OpenRoad.TV & Bay Area Backroads

“The OpenRoad.TV community is as broad as the terrain of the American West. VerticalResponse helps us encourage them to explore the open road for adventures of their own.”

Doug McConnell
OpenRoad.TV and Bay Area Backroads

FAQs > Creating & Sending Campaigns > Creating & Sending Postcards

What is "VerticalResponse Postcard"?

VerticalResponse Postcard is a powerful marketing tool, which enables you to create and send customized postcards to your clients and prospects. These postcards are then mailed First Class through the US Postal Service (USPS) so the entire process is simple and hassle-free!

Why should I use VerticalResponse Postcard?

It's crucial for businesses of all sizes to communicate effectively with their customer base. Direct mail is an integral part of your marketing efforts and VerticalResponse Postcard offers necessary tools for creating professional postcards - without any technical experience.

Can I send the postcard I create as an e-card?

Not at this time. VerticalResponse postcards are direct mail postcards only.

Can I access VerticalResponse Postcard from my regular VerticalResponse account?

Yes, VerticalResponse Postcard can be found within the normal web interface (Control Center) of the existing VerticalResponse system. Just log into your account and you'll see a tab for Postcard Management. Click on "Create New Postcard Campaign" and you'll be on your way.

I don’t live in the United States. Can I still send postcards?

You can send postcards to recipients who live in the US. At this time, the postcards are not available to send outside of the US.

What size options are available for the postcards?

You have the option to create a 4x6 or 6x9 Postcard.

What are the specific dimensions of the postcard?

VerticalResponse Postcard offers two sizes of printed postcards: "4x6" (actual size mailed is 3.75" x 5.5") and "6x9" (actual size mailed is 5.37" x 8.37").

What type of paper are the postcards printed on?

All postcards are printed on 12 point C2S (coated two sides) card stock.

What is the color quality?

All printing is done with CMYK process color. High definition imaging and unique liquid HP ElectroInk create rich, vibrant color prints at 812 x 812 dpi resolution and up to 230 lines per inch.

What printing process do you use?

We are 100% digital and print multiple postcards per sheet on a Commercial HP Indigo Press. After printing, the sheets are UV coated to give your card a professional touch. Following the coating process, we cut and ship your cards.

Can I add my own image? What are the specifications?

VerticalResponse Postcard allows you to upload your own high-resolution image into your account for postcard creation. Just save the file on your computer and follow the "Browse" instructions to load it into your campaign. NOTE: All images must be at least 150 dpi and only .jpg image formats can be accepted at this time.

"4x6" Specifications:
Uploaded image should be 4" by 5.75". In pixels, the equivalent would be 400 x 575 or preferably 800 x 1150. Additionally, please do not add any content that you want printed any closer than 3/16" from the edges of the card as we will trim 2/16" from each edge during the cutting process.

"6x9" Specifications:
Uploaded image should be 5.62" by 8.62". In pixels, the equivalent would be 562 x 862 or preferably 1124 x 1724. Additionally, please do not add any content that you want printed any closer than 3/16" from the edges of the card as we will trim 2/16" from each edge during the cutting process.

Most digital cameras will produce .jpg images in a variety of dimensions and they will also work well within VerticalResponse Postcard since their height/width ratio is similar to the two mentioned above: (1600 X 1200), (1024 X 768), (800 X 600), (640 X 480).

Can I send a postcard without an image on the front?

Yes, with VerticalResponse Postcard you can choose the option to make the front of the postcard a solid color instead of using an image. Simply choose a selection from our color palette and you'll be able to add text to the front of your postcard.

Does VerticalResponse Postcard supply any images?

Yes, VerticalResponse Postcard provides an extensive image library with over 800,000 high quality graphics to choose from. We've listed some common categories to help refine your search but you can also type in a keyword to locate a specific theme or style. VerticalResponse Postcard will display the results of your search and allow you to change the number of images displayed per page to make browsing even easier.

Can I add images to the front and back of my postcard?

At this time we allow for images to appear only on the front of the postcard (i.e. not the side with the postage). In the future we hope to add image capabilities to the back of the card as well so we'll announce this functionality when it becomes available.

Can I customize the layout of my image?

The VerticalResponse Postcard interface enables you to change the positioning of your selected image with just a few clicks of the mouse. You can turn the image right, turn it left, invert it or even toggle between portrait mode and landscape mode. NOTE: We recommend choosing a layout for your image before adding any text copy to the front of your postcard since this makes the creation process much smoother.

Can I add text copy to my postcard?

Once you have chosen an image for your postcard you will be able to add text to both the front and back of the card. On the front, just click your mouse on any section of the card and you'll be able to type your copy directly onto the image. You can choose from a selection of font styles, sizes and colors as well as editing or deleting text at any time.

On the back, you'll be working within a defined template box, which shows the area where copy can be added. You will also have the ability to replace or edit the default return address, which gets pulled from the "My Profile" section of your account.

What is the character limit for the text I insert on back of the postcard?

The character limit depends on the font size you choose for the back of the postcard.

Font Size
4x6
6x9
Smallest Font
38 char.
74 char.
Small Font
34 char.
67 char.
Medium Font
28 char.
55 char.
Large Font
24 char.
47 char.
Largest Font
21 char.
71 char.
Why is there a watermark on my graphic? Will it appear on the postcards that are sent to my recipients?

The watermark is added to prevent unauthorized use of the images that are loaded into VerticalResponse Postcard and is only displayed during postcard creation and when viewing proofs. This watermark will not appear on any postcards sent during a live launch.

What are "proofs" and why are they important?

After copy has been added to both the front and back of the postcard, users will be required to view and approve their work before the campaign can be mailed. VerticalResponse Postcard provides examples of both the front and back of the postcard in a .pdf file format and these can be viewed using Adobe Reader.

We also recommend that all users print out the proofs to examine the design in hard-copy format. It is important to note that the printing system used by VerticalResponse Postcard greatly exceeds the image quality of the printer that you are likely using.

Can I send a "test" postcard?

Yes. Any client using VerticalResponse Postcard will have the option to send one free "4x6" postcard and this will be delivered to the mailing address that you specify during the creation process. This is a great way to see the final product before launching the campaign to your larger list. NOTE: One free postcard is available only a per account basis, as opposed to per campaign. You'll want to save your free postcard to reference in the future when creating new campaigns.

How do I set up a return address for my postcards?

When you are adding text copy to the back of your postcard you will be able to edit the return address. The default address will be whatever contact information is listed in the "My Profile" section of your VerticalResponse account. Just click in the box that shows the default address and you'll be able to change or edit the return address.

How do I launch my Postcard campaign?

To launch your campaign you must complete the following steps:

  • Select and Image and add text to the front and back of your postcard
  • View, print out and approve the proofs for the front and back of your postcard
  • Upload and attach your mailing list(s).
  • Schedule your mail date
  • Provide payment to cover the size of the list that you are mailing to.
  • Click "Launch" and your campaign will be processed, printed and mailed as soon as the launch date/time arrives
When are the postcards mailed?

When your launch date/time arrive, your postcard creative and mailing list with be sent to our printing system. It will take approximately 5 business days for the printing and mailing of your postcard campaign.

What geographic regions can I mail to?

At this time, campaigns being sent with VerticalResponse Postcard can only be mailed to addresses within the United States and its territories.

How long will it take for my postcards to reach my recipients?

Once the campaign is launched, printed and sent to the Post Office, the USPS will be responsible for delivering the postcards to your recipients. Depending on the regions you are mailing to this may take between 1 to 5 business days (average delivery time is 3 days).

Where do the non-deliverable postcards go?

Since VerticalResponse Postcard sends your mailing out using First Class mail, any postcards that cannot be delivered will be sent back to the return address listed on the card. The return address will default to the contact information listed within your VerticalResponse profile and this can be changed on a per campaign basis.

How do I track my postcard campaign?

Since there is not a way to monitor postcard statistics in the same manner that email campaigns are tracked, VerticalResponse Postcard will provide verification that your postcards have been mailed and confirm your order. In addition, since all postcards are sent First Class, any non-deliverable cards will be sent back to the return address so you can receive these and update your lists accordingly.

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