Dental Postcard Marketing

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Is Dental Postcard Marketing And The Top 6 Strategies To Implement Them Effectively

The dental care business is not glamorous, and marketing it is not easy either. Dental marketing is like Cinderella’s shoe because it is challenging to find a marketing method that fits the shoe perfectly. The closest thing to a perfect marketing strategy that dental clinics have is dental postcard marketing campaigns.

Unlike many other marketing strategies, dental postcard marketing is particularly effective in getting the desired results for dental clinics. It has everything a dental healthcare business needs to attract a relevant audience and make meaningful engagements with them. Unfortunately, many marketers fail to recognise these capabilities, making them a hidden gem in marketing.

Most organisations today focus too much on direct mail marketing that they need help understanding the concept of direct mail, like postcards. They need to see the potential of dental postcard marketing or learn how they can implement it correctly. 

This article makes an earnest effort to rectify this and teach you how you can effectively use dental marketing postcards for your business.

What Is Dental Postcard Marketing?

It is a marketing strategy where dental clinics use postcards to send personalised messages and offers to their patients. In other words, dental postcard marketing is a subsection of direct mail campaign that exclusively uses postcards as the only direct mail material. 

Mailing dental postcards let businesses communicate to strengthen their relationship with the patients and run effective marketing campaigns. Direct mail tends to have an emotional impact and has a better chance of grabbing customer attention. 

Postcards are very impactful when it comes to touching the emotional nerve of the recipients. Most people have fond memories associated with postcards, and dental postcard marketing lets you tap into those emotions. 

You can make your dental marketing postcards even more attractive by adding incentives like discount coupons and other offers. Admittedly, it is an old-school marketing strategy. But does it matter if you are getting excellent results out of it?

Postcards have a response rate of 4.25%, which is significantly higher than most online marketing channels. That’s not all. Half of the people who receive postcards, or more precisely, 50.9%, find them more efficient. Moreover, people are tired of seeing online ads, and something like dental marketing postcards brings something fresh to the table.

Why Should You Use Dental Postcard Marketing?

We can give several reasons you should use dental postcard marketing for your clinic. But in the end, you will only need two, and they are

1. Postcards are inexpensive.
2. Postcards can convey a clear and concise message (without an envelope getting in the way.).

The open rate of direct mail can be as high as 90%, which is incredibly high for any marketing channel. With dental postcard marketing, this rate could be even higher because the recipient only has to flip the postcard to see your message.

A postcard is the least expensive form of direct mail. But you can still bring down your dental postcard marketing expenses even more. The per-piece cost of sending postcards is significantly low, especially if you are sending bulk mail. 

You can use direct mail automation software like PostGrid to optimise your dental postcard marketing expenses. An advanced direct mail solution like PostGrid allows you to access bulk mail discounts from Australia Post. 

Automation completely changes everything you know about direct mail. It is no longer a lengthy process that takes up much of your time. Direct mail solutions like PostGrid offer a user-friendly interface that lets you easily create personalised dental marketing postcards.

You can connect PostGrid’s direct mail API with your CRM and other data management solutions to quickly and accurately personalise your mailers. It means you can send much more dental postcards using PostGrid. 

Some of the ways you can use a direct mail solution like PostGrid other than sending dental postcards are as follows.

• Send dental appointment reminders.
• Print and mail patient statements.
• Access the template library and manage letter templates.
• Electronically present your bills.

Top Dental Postcard Marketing Strategies For Your Dental Clinic

There is no way of saying how well or badly your dental postcard marketing efforts will turn out. It would be best if you started with a planned strategy to get the best result for your postcard campaigns. Here are some of the most effective dental postcard marketing strategies.

#1 Use PostGrid’s Direct Mail Automation Solution

The best way to streamline your dental postcard marketing campaign is to use automation. Despite sounding scary, automation is easy to implement and extremely effective, especially with a tool like PostGrid. The automated solution allows you to automate your direct mail process fully.

It even offers you a free template gallery and an editor to create unique dental postcards that align with your branding. You can also connect it with your CRM solution to print personalised postcards, which are most effective for the audience.

Automated solutions like PostGrid also offer additional features like scheduled mail. It allows you to send dental reminder postcards and other important mailers automatically. Such a feature can optimise your postal mail communication and boost engagements. 

That’s not all. Sending bulk mail also becomes an effortless task with the help of automation. You don’t have to concern yourself with other aspects of the direct mail process, such as finding quality printers or postcard logistics. 

Sending your bulk mail dental postcards via PostGrid enables you to access discounted rates from Australia Post. You can save more time and money using automation for your postcard marketing campaigns.

#2 Target Your Old Or Existing Patients

Analysing your revenue streams will likely reveal that a significant portion is from your old or existing customers. And we already know that dental postcards are especially effective in strengthening customer relationships. 

It is significantly easier to convince a customer or patient to take the desired action than a new audience. Here, the patient is already familiar with you and your brand. It is easier to run dental postcards marketing campaigns for existing patients because the trust is already there.

All you have to do is, dust up your old contacts and find your highest-return patients. You can start building a long-term relationship by targeting them with attractive dental postcards at the appropriate time. 

It does not take a grand gesture to get on the good books of your past patients; you only need to get the timing right. Sending periodic reminders for dental checkups shows your concern for the patient’s well-being. So, it would help to be empathetic in your dental postcards to create the desired impact on your target audience. 

Several brands, including the ones in the healthcare industry, regularly check in on their customers using postcards. Dental clinics can do the same and share major updates, such as an upcoming event they are hosting. As a result, dental marketing mailers can boost your engagements and increase conversions. 

#3 Create A Sense Of Urgency

One of the most challenging aspects of running digital marketing campaigns is the infinite loop of the decision-making stage. Sounds confusing? Think of all the products you added to the wishlist or blogs you ever bookmarked, hoping to get back to it later. Such situations are less likely to happen in dental postcards marketing campaigns.

Getting stuck somewhere along the conversion process is relatively easy in digital marketing. Customers often trail off, and you never hear from them again. Fortunately, dental postcards are a little different because they can create a sense of urgency. 

Your dental postcards can compel the recipient into taking action immediately if you can create a sense of urgency in them. For instance, you can pitch a limited-period offer to the customer. The prospect of missing a good deal is enough to give them the final push they need to visit your clinic. 

A good plan is to highlight the critical things your target audience will miss if they don’t schedule an appointment at the earliest opportunity. Lead with an action-pulling line like “Save up to $200 on your next appointment!” and then mention that it is a limited period/seat offer in your dental postcards.

#4 Use Dental Postcards To Pitch Seasonal Discount Offers

Another dental postcard marketing strategy you can use is to pitch seasonal discount offers. It is no secret that the average consumer makes high-value, impulse purchases during special seasons like the holidays. Launching a seasonal offer could be the right nudge your target needs to make that impulse decision.

You must realise that most people are filled with more than just the holiday spirit during this season. Their minds are already in the “buying mindset.” It would be best if you made the most out of this situation by sending relevant and compelling dental marketing mailers to your target audience. 

Some of you might think offering seasonal discounts could only destroy your profits if the customers are already in a “buying mindset.” But here is the thing: you are just one of many dental clinics. To stay ahead of the competition, you must bring your ace game to your dental postcard marketing campaigns. 

Planning is key to successfully pitching relevant offers to your customers. Create a seasonal marketing plan for sending your dental postcards effectively. A good start is identifying timely opportunities that benefit your business the most. Besides the obvious choice of the holiday season, you can also use special days like World Dentist Day, World Smile Day, Etc. 

Suppose you are creative enough with your dental marketing postcards. In that case, you can make an offer on trivial occasions like World Ice Cream Day. It does not matter what the event is as long as you can use it to your advantage and market your business effectively. 

#5 Include A QR Code For Seamless Interaction

As an expert in direct mail, we can not stress enough the significance of including a QR code in your dental postcard marketing campaigns. There is no better or more convenient way to effortlessly take your target audience from your direct mail to your website. You can use the QR code to prompt the audience to take action.

The QR can facilitate easy appointment booking, give clinic location, or leave a review for your dental clinic business. Similarly, the QR code in your dental postcards can also lead to an email template prepared for scheduling appointments or directly activating the call function on the phone. 

You can try out all kinds of creative ways to use the extensive functionalities of QR codes. For instance, you can make it more interactive by leading the customer to a small online game that educates them on oral health. The possibilities are practically limitless with a QR code in your dental postcards and other marketing materials.

Another reason to use QR codes in your dental office postcards is that you have only limited space on a postcard. So, if the offer/message you want to convey takes up too much space, you can lead them to a webpage.

#6 Include A Map

The purpose of a map is simple: to ensure you reach a destination without losing your way or getting sidetracked. Things are similar with maps in dental postcards too. It makes finding your business or clinic easier for your target audience. 

Including maps in your dental postcards is an effective way to boost the footfall of your clinic. Believe it or not, the maps are an excellent marketing accessory to include in your direct mail campaign. You can also use this strategy in other enveloped mailers where you print maps on the envelopes.

Additionally, consider providing step-by-step directions to drive to your facility or highlight the shortest/fastest route. If you have multiple dental facilities, you can list them in the dental postcards and let the customer choose where they want to go.

Thanks to advanced printing capabilities like variable data printing, it is significantly easier to produce high-accuracy personalised maps for unique customers. It means you can provide a custom map or route in all dental postcards you send to your audience. 

#7 Navigate Your Audience From Dental Postcards To Social Media

Every business organisation, including healthcare organisations, now use social media platform for one thing or another. More interestingly, customers also use a brand’s social media presence and authority to assess the brand. Using your dental postcards to promote your social media handles is worth considering.

Social media is so relevant in day-to-day business communication that many prefer it as the customer service touchpoint. Therefore, it s crucial that you establish a connection between your target audience and your social media handles. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to use dental marketing mailers to boost social media engagements.

As we mentioned, you can make the interactions more convenient by including a QR Code. The QR code takes the customer directly to your social media account. You can request the audience to follow your page, participate in a social media contest, and so on. Add an incentive like a discount to make this dental postcard marketing campaign even more effective.

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The post Dental Postcard Marketing appeared first on PostGrid.

source https://www.postgrid.com.au/dental-postcard-marketing/

Where to Buy Postcards?

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Top 10 places from where to buy postcards online for your business

Postcards have the unique ability to create a positive impression on their recipients even when they carry a marketing message. We are not just saying this. The Response Rate Report by the DMA found that postcards offer a 29% ROI and a 5.1% response rate. It may not sound like much, but these numbers are pretty high from a marketing perspective.

It is no wonder that organisations that initially ignored postcards are trying to figure out where to buy postcards online for their business. Companies that want to use postcards for their marketing efforts have a hard time finding the right supplier for their postcards.

There are several reasons for this. For one, most organisations have no idea how direct mail, including postcards, works anymore. Most modern companies are so involved in direct mail campaigns that they have no idea where to buy postcards for their business.

Here we try to help any such organisations that want to learn more about where to buy postcards online for their business. If you are also seeking the answer to that same question, you might want to read the rest of this article. Why? Because below, we discuss some of the best places to buy postcards for your business organisation.

Australia Post

It is impossible to list where to buy postcards online without including Australia Post. You can always buy postcards from your nearest Australia Post outlet or directly from the website. Buying your postcards directly from Australia Post has its fair share of advantages.

For example, you don’t have to worry about things like standard postcard size or incurring additional postage with postcards purchased from AusPost. We are not saying that it makes Australia Post the best place to buy postcards for your business. But these benefits may seem compelling to some companies, especially if you are new to postcards. 

Another significant advantage of buying postcards directly from Australia Post is the availability of pre-paid postcards. Pre-paid postcards make things even easier for your business and speed up your mailing process. Suppose the aspects mentioned above are a priority for you. In that case, Australia Post could be the best place to buy postcards for your business.

Australia Postcards

Australia Postcards is another excellent option to consider if you are wondering where to buy postcards for your business. It is a postcard retailer that sells postcards online. Australia Postcards offer an extensive range of postcards, such as aboriginal, humorous, and vintage postcards.

The company wants to promote Australian postcards on an international level. You can buy Australian postcards from the company from outside the country too. Companies outside the country can use Australia Postcards to ensure that their postcards are upto the standards for mailing to Australia.

Redbubble

Redbubble is arguably the best place to buy postcards online in Australia. The company sells a lot more than postcards on its website. Redbubble enables independent artists and designers around the world to sell their creations.

The key takeaway is that the artistic touch extends to everything the company sells on its website, including postcards. You can access distinctive postcard designs that easily capture the target’s attention. If you are looking for unique designs for your postcards, Redbubble is the best place to buy postcards online for your business.

However, that’s not the only reason to buy postcards from Redbubble. It offers an extensive collection of postcards categorised into different groups. There are designs and illustrations, digital art, drawings, and more. If you are wondering where to buy postcards online to make your business stand out, Redbubble is the place for you. 

Australiana Souvenirs 

Australiana Souvenirs is an ideal option for you if you are looking for where to buy postcards online for your business. As the name suggests, the company supplies Australian souvenirs to its customers worldwide. Postcards are just one of the items that the brand sells on its website. You can also find many items, such as jigsaw magnets and cards, posters, drink coasters, mugs, toys, and more.

We are not saying this is where to buy postcards online because of all the other items the company sells. Australiana Souvenirs offers more than 250 postcards on its website. You can choose one that suits your target audience and industry vertical.

Additionally, you also have the option to choose from different-sized postcards, which are small, medium, and super panorama. The dimensional size of these postcards varies from 100x140mm to 100x400mm. Suppose your postcard size requirement is within this limit. In that case, Australiana Souvenirs could be the best place to buy postcards for your business.

Etsy

Another popular option you can consider if you are wondering where to buy postcards online is Etsy. It is a global marketplace that offers a variety of products, including vintage and homemade products. So if you want something extra personal, like a handmade postcard, Etsy is the place for you.

You can also find blank and pre-printed postcards on Etsy. The best part is that some vendors even offer customisable options for postcards. But that’s not the only reason Etsy is the best place to buy postcards online. Etsy allows you to buy postcards per piece or in larger quantities.

The biggest downside of Etsy is that it is a marketplace and does not let you create customized postcards. It means you are totally at the vendor’s mercy to deliver the postcards on time. Therefore, Etsy is not the best place to buy postcards for your business if you don’t want to deal with vendors.

Hallmark 

Another place for you to consider if you are wondering where to buy postcards online is Hallmark’s website. As you may know, Hallmark is an American brand and one of the oldest and largest greeting cards manufacturer in the US. Hallmark has since spread its wings all over the world, including Australia.

Hallmark’s website can access a wide range of postcards, including vintage, travel, and blank postcards. Hallmark primarily focuses on greeting cards, and you may feel that their postcard collection is less extensive than the former. Nonetheless, Hallmark is a viable answer to the question, “where can I get postcards online?”

Dymocks 

Another reliable source from where to buy postcards online is Dymocks. The company started as a bookstore and now has outlets all over Australia. Dymocks also has a website where you can access its extensive collection of postcards and buy them.

One of the things that make Dymocks potentially the best place to buy postcards online is that it lets you place large quantity orders. You can order hundreds or even thousands of postcards in a single order. The downside is that there are not many customisation options available. 

It means you may have to use the postcards as it is or customise them yourself. Not having advanced customisation capability is a dealbreaker for many companies. If you want advanced customisation capability, Dymocks may not be the best place to buy postcards for your business.

Zazzle

Another possible answer for companies wondering where to buy postcards Australia is Zazzle. The best thing to note about Zazzle is that it offers a wide range of print services beyond postcards. You can use everything from postcards to promo materials like t-shirts with Zazzle. 

Zazzle is the best place to buy postcards online if you also intend to print promotional materials for your business. Even without promotional materials, Zazzle is still an excellent choice for printing your postcards because of its extensive postcard collection.

Zazzle gives you access to different postcards, including birthday, Christmas, and holiday cards. But the aspect that makes Zazzle a strong contender for the best place to buy postcards is its customisation capability.

Zazzle has an editor feature that lets you create custom postcards and other materials. It allows you to add images of your liking to the postcards and other materials. Even with the editor feature, it may not be the best place to buy postcards because it can not handle bulk mail requirements like PostGrid.

Amazon 

Amazon is often the online shopper’s one-stop destination for all their needs. Of course, a business organisation differs significantly from the average online shopper. Amazon offers a viable option to purchase postcards regardless of whether you are an individual or a business. Some companies even vouch that Amazon is the best place to buy postcards for their business. 

You may be able to order postcards in bulk, depending on the vendor you choose. The downside is that you still need to personalise and bulk-mail them. Most businesses marketplaces like Amazon as the best place to buy postcards online because it lacks any customisation capability. 

Still, buying postcards for your business from Amazon is cheaper than printing them in-house. If your company has the capability and resources to handle, personalise, and mail postcards in bulk, Amazon is an excellent choice for you. And suppose you are unsure about the logistical challenges.  

How To Design, Print, And Mail Personalised Postcards Instead Of Buying Them?

The best place to buy postcards online for your business’s direct mail campaign is not somewhere you can buy a bunch of identical postcards. A better option than buying postcards online is to create customised ones that reflect your branding and speaks to your audience.

An automated direct mail solution like PostGrid can help you with this. You can access PostGrid’s template gallery to pick a design for your postcards or use your unique design. PostGrid is ideal for printing personalised postcards and bulk mailing them. 

It may not be the best place to buy postcards, but it is the best place to create unique postcards that makes your brand stand out. You can use PostGrid’s template editor to design unique postcards with your branding and logo. 

PostGrid even lets you automate the entire process, from applying the necessary postage to mailing them accurately to your target audience. It offers several additional features that help you run a successful direct mail marketing campaign using postcards, such as:

• Access to comprehensive mailing history.
• Advanced mail tracking features, including IMB tracking.
• Flexible template editor.
• Easy bulk mailing using CSV file.

Conclusion

Several websites sell postcards online. Unfortunately, not all of them are ideal for your postcard mail campaigns. Business organisations often spend days and weeks finding out where to buy postcards online for their campaigns.

Some succeed in finding the right fit for their business. In contrast, others make the wrong choice that negatively impacts business operations. Above, we explain where to buy postcards for your business and the advantages of each seller.

Instead of looking for the best place to buy postcards online, businesses should try to create their own unique postcard using tools like PostGrid. Advanced direct mail solutions like PostGrid allows businesses to design, print, and mail personalised postcards.

Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about logistic challenges because PostGrid sends your marketing postcards directly to your audience. With advanced personalisation and automated bulk mailing, PostGrid’s has more to offer your business than the best place to buy postcards online.

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The post Where to Buy Postcards? appeared first on PostGrid.

source https://www.postgrid.com.au/where-to-buy-postcards/

Standard Envelope Weight

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Standard Envelope Weight: What Letter Weights You Must Use to Mail Effectively?

Did you ever think about the weight of the envelope you use to send your letters? Probably not until you realise Australia Post charges extra on non-standard weights. Knowing the standard envelope weight can help you plan your mailings better and save a lot on postage!

You must select an envelope weight that best fits your requirements and budget. The costs depend on how much the overall envelope weighs after you stuff it with your contents. 

This blog discusses the Australia Post standard envelope weight and how you can manage your postage rates. 

Let’s dive in!

How Much Do Envelopes Weigh?

#10 envelopes weigh 6.75 g—which is the base weight you can use for comparison with other envelope types. The weight limits range to 500 g to allow you to select according to your mailing purpose. 

For instance, you can use thicker packaging going up to 200 to 400 g as the max weight for envelope to send marketing mailers. They impact your audience positively and depict that you have put adequate effort and thought into the items. 

Marketers prefer using the envelope max weight to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Using these envelopes can help them get more attention and responses. 

They have several options to make their envelopes more unique, but it can increase the weight further. For example, adding clasps, buttons, etc., to envelopes may give an appealing look to them. 

But does Australia Post allow using such features for your mailings? No!

You must follow the Australia Post standard envelope weight and mail preparation guidelines to avoid paying hefty surcharges on shipping. If you want your mailers to look good, you can use techniques like

• Embossing. 
• Using colourful envelopes. 
• Adding teasers. 
• Printing eye-catching graphics, etc. 

Transactional mail works differently and does not demand the use of heavier envelopes. It includes invoices, statements, bills, reports, contracts, forms, etc., requiring the standard envelope weight of 6.75 g. 

Companies send such mailings to already existing customers regarding a transaction. This audience is already familiar with the business and expects to receive mail from them. Thus, they can skip using fancy items of the envelope max weight as they do while sending promotional materials. 

What Is the Australia Post Standard Envelope Weight?

Before we get into the weight of a standard envelope, let us discuss what qualifies as a letter to Australia Post. You may need to send the other items as parcels and pay extra postage. 

A letter must: 

• Weigh no more than 500 g. 
• Have a maximum thickness of 20 mm. 
• Consist of flexible contents only (if being sent domestically). 
• Not be broader than 260 x 360 x 20 mm envelope (B4 size). 
• Only carry printed material with zero commercial value (sending overseas).
• Be rectangular. 

Australia Post ensures that mailers focus on the weight of a letter envelope and several other aspects to ship the item smoothly. If you don’t fulfil one or more of these requirements, you may need to send the mailers as parcels. 

Here are the limits for the max weight for envelope and size for domestic and international shipments for your reference:

Mailing Location	Size	Max Weight for Envelope	Max Dimensions	Max Thickness
Domestic and International	Small envelope	250 g	130 mm x 240 mm	5 mm
	Large envelope	500 g	260 mm x 360 mm	20 mm

Avoid stuffing your envelopes with pens, pen drives, clips, etc., as they can damage the postal equipment during mail processing. These items might also damage your materials, and you cannot claim a refund for such cases. It is also why Australia Post has a standard envelope weight limit—to fit the mailers in the sorting machines and speed up the delivery process. 

Managing how much does an envelope weight regularly can be daunting and puzzling. Thus, companies use automated direct mailing services like PostGrid to complete the legwork on their behalf!

PostGrid allows you to send crucial documents and appealing marketing mailers according to Australia Post’s regulations. It helps you get discounted rates and save on the overall campaign cost, from design to delivery. 

What Is the Max Envelope Weight for One Stamp?

The current Australia Post stamp rate is $1.10! The weight limit for envelope with one stamp is 500 g. Very cost-effective, don’t you agree?

But the rates differ, depending on the mailing service you select. Here is a quick rundown of the domestic Australia Post shipping options:

Regular

The Regular mailing service offers one of the most affordable ways to send something across the country. But try sticking with the envelope max weight to get the lowest rates. 

You can use this option to send items that are not urgent, like marketing postcards, flyers, personalised letters, etc., that don’t have a time-sensitive CTA. 

Australia Post can deliver your items intrastate in only two to four business days if you follow the standard envelope weight and size specifications. Interstate deliveries take three and six working days, depending on the item’s origin and destination. 

You can buy the $1.10 stamps online or at the Post Office to send Regular mail items. 

Priority

Opt for Priority post if you want a faster delivery service to send your letters. Again, you must follow the guidelines around the weight of a standard envelope to avail yourself of all the benefits. 

The Priority labels’ prices start at $1.60, which you can also buy online or offline. Not following the Australia Post standard envelope weight regulations may result in using more stamps as surcharges. 

If you buy them in booklets of five labels, you only need to pay $2.50, which is a highly-discounted rate. Alternatively, you can use two or a Regular one and five 10c stamps. 

The Priority mailing option helps you get your letters having the standard envelope weight to their destinations in only two days. Interstate items may reach within four business days, depending on the mailing distance. 

Express

It is the most premium Australia Post domestic mailing service that helps you ship letters in only one business day. This next-day delivery option enables you to send urgent items with the envelope max weight with end-to-end tracking!

You can buy Express post satchels and prepay for your letters effortlessly. The rates begin at $7.80 for mailers with the standard envelope weight and may rise according to various factors, like shape and size. 

How Does PostGrid Help Businesses Use the Standard Envelope Weight?

PostGrid offers numerous customisation options to its clients, like the type of format, sizes, shapes, finishing, etc. And it helps you maintain the postal services-approved weight of a letter envelope to keep your postage rates at the minimum. 

Here are some more ways PostGrid adds value to your mailing campaigns:

• Reduced clerical overheads: You don’t need to spend much on buying printing paper or envelopes of the standard envelope size for sending letters. Also, you don’t have to hire extra staff to handle labelling, affixing stamps, etc., because PostGrid can help you complete these tasks online. 
• Automate workflows: PostGrid allows you to benefit from automation using direct mail triggers, large-volume mailings, low rates, etc. You can integrate our direct mail API into your Hubspot account and mail items directly, merging your workflows seamlessly. 
• Maintain data privacy: Apart from helping you send letters with the standard envelope weight, PostGrid helps you ship items safely. Our direct mailing solutions comply with the Privacy Act, 1988, PCI DSS Level 1, ISAE 3402, SOC 2 – IRAP (Australia), ISO 27001, and ISO 9001. 
• Send letters to the correct addresses: PostGrid offers free address verification for your direct mailing campaigns. Our dashboard, API, and automation software automatically validate every delivery address on your list to ensure you ship your letters with the standard envelope weight to the correct recipients!
• Improve customer experience: Companies can use the correct max envelope weight and size to speed up customer orders. The outcome? Improved customer satisfaction and higher demand for your products, primarily through people who need fast deliveries (aka everyone!)

Conclusion

It is advisable to know the Australia Post standard envelope weight if you mail frequently and want to avoid burning a hole in your pockets. Learning these specifications empowers mailers to take a more systematic, cost-efficient approach to shipping plans. 

Companies can launch small or bulk mailing campaigns and know the postage costs in advance instead of getting a lengthy bill later. And they can ship transactional items knowing how much they would spend and the different ways to reduce it. 

PostGrid’s direct mail services can assist businesses of all sectors to know the maximum weight limit for envelope with one stamp and pay the minimum rate. But it offers a broad suite of other features, like metadata tagging, per-piece tracking, detailed API docs, etc. 

Click here to explore more aspects and how PostGrid helps you send letters with the standard envelope weight and size!

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The post Standard Envelope Weight appeared first on PostGrid.

source https://www.postgrid.com.au/standard-envelope-weight/

Types of Printing

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Top 5 Types of Printing to Make Your Items Stand Out From the Crowd

Did you know that the inventor Johannes Gutenberg created the first printer in 1450? 

It was called the Gutenberg press and changed how humans perceived printing processes! Of course, you can see its traces in the modern types of printing, but the print industry has come a long way. 

With the rise in web printing solutions, businesses and individuals can place custom orders and get their items to look however they want! They can design their materials directly on a web browser, incorporate variable data printing, and automate everything. 

However, knowing the popular types of postcard printing options can help you make the right choice! 

This blog uncovers the most-commonly used print methods you must consider for your next event, marketing campaign, etc.  

Let’s dig in!

What Is Web-to-Print?

The web-to-print sector covers various types of printing options for B2B and B2C companies. It helps recreate digital pictures on any physical surface, like plastic, apparel, photographic paper, etc. 

Unlike the traditional types of postcard printing using print plates, web-to-print enables businesses to produce hundreds of customised items. They can also control the outcomes by reviewing the changes at the last minute before printing items in large volumes. 

Typically, a web-to-print platform is a digital storefront wherein you can upload the types of printed items you need. You may add the artwork or use the platform’s pre-built design templates. 

For example, PostGrid’s web-to-print API allows you to use multiple types of printing and lets you select from the in-built templates. You can add your company branding by inserting your logo, tagline, etc., and adding personalised imagery and text. 

Web-to-print ensures that businesses have a comprehensive printing solution at their fingertips to order materials, like:

• Newsletters and letterhead. 
• Business cards. 
• Flyers. 
• Brochures and catalogues. 
• Postcards. 
• Formal and marketing letters.
• Banner and standees. 
• Posters. 
• Signage, etc. 

Some of these materials are general pieces you may need to print throughout the year, like business cards. Others are apt for a specific event or program, like brochures. Either way, ensure your vendor offers affordable and high-quality types of printing solutions so you can make a good impression in front of your audience!

5 Types of Printing You Must Use for Web-to-Print Solutions

Modern printing methods have numerous applications, and you can print on almost any surface from your laptop or phone. However, it is worth studying the printing types in-depth to ensure your selected methods can help make your materials look elegant and eye-catching. 

Here are the most popular types of printing to look into

#1 Offset Lithography

Offset printing or litho is one of the most suitable types of postcard printing to produce printed items in large quantities. It uses aluminium printing plates to hold the picture of the content you need to print! 

The printing vendor usually transfers these plates onto rubber blankets or rollers before moving them to the printing surface. It can be any paper stock you want to use, from glossy sheets to a bumpy canvas. 

Since the surface does not touch the metal plates, printing companies keep them for several years without issues. It is the reason offset lithography is one of the most affordable types of printing to employ. 

Also, the flexible materials in the rubber blankets make this method one of those types of printing that helps print on rough-surfaced items. Hence, though businesses use litho to produce newspapers, stationery, or magazines, you may use it for printing on cloth, wood, etc. 

Offset lithography is excellent for producing high-quality items with the same quality and consistency. You can use it for small-volume printing jobs, but the costs may rise. 

One of the primary reasons offset lithography is among the top 5 methods of printing is its ability to personalise materials. Thus, you can plan your tailored marketing programs without worrying about multiple printing runs and the costs associated with variable data printing. 

#2 Flexography 

Flexography is also among the types of printing suited for printing on rough surfaces. Also, it helps print on large media with solid colours, making it the best choice for food packages, wallpapers, gift wraps, and labels. You can use flexography to print anything with continuous patterns. 

Isn’t it amazing how you can print hundreds and thousands of labels or branded wrapping materials in one go using flexography? 

These features make it the most popular choice among restaurants, educational institutions, media houses, etc. 

Flexography is among the top 5 types of digital printing to help you print on a wide range of media, including cellophane, metallic film, and plastic. 

But how does it work? It is a letterpress printing method with photopolymer printing plates covering the rotating cylinders. Some people call it a new outlook to letterpress types of printing, helpful to print on uneven media. 

Flexography uses semi-liquid, quick-drying inks and helps vendors complete high-volume print jobs. The printing plates have embossed artwork images, and the cylinders help rotate and transfer the content onto a surface. 

These methods make the print jobs faster than usual, making flexography one of the speediest types of printing suitable for urgent orders. 

#3 Digital Printing

Digital printing is one of the easiest and most cost-effective types of postcard printing options. It takes a digital approach to print jobs, eliminating the use of plates and reducing setup costs. 

There is a wide range of printing techniques available, like inkjet and laser. Digital printing helps produce high-resolution postcards, menus, newsletters, stationery, photos, etc., using these methods. 

It allows you to print your artwork on cardboard, magnets, plastic, cloth, film, labels, etc. Usually, printing vendors use desktop and industrial-sized printers to use these types of printing for your materials. The good news is that you can use as many colours as you want to make your design look the same as its digital version. 

The digital types of printing methods allow fast turnaround times and printing items on demand. Businesses can print as little as one material and still save costs. It works the same way when you take a printout of a document or bill—you send the PDF file directly to a printer and get the item instantly. 

However, you need to design high-resolution artwork to use digital types of printing options and achieve the desired effect on paper. Your image resolution must be at least 300 dpi, or it can be a complete waste. However, the upside is that you get a lot of time to perfect your format and image size to fit the requirements. 

#4 Screen Printing

With the screen printing method, printers use a screen or a stretched-out mesh to print the artwork on a surface. They press the ink against the mesh to transfer the picture to the print media. 

Earlier, printers confided screen types of printing on silk materials only, but now they use several kinds of other materials. During the printing process, they lay the artwork on the top of the screen and cover it with photo emulsion. Then, the printer exposes the entire screen to light, hardening the emulsion and washing away the rest. At last, only one type of stencil remains, and the vendor pulls the ink with a squeegee. 

Among the 5 methods of printing- screen printing is most commonly used for adding logos and graphics on clothes and producing fabric banners. However, screen printing demands a lot of preparation, so consider choosing it only for large-volume jobs for repeat materials. 

The types of printing that involve screening are not very cost-effective, making it impossible to use them for on-demand or small orders. But, it is an excellent option if you want to print thousands of copies of the same image over time—meaning there is less scope for personalisation.

Screen printing is among the top 5 methods of printing because it is a reusable, versatile printing method, allowing you to use various brightly coloured inks to print:

• T-shirts. 
• Posters. 
• Event standees. 
• Promotional flyers. 
• Brochures. 
• Postcards, etc. 

#5 Large-Format Printing

It is one of the most helpful types of printing to cover maximum roll width. Large-format printing is apt for offline marketing channels, like billboards, signage, etc. Businesses looking to grab their audience’s attention and make an influential impact should use large-format printing. It gives them a larger area to work with, unlike digital printing. 

Instead of printing artwork on individual paper sheets, these types of printing use print rolls that printers feed incrementally to create one large sheet. Thus, you can print items, like banners, building wraps, murals, etc., without trouble!

Most companies use large format printing to print flat items, but don’t restrict yourselves! You can make these promotional materials stand, hang them somewhere, or fold them to create a specific illusion.

How Do PostGrid’s Print and Mail Services Let Businesses Benefit From Different Types of Printing?

Web-to-print solutions transform how quickly and conveniently companies can print and use materials. There are no limits regarding the type, quality, or quantity if you use a print and mail API like PostGrid!

Our automated print and mail services help you design, produce, and ship items like postcards, letters, etc. You can use the different types of printing discussed in this blog and customise your materials. PostGrid offers impeccable personalisation options to help you target your intended audience effectively and drive responses. 

Here is a case study of how PostGrid helped a client pull a product launch event within a short span using our different types of printing and quick turnaround times:

The B2B company wanted to host a big event to launch its new range of products and invite all its clients. But they had a short time to send invitations, marketing mailers, registration forms, etc. So they approached PostGrid to assist them in promoting the event, bringing in more visitors, and increasing the overall ROI. 

PostGrid offered them many types of printing and customisation options. Thus, they could send attractive invitation postcards and get a 90% RSVP rate. Almost 85% of these customers visited the event with hundreds of other potential clients. We can give credit to the 2,000+ advertising mailings they sent using our automated solutions. 

Thus, PostGrid’s direct mailing solutions with custom types of printing help businesses get closer to their audience and increase revenue. Moreover, they don’t need to invest too much because we offer flexible pricing plans with numerous advanced features to keep costs low. 

Conclusion

Using multiple types of postcard printing helps companies produce various items that represent their brand and help them communicate with their customers. Choosing one from many methods may be complicated, but you can switch to different types for every campaign. 

You need a reliable, efficient, affordable service provider like PostGrid to help you along the way. Sign up now to see how PostGrid’s print and mail services help you use various types of printing and conduct successful marketing campaigns!

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