Advertising Fizz

Running a Small Business Ad Campaign

adcreative — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:56:07 +0000

The key to success in an ad campaign is repetition. You must place your advertisements before your target audience at least seven times to make an impact. As a small business owner, you probably do not have money to do extensive advertising on TV and radio. Fortunately, there are many advertising methods that work well and cost little.

Plan
Before beginning your advertising campaign, you must plan it out. Identify your target audience, the people who buy from you the most. Develop a profile of their characteristics. Then plan where and how to advertise so that your audience will notice and be motivated by your advertisements.

Partner Up
Share advertising costs with a business that logically fits with yours without being a competitor. Decorators can partner up with furniture stores, tailors with fabric outlets, video rentals with pizza parlors. Design a campaign together; you might even be able to afford a TV commercial if you only have to pay half.

Put each other’s fliers, business cards, poster printing, and coupons in one another’s store. Refer one another to customers. It pays to make friends in the business community.

Mail Postcards
Postcards are cheap to print and mail. Announce your sale or promotion in large print with bright colors. Give details on the back. Make the postcard a coupon if you like.

Place Ads
Put ads in inexpensive local publications such as shoppers, TV guides, and Chamber of Commerce publications. Place as large an ad as you can afford so people will notice it. And make sure you can afford to reprint the ad four or five times.

Write Articles
Write an article related to your advertising campaign for your local newspaper. If you are selling vacuums, write an article about the growing allergy problem. If you want to get people to try your new hair stylist, write about current trends in hair in Hollywood for the entertainment section. Writing articles will get people interested in your store, and they will start to see you as an expert.

Hang Posters
Do a poster printing campaign to generate excitement. Put posters around town, the mall, or college campuses depending on your target audience. With poster printing, keep the message simple enough that people can read them within a few seconds. Use bright colors when poster printing to attract attention.

Running your own ad campaign can seem overwhelming without a plan and some know-how. But research and plan thoroughly before you begin, and you’ll be fine. Just be sure to keep track of results by asking new customers where they heard of you. This way you will know what worked and what didn’t for a much tighter campaign next time.

Is Your Business Memorable?

adcreative — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:17:21 +0000

Do you make an impression on prospective customers that lasts past your meeting? Do you stand out from other similar businesses? If not, making your business memorable may be as easy as rethinking your business card printing. The image you present with a business card can go a long way in making your business stick out from the rest.

If you are starting from scratch, then you have the advantage of starting out with unique and memorable business card templates. If you are post business card printing, then your are in need of a card makeover. There are few ways to make a card interesting by adding elements to it or by presenting it in an unusual way. Consider these tips for spicing up your card so that you are remembered long after you leave the room.
Add elements of interest to a boring business card.
Consider handwriting a discount on your card when meeting prospects, and require that it is presented at the time of purchase. You can also print additional information on an address label and stick it on the back of your card. Remember the idea is make your business card special so that it will be kept. A bit of advice or a mini calendar are also ways to add interest. Remember the idea is make your business card special so that it will be kept, but make sure to choose something that relates to your business.

Add images that relate to your business.
You can find many brilliant stickers that would add an element of interest, or have your own custom stickers printed, such as a football for a sports equipment store or a dog for a veterinary clinic. Stamps, finger prints, wax seals… get creative. You can also use a shaped hole punch, like a clover for a leaf for a landscaping business. Even a simple hole can start a conversation that makes you memorable. Of course, when creating a new design for business card printing, you can choose from free and eye-catching graphic images online and add them into your design.

Present your card in a way that makes you stand out.
When you hand out business cards, you have an opportunity to show clients that you are likable and useful, even unusual. Try handing someone a card with both hands. They WILL notice and wonder why. This small act will help them remember you. Another idea is to learn a magic trick with cards. Hand over your card with flare and you will definitely make an impression. Finally, if you are exchanging business cards, treat the card you receive exceptionally well. Your prospect will feel a subconscious impulse to do the same with yours.

Business card printing says a lot about a company. If you want to make your business memorable, then find a way to make your card stand out!

Questions to Answer Before Printing Business Cards

adcreative — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:15:49 +0000

Everyone in business needs a business card. Business cards help you to make contacts in a professional way. You never know when you might meet someone who needs your services or products. A professional business card to hand to prospects is a must. Before printing business cards, there are some questions you need to answer that will help the process go much more smoothly.

Should I Print Business Cards at Home?
The answer to this one is definitely no. You can have 500 cards professionally printed by an online business card printing company for only $20 or less, so there is really no reason to settle for homemade cards. If you try to print them at home, you will end up with amateurish cards that could give people a bad impression of your business.

Should I Use a Business Card Design Template?
Some online business card printing companies offer templates for a reasonable price. Using a template can help you design a great looking card for less than a professional designer would charge. The downside is that your card will not be as unique because you have limited options. To avoid this, you can simply use a blank template that provides the right size guidelines and place your own information using your design program. Look at business cards online for inspiration.

Should I Use a Local Printer?
With a local printer, you can preview physical samples of their work and keep close tabs on them, but they are usually expensive. Many online business card printing companies do great quality work, and they are a lot cheaper because they work in bulk, having a large customer base. If you use an online business card printing company, you can ask for samples of their work to be mailed to you before committing. And they should provide both electronic and next day mail proof options of your design.

How Many Cards Do I Need?
The price per card goes down as the number of cards you print goes up, but if you print too many cards, your contact information might change before you can pass all of them out. For a small business, printing 250 to 500 cards at a time is a good number.

What Should I Put On My Card?
Put your logo and tag line on your card. Your logo brands your company, and your tag line should tell people what you can do for them. You also need to include your phone number and web address. If you want to put more information than that, print it on the back of the card so as not to crowd your information.

Once you have answered these questions, you are ready to begin designing and uploading your files to your online business card printing company. You should receive your cards in only a few days or less and then you can begin handing them out to everyone you meet.

A Creative Business Card That Flaunts Your Brand

adcreative — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:09:02 +0000

Your business card often gives people the first impression they have of your company, so it is important to use it to bolster your image. Make sure the style of your card matches your business’s personality so you will attract the right kind of customers. Also, use your business card to tell people what sets your company apart from the rest; give consumers a reason to choose your brand over the competition.

Prominently Place Your Logo
Your logo should be one of the first things people notice when they see your business cards, so plan your business card printing order with that in mind. Your logo should be professionally designed to project the kind of image you want your company to have. Then, put your business logo on all your marketing materials, signs, and packaging. Having a consistent logo is one of the ways to build brand recognition.

Use Colors Consistent with Your Brand
In addition to a logo, choose a few colors to use in branding your company or products. Use those colors when business card printing to increase the professional look of your cards and to increase brand recognition. If you just have one signature color, you can use it as the background color. If you have several colors, work them all in to your design. Just make sure to print in full color with full bleed. Many business card printing companies can print full color cards that look stunning.

Keep the Style In Line with Your Business Identity
The font and graphics you use when business card printing should match the style of your business. If your business is wacky, your card should look wacky; if your business is cutting edge, then make your business card look edgy. The overall style of your card can also go a long way to flaunt your brand.

Include a Tag Line
You should have a tag line that tells consumers what makes your company different from the competition. It should be something that you do really well that benefits customers. Your tag line needs to be six to ten words long. Include your tag line in your business cards to make people want to do business with you.

Use Creativity to Make Your Card Memorable
If you make your business cards look really cool, even people who have never heard of you before will be interested. Put a full color photograph on your card for something out of the ordinary. Make it an attractive photo that pertains to your business in some way. Or, go one step further and use Photoshop to create a 3D image for an eye-popping image at no extra cost.

Business card printing is one of the most important pieces of your company’s marketing puzzle, so take the time to design them right. And no matter how many cards you may have left, always get more printed when any of your contact info changes so that you keep up your professional image.

A Quality Brochure Design Equals Successful Business Marketing

adcreative — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:22:34 +0000

We all want to accomplish successful marketing, but how is this done through brochure printing? Surprisingly this is not a hard task. The following steps will walk you through the creation of a successful brochure.

Grab attention with the cover
Your brochure cover is your only chance at a first impression. Avoid too many product details or lists. Cover this space with your most interesting information. A special promotion or event would work well on the cover. Couple it with some really impressive graphics and your brochure will pull in an audience.

Your brochure must speak directly to its audience
When you are writing the body when brochure printing, do so from the perspective of your customer or prospect. Make statements that talk directly to them. When you are done, read your brochure as though you are the customer. If you feel motivated to act on this great offer, then you have succeeded.

Win over your prospects with your best qualities
Brochure printing allows for a great deal of room to talk about your business. You can tell a little of your back story or what you believe in as a business. However, spend the majority of your space on selling your product or service. Tell your prospect exactly why they should choose you to fulfill their needs. Be specific about your bragging points.

Always include a call to action
The primary purpose for brochure printing is to sell your product or service. Use phrases like “call now” and “check us out online.” Give your customer or prospect motivation to move forward. These action phrases work well to move people into the next step.

Customers should be able to reach you easily
In order for your call to action to be successful, then you must be easily accessible. Always include all of your contact information when brochure printing. Your company name, address, phone and fax numbers, and your web address should be listed in a convenient place. You would not want to lose a customer because they could not find your contact information.

If you remember these key ingredients, then your brochure will be successful. Add your own flare with color schemes and photographs, and you are ready to pass out your quality business brochures to your customers.

Choosing the Right Calendar Size

adcreative — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:56:45 +0000

A fun and effective way to connect with your customers is through calendar printing. Calendars are ideally displayed in a prominent location in your customer’s office. If you provide your customer with a calendar that they like, you may get to enjoy a year’s worth of your logo and company information being advertised by your customer on your behalf.

A common question for calendar printing is how large should the calendar be. This article discusses a couple of considerations you should keep in mind when choosing the right size. If your calendar is too big, then your customer may not be able to functionally put it anywhere useful. If your calendar is too small, your customers may not be able to write important information and notes on it.

Know your customer
First of all, you need to know what your customer will be using the calendar for. If your customers are likely to write notes, important dates, and other information on your calendar, you should consider a larger calendar printing format. If your customers tend to have a smaller desk or may want to carry the calendar in their briefcase, a smaller calendar printing format may be more functional. Either way, keep your customers in mind and their uses for your calendar.

Size options
Full color calendar printing comes in all shapes and sizes. Typically the smallest type of format is a 6 X 9 and the largest is around 12 X 12. Once you exceed the largest formats, the cost for full color calendar printing gets incredibly expensive. Here are a couple of full color calendar printing sizes you can expect to be able to find:

• 6 X 9
• 6 X 12
• 11 X 8.5
• 12 X 9
• 12 X 12

Final thoughts
Make sure to look at bulk printing prices with your professional printing firm. You may be surprised to find that doubling or tripling your order may only cost 10 to 20% more. As long as you are developing a calendar printing project that meets your customers’ needs, you should find that your customers begin to post their calendars in their offices, which is a win-win for everybody.

Calendar Printing for Beginners

adcreative — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:04:11 +0000

If you have never done a calendar printing campaign to get your name out in front of customers, this type of advertising can create a windfall of new customers. The reason is simple: your customers are advertising on your behalf. Not only are they keeping your logo and contact information in front of other people, but they are exposed to your brand on a daily basis. Before you get going, here are a couple of things to consider.

Know your customer
Most businesses have what they would consider a typical customer for whom they will be printing their calendars. Take the time to understand how your customers may be using the counter. Some customers will want bright graphics and beautiful pictures, while other customer bases may not want any pictures at all. Some customers may want to write tasks and meeting schedules, so a large format counter printing project may be necessary.

Pictures and graphics
Make sure to include pictures that are relevant for your customers but also highlight your business. Themed calendars are common and topics range from holidays, comic strips, and industry tips to many others. The point is to make sure that your pictures and graphics are visually brilliant and engaging. Consider high contrast images and make sure they are 300 dpi so they come out looking crisp and clear.

Full-color
Full color calendar printing is the only way to go. The goal is a lasting advertising piece that stays in front of your customer year-round. Black and white or simple calendars simply do not make it onto the wall of the office. Make sure to work with a professional printing firm who knows how to get brilliant results and has a great deal of experience.

Buy in bulk
Finally, take the time to look at the price difference between doubling or tripling your order. You may be surprised to find that doubling your calendar printing order only increases your cost 10 to 20%.

Make Your Own Promotional Calendars in 6 Easy Steps

adcreative — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:56:14 +0000

If you are new to printing and graphic design, don’t worry. With the right knowledge, your promotional calendar design can go from concept to reality. Here are 6 easy steps for your own promotional calendar printing that impresses its recipients.

Pick a Theme

Every calendar needs a theme. Pick one that is interesting and fun. Your interests and passions will make the most successful calendars, but you should also consider that your calendar printing theme must match its purpose. If you are using the calendar as a business advertisement, you should match the advertisement to the business’s target audience.

Determine the Target Market

Determine the target market based on demographics of your customers or recipients. This can be a difficult task, so you can also use comparisons to other designs to help you match demographics and calendar content. Look at what competitors have used to reach a similar target market to yours.

Use a Functional Layout and Design

Calendar printing will be much more successful if yours is practical. For instance, if your those in your target market are office workers, then a desk calendar would be an ideal layout. This gives your recipients the added value of a functional calendar printing that has room for memos. Design the arrangement of the images and placement of the days and weeks in a way that is appealing to the eye. There are few methods of doing this, and a market comparison will help if you are unsure.

Strategically Plan Your Campaign

Up until this step, your focus of calendar printing has been on the product. Now focus on where you calendar will be placed to sell, how will you get it distributed to sell, and what price is best to sell your calendar at. This will provide you with a strategic marketing plan.

Take a Survey

It is easier and cheaper to distribute and collect a survey than to test after distributing your actual product. Before finishing your calendar printing, select a sample population for your survey based on the target population. Then distribute a survey asking if people would buy your product and for how much.

Create a Sample Market

Use a sample market to create projections. The sample market can be the same as the surveyed area. Most likely, it will be modified by the results of your survey. Sales revenue of the target market should be used to create projections. These projection will assist you in deciding how many to print and how fast the calendar will sell. Once you gather this information, all that you have left is to print and distribute your calendars, whether you plan to sell or give away your promotional product.

How to Choose the Right Online Printing Company

adcreative — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:48:19 +0000

Using an online printing company for your printing needs is a great choice! Whatever your printing needs – reproducing worksheets for students, property flyers for real estate sales, posters for advertising special events, even online business card printing – an online printing company can meet your every printing need. But with all of the choices available, how do you know which company to go with? Here are a few suggestions for how to choose the right online printing company for you.

Look for Convenience

Pricing is an important factor when making printing decisions but the quality of the finished product is also a factor. If you are planning to order your customer presentation materials such as brochures, booklets, and catalogs with an online printing company, you will need a company that offers all of these printing services without compromising quality and price. It is too much of a hassle to choose a specialty printer, such as an online business card printing company for your business cards and poster printer for your posters. Instead, look for a printer who:

Offers printing for a wide variety of materials such as business cards, postcards, letterhead, flyers, brochures, booklets, posters, and more
Offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Offers a sample that covers a variety of their products
Offers expert advice with a toll-free helpline
Offers lots of paper and finish options to get the look you want

Look for Green Practices

Another concern many consumers have is the “green” practices of their chosen online printing company. Many online business card printing companies proclaim their environmental friendship, but there are specific areas where a printing company especially should be environmentally conscious including:

• Using green inks – vegetable based or inks with low volatile organic compound emissions
• Using recycled paper stock for their printing
• Minimizing and recycling any paper waste that results from printing processes
• Having several locations to serve you, thereby reducing their transportation carbon footprint

Look for Customer Service

Great customer service is vital to any business partnership and online printing companies are no exceptions. Whether you need online business card printing or online catalog printing, look for a company with a fabulous customer service reputation. Your printer should have:

Easy to find contact info for helplines and ordering
Customer testimonials from actual customers
Dedication to meeting the demands of each printing order
Knowledgeable and friendly staff

So before you choose an online printing company for any printing needs, take a few moments to consider your options compared to the above lists. Ask business colleagues and friends who they have used for their online business card printing or other needs. And once you find the right company for you, get printing! And continue to use one company for all your printing needs to really save on those setup costs.

Building Value Through Business Card Printing

adcreative — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:37:41 +0000

Your business cards are a long-term print advertising tool. Yet, so many businesses overlook the opportunity to build value into their business cards so that their customers use the business card on a regular basis.

This article is meant to generate some ideas for ways that you may be able to build value through business card printing. Whether you are in the retail business or service business, there’s no reason you cannot find a way to give your customers an excuse to keep reaching for your business card.

Why make customers keep referencing your business cards?
The simple answer is brand recognition. More often new customers are exposed to your brand – like your logo, colors, tagline, and company name – the more often they will think of your company first when they need your products and services. So, it is very important to expose your customers to your business card on a regular basis. This is especially true since your business cards are likely your least expensive marketing tool.

Valuable information
For businesses in the service industry, many opportunities exist to include valuable information on the back of your business card. Interest rate conversion charts are popular for business professionals in the financial industry. Engineering firms could include English to metric conversion charts. You can even simply include a local sports team’s schedule in the form of a calendar. Be creative when considering using the back of your business card to have valuable information, so your customers continually keep referencing it.

Punch card
A common coffee shop practice is to offer customers a buy 5 get one free cup of coffee. Customers keep track of how many cups of coffee they have purchased with a punch card that doubles as a business card. Every time they purchase coffee, the cashier uses a hole punch with a unique shape to document another purchase.

There are many ways that other businesses can adopt this practice. The point is that customers retain your business card and keep it handy. The result is that new customers are exposed to your business card much more frequently than if they were simply trying to reference the contact information.

Coupons
Consider adding a coupon to your business cards. A simple 5-10% discount goes a long way to encouraging customers to come back soon. This also means they need to keep your business card close by. When they redeem the business card, simply give them another. This strategy has the same effect of exposing your customers to your business card frequently.