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Please find us at THE POSTCARD COLLECTOR in wordpress! Thanks and have a great one!

Send a Postcard, Get $5.00 via Paypal!

This is an ongoing promo at this site. That's right! For those who didn't catch it from previous posts, the first 10 postcards I get from bloggers/readers, will receive $5.00 cash thru paypal. In 25 postcard increment, I'm sending $5.00 to the 25th postcard sender, 50th, 75th and so on.

A reader sent me an email and pointed out something I missed in my FAQ regarding the first 10 postcards! She said, "you are from the US and you have US bloggers who will send a postcard that may get to you in 2 or 3 days. Wouldn't it be a bit unfair for other far away countries where it takes 7 to 14 days for mails to arrive?" A very good point indeed!

So here goes: I'm breaking down the 10 postcards according to where it will come from. The first 3 postcards coming from the US and North America, The first 3 postcards coming from Europe and its neighboring countries, and the first 4 postcards coming from Asia, Australia, it's neighboring countries and the rest of the world will receive the $5.00 token (provided the sender has a valid paypal account- please refer to the FAQ for details).

Regardless of how many US and European postcards I get after the first 6 postcards, there will be 4 senders from Asia, Australia and others who will still get the $5.00. I have yet to check my mailbox from the post office. I specifically did not check to give time for postcards to come in. I will do my first check on Wednesday, November 28 and reveal the postcards I got on Friday. From thereon, I will be checking every Wednesday and show the blogs/postcards every Friday (if there are any to present!).

Note again that if I get more than 10 during pick up, the ranking would be according to when it was mailed. Thanks Ida of Malaysia for the email and giving me the chance to explain how this works!

Hurry now, Show off your blog and Send a postcard! You just might also get back your postage free via the $5.00 offer thru paypal!

© 2007

On The Postcard Collector Project

Postcards have been around as early as the 1800s. It is perhaps the cheapest form of communication between countries. From experience, it is faster too! Postcards tend to arrive faster than regular mail sent to the same international destination when mailed at the same time. To this day, it is still widely popular because it is convenient- easily available in stores. One isn't obliged to write a long letter either given that the regular size postcard only measures 3in x 5in. After writing a quick note, placing a stamp on it, you're done!

The Postcard Collector project is an idea I've had for quite some time. I just wasn't sure how I will go about it until I came across a website where people from all around the world exchange postcards for free by signing up. By means of the postcard, one would write the other, and the person writes back! Some have created blogs showing all the postcards they have received from strangers who eventually become their friends. It's amazing how many number of people responded from north to south, east to west across the globe. That inspired me.

Postcards paved way for people to reveal their darkest secrets anonymously in another highly-successful ongoing project at postsecret. So I've thought, great vision! However, I want to have my own modest idea realized not just follow what others have started. I want to 'see' the world through others. I want to meet a diverse group of people online but at the same time I want to have something tangible to know that they actually exist! I want to exchange links with them but how? I am a postcard collector, that should settle the profound idea! What can I do to get people to send me a postcard?


The Concept

My idea is fairly simple and easy to accomplish. It will be the old snail mail way meeting the new world of the internet. Link to this blog by sending me an actual postcard showing me your blog. Once I receive your postcard, I will feature it along with your own blog. Then, we're linked! The more people participating, the more your blog gets exposure and gets spread out.

for my own sample postcard, i used an ad campaign distributed here in the US for raising awareness on HPV and the importance of Pap tests in detecting cervical cancer early. (Please click the photos to get a better view of the postcards.)

The nitty-gritty

Postcard size: You may send any size, any which way you want as long as it is acceptable with your post office. Regular sized postcards are 3x5 inches and then there's 4x6 and 5x7 both in inches. The bigger the size is, the higher the postage so I'll settle for the small regular size. :-)

Postcard content: Your postcard must contain your blog name and the URL address. You can be as creative as you want to be how you want to present your blog in your postcard. You may or may not put a return address. When you place a return address, you will get a postcard back from me! I will NOT display your return address once featured online on my blog. You don't have to give me your real name, if that helps cover anonymity too.

Postcard material: You can buy or you can make your own; the latter would be greatly appreciated and encouraged! Remember, we are showing this to the world! And since I am a collector, the postcards sent will be neatly placed in an album for safekeeping.

Stamp or metered postage: I would like to request stamps for postage on the postcards, not the metered ones. Stamps are another thing of beauty that makes a nice postcard!

Blog link accepted: thepostcardcollector.us is open for link exchange from all bloggers of all ages. With that said, it shall maintain a wholesome image to cater for the general public especially young bloggers. Hence, blogs relating to or containing gambing, pornography, hate, foul and explicit languages, discrimination or racism will not be accepted. Any blogs promoting drugs, guns, alcohol and tobacco use will not be accepted as well. Please do not send a postcard if your blog falls in any of the category. The author has the right to accept or deny any link exchange as it deem necessary for questionable blogs not explicitly mentioned above.

Mutual agreement: By sending a postcard, you are agreeing to let me scan that postcard with your blog name and URL for the sole purpose of featuring it on my blog. People will see the postcard you sent and they will be able to visit your blog online by clicking the link provided.

NO BLOG? If you're only a postcard collector without a blog and would want to exchange postcards with me, you are most welcome to send me a postcard and I will send one back! With your permission, I will also feature the said postcard on my blog.

Get it started! Get it going!

I know your time is important and valuable and I can only hope many of you will decide to participate one day soon. From my end, I have a small gift to the first 10 people to submit a postcard. I'm giving a token of $5.00 via paypal. It continues on to the 25th postcard I get, then 50th, then 75th and so on. Each 25 increment, one lucky blogger will get $5.00 from the postcard collector! Why not get it going today? Send me a postcard and show your blog to the world!

© 2007

HELP GUIDE and FAQ

To answer common questions I encounter, this section hopefully will cover it all.

1. What is your blog all about?
   
   I am a postcard collector and it is my goal to link and feature other blogs upon getting an actual postcard from them. I hope that I can receive as many postcards the post office can handle and that I can cover all seven continents. There are over 6.6 billion people in the planet, and over 70 million and counting weblogs. That's millions of possibilities for this blog! I'll take it one postcard at a time...
   
   
2. What kind of postcard should I send?
   
   ANY! The more creative you show your blog on the postcard, the better! Remember, we are showing this to the blogosphere. It could be something you made from scratch or could be something bought at the store. The size may be 3x5, 4x6 or 5x7 in inches, rectangular shaped. Octagon? sure! Circle? Why not? The design is up to you- could be a postcard showing the beauty of your country, a caricature, a comic character, some sayings, art works... ANY!
   
   
3. What kind of blogs are allowed for linking with your site?
   
   The Postcard Collector blog is strictly wholesome in a sense that it will NOT accept any blogs that promote gambling, alcohol, guns, violence, tobacco, sex, nudity, hate, racism and discrimination. The blog may not be offensive in any way to race, gender, sex or institution. If your blog falls in any of the category listed, please do not send me a postcard for linking. I apologize now, I can not post or link it.
   
   
4. I don't have a blog, can I still send you a postcard?
   
   Of course! I will be most happy to receive it and I will still feature it on my blog. A stamp on it for postage NOT the metered stamps would be even better, adds character to the postcard! ;-)
   
   
5. Will you send back a postcard?
   
   If you place a return address, I will send you a postcard in reply.
   
   
6. I don't want you to show my return address online nor my name. Can you do that?
   
   I certainly can! The power of erase feature in photoshop should take care of that. :-)
   
   
7. Why are you giving away cash for the postcard? Is that for real?
   
   To show my seriousness and sincerity of getting this blog rolling, I am giving out $5.00 each via paypal for the first 10 postcards I receive anywhere in the world that accepts paypal payments. Every milestone thereafter, I will give $5.00 for the 50th postcard I receive then 75th, then 100th and so on on every 25 postcard increment. $5.00 should cover for the postcard itself and the postage in sending it to me here in the United States.
   
   
8. My country is not listed in paypal. Will you still send cash?
   
   I'm sorry but the answer is no. Paypal is the safer and more secure way of sending money to the world and it's the only way I can get the money to you. This is but a small and humble incentive from me so I hope you will still send in those postcards- after all, this is about linking and featuring your blog in my blog.
   
   
9. How do I claim the $5.00 thru paypal?
   
   If you're among the FIRST 10 postcards featured, kindly send an email stating the valid paypal address. The same goes for the 25th, 50th, 75th and so on. You are responsible for checking what number your postcard is featured. I will NOT send money to paypal unless you contact me; this is to make sure that I have the valid paypal email address. Send your message to: thepostcardcollector[at]gmail[dot]com
   
   
10. What if you get 20 postcards all at the same time. How will you determine who gets the cash and who doesn't?
    
    In that case, the mailing date will determine the order of the postcards. Meaning- the stamp dated December 8 will be first before December 10 mail date.
    
    
11. I still have a question unanswered. What now?
    
    
    For further guidance and help, you can always email me at: thepostcardcollector[at]gmail[dot]com.
    
    

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON THIS PROJECT. I am eagerly awaiting your postcards! Let the linking begin...

On Postcard Collecting

I

've been a collector of postcards on and off. There was a time when I really collected them way back in grade school along with collecting stamps, stickers and stationeries and then my interest changed and then went back to it again a few years ago. At some point in your life, you must have been one too! It's a cheap enough hobby and it's a delight to find really funny or unique postcards! I have them in albums and it's neat to look at, like browsing through photographs.

When a family or friend goes somewhere, I ask them to send me one or when I'm away, I would buy for myself and then send some to people! Sending out a postcard is so easy to do here in America where almost every street corner has a mailbox and the postman actually goes out daily to pick up the mails on the boxes! So postcards, local and international stamps are regular items in my purse. Wherever I am, either stuck waiting at the doctor's office, riding the train or just waiting somewhere, I could pop out a postcard and write to someone! Either that or read a book. :-)

Are you a postcard collector too? Share your great finds with me! I'd be happy to post it and show the world. I would be doing that from time to time, showing some of the postcards I have in my collection. The main purpose of this blog however will be revealed soon! Please do visit again.

© 2007