I love receiving postcards in the mail or picking them up at shows or events.  True, these postcards are technically advertisements, but often they are so beautifully done with gorgeous photos of jewelry or eye-catching book covers that I end up posting them on my refrigerator.  While I do save business cards and some print catalogs, I don't display them. 

For me, it's hard to beat a postcard for effective marketing.  Yes, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube are great free tools, but honestly, sometimes there is so much noise online that it takes a printed, hold-it-in-my-hands piece to really capture my attention.

When PrintRunner, an online printing services business that started ten years ago in California, asked if my U.S. readers would enjoy a chance to win their own free set of 100 custom postcards, I immediately said, "Yes!" 

4 Ways to Use Postcards for Marketing

If you've never used postcards as an artist, author, or small business owner, here are some ideas:

1. Advertise Your Special Skills
I love this postcard by children's illustrator Gina Perry.  She sends these out to prospective clients.  It's hard to think of a better use of a postcard.  A letter, email, or phone call just wouldn't have the same impact as this visual.  (Plus, if you're shy, wouldn't you rather send a postcard than stammer a sales speech over the phone?)  If I were a children's book editor or agent, this is the kind of cute postcard that I would tack on my bulletin board or share with others in my office.

2. Special Event Invitations
Invite previous customers to your special events: author book signings, jewelry and bead shows, cooking classes.  Remember to include all the basics: dates, location, time, and contact info (email, phone, website).  This kind of postcard works best if you have an existing mailing listing so you order the right number of postcards.  Lori Anderson at Pretty Things offers a nice example she's used for a show.

3. Announce Something New
A new product line or a brand new book are often occasions to mail postcards.  (See this fun postcard a student made to announce the book, Hello, Cupcake! or this professionally designed postcard for a beadweaving artist.)  If you're traditionally published, your publisher may even give you postcards, so ask before you order your own.  In addition to an appealing image, you might want to include a review or a customer testimonial.  If you include some kind of special discount code, you'll be able to track how effective your postcard was in getting folks to purchase your item. 

4. A Mini Bio and Portfolio
I really enjoyed this post by jewelry designer Ann Nolen who calls postcards her best marketing tool.  She says that people don't always want to take a business card, but they're always interested in artists.  Often the same people who decline her business card will take a postcard from her with a photo of her jewelry and a mini bio of her on the back.  People buy from those they know and a postcard is a great way for others to get to know you a little better!

Those are some ideas on how to use your postcards to market your business.  Of course, you don't have to use these for business at all.  If you win this online postcard printing prize, feel free to put photos of your kids, garden, dogs, or latest pie creation on the front.

Prize Details

• Postcard Size: Postcards 5x7

• Quantity: 100
  

• Colors: 4/0 Front Only Printing
• Paper: 14 PT. UV Coating on Front
• Rounded Corners: Yes
• Proof: None
• Ready to Ship In: 4 Business Days
  

Official Rules

• Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.
• Giveaway ends at midnight (Mountain Time) on Saturday, May 19, 2012
  
• Winner's name will be posted on this same blog post by May 21, 2012
  
• A winner is allowed to win only once over a two-month period.

To be entered in this giveaway, please post a comment on this blog answering this question:

      Have you ever received or picked up a postcard from an artist, author, or small business?

Standard Disclaimer: Thank you to PrintRunner for providing this giveaway. I will receive a set of postcards for hosting this giveaway.

The Fantasy ...

I watched the movie Julie & Julia this week.  It's the story of a blogger (Julie) who made all the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.  One of my favorite scenes in the movie (besides all the wonderful ones with Meryl Streep) is the one near the end where Julie's husband tells her that she has some messages on the answering machine.  Sixty-five messages, if I remember correctly. They all begin, "I'm the editor at ... the film producer ... a literary agent ..." Then they all make her some kind of offer:  a book deal, a screenplay option, an interview.

This is everyone's fantasy, isn't it?

There you are, minding your own business, and you get handed an amazing opportunity.

Being asked is a huge ego boost.  Someone noticed me!  Someone liked my work!  It feels terrific to be asked to exhibit in a prestigious show, to write an article, or to be a paid designer for a craft product.

What's the Problem?

The problem comes when your entire game plan is based around someone else's action. It's like those start-up tech companies that hinge their business plan on getting bought out by Google, Amazon, or Facebook.  What if those tech giants never ask?  What then?

An Easy Solution

I didn't even realize I was waiting to be asked until I read a great blog post on this topic:  Stop Waiting to Be Picked by Jeff Goins. 

Last week I took a tiny step and asked for my work to be featured in a blog's Mother's Day gift guide.  And guess what?  They said yes!  You can see my mini book in the guide published by the Arts Business Institute.

You want to be considered for a prestigious art show?  Ask.  You want to sell your bracelets in a trendy local boutique?  Ask.  You want to see your work in a magazine?  Ask.

They may say no.  They may say yes.  You'll never know unless you ask!

Book Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Polymer Clay Beads book.  Congratulations to the winner, Sharon of Sharon's Jewelry Garden, who was drawn at random. 

About the Author

Among all the comments from readers wanting to win the book, I had an email from the book's author, Grant Diffendaffer. I encourage you to visit his website to see more of his work, including a cool retro-styled ray gun.  There are also some gorgeous polymer clay photos on his Polymer Clay Beads Facebook page.

Your Favorite Tools

Your favorite polymer clay tool according to the comments you left for this giveaway is a pasta machine!  It does make a huge difference in the amount of time it saves for conditioning clay.  I bought my machine years ago in a kitchen store, but you can now find less expensive machines in large craft stores.

Other popular tools were your hands and rubber stamps or texturing plates.  There were definitely some unusual tools mentioned, too, including a wine stopper, used gift cards, copper pipe, and knitting needles.

Next Giveaway Alert: Tuesday, May 15th

I will be hosting a second giveaway this month.  The prize is a custom postcard package.  You can design a postcard with photos of your jewelry or artwork, family photos, a favorite quote, the cover of your new book, or anything else you like.  If you're an artist, author, or you own your own business, a postcard is a nice way to stay in touch with galleries, readers, libraries, customers, magazine editors, and others.  This next giveaway will be limited to U.S. residents 18 and older only.  Stop by the blog next Tuesday, May 15, 2012 and enter to win!

If you're a crafter who sells her work, you'll know why I was giggling to myself as I took this photo of one of my necklaces. If not, read the story below the photo . . .
If something has a bird on it, it sells.  It's one of those trends that's a Big Deal in the crafting community.  I've seen posts about it dating back to 2009, especially regarding birds on wedding invitations.  The TV show Portlandia recently did a funny sketch about this trend.  (The end of the clip is a little disturbing for true bird lovers, so if you're a sensitive soul, don't watch it.)

Given this huge trend, when I found this book originally published in 1887 titled Turning Points in the World's History, I naturally thought about writing a revised, modern edition: Napoleon, the invention of Morse Code . . . and Put a Bird On It.

Confession Time:  Have you bought or made anything with a bird on it recently?

If you're looking for a book on polymer clay that's a bit different from others that are available, you'll enjoy Polymer Clay Beads by Grant Diffendaffer.

Here are the parts of the book that stood out for me:

Favorite Polymer Clay Brands

Surprisingly, there is no discussion on the merits of different brands of polymer; the author considers the choice a personal preference.  This was a huge surprise.  Most artists who work with polymer clay have strong feelings about brands and are not shy about sharing their opinions.  This lack of discussion is one reason that this book may not be suitable for an absolute beginner.

Unusual Tools

This book includes one of the most unusual lists of tools I've seen in a polymer clay book.  A doming block, for example, is used in a project for making end caps.  This is a tool that is traditionally used for metalwork, so it was fascinating to see it used in a different medium.  The tools section is a text list, so beginners will likely need to do additional research if they are not familiar with some of the items listed such as a rasp (made for woodworking) or drywall screen.

Mica Shift and Hollow Beads Techniques

The two techniques I found most interesting were mica shift and hollow beads.

• The author describes the mica shift technique as "using only one color of clay you can create patterns of light that shift, depending upon the angle from which you view them."  Polymer clay beads can sometimes look flat and dull; this technique gives them a little more dimension, making them look more like glass.
  

• Hollow beads are an important technique if you want to make large beads.  Solid, large beads would be heavy and uncomfortable to wear.

Bottom Line

This book is best for someone who has at least some previous experience in polymer clay and is looking for new ideas and techniques.  The book features nice step-by-step photos for all the techniques, along with tips and ideas for variations.

Win a Copy of This Book

The copy featured here is the paperback version republished in 2011; the original hardback was published in 2008. 

To win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this blog post before May 6, 2012 that answers this question:

What is your favorite tool to use with polymer clay? (If you've never used polymer clay before, just write that in your comment.  I'll understand that you don't have a favorite tool yet!)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and international readers.  I'll draw a winner at random from the comments and post his or her name on this blog on May 8, 2012.

Standard Disclaimer: I received this review copy of Polymer Clay Beads from Lark Publishing.  The review is my own honest opinion.  I am also personally sponsoring the giveaway (paying for shipping costs to the winner), not the publisher or author.