There’s something truly special about receiving a postcard in the mail.

In a world dominated by fast-paced digital communication, postcards offer a timeless charm that emails and social media simply can’t replicate.

They are tangible reminders of special moments, unique places, or creative expressions that leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s a stunning landscape, a quirky design, or a heartfelt message, postcards stand out as something real and meaningful.

For content creators, this makes postcards an exciting and profitable way to connect with your audience in a personal and memorable way.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating, marketing, and selling your own custom postcard—turning your designs into a fun and profitable addition to your merchandise line!

How Profitable Can Selling Postcards Online Be?

While selling custom postcards might not be the most lucrative product in your merch line, it’s one of the easiest and most accessible options for creators looking to expand their offerings.

Postcards are inexpensive to produce, easy to design, and can be sold at a low cost to your audience, making them a great addition to your merch lineup.

However, it's important to note that postcards generally aren't high-profit items compared to other types of cards or merchandise, with prices typically ranging from $2 to $8 each, depending on the design and quality.

That being said, they can still generate steady revenue if you use the right strategies.

Pricing Strategies

The profitability of selling custom postcards largely depends on how you price them.

If you’re offering postcards with creative, unique designs or niche themes, you can charge a premium for those, attracting buyers who are looking for one-of-a-kind items.

You may also consider selling postcards in bulk to increase volume, but remember, lower-priced items usually mean smaller margins.

Balancing both high-end and budget-friendly postcards in your store can help you reach a broader audience and optimize sales across different buyer segments.

Target Market

Understanding your target market is key to making your postcard venture profitable.

Postcards can appeal to a variety of buyers, including tourists looking for souvenirs, collectors interested in vintage postcards, and fans of your brand looking for custom designs.

For creators, the most profitable postcard designs often tap into a specific niche, such as pop culture, vintage designs, or postcards that reflect your personal brand or creative work.

If you decide to sell collectible postcards, you can create a market for high-value items, which could attract collectors or those looking to add to their collections of old postcards or unique designs.

Volume vs. Margin

When selling postcards online, the challenge lies in finding the right balance between volume and margin.

Selling a few high-priced collectible postcards with custom designs can bring in higher margins, but you may sell fewer items.

On the other hand, selling postcards at a more affordable price point could lead to higher sales volume but with lower profit margins.

Leveraging platforms like Etsy or eBay can help you reach a wider audience. However, you must decide whether to focus on creating postcards with high perceived value or build a strategy around selling larger quantities at a lower price.

7 Steps to Make and Sell Postcards Online

The great thing about designing and selling your own custom postcard is the simplicity that goes into production.

However, like most custom merch items, having the right product that will sell well with your audience is key to making any kind of profit online.

The following steps will guide you through the entire process of creating, marketing, and selling postcards to your target audience. 

Step 1: Choose Your Niche

The first step in selling postcards online is selecting a niche that resonates with your audience.

Choosing a niche not only helps differentiate your brand but also enables you to target specific groups more effectively. 

The more focused and unique your designs, the easier it will be to stand out in the crowded postcard market. Here are some niche ideas for content creators looking to design custom postcards:

• Personal Branding & Merch: If you're a lifestyle, fashion, or fitness influencer, you can create postcards that feature your personal brand or elements related to your niche. For example, a gaming streamer might design postcards featuring their gaming avatar, memorable moments from their streams, or quotes from popular in-game phrases they often say. 
• Motivational & Inspirational Quotes: For creators who specialize in self-improvement or motivational content, postcards featuring inspirational quotes or affirmations can be a great way to connect with your audience. These designs resonate with people seeking daily encouragement and positivity.
• Travel & Adventure: Travel bloggers or vloggers can design postcards featuring beautiful destinations, iconic landmarks, or unique places they've visited. For example, a travel influencer might design postcards highlighting lesser-known spots around the world, showcasing stunning landscapes or quirky local attractions.
• Art & Illustrations: Creators who specialize in digital art or hand-drawn illustrations can use postcards to showcase their artistic designs. Whether it's abstract art, character illustrations, or stylized portraits, these postcards appeal to art lovers and collectors who appreciate original designs.
• Seasonal & Holiday Themes: Offering postcards with seasonal themes—whether for Christmas, Halloween, or summer vacations—can be an excellent way to generate year-round sales. These types of cards are perfect for customers looking to send a unique greeting or decoration for special occasions.

The great thing about postcards is that you don't have to settle on just one card design. Experiment with different ideas that you feel will resonate perfectly with your customers.

This targeted approach will not only make your postcards more appealing but also simplify your marketing efforts as you build your brand and connect with customers.

Step 2: Create Your Designs

Once you’ve chosen a niche, it's time to create your postcard designs.

Whether you’re designing your own postcards or hiring a graphic designer, it’s important to create visually appealing, high-quality designs that stand out.

Here are some tips for creating the best postcard designs:

• Originality is Key: Ensure your designs are unique, whether you’re creating artwork, illustrations, or photographs. Original designs that can’t be found elsewhere will attract buyers looking for something special.
• Use Design Tools: If you’re creating your own designs, consider using design tools like Adobe Illustrator or Canva. These platforms provide templates and tools for creating professional-grade designs even if you’re not a skilled graphic designer.
• Hire Designers: If you lack design experience, you can hire freelance graphic designers through platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. This can be a cost-effective way to get high-quality designs tailored to your vision.

Postcards can range from minimalist designs to intricate illustrations, so be sure to align your design style with your niche and target audience.

Step 3: Choose a Print on Demand Platform

Print-on-demand (POD) services are the perfect solution for creators looking to sell custom postcards online without the hassle of managing inventory.

With POD, your postcards are printed and shipped only when a customer places an order, reducing upfront costs and eliminating the risks associated with holding stock.

When choosing a POD service, here are a few important factors to consider:

• Print Quality: Choose a POD platform that offers exceptional print quality, ensuring that your custom postcard designs come to life in vivid detail.
• Shipping Times: Make sure your POD service provides efficient fulfillment so you can offer reliable shipping times to keep your customers satisfied.
• Integration: Select a platform that integrates seamlessly with your e-commerce store, whether you sell on your own website or use platforms like Etsy or Fourthwall, ensuring smooth order fulfillment.

As far as print-on-demand platforms go, Fourthwall is an excellent choice for printing and shipping custom postcards/greeting cards.

Fourthwall is designed specifically for creators looking to create and sell their own custom merch. The platform offers high-quality printing with various customization options for your postcards.

Whether you're looking to create vibrant, full-color designs or elegant minimalistic postcards, Fourthwall ensures that your designs are printed on premium materials that will impress your customers.

Step 4: Set Up an Online Store

Once you’ve chosen a print-on-demand (POD) platform, you'll need to set up your online store.

While platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Squarespace are popular for selling postcards, it’s often more efficient to choose a POD service that already provides the tools to build and customize your own online shop, such as Fourthwall. 

With Fourthwall, you can create and manage your online store without needing to worry about integrating third-party platforms or additional fees.

Fourthwall’s built-in store features make it easier than ever to showcase your custom postcards. Here’s what to keep in mind when setting up your store:

• User-friendly Design: Fourthwall offers intuitive templates for creating a sleek, easy-to-navigate online store. You can upload high-quality images of your postcards, display them in visually appealing ways, and arrange your products for a smooth shopping experience.
• Payment Options: Fourthwall handles secure transactions and offers a variety of payment methods, including credit card payments, PayPal, Klarna, and even Apple Pay, ensuring convenience for both you and your customers.
• Branding: With Fourthwall, you can personalize your store to match your brand identity. Customize colors, fonts, and logos to ensure your shop reflects the same vibe as your postcards, creating a cohesive and professional look that aligns with your overall brand.

By using a platform like Fourthwall that offers both POD services and an integrated online store, you’ll have everything you need in one place.

This streamlines the process, saves you time, and allows you to focus on what matters most—designing and marketing your postcards—while Fourthwall takes care of the rest.

Step 5: Price Your Postcards

Pricing your postcards can feel like a balancing act—especially when you want to keep them affordable for your audience while still ensuring a healthy profit margin for yourself.

The trick is understanding your costs and positioning your postcards in a way that reflects their value. Here’s how to approach it:

• Research Competitors: Take a look at how other creators and businesses are pricing similar postcards. This will give you a good sense of the market rate and help you position your products competitively. You don’t want to price yourself too high, but you also don’t want to undersell your work.
• Factor in POD Costs: Remember that when you’re using a print-on-demand platform, your production and shipping costs will be factored into your pricing. Platforms like Fourthwall are great because they provide transparent pricing, so you know exactly what you’re working with. Don’t forget to account for any platform fees, too—those can add up quickly!
• Offer Tiered Pricing: If you want to encourage higher order values, consider offering discounts for bulk purchases or selling postcard bundles. For example, you could offer a deal like “Buy 3, Get 1 Free” or create themed bundles to entice customers to purchase more. This can help increase your average order value and boost sales.

At the end of the day, your pricing should reflect the value of your designs, whether you’re offering fun, budget-friendly postcards or more premium, collectible ones.

The key is finding that sweet spot where your audience feels they’re getting a great deal while you’re still earning what your creative work deserves.

Step 6: Market Your Postcards

Marketing your postcards is where the fun begins! It’s your chance to get creative and connect with your audience in a way that feels authentic to your brand.

Social media is one of the most powerful tools for getting the word out and building excitement around your designs. Here's how to make the most of it:

• Share Your Creative Process: People love seeing the behind-the-scenes of how things come together. Share sneak peeks of your design process, whether it’s sketching out ideas, picking color schemes, or printing the first batch. This creates a story around your postcards, making them more personal and meaningful to your audience.
• Use Visual Platforms: Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are great platforms for showcasing visual products like postcards. Share high-quality images of your designs, and be sure to use relevant hashtags to help people find your posts. Don’t forget to show your postcards in context, too—like in a cool setting or as part of a collection—so people can envision how they might use or display them.

• Run Giveaways: One of the best ways to create buzz around your postcards is by running a giveaway. Offer a set of your custom postcards as a prize and ask followers to engage by tagging a friend or sharing your post. This increases your reach and builds excitement.
• Collaborate with Other Creators: Partnering with influencers, other creators, or brands in your niche can give your postcards exposure to a new audience. For example, if you're a travel vlogger, collaborate with a fellow travel influencer to promote your postcards. Sharing each other’s products or services can help both of you expand your reach.

By staying consistent and engaging with your audience in a way that reflects your personal brand, you'll turn your postcards into must-have items that your followers will be excited to purchase and share!

Step 7: Manage Orders and Customer Service

 Providing great service doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s all about staying organized and communicating well with your audience. Here’s how to keep things running smoothly:

• Timely Fulfillment: While your print-on-demand platform, like Fourthwall, handles printing and shipping, it’s still important to monitor order fulfillment. Fourthwall makes it easy to track orders and ensure everything is being shipped out on time. Plus, their reliable shipping process ensures that your postcards reach your customers quickly and in perfect condition.
• Customer Inquiries: Whether it’s a question about the design or a shipping update, always respond to customer inquiries as quickly as possible. Clear communication can go a long way in building trust with your customers and keeping them happy. Fourthwall’s platform also makes it easy to track customer interactions, so you won’t miss any important messages.
• Returns and Exchanges: Since most POD platforms don’t allow returns on custom items like postcards, it’s important to prevent dissatisfaction by setting clear expectations upfront. In case of any issues, handle customer concerns professionally and with empathy. A little extra care can turn a frustrating situation into a positive experience.

With Fourthwall managing your orders and providing top-notch customer service, you can focus on creating and marketing your postcards, knowing that your customers are in good hands.

By maintaining high standards of service, you'll transform one-time buyers into loyal customers who will keep coming back to your shop.

Start Selling Custom Postcards Online with Fourthwall!

For entrepreneurs looking to start selling postcards/greeting cards online, Fourthwall is an excellent POD platform that simplifies the process.

With no upfront investment required, Fourthwall offers high-quality printing, integrated shipping, and customizable storefronts to help you build your brand.

Setting up an account, uploading your designs, and connecting to a payment system is straightforward, making it ideal for beginners.

Plus, Fourthwall’s built-in marketing tools can help you promote your postcards and reach a larger audience without the hassle.

So join the thousands of creators who are using Fourthwall to turn their creative ideas into profitable products and get started today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make money from selling postcards?

Yes, you can make money from selling postcards, especially if you create unique and high-quality designs that appeal to a specific audience.

By targeting niche markets, such as vintage postcards or custom mail postcards, and utilizing platforms like Etsy or eBay, you can attract buyers who are willing to pay for collectible or personalized cards. 

How do I turn photos into postcards?

Turning photos into postcards is simple with the right tools.

You can use postcard templates available on platforms like Fourthwall to upload your photos, adjust the layout, and add custom text or design elements.

Once your design is finalized, you can create postcards ready to be printed and sent to buyers through mail or direct mail services.

How much does it cost to make a postcard?

The cost of making a postcard varies depending on the POD platform you use and the quality of the materials.

On average, a mail postcard costs between $1.00 and $4.00 to produce, but factors like design complexity, printing options, and shipping fees can affect the total cost.

With platforms like Fourthwall, you can get transparent pricing, making it easier to calculate your costs for creating postcards.