One of the mistakes that many new internet marketers make is forgetting that the internet is just one, and often not the most effective, channel for reaching customers. Good ol’ direct mail – yes, the USPS snail mail – is still a very viable and effective channel to reach customers and prospects that may not live on the internet. The challenge is that many of us don’t have an easy way of using Direct Mail, and we don’t have time to research all the available options.

Here are two resources you can use to simplify and automate your direct mail communications:

• MyCardSystem.com – this service offers a veriety of ways to send note and greeting cards to prospects or customers. You can upload address lists to send out cards in batches. The interface is good, and there is pricing to suit every budget. This is a great, affordable way to prospect if your product or service appeals to a non-technical audience, or even if it does.
• Ink-a-Note – This service is a little different, and focuses on “handwritten” note cards and Thank You cards. You have a variety of handwriting fonts to choose from. The interface is not geared to automation or large campaigns, but rather to individual follow-up. It’s a great way to speed the sending of Thank You notes to customers who have purchased from you.

The important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as the “best” or “perfect” marketing channel. Smart entrepreneurs use every channel at their disposal and, in stead, focus on automating communications so that the process is easy and fast so you can stick with it every day.