1. Use your postcards as a direct mail piece. There are two ways to do this. Mail them directly to a prospect list at a reduced mailing rate or place them in the campus mailboxes for no mailing fees at all.

2. Hand out postcards in strategic locations. This can be done outside of classes, in the cafeteria, or outside of dorm rooms for on-campus advertising. Or you can stand outside of local public locations, such as the grocery store or downtown shops.

3. Place postcards on your table at the college fair. If you have to step away from the table or are talking with a prospect, your postcards are there in your place.

4. Slide postcards into informational packets. Prospective students inquiring into your college will be interested in attending the “college day” event for a tour of your campus, so be sure to include these postcards in your packet.

5. Put postcards on the front windshield of cars in a parking lot. Just make sure to get permission from the owners of the parking lot. To get the best response, choose a location in which those most likely to attend your event would be.

Design
One of the biggest advantages about postcard printing and marketing is that you can design them yourself. Here are just a few tips for getting the most out of your postcard design.

1. Use photographs of the campus itself or of last year’s event. Just make sure that the images are 300 dpi or higher.

2. Use a free template available for download online, such as these postcard templates from Microsoft Office Online.

3. Keep the design simple. On the front, you need a headline, the event details, and possibly a few highlights. Use the back for any extra information needed, such as contact information and a map.

4. Limit colors to only 3 different hues and fonts to only 2 different types and sizes. This will prevent distraction from the information you are trying to get across.

5. Ask for help from a graphic design major – they need material for their portfolio and should be willing to help. Unless they offer to design it for free, though, be prepared to pay a small fee.

6. Most importantly, get your postcards printed by a professional. Not only will this save you time but it will save you money as well and get you stunning results. Best of all, an online printing company can offer a lower cost per piece the more postcards you order.