Postcard Design

kevjob

The ads will all be the same colors layout font etc.. only difference will be the words bathrooms or kitchens or basements.

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

SLSTech

Um, I'm confused (maybe I missed a post?) - you are creating three different cards / ads & just changing the words?

Your bathroom ad works with all the Baths that are pictured along with the NKBA logo.

I would suggest creating a completely separate ad for kitchens with the same layout & use that for maybe the second part of the year or flip flop them every month or quarter.

For the Basements & actually all three rooms you might think about 3 different pamphlets, so that when you meet with the HO, you can hand them all 3 as a just so you know we also do...

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gallerytungsten

Since everyone so far loves your card, I'll take a contrary view, for a few minor points, at least.

One thing that popped out immediately was the incorrect quote mark on "O'brien" - you had a single open-quote, while it should have been an apostrophe (also the same thing as a single close-quote). There were also some kerning problems in the subheads and initial caps.

Consistency: one one side, you have your phone number separated by periods, and on the other side it's separated by dashes. I'd go with just dashes, as I've found that the periods make the number harder to read.

Overall, the typography was kind of ordinary. However, this might be an advantage, as it seems the target market is the "average" customer, in terms of budget, as opposed to "high end" and "slumlord" to note the opposite extremes. Maybe "ordinary" typography is what appeals to the typical suburban customer. (I'm not completely sold on this idea, but I'm willing to consider it.)

fez-head

This is the first that I have heard of typography relating to a particular marketing piece. Can you please tell us more of what you know?

If it matters - my ideal target market is upper middle class retirees.

Thank you,

Jesse

Carport King

Your $500 call to action needs to be in RED! Make it pop out at you!

gallerytungsten

hi Jesse,

Typography can express many different moods. For a quick demonstration, pick up a newspaper, (general readership) along with various magazines. Note the target audience of each magazine, and look at how the typography relates.

For example, compare Metropolis (design-oriented architecture mag) vs. Rural Builder (gc-oriented trade mag). You'll see sophisticated vs. ordinary; the typography has been attuned to the presumed audience.

The typography on that postcard was very crowded and full of subheads offering all kinds of enticements. For a more "upscale" look, you would want more of an "understated elegance" type of approach. Whereas for the slumlords, you'd probably want one giant headline advertising "unbeatable pricing" or something of that nature.

For your target market, figure out what magazines your upper middle class retirees read that are specific to them; if your collateral material has a similar typographic approach, there will be a built-in "comfort level" to the final piece.

For best results, do some of the research I've described above, and take it to a professional designer.

Cole

Hey guys lets start a new thread on Typography, because I to am very interested in it. I know it does have some value when attracting a certain audience and am a firm believer in it.

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Carport King

Kev, take a look at a jumbo postcard and put all three kitchens,baths,basements on the face of the cards and try this as a mailing and test it.

The reason for this is that they might not need the kitchen or bath but the basement caught there eye. You were able to do this with one mailing.

On the front of the card devide it into 3 equal spaces. Put across the top for the header KITCHENS-BATHS-BASEMENTS keep it in the 4 color format.

Put all the way across the bottom of the card in red try this.

"YOUR DREAMS ARE NOW MORE AFFORDABLE THEN EVER"

Keep your $ call to action on there and date it. Also key the postcard with a number in the lower right hand side.Like KB09 then the next cardKB091 this way you can track your cards and see which is working best for you.
Just ask your call in client what is the number in the lower right hand corner.

This is most important when you have several media programs running at the same time.

Once you see the one that is working best then role out the winner on a larger mailing. Remember also to track it by $$$$ also because one card may out pull the other but it may not be the $$$$$ winner.

When testing just mail maybe 2-3 different cards at the same time and maybe 500 cards each. This small mailing is all you need to test. Then kick the $$$$$ winner up a notch to 2500 or 5000 pieces. Then put it on auto pilot monthly and the sales will be there.

Let me know if I can help,this is kind of my thing but in much larger numbers. But I always start every campaign out this way. I call it my baby step formula. But it works.

Good luck

kevjob

Thanks, I appreciate the input and will look into doing all 3 on one postcard the postcards are all jumbo sized.

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

nEighter

Yeah looks great man!

mnjconstruction

Whats the best way you guys have found for getting names to mail these type of post cards out to. I live in a small area but I think the post cards would do very well here! Any info would be great, thanks

Mike Finley

Don't forget to change that $500 to $5000.

Just kidding.

I got the best one today, a job I bid at $14,000, the customer sent me a copy of the one they were going with. It's $4500.00. That about covers some of the materials.

kevjob

Oh yeah I heard that about 10 times last month, at least the nutjob phone calls slowed down but so did the good ones.

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

Mike Finley

Hang in there, I smell a change, hopefully not too far off.

This last month has wacked me out so much.

Somebody called me today and I could swear he was saying somthing about I was supposed to meet him today for an estimate and he was wondering where I was... it took about 15 seconds to finally get my brain connected with his words to actually realize he was calling about an estimate from 2 weeks ago and wanted to sign up.

I think I had forgotten that there were actually people who still do that.

Mike Finley

There's lots of ways, some cheaper and some more expensive. Carrier routes are the cheapest, targeted is the most expensive, (list and mailing costs only I'm talking about, returns are probably going to always be better with targeted). For a targeted list do an internet search for mailing lists and you'll find the big boys like info usa and melissa data.

For small mailings you can do both of those types yourself if you have the time and patience for larger mailings you really need a 3rd party involved.

THINKPAINTING

This card has worked for us, have to target market the mailings. I mail them on a thursday so people get them on saturday. Might sound carzy but people seem to call more on that day than any other.

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fez-head

With postage going up again and my own jumbo post cards almost gone - I decided to try something new this Spring and will have Keith draw up a nice double sided flyer.

I talked to the news paper today and they will print, insert and deliver 10,0000 "double sided", color, 70lb glossy paper, 8.5 x 11 inserts for $1,3600 and we can pick the carrier route.

That is only 13.6 cents each and will blanket our chosen area! My wife and I will each take 1 side for our respective businesses and split the cost. I've got high hopes - we shall see I guess.

Ed the Roofer

Jesse,

Check out this 1 1/2 year old thread about Newspaper Inserts.

http://www.contractortalk.com/f12/ne...mpaigns-22016/

See if the link I have in the first post does you any good and also check out that other guys .07 cents price per paper inserted.

See, I was just too far ahead of the times for you guys to respond much back then.

Ed

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fez-head

Thanks Ed!

You're right some of us just are kind of slow learners but we are figurng things out a lot faster now that th economy is in the tank. I for one am going to "land it like Sully"

Home Services

I agree with almost everyone else. I would keep the $500.00 off offer.

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