The Illustrator’s Postcard
Are postcards still an effective self-promotion tool?
During my years as a children’s book art director, I threw away 99% of the postcards/mailers I received from illustrators.
If you’re an illustrator, that may come across as confusing. Until COVID19, illustrators were often advised to send a postcard/mailer with their work to art directors, agents, and editors. The postcard was, arguably, the most effective form of self-promotion. As an illustrator, you may have taken that advice. You may have spent good money on hundreds of postcards. And now, a former art director of one of the largest collections of imprints in children’s publishing tells you that he threw virtually all of them away. The good news is, you didn’t waste your time and money. Let me explain.
