There’s a reason Mitchell keeps telling people to stop overthinking community cards. They’re the lowest-friction entry point for local businesses and for you as the operator. In the latest 9x12 Method group training call, the conversation kept circling back to one thing: speed. Speed to fill. Speed to ship. Speed to get repeatable income rolling. And once you hear the logic, you can’t un‑hear it.
Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fdNX3iqKyE
If you’ve been stuck on the full 9x12 card and feel like you’re grinding uphill, this is your nudge to go simpler first — then go premium. (Mitchell breaks all of this down inside the community here: https://www.skool.com/9x12method/about?ref=f1cdb8095f314467a95b084c94eff8ab)
The 20‑Second Recap: What a Community Card Is
The community card is a smaller, lower-priced postcard product. Think “coupon book” vibes: logo, short offer, phone number. No fancy layout, no custom design rabbit hole. It’s designed to be simple.
During the call, Mitchell said it plainly: the best community card ad has two things that smack you in the face — the offer and the category. “Garage doors? $79 tune‑up.” “HVAC? Free estimate + $50 off.” Quick glance. Instantly understood.
That simplicity matters because it removes the biggest bottleneck for new operators: ad design. You’re not stuck waiting on a graphic designer. You’re not stuck wrestling Canva for hours. You can move.
Why It’s Easier to Fill (and Why That Matters)
In the call, multiple operators talked about how hard it is to sell a $500+ premium slot in saturated markets. Southern California? Forget it. People roll their eyes at 5,000 households unless you push 10K or 20K. It’s a different game.
But $200–$300? That’s a different conversation entirely.
One guy said it perfectly: “$200 is a bottle of wine and a day at Airbnb.” For small businesses, that’s an easy yes — especially when the ad is simple and the ask is clear. Community cards let you get proof, credibility, and momentum without the heavy lift.
And once you have a full community card in hand, you can walk into a premium 9x12 pitch and say, “Here’s what we’re already doing in the neighborhood.” That changes everything.
It’s Not About Margins (At First)
This was a big theme. Community cards are not designed to be your forever profit engine. They’re a foot‑in‑the‑door product.
Mitchell and the group called it out: margins are thinner. Printing is cheaper, ads are cheaper, and you might only break even if you’re too aggressive with volume.
But the payoff is in momentum:
- You prove you can fill a card.
- You collect testimonials and renewals.
- You create a visual asset that opens bigger deals.
If you’re just starting, that’s gold.
The “Magazine Hijack” Strategy
One of the best moments was a guy who found a local magazine that quietly stopped mailing. He grabbed the book, called every advertiser, and said, “Hey, noticed the magazine isn’t going out anymore.”
Boom. Instant warm leads. Many of those businesses were already paying $1,200–$1,500 per page. The demand was already proven; the delivery had died. He just stepped in.
This is a steal-the-road tactic: find a local advertising channel that’s slowing down or disappearing and scoop up their advertisers with a better, faster offer. It works.
Long‑Term Exposure > Quick Hits
The most underrated lesson from the call was this: don’t sell results like a lottery ticket.
The seasoned operators kept hammering it home — postcard marketing is a long exposure game. A roofer doesn’t need you today, but when a storm hits three months from now, they’ll call the name they’ve seen over and over on their fridge.
One guy mentioned an old newspaper rule: you needed 13 weeks of ads before the phone even started ringing. Same principle here.
That framing changes how you sell:
- You ask questions first: “What are you trying to accomplish?”
- You suggest the right cadence: monthly, every five weeks, or a 6‑month run.
- You position yourself as a guide, not a pusher.
That shift disarms prospects. It also attracts better clients.
Ask Better Questions, Close Better Deals
Mitchell’s line that stuck with me: “I might not even be able to help you.”
It sounds backwards, but it’s powerful. When you tell a prospect you’re not desperate, the conversation changes. You become the expert who qualifies them.
Here’s the flow:
- “What are you trying to accomplish?”
- “Is this long‑term exposure or a short‑term blast?”
- “If it’s long‑term, here’s what I recommend…”
That’s how you move people into multi‑month commitments without sounding salesy.
Premium Clients Make the Business Work
Another thread in the call: focus on high‑ticket businesses. Roofers, HVAC, junk removal, window treatments, concrete — these clients make thousands per job, so your $500/month ad is almost nothing.
Low‑ticket restaurants and haircut shops? They churn.
If you’re building a stable base, this matters. The businesses that can afford recurring marketing are the ones that keep paying.
Zip Code Domination (a Practical Targeting Hack)
A Southern California operator shared his targeting strategy: dominate one zip code at a time. Don’t scatter 5,000 postcards across random routes. Saturate a tight area, send multiple waves, and become the name people recognize.
He re‑mails the same zip at least twice, then rotates to the next. The goal isn’t one‑and‑done. The goal is top‑of‑mind.
This is the kind of operational detail that makes the 9x12 Method work in real life, not just theory.
Community Cards as a Lead Farm
Near the end of the call, someone mentioned a wild tactic from another team: buy one, get three free community card slots. They’re selling four spots for $549 and using it as a funnel to upsell other services.
It’s basically a loss leader — but it’s working because the renewal rate stays high and it feeds into higher‑margin offers.
Is that a fit for everyone? Probably not. But it’s proof that community cards can be a lead engine, not just a low‑priced product.
The Big Takeaway
Community cards aren’t a downgrade. They’re a lever.
- They fill faster.
- They require less design time.
- They give you credibility quickly.
- They create warm leads for your premium 9x12 slots.
If you’ve been stuck trying to sell a full card in a tough market, this is how you get unstuck.
If you want Mitchell’s exact process, templates, and weekly live calls, jump into the community here: https://www.skool.com/9x12method/about?ref=f1cdb8095f314467a95b084c94eff8ab
That’s where the real playbook lives.