The postcard — it’s the ultimate souvenir …
It’s cheap, easy to pack, and provides professionally photographed mementos of your travels. There’s a postcard for everyone, with options ranging from the elegant to the outrageously tacky.
The humble post card demands little of its sender, yet its rewards are great. Your recipient sees your message and picture instantly — no need to open an envelope. You can spread good cheer. And you let friends and family know you’re thinking of them.
Could you be underestimating these simple 4 x 6 inch cardboard missives?
Here are five ways to reach out with postcards:
Start Collecting
Set aside a small box or section of a desk drawer for organizing your postcard collection. Add a couple of sheets of “Forever” postcard stamps. Now, it’s easy to send a quick note and stay in touch!
Stock up on your next trip
Next time you travel for business or vacation, take advantage of opportunities to add to your postcard collection. You can send your new postcard from your current location or after you return home. Either way, they will be appreciated!
Source locally
Collect postcards from your favorite local restaurants, gift shops, and historic sites. These items are easy to miss — after all, who buys souvenirs at home? However, once you start looking, you will likely notice them in unexpected places. Use local postcards to send quick notes and a welcome bit of nostalgia to friends and family who have moved away or are unable to visit.
Design your own postcard
Want to use your own photography or artwork as cover art? Use a service such as Canva or Vistaprint to design, upload, and print postcards with your custom images.
Keep it simple
Keep your message short and punchy. Where did you travel? What did you see? What might interest your receiver? A postcard can be a one-sentence wonder: a shared joke, a heartfelt sentiment, or the next chess move in a remote game. The meaning of your message might even depend completely on the context of the card or conversation:
Medieval art with a skull: “Memento Mori”
Alcatraz: “Don’t cheat!”
Australian Pub: “Cheers!”
Ready, Set , Write!
Now that you have a growing postcard collection, you’ll need a few more items to prepare for postcard writing fun:
- A favorite pen or two
- A book, list, or app with contact addresses
- A place to keep your postcards supplies and stamps handy — a zippered pencil case designed for school notebooks is the perfect size
A note of caution: Do remember that a postcard may be read by anyone who sees it, so avoid including sensitive information or any message you wouldn’t want another friend, family member, or stranger to see.
Happy writing!