Creative · 3 min read
Direct Mail Design Checklist for Local Businesses
A final-proof checklist that protects the parts of a postcard customers need most.
Check the core message
Confirm that the business name, main offer, response method, and any deadline are visible without effort. Read the card from a few feet away and remove anything that competes with those essentials.
Review phone numbers, URLs, coupon codes, and spelling aloud. Small errors become expensive once printed.
Check the production details
Ask for a final proof and make sure the design leaves required mailing space untouched. Use print-ready images and verify that colors and logos are appropriate for print.
Mailpiece format requirements can affect postage and processing, so confirm the final size and preparation method with the mailing provider.
Build from a simple creative brief
Give the designer a short brief: who the ad is for, the single result you want, the offer, the proof point, and the required contact method. A concise brief protects the design from becoming a list of every service you offer.
Have someone unfamiliar with the business look at the proof. If they cannot say what you do, what the offer is, and how to respond, revise the hierarchy before approving it.
Avoid a crowded final proof
The most common creative mistake is trying to make every sentence equally important. Remove secondary details before shrinking the type or adding another visual element.
Always inspect the final proof at a realistic printed scale. What feels roomy on a large screen can feel very different in a person’s hand.