The postcard printing process will give you a number of choices, and you’ll need to make decisions.
Let’s start by dividing the printing requirements into a couple of different types: fixed and variable. Fixed postcard printing means the content that does not change; it stays the same on each and every card. This would include the ‘picture’ face of the card, and the non-address half of the other side.
Variable printing refers to the name and address on the right half, which obviously, will change for every postcard (hence the term ‘variable’). Of course, there’s no reason other parts of the card can’t be variable, too, but normally we would refer to them as fixed.
We shouldn’t forget the stamp, either, while considering the right half. Sometimes you can purchase ’stamps’ online, these are printed impressions that look like those made by postage meters. In other countries, you have to put the cards through a postage meter or paste on a stamp. By the way, some direct mail gurus advocate sticking on an old fashioned stamp, saying it gets better results. You, of course, should test that for yourself.
Many marketers outsource the fixed printing, to a company that specializes in postcard printing, and do the variable printing themselves. Of course, this assumes a modest postcard printing run; a run that gets into the many thousands would also get outsourced. Similarly, you would only take on the traditional stamping process if the numbers were modest.
When the runs are small, it makes sense to do the variable printing yourself, especially if you’re using your own, rather than a purchase, mailing list. The names and addresses on your mailing list go through a mail-merge process (use your word processor), then go through your laser or inkjet printer.
Once again, your decisions will reflect the number of cards you plan to print. If you’re doing a thousand or less, you’d likely want to do the variable printing yourself while getting a professional postcard printing company to handle the fixed printing. Regardless of whether it’s postcards or anything else, you want to know what the printer charges for set-up costs. Having someone else set up mail merge can add a lot to your costs.
In any case, check out the options to find out what works out best, considering the amount of time and money available to you. A good starting point would be to consult with a postcard printing, such as PsPrint to identify your outsourced costs.
Tags: post card printing, postcard printing, postcard printing service