Writing Postcards

Recommendations for Effective Postcards

It takes time and money to write post cards, so there is value in considering the various ways this effort can be most effective. I've collected recommendations from a variety of sources for your consideration.

Reading requires effort - everyone is busy, so people SCAN - few will read your entire text. Anything you do to make reading easier means your message arrived more effectively.

Legibility reduces cognitive load and can translate to friendliness

What contributes to legibility?

• Say as little as possible - ONE issue only when writing to legislators.
• Develop a hierarchy - Pick 2-3 items to prioritize, then make them BOLD and/or ALL CAPS. Make everything else much smaller. (Remember, caps are like shouting - use sparingly.)
• Leave as much white space as possible between lines, topics and around the edges.
• Make sure ALL critical information can be grasped at a glance (that is likely all you'll get).
• Consider printing. Your reader may not know how to read cursive.
• Using colorful markers can help focus readers attention, but avoid permanent markers that can bleed through becoming a distraction from the message.

Engagement comes when someone feels they Know, Like and Trust you

What can you do to increase the likelihood of those things occurring?

KNOW

• Write as clearly as possible, say things that help them feel there is a real human being at the other end.
• Slow down. Think of your post cards as love letters, try to cherish each one.
• Remember each voter only gets ONE card (if you are writing for Tony the Democrat) so it needs to count.

LIKE

• Make your card memorable. When your card feels personal, it is more likely to be kept.
• A few bright colors can be cheery, but avoid too many as they may feel chaotic and reduce legibility.
• Stickers can be fun or draw little hearts, stars etc.
• If you know how to do decorative lettering, it can be very dramatic.

TRUST

• Cite your affiliation. If you are writing for Tony the Democrat, use that as your return address so the recipient can verify that it is a legitimate organization. (Occasionally, it can also recruit more people to write!)
• If you are writing to legislators, then let them know you are a constituent, donor or why you reached out to them.
• Use post cards that multiply your voice when writing to legislators, like the Women's March logo cards.

Have Fun - Get Social - Writing Together Develops Community!