What is the 9x12 method?
The 9x12 method is a proven direct mail marketing strategy that helps local businesses reach thousands of households affordably through shared postcard campaigns.
Written by Dustin Myers · Updated May 2026
If you already understand the business model and need a site, browse our 9x12 method website templates to see template options for EDDM and community card campaigns.
Understanding 9x12 Postcard Marketing
The 9x12 method (also known as the Local Spotlight method or shared mail advertising) is a collaborative direct mail marketing approach where multiple local businesses share space on a single oversized postcard measuring 9 inches by 12 inches.
Instead of one business bearing the entire cost of printing and mailing thousands of postcards, 12-16 businesses split the expense—making direct mail advertising accessible to small businesses that couldn't otherwise afford it.
Why 9x12 Inches?
The 9x12 size is the largest postcard format that qualifies for USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) rates while still being cost-effective to print. The oversized format stands out in mailboxes and provides enough space for multiple businesses to have impactful ad spots.
Learn From the EDDM School Community
The EDDM School Skool community is the go-to resource for learning the ins and outs of running successful shared mail campaigns.
What You'll Find Inside
- Step-by-step training on launching your first campaign
- Sales scripts and templates for signing advertisers
- Pricing strategies and profit margin breakdowns
- Design tips and postcard layout best practices
- EDDM route selection and mailing logistics
Community Benefits
- Connect with experienced 9x12 operators
- Get feedback on your postcard designs
- Ask questions and troubleshoot challenges
- Stay updated on industry trends and tips
- Network with operators across the country
Whether you're just starting out or scaling your existing operation, the EDDM School community has the resources and support you need.
Join the EDDM School CommunityHow 9x12 Postcard Marketing Works
1. Businesses Partner
12-16 non-competing local businesses join together to share postcard space and costs.
2. Postcards Designed
Each business gets an ad spot on the 9x12 postcard with their offer, contact info, and branding.
3. Routes Selected
Target specific neighborhoods using USPS EDDM routes to reach your ideal customer demographics.
4. Delivered to Doors
Postcards reach every mailbox in selected routes—typically 5,000-10,000 households per campaign.
Benefits of 9x12 Postcard Marketing
The 9x12 method has become popular among local businesses for good reason.
Affordable Advertising
Share costs with other businesses. What would cost $3,000+ alone might cost $300-500 per business.
High Response Rates
Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate vs 0.12% for email — 36x more effective at driving action, according to the Data & Marketing Association (DMA).
Hyper-Local Targeting
Reach every household in specific neighborhoods where your ideal customers live and work.
Stands Out
9x12 oversized postcards can't be ignored—they're the biggest item in most mailboxes.
Community Partnership
Build relationships with complementary local businesses while cross-promoting to shared audiences.
Recurring Revenue
Campaign operators can build a sustainable business with monthly recurring campaigns.
Can You Make Money with the 9x12 method?
Many people run 9x12 campaigns as a profitable side business or full-time venture.
Based on 12 advertisers, 5,000 postcards
Part-time commitment, 15-20 hrs/week
Happy advertisers return monthly
9x12 as a Side Business vs Full-Time
Side Gig (10-15 hrs/week)
- Run 1-2 campaigns per month
- Earn $3,000-$6,800/month extra
- Work evenings and weekends
- Keep your day job security
Full-Time Business
- Run 5+ campaigns per month
- Earn $8,000-$15,000+/month
- Expand to multiple territories
- Build a team of contractors
Want to learn how to start your own 9x12 business?
Read our complete 9x12 Side Business Guide →Who Uses 9x12 Postcard Marketing?
Businesses That Advertise
- Restaurants & Cafes
- Dental & Medical Practices
- Home Services (HVAC, Plumbing, etc.)
- Fitness Studios & Gyms
- Retail Shops & Boutiques
- Professional Services
Campaign Operators
- Side hustle entrepreneurs
- Marketing agency owners
- Print shop operators
- Local spotlight franchisees
- Community newsletter publishers
- Real estate professionals
6x11 Community Cards: The Growing Alternative
While the 9x12 postcard remains the most popular format, 6x11 community cards are rapidly gaining traction among operators. A 6x11 community card uses the same shared advertising model — multiple local businesses splitting the cost of a single mailer — but in a smaller, more affordable format.
The 6x11 format typically holds 4-8 ad spots and costs less to print and mail, making it a great entry point for new operators or smaller markets. Many experienced operators run both formats: 9x12 postcards for larger campaigns and 6x11 community cards for tighter neighborhoods or budget-conscious advertisers.
9x12 vs 6x11: Quick Comparison
| Feature | 9x12 Postcard | 6x11 Community Card |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 9" x 12" | 6" x 11" |
| Ad Spots | 12-16 businesses | 4-8 businesses |
| Print Cost (5,000) | $400-600 | $250-400 |
| EDDM Eligible | Yes | Yes |
| Mailbox Impact | Maximum — largest format | Strong — still oversized |
| Best For | Larger markets, max revenue | Smaller markets, lower entry cost |
Both 9x12tools.com and SpotDrops support both 9x12 and 6x11 formats, so you can run whichever size fits your market.
9x12 Postcard Tools & Software
The right tools make running 9x12 postcard campaigns faster and more profitable.
SpotDrops
Direct mail software for 9x12 operators — free to start. Handles payments, advertiser intake, EDDM route planning, and QR scan tracking. $0/month with a 7% fee only when spots sell, so you never pay before you collect.
Visit SpotDrops9x12tools.com
Purpose-built websites for 9x12 operators. Launch a professional campaign site in 60 seconds with lead capture, live postcard preview, and custom domain support.
Get StartedFrequently Asked Questions About 9x12 Postcards
How much does 9x12 postcard marketing cost?
Individual ad spots on a 9x12 postcard typically range from $200-$800 depending on the size of the spot and the number of postcards being mailed. This is significantly cheaper than running a solo direct mail campaign.
What's the difference between 9x12 and EDDM?
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is the USPS mailing service used to deliver postcards. The 9x12 method specifically refers to the shared postcard format and business model, which often uses EDDM for delivery.
How do I start a 9x12 postcard campaign?
You can either join an existing campaign through a local 9x12 operator, or start your own campaign by recruiting local businesses, designing the postcard, selecting EDDM routes, and coordinating printing and mailing. The best way to learn is by joining the EDDM School community on Skool where experienced operators share their strategies and answer questions.
What is the Local Spotlight method?
The Local Spotlight method is another name for 9x12 postcard marketing. It's called "Local Spotlight" because it shines a spotlight on local businesses through shared direct mail campaigns.
Do I need a website to run 9x12 campaigns?
Yes! A professional website helps you attract advertisers, showcase past campaigns, capture leads, and build credibility. That's exactly what 9x12tools.com provides—purpose-built websites that launch in 60 seconds.
Can you make money with the 9x12 method?
Yes, many people run 9x12 campaigns as a profitable side business or full-time venture. A typical campaign with 12 advertisers can generate $3,000-$3,400 in profit. Running 2-3 campaigns monthly as a side gig can earn $6,000-$10,000/month.
Is 9x12 a good side business?
The 9x12 method is an excellent side business because it offers flexible hours, low startup costs ($300-500), location independence, and recurring revenue potential. You can run campaigns around your full-time job and scale up as you gain experience.
How many hours per week does a 9x12 side business require?
A casual 9x12 side gig requires about 10-15 hours per week. This includes prospecting businesses, coordinating designs, and managing logistics. The work is flexible—you can make calls during lunch breaks and handle admin tasks on weekends.
What size is a 9x12 postcard?
A 9x12 postcard measures 9 inches wide by 12 inches tall — roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper. This is the largest postcard format that qualifies for USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) rates. The oversized format is impossible to miss in a mailbox, which is why response rates are significantly higher than standard-size mailers.
How much does EDDM postage cost for 9x12 postcards?
USPS EDDM postage for oversized postcards (including 9x12) is currently around $0.18-$0.21 per piece, depending on the route and volume. For a typical 5,000-piece mailing, postage runs about $900-$1,050. This is significantly cheaper than standard first-class postage because EDDM doesn't require individual addresses — it reaches every mailbox on the selected carrier routes.
What software do 9x12 operators use?
Many operators use SpotDrops — free to start, with a 7% fee only when an ad spot actually sells. SpotDrops handles advertiser payments, intake, EDDM route planning, and QR scan tracking. For a professional website to attract advertisers, operators use 9x12tools.com to launch a campaign site in 60 seconds. For postcard design, Canva and Adobe Illustrator are popular choices.
What is a 6x11 community card?
A 6x11 community card is a smaller shared mailer (6 inches by 11 inches) that uses the same business model as the 9x12 method — multiple local businesses share ad space and split the cost. The 6x11 format typically holds 4-8 ad spots, costs less to print, and still qualifies for USPS EDDM rates. It's a popular entry point for new operators or for targeting smaller neighborhoods.
Should I start with 9x12 or 6x11 community cards?
Both formats work well. If you're just starting out or working in a smaller market, 6x11 community cards have lower print costs and are easier to fill with fewer advertiser spots needed. If you're in a larger market and want maximum revenue per campaign, the 9x12 format fits more ad spots and has more visual impact. Many experienced operators run both formats depending on the market.
How many businesses fit on a 9x12 postcard?
A standard 9x12 postcard typically fits 12-16 business ad spots, depending on the layout. Most operators sell one spot per business category (plumber, dentist, restaurant, etc.) to ensure each advertiser has category exclusivity. Some operators offer premium larger spots at higher prices, which may reduce the total number of ads on the card.
What are EDDM bundles, and why do they matter for 9x12 campaigns?
EDDM Retail flats (which include 9x12 postcards) have to be submitted to USPS in bundles of exactly 50 or 100 pieces, separated by carrier route. So if a route has 873 households, you'll prepare 8 full bundles of 100 plus a remainder bundle. Most operators use software like SpotDrops to plan bundles automatically — manually counting and rubber-banding hundreds of postcards into bundles by route is one of the most error-prone parts of running a campaign.
What's the minimum number of postcards I have to mail with EDDM?
USPS EDDM Retail has a minimum of 200 pieces per route, but no overall campaign minimum — you can technically mail to a single small route. In practice, most 9x12 operators run 5,000-10,000-piece drops and most 6x11 community-card operators run around 2,500 pieces. The reason isn't postage — it's the unit economics for the advertiser. A spot on a 9x12 mailed to 5,000-10,000 homes is something a local business will pay $400-$600 for; the same spot on a 6x11 mailed to 2,500 homes lands at a price smaller-budget advertisers will commit to. Operators size their drops to whatever ad-spot price their target advertisers will actually buy.
Where do 9x12 operators get their postcards printed?
The print partner most operators reach for first is Printing4SuperCheap — priced for shared-mail operators and dialed in for 9x12 EDDM specifically. Other common options include UPrinting, GotPrint, PrintingForLess, and Vistaprint, plus a network of local print shops that handle EDDM flats. Print costs typically run $0.10-$0.25 per piece for 9x12 full-color cards, depending on volume and turnaround. Operators using SpotDrops match advertisers to the campaign before paying the print bill, so print costs end up effectively pre-funded by ad-spot sales.
Is the 9x12 method actually a real side hustle, or is it just hype on YouTube?
It's a real, decades-old direct-mail business model that recently became one of the most-discussed side hustles on YouTube. The shared community-card format has existed in local markets across the US for years — what changed is that creators began publishing the playbook openly, including income breakdowns, which triggered the search-volume spike. The work is real (cold outreach, design coordination, USPS bundling), but the math holds up too: most operators net $2,000-$4,000 per drop with a few hundred dollars in startup capital.
Why has the 9x12 method become popular on YouTube?
YouTube creators surfaced the 9x12 method as a low-cost, low-skill local business that fits the modern side-hustle audience: no inventory, no employees, no specialized education required, and a few hundred dollars to start. The "you keep the spread between what advertisers pay and what print plus postage costs" framing is unusually clean compared to most affiliate or e-commerce side hustles, which is why it spread quickly.
Do I need design, coding, or marketing skills to run a 9x12 campaign?
No. Postcard design no longer requires a designer at all — most operators now generate the ad creative with AI tools (Canva AI, ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.) and bring the output into Canva for final tweaks. Other options include starting from a Canva template, hiring a freelance designer on Fiverr, or letting the print shop's in-house designer handle it. Operators use software like SpotDrops to run the campaign back-end without touching code, and 9x12tools.com to launch an advertiser-facing website without writing HTML. The actual operator work is sales: calling local businesses, explaining the offer, and closing 12-16 advertisers per drop. If you can have a friendly phone conversation, the rest is logistics.
Can the 9x12 method be automated?
Most of the back-office can. Advertiser checkout, payment collection, artwork upload, EDDM route selection, household counts, QR-scan tracking, and territory protection are all fully automated inside platforms like SpotDrops — the operator never has to touch a spreadsheet. The two parts that don't automate well are the initial sales conversations with local businesses and the postcard design choices, which is where operators still spend most of their time.