From $150 Postcards to $10K Deals: A Montana Marketing Success Story

The Accidental Path to Local Marketing Success

You know what's funny about success stories? They often start with a mistake. That's exactly what happened with Rachel and Dalton from Big Sky Automation in Montana. These two were trying to get their digital marketing business off the ground when they stumbled into something completely unexpected - all because a printing company messed up their template.

"We were scrambling that whole day trying to figure out what to do," Rachel told me, laughing about it now. "We ended up calling around frantically and somehow found ourselves connected with the right people." Sometimes the best opportunities come from things going wrong, right?

Why $150 Community Cards Are Pure Gold

Here's the thing that really caught my attention - Rachel and Dalton figured out something most marketers miss. Instead of pushing expensive 9x12 mailers at $500-600 a pop (which weren't flying off the shelves in Montana), they switched to smaller community cards at just $150 per spot. And get this - they're filling these cards in three days.

"So many people at that price point don't give a crap who you are," Rachel explained. "They'll try it just to get their name out there." And she's absolutely right. I've seen countless marketers get stuck on pushing premium products when sometimes the easier sale is the smart play.

The Numbers That Made Me Do a Double Take

Want to hear something wild? About 30% of their postcard advertisers end up buying their higher-ticket digital services. That's not just a foot in the door - it's practically kicking it down. They're turning $150 postcard spots into serious digital marketing contracts.

The Montana Way of Doing Things

What really strikes me about their approach is how they've adapted to their market. In Missoula and Bozeman, they're targeting specific neighborhoods that local business owners immediately recognize:

• Miller Creek (known for large lots and hilly terrain)
• Rattlesnake (high-end homes)
• University District (established area)

"When you tell an excavator you're mailing to Miller Creek," Rachel pointed out, "they know those homes might need dirt work or RV spots." It's this local knowledge that makes their pitch work.

The Truth About Mail Carriers and Your Postcards

Okay, let me bust a myth that drives me nuts. You know how people worry their postcards just get thrown out by mail carriers? It's practically impossible. Here's why:

• Every mail truck has GPS tracking
• Carriers are monitored for unusual stops
• There are cameras everywhere
• Routes are precisely timed

As Rachel put it: "If you're sending out 5,000 pieces, that's like five different mail carriers plus postal clerks all conspiring together. It just doesn't happen."

What Most People Get Wrong Starting Out

"The biggest thing I see is that they're not starting," Rachel told me. "They'll post and research and tweak and do this and that, but they never actually start."

This hit home for me because I see it constantly. People get stuck on:

• Picking the perfect card stock
• Writing the perfect pitch
• Choosing the perfect design

Meanwhile, Rachel and Dalton are out there closing deals through Facebook Messenger while working from their travel trailer.

The Real Secret to Their Success

What's really impressive about Big Sky Automation isn't just their postcard business - it's how they've built a complete system. They use:

• AI for review management
• Automated email follow-ups
• Google Local Service Ads
• CRM systems to track everything

But here's what makes them different: they're not trying to squeeze every penny out of the postcards. They're using them as a friendly introduction to build trust. It's old-school mail meeting new-school digital marketing.

Final Thoughts (That Might Surprise You)

You know what stuck with me after talking with Rachel and Dalton? Sometimes the "small" approach wins. They could've kept pushing those expensive 9x12 mailers, but they listened to their market and adapted. Now they're filling cards in days instead of months.

And maybe that's the real lesson here - success often comes from being flexible enough to change your approach while staying focused on the bigger picture. In their case, that meant using $150 postcard spots to build a thriving digital marketing business in Montana, of all places.

P.S. If you're thinking about getting into this business, take Rachel's advice: "Just start." You can always adjust as you go, but you can't steer a parked car.