Before you create your postcard, do a little planning. Ask yourself:

1. Why are you doing this card mailing? Do you want to get new clients? Or do you want to stay in touch with existing clients?

2. To whom are you going to be mailing these cards? Which begs another question: who's on your mailing list?

Now, you may be saying, "Martha, how can you ask such a thing? I don't even have a mailing list!"

Okay, you don't have a proper list quite yet, but do you know anyone? I mean, do you have any friends, family, colleagues, former classmates, former coworkers, military buddies, or neighbors? I'll bet you do.

Now, all you need to do is get their names, addresses and other pertinent info into a database program like Act!, Capstralia Contact Expert, Microsoft Excel, Goldmine or Microsoft Outlook. There. Now you have yourself a mailing list.

And, furthermore, you have the best kind of mailing list there is, because it's made up of people you know. They're going to be much more interested in what you have to offer than a list that's made up of a bunch of strangers.

Your list of people who know you may well do a lot of business with you. Or your list folks may send you business. Mine sure do!