Question 1

How does a household use the Community Card?

Accepted Answer

A Community Card isn't a single-business flyer. Because it introduces a household to a range of useful local businesses, a restaurant, a plumber, a dentist, a landscaper, it has more than one reason to stay around. A recommendation today might become a referral six months from now. A business that isn't needed immediately can still become familiar before the need arises.

Question 2

What are the dimensions and layout of the Community Card?

Accepted Answer

The standard Community Card is 9 × 12 inches when applicable to the particular campaign, an oversized piece that stands out in the mailbox. The layout dedicates a clearly defined advertising space to each business, with a cohesive design that ties the card together. Available campaign dates and terms are listed on our Campaign Availability page.

Question 3

How does category exclusivity work on the card?

Accepted Answer

We aim for one business per category to keep the card noncompeting and useful. Category exclusivity is a campaign-specific commitment, not an automatic guarantee, so ask us about your category when you inquire. The curated mix is part of what makes the card worth keeping.

Question 4

How do QR codes and tracking work?

Accepted Answer

When QR tracking is included in your package, a unique QR code is assigned to your advertisement and linked to your chosen destination. You can review available scan counts and engagement information through the reporting that comes with your package. A scan is a measurement signal, not proof of a sale.

Question 5

What is Every Door Direct Mail?

Accepted Answer

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a USPS mailing option that lets a business reach every address on a chosen carrier route without needing a mailing list or individual addresses. You select the routes, the mail piece goes to every eligible delivery point on those routes, and the postage rate is set by the USPS for that service. Longshot Branding handles the route research, design, printing coordination, and mailing, you don't have to manage the postal process yourself.

Question 6

How does a shared-cost Community Card work?

Accepted Answer

A single 9×12 postcard is designed to hold up to 16 noncompeting local businesses, each with its own advertising space. Because the production and postage costs are split among the participating advertisers, each business gets a spot on a large, professional mailing for a fraction of what it would cost to fund the entire piece alone. You provide your business information and approve your ad; we handle the rest.

Question 7

How many households will receive my advertisement?

Accepted Answer

The household count depends entirely on the carrier routes selected for your specific campaign. We show you the estimated delivery count for each route in the route report before you commit. For example, our Montrose 81401 report covers 4,498 homes across six routes. That figure is an estimate for that campaign only, every campaign has its own count.

Question 8

Can I choose which neighborhoods receive the postcard?

Accepted Answer

You can review the routes we're considering and decide whether the target area makes sense for your service area. Route selection is based on USPS carrier routes, so we target by route and neighborhood rather than by individual household. If a route doesn't fit your business, we can discuss alternatives from what's available.

Question 9

How do you choose your mailing routes?

Accepted Answer

We look at carrier-route delivery counts and available neighborhood estimates, such as median income, home ownership, and household composition, to find routes that align with advertiser objectives. The figures shown today are illustrative sample estimates that demonstrate the route report format; we replace them with live, sourced data when a campaign is booked. We share the reasoning and the underlying estimates in a route report. These are estimates, not guarantees about any particular household, and they don't represent every Colorado community.

Question 10

What information do you need to design my advertisement?

Accepted Answer

We'll ask for your business name, logo, preferred offer, contact information, website, and social links. From there we help turn that information into a professional ad. Accurate, complete information makes for a better advertisement and a smoother approval process.

Question 11

Can I provide my own artwork?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. If you have print-ready artwork that meets the campaign's specifications, we can review it for compatibility. If it needs adjustment to fit the shared layout, we can help coordinate that. Final artwork still goes through an approval step before printing.

Question 12

Do you provide QR codes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when QR tracking is included in your package. A unique QR code can be assigned to your advertisement and linked to a website, offer, contact page, or campaign landing page. The availability of QR tracking depends on the package and campaign you select.

Question 13

Can I track scans and website activity?

Accepted Answer

When QR tracking is configured, you can review available scan counts and trends, and we can set up UTM parameters or compatible analytics integrations to help connect scans to your website analytics. Tracking capabilities depend on the selected QR platform and your analytics configuration.

Question 14

Does QR tracking prove that a sale came from the postcard?

Accepted Answer

No. A scan tells you someone scanned the code, it does not automatically establish a sale, phone call, or new customer. Some customers will call or visit without ever scanning. QR tracking is a measurement layer that adds information; it is not proof of a closed transaction.

Question 15

How long does it take to prepare and mail a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Timelines vary with design approvals, print schedules, and USPS processing. We'll share an estimated target mailing date for your campaign, but that date is an estimate until the campaign is confirmed and all artwork is approved. We'll keep you informed at each step.

Question 16

What commitment options are available?

Accepted Answer

Typical terms are one month, three months, six months, or one year. Available durations, pricing, renewal terms, and actual campaign dates depend on the current schedule and your written agreement. We'll walk you through what's available before you commit.

Question 17

Is my industry guaranteed exclusivity?

Accepted Answer

Only when exclusivity is part of your specific campaign agreement. We aim for one business per category to keep the card useful and noncompeting, but category exclusivity is a campaign-specific commitment, not an automatic guarantee. Ask us about your category when you inquire.

Question 18

What if my preferred advertising category is already taken?

Accepted Answer

If your category is filled on one edition, we can look at other available campaigns, a different territory, or a future edition. We'll be upfront about what's available so you can decide what works for your business.

Question 19

What happens after the postcard is mailed?

Accepted Answer

The card is delivered to eligible addresses on the selected routes. You remain responsible for responding to calls, emails, website inquiries, and other customer contacts. If QR tracking is included, we provide the reporting that comes with your package. Response volumes and timing vary, so we encourage you to continue your normal marketing activities.

Question 20

Can I advertise without committing to multiple editions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A single-edition commitment is typically available. Multi-edition commitments can help build recognition over time, but they're optional. We'll explain the available terms so you can choose what fits.

Question 21

Do you offer printing beyond postcards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Through our Other Print Services we can help with business cards, brochures, door hangers, yard signs, banners, menus, invitations, posters, and more. EDDM and the Community Card remain our main focus; other print work is a secondary service.

Question 22

Can you serve my town?

Accepted Answer

We're based in Montrose and now serve communities across Colorado, from the Western Slope to the Front Range. Check our Service Areas page for current coverage. If your town isn't listed as active yet, ask us, we may be able to plan a route or add it to our roadmap.

Question 23

How do I see the route report?

Accepted Answer

Visit our Mailing Routes & Reports page to view the Montrose report summary and request the full PDF. We're happy to walk through what the numbers mean for your business.

Question 24

Can I see the other businesses on my postcard?

Accepted Answer

We curate a mix of noncompeting businesses for each card. Before you commit, we can discuss the categories represented and whether your category is available. We don't share other advertisers' private details without their agreement.

Question 25

What does Longshot Branding guarantee?

Accepted Answer

We can't promise results, we can guarantee exposure according to your agreed campaign specifications. We commit to the agreed production and distribution, subject to the stated terms. We cannot guarantee a specific number of sales, leads, ROI, QR scans, calls, visits, or conversion rate. Delivery to the specified mailing area is the exposure promise at the center of the offer.

Question 26

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Request a quote on our Contact page. Tell us your business, your service area, and what you're interested in. We'll follow up to talk through routes, availability, and whether the next Community Card is a fit.

Straight answers about direct mail.

Everything you might be wondering

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