FAQs...

We know that you probably have questions. Here are a few of the most common enquiries that we receive.
Needless to say, if you can't find the answer that you're looking for in this section, then please feel free to give us a call or, alternatively, click here to be directed to our 'Contact' page from where you may email us.

Q. I already advertise using other methods. What makes Crisis card different and so successful?
Crisis Card is a totally new concept in local business advertising. Refreshingly different from the usual deluge of boring flyers, newspapers and circulars, not only is it different, but it's actually welcomed by most people who receive it!
Each industry category on the card is only available to one such business, thereby ensuring totally exclusive advertising for you. Combine this with an attractive, useful format - frequently retained for up to twelve months by recipients - and you immediately start to see the unique benefits to advertising with the Crisis Card - there's simply nothing else quite like it.
Be quick though, advertising space is strictly limited and demand, extremely high. Reservations are accepted on a strict first-come-first-served basis.

Q. My competitor received an invitation to advertise and beat me to it!  why did i not receive one?
Our research staff search each mailing campaign area for suitable businesses who may be interested in advertising on the Crisis Card. Occasionally, we even receive calls from consumers recommending businesses that have provided exceptional service and that they feel should be on the card!
Due to extreme demand and the exclusive advertising nature of the Crisis Card, it is only feasible to send a limited number (usually three) of invitations to selected businesses. Past experience has shown that sending out more than this ultimately leads to frustration and disappointment as advertising categories are hastily reserved.
If your relevant advertising category has already been taken and you are still keen to advertise, then please contact us and we'll be happy to place you on our reserve list and/or include you on specific future invitation mailings as they occur.

Q. How much does it cost to advertise on the crisis card?
Just $499 will secure your exclusive advertisement.
That equates to less than two cents per household. Incredible value when compared to producing and mailing your own advertising campaign or using other, less effective mediums.
Crisis Cards are delivered to a large, yet precisely calculated area in your business locale. These local customers are exactly the type of trade you want and need to attract for increased revenue success.
In addition, remember that each industry category is unique and only available to one such business - that's right, totally exclusive advertising with no competitors. Try and find that kind of exclusivity with any other advertising format!
This amount is for a full year's advertising. Crisis Cards are only mailed out every twelve months - extremely high homeowner retention means that it's just not necessary to replace them any sooner.
Your exclusive business contact number immediately to hand to thousands upon thousands of local households for up to twelve months...it doesn't get any better than that!

Q. Are there any other costs involved?
No, there are no setup fees or additional, hidden costs.

Q. How big are the Crisis Cards?
Right from the start, we wanted Crisis Card to be unique and different from other advertising medium. We think we succeeded. Every Crisis Card is 11 x 6 inches wide, printed on studio quality 12 point card stock and coated with a shiny, durable varnish for that high class, high quality look and feel. When advertising looks and feels this good, you'd better be quick to ensure that it's your business that people are looking at!

Q. How do you guarantee that my advertisement was included on my Crisis Card mailing campaign?
Immediately following distribution, you will be sent a complimentary Crisis Card showing your business entry in full print.

Q. How can you ensure that my advertisement was distributed to the specified number of households?
Together with your complimentary Crisis Card, you will also receive a copy of the US Post Office Mailing Certificate, showing the total number of homes your card was delivered to.

Q. What method is used to distribute crisis cards?
We only use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to deliver your cards. We never have, and never will entrust delivery to sub-par, door-to-door distribution companies. The best advertising medium deserves the best handling and delivery that only the USPS can provide.

Q. Twelve months seems a long time between mailings. Why Don't you replace the cards sooner than this?
Experience has shown us that it is simply unnecessary to replace the cards any sooner than this. In our earlier days, Crisis Cards were replaced every six months however, following extensive research, we were surprised to discover that over 68% of all recipients still possessed their card way beyond the six month period and even better, were referring to it frequently! This, together with its high print quality and durable, useful format makes it unnecessary to replace cards any sooner.

Of course, this also means that your business details are immediately to hand to thousands of local households, ready to call whenever they have a need for your particular service, day after day, month after month.

That's what makes Crisis Card so successful and different from other advertising mediums - it's a useful, high quality reference tool that households feel is worth holding on to in case of an emergency situation - and they do just that, for anything up to 18 months or until they receive a replacement!

 Q. Why don't you mail the cards to more homes in a particular area?
Each mailing campaign is carefully and precisely targeted at the relevant zip code areas that will provide additional business for your company. This is generally between 23,000 and 25,000 residential homes in the immediate surrounding area of your business address. The fact that Crisis Cards are locally biased is of significant importance to recipients, many of who tell us that local businesses and services create a feeling of trust and care. Circulation beyond these areas reduces such sentiment, ultimately reducing Crisis Cards effectiveness for your business.

Q. I want to guarantee my place on the following year's crisis card. How can I do this?
Current advertisers will automatically be given first priority to renew their advertisement for the following twelve months. In the unlikely event that such offer is refused, then that particular 'business category will be offered to other similar companies held on our reserve list. You are welcome to send in your renewal payment at any time prior to expiration in order to extend your advertisement. All renewal advertisements will be charged at the previous year's rate - guaranteed!

Q. Am I able to advertise my business on other zip code crisis cards?
In order that Crisis Cards remain locally focused, it is only possible to advertise on the card pertinent to your business locale and zip codes.
However, if your business has multiple locations or offices, then you will be given the opportunity to advertise on other Crisis Card campaigns as they become available.

Q. Am I able to pay on thirty-day terms?
Unfortunately not. The permanent nature of producing printed products together with the high demand for each advertising category, means that we require immediate payment to secure your placement. Payment can be made by check or money order. For your added convenience, we also accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Q. Once I place my order, how long until the card is published?
The Crisis Card is immediately sent for final proof and printing once all of the advertising categories are reserved. The length of time you will have to wait will usually depend on whether you were the first or last business to reserve your place on one of the thirty-two available categories. Regardless of how early or late you placed your order, you can be assured that our sales personnel are working hard to ensure that each business category is filled as quickly as possible. Past mailing experience indicates that virtually all such categories are reserved within 2-3 weeks of initial invitations being mailed.

Q. How secure is your website? am I safe paying on-line?
Your online security is very important to Crisis Card Media Services. That is why we are committed to keeping your sensitive credit card information secure and confidential. For your protection, we have installed industry standard, 128 bit, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology to protect sensitive information. This is the same technology as used by your own banking institution. You can check that your session is secure in two ways:

• A padlock icon located in either the lower-right or lower-left hand corner of your browser window. Alternatively, if using newer browsers, look at the end of your address bar.
  A closed or locked padlock indicates a secure connection.

• Look for the letters 'https://' at the beginning of the website address. The 's' stands for secure.

 We want you to feel 100% confident in using our on-line payment processing page.