I've found some basic templates on the web, but does anyone know of a good place to start to get ideas for postcard templates?

I'm looking to customize a direct mail piece mailed monthly to my farm area that features the market update for the month.

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

First off, what design program are you using?

Quark Express? <Random Adobe Product Here>? Some Microsoft Product?

Most programs actually have templates for that, but when it comes down to it, you have to decide what you want the card to do before you pick how you want it to be displayed.

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I have quite a few options; Photoshop, Illustrator are the two I use the most. If it will require a new program I'd be happy to get it and work with it to get this done.

Now what do you mean by "want the card to do"? Should I be concentrating on more than just creating a simple market update mailer?

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

Some people will put a special listing on a post card. Some just want to get their brand (i.e. their face and name) out there. Some want to get out there to their niche and go 'hey, I do the stuff you want' etc.

You need to find out what you want to advertise

And PS and Illu are fine programs. You would simply pick a size of the card, and create 2 documents, front and back. If you do it that way, you won't find a pre-made template, but you could make one for yourself. The biggest problem I see people new to post cards, is to forget to leave room for the stamp. Many people do.. and they end up getting them printed... and have to cover up the design with a stamp.

Before you even start designing, I'd make the two images, Place a stamp square, and a spot for the address.

I mentioned Microsoft because some people I know use Word for it.
Some people use Photoshop.
I personally use Quark Express, but that's only because that's what I first learned, back in my Power Mac days (before iMacs and G's!).

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My particular use is simply a market update. It will include a logo and all that jazz, but I'm not doing just listed or just sold, just a mailer to touch them 12 times a year.

It's pretty simple - I just need ideas for the design and a way to implement my logo effectively.

I will do some searching on templates files as I plan to use Jumbo postcards, and when I have them ready I will give the USPS a shot on printing/shipping.

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

I believe USPS can even do the printing for you. Basically you upload a file, and they print and mail it out for you.

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FYI - the postage will not be at the postcard rate.



They don't but it would probably be a good business for them to get into. They will only mail them once you've dropped them off printed and addressed.

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Florida Real Estate Forum

Marketing Tips

Some companies just print the cards and ship them to you, and others are full service and address and mail them with their bulk rate permit. I am weighing some options right now.

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Jim Olenbush, ABR, CRS, GRI
Broker / Realtor

Austin Real Estate

I found that www. expresscopy . com does a good job with direct mailings. They can get you a specific address list depending on what you want, print & mail your cards very quickly.

I have been using Quantum mail lately. It is cheaper than doing it myself and they have a library or you can custom design a card. They will ship to you or mail for you. They have mailing lists or you can use your own. I wish I knew about them a long time ago.

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