The Impact of Postcard Marketing in 2025: Key Statistics & Insights
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Maximize Your Postcard Marketing in 2025: 65 Must-Know Statistics

Written by Dave Bascom - Updated on April 11, 2025

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Last updated on April 11th, 2025 at 05:48 am




Postcard marketing continues to be one of the most effective and personal ways to connect with customers. A wide range of industries are leveraging postcards to drive engagement, with 73% of consumers preferring direct mail over digital communications. With stats showing that colorful, personalized, and oversized postcards significantly boost response rates, it’s clear that this timeless marketing tool is far from outdated. Whether you’re looking to increase brand trust, drive website traffic, or generate leads, these statistics reveal why postcard marketing should be a key part of your strategy.

General Postcard Marketing Statistics

  1. 84% of marketers say direct mail has the highest ROI of any channel. [1]
  2. Postcards are the most popular direct mail format, used by 66% of direct mail marketers. [2]
  3. 73% of consumers prefer postcards for brand communications because it feels more personal. [1]
  4. Postcards had an average response rate of 4.4%, compared to email’s 0.12%. [3]
  5. 82% of millennials find direct mail postcards trustworthy. [2]
  6. 57% of consumers feel more valued when they receive postcards in the mail. [2]
  7. Postcards are 45% more likely to be read than other forms of direct mail. [2]
  8. 70% of consumers say postcards are more personal than digital marketing. [2]
  9. 60% of consumers have visited a website after receiving a postcard. [3]
  10. 54% of consumers want to receive postcards from brands they care about. [2]

Response Rates and ROI

  1. Postcards have an average response rate of 4.25%, higher than other direct mail formats. [3]
  2. The ROI of direct mail is $4 to $12 for every $1 spent. [3]
  3. Personalized postcards can increase response rates by up to 50%. [1]
  4. Colorful postcards have a 42% higher response rate than black-and-white postcards. [2]
  5. Including a call-to-action (CTA) on postcards increases response rates by 25%. [3]
  6. Targeted postcard campaigns have a 50% higher response rate than untargeted ones. [1]
  7. Postcards with limited time offers see a 30% higher response rate than those without. [2]
  8. Follow-up postcards sent after an email campaign increase response rates by 40%. [3]
  9. Handwritten elements on postcards increase response rates by 20%. [1]
  10. 23.4% of consumers will respond to an offer on a postcard, a response rate that is 7.9% higher than letter-sized envelopes. [3]

Consumer Behavior

  1. 42% of recipients read or scan their direct mail daily. [2]
  2. 56% of consumers say receiving mail is a “real pleasure.” [2]
  3. 64% of consumers have made a purchase after receiving direct mail. [3]
  4. 75% of consumers remember brand names from direct mail. [2]
  5. 59% of consumers prefer postcards over other forms of direct mail. [2]
  6. 48% of consumers keep postcards for future reference. [2]
  7. 51% of consumers aged 18-34 were likely to scan a QR code on a direct mail postcard. [1]
  8. 62% of consumers say direct mail influences their purchasing decisions. [3]
  9. 55% of consumers feel more connected to a brand after receiving direct mail. [2]
  10. 68% of consumers open every piece of mail they receive. [2]
  11. 51% of consumers prefer direct mail for receiving coupons and discounts. [2]

Postcard Design and Effectiveness

  1. Colorful postcards are 39% more likely to be noticed than plain ones. [2]
  2. Oversized postcards have a 30% higher open rate than standard-sized ones. [1]
  3. Images of people on postcards increase response rates by 35%. [2]
  4. Bold headlines on postcards increase read rates by 20%. [3]
  5. QR codes on postcards increase response rates by 25%. [1]
  6. Handwritten fonts on postcards increase trust by 15%. [2]
  7. Glossy finishes on postcards increase engagement by 18%. [3]
  8. Postcards with testimonials have a 30% higher response rate than those without. [2]
  9. Postcards with maps increase store visits by 25%. [1]

Postcard Marketing for Small Businesses

  1. 68% of small businesses use direct mail as a marketing strategy. [3]
  2. 55% of small businesses say postcards are their most effective direct mail format. [2]
  3. 72% of small businesses see a higher ROI from postcards than digital ads. [1]
  4. 63% of small businesses use postcards to promote local events. [2]
  5. 50% of small businesses say postcards are cost-effective. [3]
  6. 45% of small businesses use postcards for customer retention. [2]
  7. 60% of small businesses use postcards to drive website traffic. [1]
  8. 40% of small businesses use postcards for seasonal promotions. [2]
  9. 35% of small businesses use postcards for new product launches. [3]
  10. 70% of small businesses say postcards help them stand out from competitors. [2]

Postcard Marketing Trends

  1. U.S. marketers invested $37.3 billion in direct mail in 2024. This is a 2.6% increase from 2023. [4]
  2. Global spending in direct mail is expected to reach $69.37 billion in 2025, growing to $77.57 billion in 2034. [5]
  3. Over 59 billion pieces of marketing mail were sent through the US Postal Service in 2023. [6]
  4. 81% of marketers plan to increase their direct mail budgets in 2025. [4]
  5. 55% of marketers say direct mail is more effective than digital ads. [2]
  6. 70% of marketers use direct mail to complement digital campaigns. [1]
  7. 50% of marketers say direct mail is underutilized. [3]
  8. 65% of marketers say direct mail is more memorable than email. [2]
  9. 40% of marketers use direct mail for customer retention. [1]
  10. 75% of marketers say direct mail improves brand perception. [2]
  11. 60% of marketers say direct mail is more effective for older audiences. [3]
  12. 55% of marketers say direct mail is more effective for local campaigns. [2]
  13. 80% of marketers say direct mail is more effective for high-value offers. [1]
  14. Postage is the largest budgetary component of direct mail campaigns, making up 50.2% of direct mail expenditures. [4]
  15. 69% of marketers expect AI to impact their direct mail campaigns’ effectiveness significantly. [4]

As these postcard marketing statistics highlight, direct mail remains a powerful and highly effective tool for businesses looking to engage their audience in a personal, memorable way. Postcards outperform many digital marketing methods with strong response rates, high consumer trust, and a proven ability to drive website traffic and sales. Used in conjunction with digital marketing, postcards deliver an even more significant impact. Whether you’re a small business aiming to build local awareness or a larger brand seeking to enhance customer retention, integrating postcards into your marketing strategy can deliver impressive ROI. By leveraging personalization, bold design elements, and strategic timing, you can maximize the impact of your campaigns and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Citations

  1. https://www.lob.com/ebooks/2024-state-of-direct-mail-marketing
  2. https://www.uspsdelivers.com
  3. https://www.ana.net/miccontent/show/id/rr-2024-02-ana-response-rate-report-2023
  4. https://winterberrygroup.com/en/delivering-performance-direct-digital-and-the-dynamics-shaping-the-future-of-omnichannel-marketing
  5. https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/direct-mail-advertising-global-market-report
  6. https://facts.usps.com/table-facts/


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