3x5 Cards: The Ultimate Marketing Tool for any Business

Carl Linnaeus invented the index card (3x5 inches card) in the 1760s. It's made of hard paper and was designed to store limited amounts of data. It was used mainly for indexing in libraries and then it was used to store recipes. Later on, it's applications expanded to taking notes, contact information, and as flashcards in schools.

Why 3x5 Cards in This Digital Age?

With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, marketing, sending messages, exchanging contact information and taking notes shifted over to the internet as it was much quicker and easier. But till date only a little more than half the world's population has internet access, so what can the other half do?

So we need some physical means to perform our day-to-day tasks. One of the best ways for that is using a standard index card, i.e. 3x5 cards.

How Effective Are 3x5 Cards?

• Business cards weren't a thing a few decades ago. People shared their contact information using custom printed 3x5 cards.


• Indexing was easier and quicker with 3x5 cards. Every office catalogue had spaces for these cards.


• Best way to reach out to relatives was with a 3x5 postcards as they weren't costly to send via post.


• 3x5 cards were used to note down the important ideas to be presented to an audience.


• They're readily available and are compact; so they won't take up any unwanted space.


• They are very pocket-friendly and easily customizable

Best Usage of Custom Printed 3x5 Cards

Marketing

One of the best uses of custom printed 3x5 cards are for marketing. According to Forbes, more than 57% of people prefer postcards as they make them feel valued.

Thus, using these cards lead to better brand marketing these cards are cheaper than most forms of marketing and if appropriately targeted, will reach the right audience at their doorstep.

A company can quickly and efficiently market their brand by sending out cards that contain information about the company and its products to the right audience. Depending upon the response of the people, they can plan for postcard events throughout the year.

First-time customers will have a good impression of the company. They will also feel valued and acknowledged. Thus, this way you can get more customers for your business.

These cards can also contain discount coupons so that there is a better chance of attracting customers. A compelling offer can be made that seems appealing to the audience.

The card needs a bold title, with a little introduction about the company or information about the product. You can make it colorful and attractive to seem visually appealing. The quality of the paper also makes an impression. Better the quality, the better the impression. It is more personal and makes the customers feel that the company is actually interested in them and their needs.

Flash Cards

Since these cards are small and handy, they can also convey a lot of valuable information.

Fit with huge and bold titles and colored in various shades, these cards can convey the right amount of information and appeal to a lot of readers. They need to stand out from the other cards to be taken into consideration.

Postcards

Postcards have been in use ever since the 19th century. It was the best and crisp method of sending information or reaching out to someone. It still can be the best means of communication if required.

Postcards have been the most common and popular choice of communication as they do not require to be mailed in envelopes. They are one of the best marketing strategies and a perfect way to showcase trending topics.

Note: As per USPS requirements to send a postcard without an envelope, consider printing slightly larger size or place them in the envelope. “To qualify for postcard pricing, your mailer must be at least 3 ½” high, 5” long but no more than 4 ¼” high, 6” long, or 0.016” thick. To qualify for the base rate, postcards cannot be folded. Large postcards can measure up to 6 ⅛” high, 11 ½” long and ¼” thick, but they cost as much as a First-Class Letter”

Index Cards

Since the dawn of time, 3x5 cards have been used to index in multiple ways. They've proven to be practical and cost-effective. If your office needs a better way to be organized, use index cards.

Libraries have been using index cards for ages to sort their catalogue, and you could do this for your own mini-library.

Note Cards

The best way for personal development is to note down things you want to achieve or maybe just a to-do list for the day. Since we use mobile phones for a wide range of tasks, we always forget to open the notepad.

It's good to have certain sections of your life planned out. Things like what you will achieve by 30, what you want to accomplish by the end of the year and such personal goals. All that can be noted down on a card and maybe stuck onto a pin-board.

3x5 postcards can also be used to leave a note for others. We can also keep reminders for ourselves on these cards. You can easily plan out your day and keep them enlisted on a card so that you can check it off once you're done with it.

With these cards, that's not the case. They're also compact and cheap, so you can always carry them around in your pockets.

Recipes

You might have a lot of recipes that have been in your family for a long time. Or you might have come up with your own recipe! You can store all these on custom printed 3x5 cards and stash them in a box. They can be easily accessed and indexed again using more cards.

These cards were used for recipes and still can be used to hold recipes, provided you keep the box safe from any harm.

Schoolwork

School work logs, taking notes or keeping reminders can be done with the help of the 3x5 postcards.

You can easily keep track of your projects and homework by noting them down and checking them off the list.

Bookmarks

Folding the edges of a page is the oldest trick in the book for bookmarking. What if you need to take notes and bookmark it? These cards come in handy, and since they're small, they make for the perfect bookmark.

Entertainment

If you get bored in class or during a meeting, doodle away on the cards, but make sure to hide it well and not get busted by the teacher or your boss!

Directions

If you're new to a building to some location, you need some basic directions. Use 3x5 postcards to help you. It could be directions to the elevator, stairs, reception or even the washroom.

Invitations

Public launches or whereabouts of any events can be broadcast to the whole audience easily using these cards. It could be the launch of a new store or a simple party invitation and an RSVP.

These cards can be customized to attract the public and invite them to various events.

Official Memos

In any organization, information needs to reach each and every employee. Yes, there are digital means for this, but people hardly pay heed to it. A physical memo can pass the information effectively and reach everyone on time.

All official memos can be easily and quickly passed on in the organization with the use of 3x5 postcards. They may contain direct information and can be verified by the higher authorities.

Guide to Postcard Marketing

Postcard marketing has been proven to boost any business. With the right audience in mind, postcard marketing can be the next best thing for your business.

Here is our guide to postcard marketing -

• How to begin


• How to design a postcard


• Printing tips


• How to circulate


• Marketing follow-up

How to Begin

For any marketing strategy to be successful, you need to first decide on your target audience. Depending upon the motive of the postcards, the audience can be predicted and analyzed.

There needs to be a specific plan to market using the postcards- set goals for postcard marketing. The main purpose of any marketing strategy is to attract more customers for a new product.

You need to have a clear idea about the locations that these postcards should reach. A customer list needs to be formed based on the houses to decide if the audience is apt.

A vague idea of the postcard must be decided to start working on its design.

After the postcard reaches the target audience, there needs to be some form of contact information so that the customer can reach out to the company. Preferably a customer care number or an email etc.

How to Design a Postcard

A postcard needs a catchy headline and probably a fun and exciting so that the customers get attracted easily.

A bold and catchy headline could be about the marketing product, and then it could talk about discount or offers for the customers.

The headline could be

• A solution to a problem


• Question


• Benefits


• Special offers

The design is what attracts the customers. If your postcard is dull and unattractive, the customers might simply neglect it. The postcard needs to be colorful, but not too colorful either. It should help create desire through visuals and attract customers to your products.

The paper quality also has a say in attracting customers. The more fancy and glossy the paper feels the better impression on the customer.

If ordered in bulk, the prices are not too high, and they're worth it.

Where to Get 3x5 Cards?

Our website provides custom printed 3x5 cards under the postcards section.

There are four different paper options:

• 14pt Gloss Coated Cover with UV (Most popular)
• 14pt Premium Uncoated Cover (Best for writing)
• 16pt Dull Cover with Matte Finish (Thicker paper)
• Recycled 100lb Dull Cover with Matte Finish (Thinner paper)

The 14pt Gloss coated cover cards are the most recommended and popular, but they'd be best only if there's no writing involved. If any writing is required, one side can be glossed and the other side could be uncoated.

The cards can be standard square edged or even rounded edged.

Your design of the cards can be uploaded onto the website for printing.

The produciton time may take up to 2-5 business days for orders less than 2500 pieces. Orders more than 2500 pieces sometimes require a day extra, and for orders above 5000, every 5000 orders require an additional day.

How to Circulate Postcards

Postcards can be circulated or mailed easily via mailing agencies. The agencies will take responsibility of making sure the postcards reach their designated address. All the company has to do is provide the mailing list.

So using a delivery service company is easier than manually mailing it via the post office. It saves time and money.

Marketing Follow Up

After the first postcard event has been successfully completed, what's next?
Maybe another postcard event? Perhaps another marketing strategy. Depending upon the responses of the first postcard event, another event can be scheduled. More exposure leads to more customers and more business.

If not another postcard, maybe advertising via other channels like radio, TV, social media will also attract a considerable amount of people to your products.

The follow up is based on the response to the 3x5 postcards. If the response is really good, another postcard might be required. Else the postcards have to be made more attractive, or a new plan must be put together.

Conclusion

Custom printed 3x5 cards are more useful than they seem to be. It's those small solutions that it provides for at minimal cost that matters.

It's extremely useful and apt for all your daily activities. These cards also provide multiple business solutions and can be used for official purposes as well.

3x5 cards are easily available in the market, and they can be customized using online websites such as CARDSandBANNERS.com. There are a wide range of options available for customization and it's just a click away!