For businesses and organizations who missed this week's deadline for mailing your promotional postcards in time for Black Friday, don't worry. The holiday season is just getting started, which means there are still plenty of opportunities. But you can't wait much longer. If you want to boost sales this holiday with a well-planned direct mail campaign, you need to act fast.

Not sure what message you should send? Need some postcard marketing inspiration? Here are just a few ideas that can help you connect with your customers this holiday via direct-mail postcards

• Weekly (or even daily) postcards with new holiday promotions
• A "Countdown to Christmas" with special deals in each mailing
• Non-promotional "happy holidays" messages
• Post-XMAS sales
• Special offers for New Year's Eve -- or "resolution lists" for 2010
• End-of-season clearances & closeouts

The list goes on and on. Just remember, the longer you wait, the less time you have to plan your campaign and get it in the mail in time. Your postcard marketing company can help you plan out each of your mailings based around specific holiday dates or other deadlines you request. They can also offer specific advice on which types of promotional postcards, designs and copy will be the most effective for the audience you're trying to reach.

Just remember, the most consistent you are, the better results you're going to get. One mailer will get response, but it's not nearly as powerful as two or three well-executing mailings, sent out within a 2 or 3-week period. The more you mail, the more attention your postcards will get. So get moving, and make this one of your most successful holiday seasons.