to open your design file as 300dpi to avoid resolution problems. One of the important things you need when designing a postcard is to see successful works that have been done before because these successful works will inspire you and cause you to produce much more successful works.
