Do you need to trim your spending, but maintain your outreach to prospects and customers, then postcard printing may let you do both.

Postcards are less expensive than other print media because of their simplicity. As we all know, they're limited in size, and have only two faces. This means less set up time, and less ink to print.

Given a decision in favor of postcards, you also have the option of going with black and white, rather than color. However, many postcard printing companies now print color for the same price as black and white, so this may no longer be an avenue of savings.

In the U.S., the cost to send a postcard comes in quite a bit lower than the cost to mail a regular envelope with a mailer inside. And, once you get into mailings that number in the thousands, the savings can add up quickly.

Similarly, the processing costs of postcards will be lower than mailed letters. Once you've printed and stamped (or franked) the postcard, it's ready to go. You do not need to stuff mailers into envelopes, and that too represents a sizable saving. 

You may need to add time (which means more cost) when you write your card, though, since you need to create a very short message. This is especially true if you use an image and no text on the side opposite the mailing address. Crafting a concise postcard message will be good exercise in building your communication skills.

This brings us to one of the differences between postcards and mailers in envelopes – postcards generate leads, not sales. Most postcards should emphasize contact information, such as phone numbers and web addresses as the end point, not the sale. Sell when the prospect calls or visits your website, not on the card.

Bottom line, you can maintain your reach at a lower cost with postcards, but remember you'll aim for leads, not sales, with them. And, get that sales message concise and just right before you begin printing postcards.