In this video, we are going to go over how to use Canva templates to create graphic designs that you can then use on social media, print advertising, your online booking page, sales proposals, and postcards within Housecall Pro.

Remember, for help & support with Canva you will need to reach out to their support team: https://support.canva.com/

You can find Housecall Pro-created Canva Templates here

We recommend Canva for creating postcards due to its user-friendly interface, extensive design options, and ability to customize dimensions precisely. It offers a wide range of templates, graphics, and fonts, making it easy for your business to create professional-looking designs without needing extensive graphic design skills. Canva also allows seamless integration of uploaded images and provides formats suitable for various printing needs, ensuring your postcards are visually appealing and tailored to your brand's identity.

Enhance your business's image with custom postcards using these steps.

First, visit https://www.canva.com/ and create a free account.

Once you have created an account, click the purple 'Create a Design' button located in the upper-right-hand corner. At the bottom of the list that appears, select 'Custom Size'. The dimensions for Housecall Pro Postcards are 1875 x 1275 pixels.

Once the correct dimensions are added, click 'Create New Design'

Next, upload your image by navigating to 'Uploads' on the menu on the left-hand side of the screen and selecting 'Upload Files' Clicking the three horizontal dots next to 'Upload Files' will allow you to choose to upload a file from your device or from another platform such as Facebook, Google Drive, Instagram, or DropBox.

​

Click on your uploaded image to position it within the designated area. You can resize the image to fit within the white box outlined on the screen, ensuring it conforms to the dimensions set earlier.

Customize your design with options such as backgrounds, text, and stickers to suit your branding. Be creative with your postcard design to effectively capture attention, convey brand identity, and evoke a positive response. Creativity allows for unique, memorable designs that stand out amidst competitors, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion. It also enables customization to resonate with specific target audiences, enhancing the overall effectiveness and impact of the postcard campaign.
​

Once satisfied, download your creation in either JPG or PNG format by clicking the 'Share' button in the upper-right-hand corner and then 'Download'
​

Use the drop-down under 'File Type' to change the format to PNG or JPG.

Now, upload your postcard design directly into Housecall using the steps in the article here. Please note that images uploaded to Housecall are accessible only within your organization and are not shared with other accounts.
​

Downloading images from Google for commercial use is problematic due to copyright protections. Most images found through search engines are copyrighted, and using them without permission can result in legal consequences and potential fines.

To avoid these issues, consider using royalty-free images for commercial purposes. These images are typically available under licenses that permit commercial use without infringing on copyright.

Here are some types of royalty-free images and websites where you can find them:

Public Domain Images: These images have no copyright restrictions and can be used freely for any purpose, including commercial use. Websites like Pixabay and Unsplash often feature public-domain images.

Royalty-Free Stock Photos: These images are licensed for use without ongoing royalties. They can usually be purchased from stock photography websites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

Creative Commons (CC) Licensed Images: These images have varying degrees of permissions, depending on the specific CC license. Websites like Flickr allow users to filter images by different Creative Commons licenses.

Free Stock Photo Websites: Websites like Pexels and StockSnap provide high-quality images for free under licenses that permit commercial use.

Using these types of images ensures that you have the legal right to use them in your postcard campaigns without worrying about copyright issues. Always check the specific terms and licenses associated with each image to ensure compliance with usage rights.

Want to know if postcard marketing is still effective?