Imagine turning a small investment of just $90 into $50,000 in a year, all from the convenience of your phone. This is the story of a young entrepreneur who built a thriving side hustle by selling advertising space on shared postcards to local businesses. Remarkably, he closed 95% of his deals through Facebook Messenger or text, without cold calling, running ads, or even hopping on Zoom calls.
The Business Model: Shared Postcard Advertising
The core of this business is selling advertising space on postcards that are mailed to thousands of local homeowners. Each postcard features ads from different businesses, with only one business per category to avoid competition on the same card. For example, only one landscaper or one plumber is featured on a card.
How It Works
- The entrepreneur designs the postcard, filling the ad spaces with local businesses.
- The postcards are mailed out using the USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) tool, which allows sending mail to every home in a selected zip code without needing a mailing list.
- The postcards are sent to targeted neighborhoods, often sorted by higher income areas to maximize effectiveness.
Costs and Pricing
- Postage costs about 25 cents per mail piece.
- Printing 10,000 postcards on quality 14-point cardstock costs around $2,300.
- Total cost for mailing 10,000 postcards is approximately $4,800.
- To break even, the entrepreneur sells enough ad space to cover these costs.
- Ad spaces are priced based on size and location on the card, typically between 5 to 12 cents per home reached.
Revenue and Profit
- Filling the front and back of the card with ads generates about $9,000 to $10,000 in revenue per mailing.
- This results in a profit margin of $4,000 to $5,000 per 10,000 mailer run.
Customer Acquisition: Leveraging Facebook Groups
The entrepreneur primarily finds advertisers by posting in local business networking Facebook groups. His posts are concise, emphasizing the exclusivity of one business per category and the large mailing reach. He uses a clever tactic of liking and commenting on his own posts to boost visibility and social proof.
Posting Strategy
- Posts are made once a week in about 10 business networking groups.
- The best times to post are Tuesday to Thursday evenings between 6:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., when business owners are more likely to check Facebook.
- Interested businesses comment on the post and then move to direct messages for closing the sale.
Closing Sales
- About 95% of deals are closed via Messenger or text without phone calls.
- Some sales come from warm leads or referrals.
Types of Businesses That Benefit
Home service industries such as landscapers, plumbers, carpet cleaners, junk removal, and local bakeries have seen success with this advertising method. For example, a local bakery offering a free cookie coupon saw multiple customers redeem the offer and make additional purchases.
Recurring Business and Campaign Length
- Some businesses opt for single mailings, while others prefer multi-month campaigns for repeated exposure.
- Smaller postcards (6x11 inches) are sent to about 2,500 homes and are suitable for lower-ticket businesses.
- Larger postcards (9x12 inches) go out to 5,000 to 10,000 homes and are better for premium ads.
Scaling and Expansion Opportunities
- The business can scale by offering additional marketing services such as Facebook ads, Google SEO, or website creation.
- Using AI tools and digital marketing can help manage and grow the client base.
Legal and Practical Considerations
- Direct mail advertising is less regulated than email or text marketing because it costs money to send physical mail.
- The USPS EDDM tool makes it easy to send mail without a mailing list.
- Quality control is important; getting samples from printing companies before large runs is recommended.
Results and Financials
- The entrepreneur started this business as a side hustle in April last year.
- So far, he has generated about $26,000 in revenue from shared cards with a net profit of around $11,000.
- Solo cards for individual businesses have brought in an additional $13,000 in revenue.
- The best month saw $5,000 to $6,000 in revenue from a single card.
Tips for Success
- Focus on businesses already marketing actively, such as those posting in Facebook groups.
- Provide value by designing ads for free and offering dynamic QR codes to track engagement.
- Follow up diligently with advertisers to gather ROI data and testimonials.
- Start small with manageable mailing sizes like 2,500 or 10,000 homes.
- Use social media to share your journey and attract more clients.
Final Thoughts
This direct mail advertising side hustle is accessible, requires minimal upfront investment, and can be managed remotely. It leverages traditional marketing methods combined with modern digital communication for customer acquisition and sales. Whether you want to start a side hustle or build a full-time business, this model offers a proven path to profitability.
For those interested, communities like tkowners.com provide support, live Q&As, and accountability partners to help you get started and grow.
This story demonstrates that with creativity, persistence, and smart use of available tools, you can turn a small investment into a lucrative business without complex technology or large teams.
