Postcrossing is an online project that allows you to send and receive postcards from random people all over the world. It’s a great way to connect with new people and cultures. But writing the perfect message on your postcard can be tricky. In this post, I’ll share my tips as an experienced Postcrosser on how to craft thoughtful, compelling messages to your postcard recipients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The message you write on your Postcrossing postcard will likely be the very first impression the recipient has of you. It’s your chance to introduce yourself and share a little slice of your life. While the postcard itself showcases your city or country, the message allows you to connect on a more personal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve received over 800 postcards through Postcrossing since I started in 2016. The messages always make a big impact on me. I love getting a glimpse into someone else’s life and culture. A thoughtful, engaging message brings the postcard to life and creates a meaningful connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So take some time to craft your message thoughtfully. Your recipient will appreciate the effort!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are my top tips for composing compelling Postcrossing messages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Postcrossing allows you to connect with people from all around the globe. Be mindful of cultural differences as you write. Avoid topics or humor that could offend based on cultural norms. Do research on the recipient’s country if you’re unfamiliar with it. Show genuine interest in learning about their culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
English won’t be the first language for many of your recipients. Use simple vocabulary and sentence structure to make your message easy to understand. Online translation tools like Google Translate can help you write your message in their native language. Even just including a greeting in their language shows your effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Postcrossing is all about making human connections. Share tidbits about your own life and homeland. How’s the weather where you live? What do you do for fun? These small details bring you and your recipient closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like including a fun fact about my city, Vancouver. Like how we have the world’s largest offshore fireworks festival each summer. These personalized touches make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pose questions to encourage back-and-forth interaction with your recipient. Ask about their hobbies, favorite travel destinations, or pop culture. Share what you’re curious about regarding their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Questions give recipients an easy opening to respond to you. I’ve had some recipients even send a postcard back to answer my question!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quotes are a nice way to share inspiration. Choose something short that ties into your message. For instance, I’ll include literary quotes if I’m writing to a fellow book lover. Or I’ll add song lyrics if I ask what music they enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also include a snippet of poem that captures something about your culture. Just be sure the length is reasonable for the small space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If there is something unique I think my recipient would appreciate about my country, I try to suggest it. Recommend a popular book from your town’s author, or famous cuisine they should try. These recommendations let you act as a tour guide to the best parts of your culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teaching little bits of your native language can be fun. Pick a few words that give a taste for what your language sounds like. I select words related to my message like hello, thank you, goodbye, or keywords about topics I discuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even just seeing foreign alphabet characters alone can fascinate recipients. Sprinkle in words from your mother tongue to give that cultural flair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To spark ideas, here are some examples of postcard messages I’ve written and received:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Hello from Canada! It’s a beautiful sunny day in Vancouver today. I can see snow-capped mountains and ocean from my window. What’s the view like where you are? I’d love to hear about it! Here are some Canadian words for you: hello – salut, thank you – merci, goodbye – au revoir.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Greetings from Warsaw! Polish winters are cold and harsh. Many people ice skate on the Vistula River when it freezes over. Do you have any favorite winter activities? Please tell me about the weather where you live. Enjoy your postcard!”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “The cherry blossoms in Kyoto are blooming! The parks are filled with picnickers admiring the pink flowers. I’m enclosing a photo from my hanami party. When spring arrives, Japanese people celebrate rebirth and the beauty of nature. We feel hopeful watching the blossoms emerge.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, these messages give a warm introduction, share local color, ask questions, and provide cultural insight. Use them as inspiration when crafting your own Postcrossing messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While writing your postcard message, beware of these common pitfalls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The small postcard space limits how much you can write. Keep your message under 150 words or so. Write succinctly to fit it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid discussing politics, religion, or other potentially divisive topics. Postcrossing is meant to spread peace and goodwill. Controversy could offend your recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before writing, check your recipient’s Postcrossing profile for clues about their interests and preferences. Personalize your message to who they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your handwriting is legible for recipients abroad. Print clearly instead of using cursive if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following these tips will help you steer clear of message blunders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most importantly, just be yourself as you write your Postcrossing messages. Share your unique perspective and what makes you you. When you write from the heart, your sincerity will show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Postcrossing motto says “send a little happiness.” Your genuine words can brighten someone’s day across the miles. So let your personality shine through in your one-of-a-kind message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handwriting your message also adds extra meaning. In our digital world, receiving a handwritten note shows someone cared enough to write specially to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So pick up your pen, pour out your thoughts, and spread happiness to fellow Postcrossers worldwide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re just starting out with Postcrossing, here are some handy tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With these Postcrossing tips for beginners, you’ll be exchanging awesome postcards in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope this guide gave you ideas and inspiration for penning memorable messages on your Postcrossing postcards. By putting thought into your words, you can help spread happiness and connection worldwide, one postcard at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The messages we share bring us closer together. Your message might end up framed on someone’s wall across the ocean as a cherished reminder of our shared humanity. So be your authentic self as you handwrite from the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let Postcrossing spark a journey of learning, growth and new friendships. Write on!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Postcrossing is an online project that allows you to send and receive postcards from random people all over the world. It’s a great way to connect with new people and cultures. But writing the perfect message on your postcard can be tricky. In this post, I’ll share my tips as an experienced Postcrosser on how… Read More »Writing the Perfect Postcard for Postcrossing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":187,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions\/197"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtere.teganreilly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Common Postcard Writing Mistakes to Avoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lengthy messages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Controversial topics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ignoring profile info<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poor handwriting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be Authentic and Sincere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Additional Tips for New Postcrossers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n