Tips for Postcard Entries for Mail-in Sweeps

Some mail-in sweepstakes require that you send your entry using a postcard. Remember, sending a postcard through the mail is cheaper. A postcard stamp costs 28¢ (03/09). However, if your postcard is larger than 5″ x 7″ it will require a first class stamp instead.

Note: a postcard never gets put in an envelope.

There are all sizes of postcards and here are some of the standard sizes you should know about:

• USPS standard size: 4-1/4″ x 6″
• Smallest size that can go through the postal system: 3-1/2″ x 5″
• Common postcard size sold in stores: 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″
• Visit the USPS site for more info

If a sweepstakes tells you to send in a postcard that is 3″ x 5″ in size you have two options. This size cannot go through the postal system because it is too small and will be rejected. For some reason judging agencies STILL have not figured out that this is not acceptable and continue to require it from time to time. You really have no idea what the agency will or will not accept so you have to take your chance and pick one of these options. You can:

• put your 3″ x 5″ card in an envelope and mail it in
• use another size like a 3-1/2″ x 5″ which is acceptable

Do you like entering mail-in sweeps and need some free or cheap postcards?

George said:

Would you please recommend an honest dealer or company that sells reasonable priced colorful picture postcards?

Since a lot of sweeps are online now, I don’t need as may supplies as I used to so I try not to pay for anything if I don’t have to. I still enter mail-in sweeps a few times each week and some require that you enter using a postcard.

Here are some ideas for getting free or cheap postcards:

Vista Print to get free postcards
You do get like 50 or 100 of the same design but since they are all going to different sweepstakes it doesn’t matter. You get either 100 standard (5.47″ x 4.21″) or 50 oversized (8.5″ x 5.47″). I have ordered them for free several times and they are really good quality. Remember, if you pick the oversized ones you will have to use a first class stamp on them.

Right now there are over 1,900 designs to choose from. I love sunflowers so the last ones I ordered were of a huge sunflower. It is glossy and super eye catching so it makes a perfect choice to send out for a sweeps entry. At Vista Print you design your own postcards so I would pick a very colorful design and just click on the Vista Print logo on the back and remove it. All you pay is shipping.

Make your own postcards
I use cereal boxes and any other sturdy, colorful box that doesn’t have writing on the inside and then I use a postcard I keep to draw around it on the back of the box and then I cut it out. If the inside of the box is a darker brown then use a Sharpie when you are writing on it.

Here are some other places I found to request free postcard samples

• Postcard Mania
• Modern Postcard
• Postcard Pros

Entering Tip when sending postcards for sweepstakes entries:

When you enter using a postcard you should turn your postcard to the right so that the short side is facing up. Then write your name, address, telephone, and whatever else they require on that short side. When you turn your postcard back around to write the mailing address your information should appear sideways on the postcard.

The reason I enter this is way is so that the postcard does not have the chance of getting returned to me. If you write you address at the top left where you would usually put the message it has a chance of getting sent back to you if the post office machines read it incorrectly. That has happened to me a few times so now I turn my postcard and write my info sideways. You can also turn your postcard upside down and write it that way.

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