Because of poor design most brochures and flyers get thrown away!  It is better not to have something that people just throw away because they are unimpressed. If your going to produce a flyer or brochure, make it worth the effort.

Many times I have told a person to go to my website to learn more about my services, only to have them tell me that they would prefer a brochure or other information he can look at at his leisure! You might have a website that contains all the information about your company and product that you feel you need.  You might also have digital information you can send potential customers via email.  But there are many times you will need printed information for a prospect. If you do not have this information ready to hand to him, you may not get […]

For a small or home-based business, a business card is far more than a piece of paper with your name and contact information on it.  It should be thought of as one of your most important marketing tools! It can be:  A mini billboard A brochure An advertisement or even an order form! When well designed and well printed, your card makes an impression, establishes your credibility, and lets you stand out in the memory of those you meet for future business or referrals. On the other hand, when designed poorly or printed poorly, it is sent to a pile […]

A highly effective business card draws a second glance.  Then the person receiving it will give you a second look as well.  That person may comment on the card itself, but more likely will simply be a little more interested in finding out about your business.  You have risen in his or her esteem.  The effective card says, “This is a person to listen to.”

After my post yesterday on “Graphic Identity”, several people emailed me and asked where they can find a graphic that can do a good job and is reasonably priced! The best graphic designer I have ever found, that makes every single brochure or business card she designs “pop” and insures a great first impression is Denise Smith.  For only $50.00 she will design a full color two sided busienss card!  That is an unheard of price.  Even though I have my own graphics department at my printing company, I send my personal cards to her. When you combine her graphics on business […]

If you want your business to sell itself, you may want to redesign your graphic identity to make your letterhead, business cards, website, and other marketing materials as visually dynamic as possible. Think of every letter you send and every business card you send out and every brochure you send as a mini-billboard for your company.  How do the materials you currently use measure up?  Do your mini-billboards turn any heads?

If the people you meet can’t remember your company name when they need to call you or refer you, if you don’t have any printed materials to follow up with, if the printed materials you have got are amateurish, or slipshod, if you don’t have a website or that website looks amateurish … or worse, all of your word-of-mouth efforts go down the drain! On the other hand, if when someone needs to reach you, your company name pops quickly to mind, and if that person has your professional looking card, brochure, or other follow-up materials and they can find your […]

There is a saying that you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.  This is especially true in the business world.  Whether you are meeting someone in person, making a phone call, writing a letter, writing an email, your printed literature, building a website, walking into someones office, or they walk into yours, you only have a few seconds, if that, to make people want to see or hear more.  In fact, on your website, if you can’t impress someone to do business with you n 14 seconds, they move on! Therefore, it is up to you […]

Often prospective clients will ask for the names of others you have worked with.  Satisfied clients can be of enormous help to you by serving as a reference for prospective clients and customers.  Start building a list of references as soon as you can and have their phone numbers handy to give out as needed. Even if you know someone won’t care if you use them as a reference, always call to request permission.  Then call when someone will be calling.  No one should ever be surprised to receive a reference call.