Businesses searching for an inexpensive alternative for marketing often turn to postcard printing or door hangers as effective options. Printing a postcard can become costly if the business isn't careful to compare the advantages and disadvantages of printing within their company or having another company print the postcards for them. The major factors to take into consideration when printing a postcard are the cost of ink, paper supply, market, and ability to reproduce with outstanding quality.

Postcards offer a limited amount of space, making it difficult for many companies to express their goods or services in such a condensed area. Businesses with a strict objective or a motto often provide the basic information, which may include a logo, motto and contact information. Marketing companies are able to offer the prevalent information that could fit on a postcard for advertisement to draw in potential customers. If the business owner is unsure of what information to use, they are encouraged to contact their local marketing professional.

The cost of ink is increasing and can affect any business that may be considering printing postcards in house. Often the ink usage can be controlled by the printing options and the graphics used. Providing a postcard layout that does not require high color use or detailed graphics is a great option. The use of full color is not always required. Researching different layouts that can provide a dynamic affect in black and white may be a safer and more cost effective alternative.

Postcard paper or stock can become expensive if the business chooses to print in house. The paper used for postcards can have a gloss effect or just have a plain flat effect. The paper selection often provides the starting business with an issue. Businesses are encouraged to research different paper suppliers online or local locations. If they are unable to secure the price they seek, it's also recommended to outsource the printing job to a print company.

The market can often include one neighborhood and grow to become world wide. Often the use of a postcard is restricted to the local area due to postal shipping costs. Determining the area the business would like to cover is important to determine how many postcards are required. Often the business may seek to distribute to neighborhoods that are within a four block radius of their business. This allows the consumers to feel as though they are able to take advantage of any deals that are being promoted.

Outsourcing a postcard printing job to a local printing company can be a cheaper option depending on the quality the business is attempting to achieve. Often the printing company can offer different postcard sizes, color choices and paper choices. The higher quality the product, the higher the cost to the business. Many businesses seeking this choice are encouraged to negotiate a price for frequent printing or reprints.

Distributing the materials can be as easy as taking the postcards to the post office. Some businesses purchase special rates for the postcards to be mailed through prepaid postage that can be purchased under the business name. Some print shops may also offer the advantage of mailing and distributing the marketing materials at an additional fee. Small businesses can also choose to have their product distributed with the newspaper by contacting their local newspaper provider.