5 Tips for Designing Memorable Postcards

Jul 20, 2026

5 Tips for Designing Memorable Postcards That Get Noticed

Postcards are a simple but powerful way to promote a business, announce an event, share a special offer, invite guests, or send a personal message. Unlike digital adverts that can disappear with a swipe, a well-designed postcard gives your audience something physical they can hold, keep, and revisit.

However, a postcard must attract attention quickly. Strong visuals, clear messaging, suitable paper, and a persuasive call to action all contribute to its success.

At Printbox London (Same Day Printing London), we help businesses, event organisers, creatives, and individuals produce professional postcards with fast turnaround times. In this guide, we explain how to create postcards that look attractive, communicate clearly, and leave a lasting impression.

Why Postcards Are Still Effective
Tip 1: Understand Your Audience
Tip 2: Choose the Right Size and Format
Tip 3: Use High-Quality Images and Graphics
Tip 4: Write Clear and Engaging Copy
Tip 5: Include a Strong Call to Action
Additional Postcard Design Tips
Choosing the Right Paper
Preparing Your Postcard Artwork
Popular Uses for Printed Postcards
Why Choose Printbox London?
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information

Why Postcards Are Still Effective

Postcards are direct, affordable, and easy to understand. Their open format means recipients can see the main message immediately without opening an envelope.

Professionally printed postcards can help you:

Promote a product or service
Advertise an event
Announce a new business opening
Share a discount or promotional code
Invite guests to a wedding, party, or corporate function
Send appointment reminders
Thank customers for their support
Encourage repeat business

Postcards also work well alongside other printed marketing materials, such as flyers, business cards, stickers, and brochures.

Tip 1: Understand Your Audience

Before selecting colours, fonts, photographs, or wording, think carefully about who will receive the postcard. A design created for young festival attendees will look very different from one aimed at corporate clients or wedding guests.

Consider the following questions:

Who is the postcard intended for?
What matters most to that audience?
What action should they take?
What tone will appeal to them?
Will they recognise your brand immediately?

Match the Style to the Recipient

A luxury brand may benefit from a minimal design, elegant typography, and premium matt card. A children’s event may use bright colours, playful illustrations, and bold headings. A business promotion may need a clean layout with a clear offer and prominent contact details.

Understanding the audience helps every design decision feel intentional.

Tip 2: Choose the Right Size and Format

The size of your postcard affects its appearance, cost, available design space, and how it will be distributed.

Single-Sided or Double-Sided?

Double-sided postcards usually provide the most flexibility. The front can feature a strong image, headline, or promotional message, while the reverse can include supporting details, contact information, an address area, or a call to action.

A single-sided format may be suitable when the postcard is being handed out rather than posted.

Portrait or Landscape?

Landscape postcards are traditional and provide room for wide images or multiple content sections. Portrait layouts can feel more distinctive and work well for invitations, announcements, and photographic designs.

Tip 3: Use High-Quality Images and Graphics

The image is often the first element people notice. A strong photograph or illustration can communicate the message before the recipient reads a single word.

Use images that are:

Relevant to your offer or occasion
Clear and high resolution
Consistent with your brand
Properly licensed for commercial use
Cropped carefully

Avoid Pixelated Images

Images that look acceptable on a phone screen may become blurry when printed. For best results, photographs should ideally be around 300 DPI at their final print size.

Avoid using:

Small social media images
Compressed screenshots
Low-resolution logos
Images stretched beyond their original proportions

Maintain Visual Consistency

Use a colour palette that matches your logo, website, and other marketing materials. Consistent branding helps recipients recognise your business and builds trust.

Tip 4: Write Clear and Engaging Copy

A postcard offers limited space, so every word must have a purpose. The message should be easy to understand within a few seconds.

Use a clear structure:

A strong headline
A short supporting message
The main benefit or offer
Essential dates or details
A clear call to action

Lead With the Main Benefit

Instead of focusing only on features, explain why the offer matters to the reader.

For example:

“Save 20% on Your First Order”
“Join Us for Our Grand Opening”
“Book Before Friday for a Special Discount”
“You’re Invited to Celebrate With Us”

Keep the Message Concise

Avoid filling every available space with text. White space can improve readability and make the postcard feel more professional.

Short paragraphs, bold headings, and carefully placed details are usually more effective than long blocks of copy.

Tip 5: Include a Strong Call to Action

A successful postcard should clearly tell the recipient what to do next. This instruction is known as the call to action.

Effective calls to action include:

Visit our website
Call today
Book your place
Scan the QR code
Bring this postcard to claim your discount
RSVP by a specific date
Visit our store
Follow us on social media

Make the Action Easy

Place the call to action where it is easy to find. Use bold text, a contrasting area, or a simple button-style graphic.

Include the information needed to complete the action, such as:

Website address
Phone number
Email address
Store address
QR code
Offer expiry date

Before printing, test all QR codes, website addresses, and telephone numbers.

Additional Postcard Design Tips

Create a Clear Visual Hierarchy

The most important information should be the easiest to see. Use different font sizes and weights to guide the reader from the headline to the offer and then to the call to action.

Use Readable Fonts

Decorative fonts can add personality, but they should not make essential information difficult to read. Use simple fonts for dates, addresses, prices, and contact details.

Use Strong Contrast

Text must stand out clearly from the background. Light text on a light image or dark text on a busy photograph can be difficult to read.

Do Not Place Important Content Near the Edge

Keep logos, text, QR codes, and contact details safely away from the cutting line. A safe margin of approximately 3–5mm is recommended.

Include Bleed

If colours or images extend to the edge of the postcard, add approximately 3mm bleed on each side. This prevents unwanted white edges after trimming.

Choosing the Right Paper for Postcards

The paper you choose affects how the postcard feels and how your design is presented.

Gloss Card

Gloss card makes colours and photographs look vibrant. It is suitable for promotional designs, travel images, food photography, and colourful event invitations.

Matt Card

Matt card creates a smooth, professional appearance with reduced reflection. It is ideal for corporate postcards, elegant invitations, and text-focused designs.

Heavyweight Card

Thicker card feels more substantial and can create a more premium impression. It is suitable for invitations, promotional cards, appointment reminders, and luxury campaigns.

Our team can help you select the most suitable paper weight and finish based on your design, purpose, budget, and deadline.

Preparing Your Postcard Artwork for Printing

Correctly prepared artwork helps avoid delays and ensures the finished postcards look professional.

Before submitting your file, check that:

The artwork is set to the correct size
Images are high resolution
Backgrounds extend into the bleed area
Important content is inside the safe margin
Fonts display correctly
Spelling and contact details are accurate
All QR codes work
The front and back are supplied in the correct order
The file is exported as a high-quality PDF

For more guidance, read our advice on preparing artwork for professional same day printing.

Why Choose Printbox London (Same Day Printing London)?

We provide professional printing services for businesses, organisations, designers, students, event planners, and individuals throughout London.

Customers choose us for:

Fast same day printing options
Small and large quantities
High-quality card and paper choices
Single-sided and double-sided printing
Artwork checking before production
Convenient store collection
Delivery options
Friendly local customer service

Our wider printing services include:

Many postcard orders can be completed within approximately 3–4 hours after payment and artwork approval, depending on quantity, paper choice, finishing requirements, and production availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best size for a postcard?

A6 is one of the most popular postcard sizes because it is compact, practical, and cost-effective. A5 provides more room for images and detailed information.

Should postcards be single-sided or double-sided?

Double-sided printing is usually recommended because it allows one side to focus on the main visual while the other includes details, contact information, or mailing space.

What paper is best for postcards?

Thicker card stocks are recommended because they feel more durable and professional. Gloss card suits vibrant photographic designs, while matt card provides a smooth and elegant appearance.

Do postcards need bleed?

Yes, when the background colour or image extends to the edge. Adding approximately 3mm bleed helps prevent unwanted white edges after trimming.

Can you print postcards on the same day?

Yes. Same day postcard printing may be available depending on the quantity, artwork approval, selected material, and current production schedule.

Can you check my design before printing?

Yes. We can check basic technical details such as dimensions, resolution, bleed, margins, orientation, and general print suitability.

Can I print a small quantity?

Yes. We offer flexible quantity options for many products, making our service suitable for small events, test campaigns, personal invitations, and urgent orders.

Can you deliver my postcards?

Yes. Store collection is available, and delivery can also be arranged depending on the order size and destination.

Conclusion

A memorable postcard combines a clear purpose, strong visuals, concise copy, professional printing, and a persuasive call to action. By understanding your audience and selecting the correct size, paper, imagery, and message, you can create a postcard that attracts attention and encourages a response.

Whether you are promoting a business, advertising an event, announcing a special offer, or inviting guests to a celebration, professionally printed postcards can help your message feel more personal and memorable.

At Printbox London (Same Day Printing London), we provide fast, high-quality postcard printing with flexible quantities, artwork checking, store collection, and delivery options.

Send us your artwork, required size, quantity, preferred paper, and deadline, and our team will help you choose the most suitable printing option.

Contact Information

Business Name: Printbox London (Same Day Printing London)

Address: 52 West Green Road, London N15 5NR

Phone: 0207 018 5678

Email: hello@printbox.london

Website: https://printbox.london/

Contact Us: https://printbox.london/contact-us/

Find Us on Google Maps: Find Us on Google Maps