When QSLing directly through the mail to a QSL Manager or DXpedition, do you send a beautiful glossy colorful QSL card with a nice photo of you and your station? We've have all seen them and spend a few moments checking out the other guy's station. In addition, we all love to receive QSL cards from exotic locations from around the world and we stare at the photos of the palm trees against the pretty blue oceans and wish we could have been on that DXpedition ourselves. But when sending your QSL card direct to the QSL Managers, there is a very important protocol about the card you are sending that needs to be followed. First, save your pretty colorful glossy photo QSL card for QSLing direct with an individual who will appreciate it. You can save a boatload of Green Stamps by simply sending a blank index card that has only information on it that the QSL Manager is looking for. Additionally, you will be making the QSL Manager's life easier. Your pretty QSL will not get posted on the wall for all to see. It will most likely get bundled up with thousands of other QSL cards, packed into a box then placed in somebody's basement never to be seen again. Sort of like the last scene in the Indiana Jones movie. The end result is, YOU WANT THEIR CARD IN RETURN! So, make the QSL Manager's life easier and follow a few simple rules when filling out your card information.
 

Notice how the letters EG blend with the background. This takes an extra few seconds to read.	This card was just hard to read period. I had to hold it at an angle in the bright light to read it. Worst, a QSL manager might toss it aside.

Below is what you need to be providing the QSL Manager;

1. Your Call Sign in nice legible block letters.
2. The DATE of the QSO in International Format. That is; Day/Month/Year for example 26/11/2011 for November 26th, 2011.
3. Time in UTC you made the contact. Not your local time.
4. The Band. Such as 20m. You don't have to put the precise frequency. Just put the Band. I have seen simply "14mhz" as the Band worked.
5. The Mode which you made the contact. SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK, SSTV, Etc...
6. Your Report, 599 for CW or 59 for SSB. (isn't it funny how everybody is 59)
7. Oh, very important, the call of the DX station you worked.

All 7 points need to be on the SAME SIDE OF THE CARD. Don't have your call sign on the front side and the contact information on the back side. That flipping the card back and forth does slow down the process of the manager. Don't forget the proper return postage and return envelope if QSLing direct. Also, check the QSL Manager's website for any additional information that might be asked for. Such as how many IRCs or Green Stamps to provide. (A Green Stamp is Ham Speak for a Dollar Bill)

I can not emphasize just how important it is to WRITE LEGIBLY! Many logging programs have the ability to print out labels with the above 7 items printed nicely on it. GOOD GRIEF! USE IT!

Here are few very important DON'Ts;

1. DO NOT use a QSL Card that is intended for two or more operators. That is like a family card with the husband's call sign, the wife's call sign and maybe the children's call signs with maybe a check box indicating who made the contact. This can be a little confusing and slows down the process of the QSL Manager's job.
2. DO NOT use cards that were printed on dark blue paper and dark blue ink. Very difficult to read unless under a bright light. Use white card stock and a black ink pen. Better, use the printed labels that your logging software can print out.
3. Do NOT use folded cards. It's ok if the DXpedition is sending out folded cards. But don't you do it.
4. And for goodness sake! Write Legibly! I have had a few DX contacts get busted out because the QSL Manager couldn't make out what was written.