Cross Promotion Techniques that Work
Have you ever seen a football team play with just one player? Probably not. The reason for that is simple: they just could not compete with one lonely player out on the football field.
The playing field in the world of business is very similar. You are at a distinct disadvantage if you are trying to go it alone. There is no reason why you should not be collaborating with other companies to “team up” on customers and bring in more business. You can find a company that offers a product that compliments what you sell. For example, if you fix car windows, find a body shop to collaborate with. Or you can team up with a completely unrelated business in your area.
Regardless of who you team up with, the important thing is to actually do it. Once you find a partner (or five) decide how you can help each other. Here are some good ideas to get you started:
How To Keep Your Brand Fresh
Have you ever pulled a carton of milk out of the fridge, only to find it spoiled? Do you remember how bad the spoiled milk smelled?
Letting your business’s brand presence slip is very similar to a carton of spoiled milk. It might not make you nauseous, but it will certainly cost you money. One of the most important tasks that you have as a business owner is to keep your brand fresh, in order to attract new customers and keep your existing ones.
Keeping your brand fresh is really not that complicated. You can do so by simply going over a few basic steps periodically.
Misconceptions about Brochures
A well designed brochure can do wonders for your business. When a brochure does its job, which is to spark the reader’s interest, it means money in your pocket (or bank account, or cash register, or…wherever you put your company’s money). But before you rush off to print up a fancy new brochure for your business, make sure you know what you’re doing. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about what makes a good brochure. Know them, and avoid them. Here are some:
Common Misconception #1: The More Information, the Better
Many companies make the mistake of designing their brochure like a book. They include loads of information that the customer could get from their website. When a customer looks at a brochure, he wants to see quick, enticing information; the kind of information that tells him that he needs to learn more about your company. The details are best left to the website.
Common Misconception #2: Product Listings are Bad
One of the oldest myths about brochures is that listing specific products within a brochure (like you would in a catalog) is a bad thing. Why? What is wrong with showing your readers exactly what you have to offer? Do not be afraid to use a little catalog design in your brochure printing.
Common Misconception #3: Print it and Forget it
Brochures are not meant to be lone soldiers in the marketing war. You have to back up your brochures with other marketing tactics, like a good website and effective advertising. Your brochure is meant to pique a customer’s interest, but it’s not there to close the deal. That’s what the rest of your marketing operation is for.
Connecting Customers to Your Online Presence with Brochure Printing
If your business doesn’t already have a blog, a Twitter account, or (god forbid) a website, then your business is missing out on some valuable marketing opportunities. Online marketing is necessary for improving the customer service of your business as well as for reaching a new group of consumers. Don’t make the mistake of separating your digital and print advertisements, though. Mixing Online marketing with your print marketing will up the exposure of your company and strengthen your marketing efforts. Here are some ideas for advertising your Online presence at a very small cost using brochure printing inserts.
The Brochure Design
Brochure printing is an excellent way to tell your existing customers about the services you now offer Online. You can either print entirely new brochures with the new information (costing you a fortune in old brochures that will no longer be relevant), or you can create brochure cards to slip inside of the brochures you already have. Make sure to include the following information:
• a tagline explaining your purpose for digital presence - basically what sets you apart from competitors
• an email address; make it more personal by giving your company email rather than the info@yourcompany.com
• your website address
• Facebook name
• Twitter url
• a logo and company name
• any other pertinent information, such as IM contact or blog page
The idea is to keep the design as simple as possible, so leave plenty of white space between lines of text. Brand the brochure well by using your company fonts and colors and, as stated before, your logo.
How to Use the Brochure Insert
Of course, the most obvious use for the insert is to place it inside of your existing brochures as a direct mail piece or to hand out at trade shows, business conventions, or sponsored events. But you could also place inserts in other correspondence to customers, such as flyers or newsletters. Hand out brochures to customers when they are leaving your store, or canvas the streets in strategic locations. Just keep in mind that the purpose of your brochure printing inserts is to alert existing customers of new services available Online, so when you will be giving the inserts to new clients, be sure to include other selling information.
5 Pointers in Designing Your Printed Media for a Stronger Brand
Equating trust with your brand often times means making your product a household name. If you can accomplish that then you will have a strong consumer base with sound longevity. People want to trust brand names. They will hold onto them with loyalty and dedication. Here are some pointers for giving your brand the identity and strength it needs.
1. Plan for the customer base
You will have more selling power within your ideal customer base. Trying to target an audience that is too broad will detract from your best buyers. For a younger group, for instance, you would present an edgy, spontaneous image. A more conservative look may appeal to an older group.
2. Stay focused and consistent
It is important to keep your message consistent. Consumers need to be able to recognize your product. This consistency will help the customer to trust your brand. Trust in your brand will bring in more customers. The type face and page layout should also be consistent. The visual appeal this provides will be attractive to consumers. Literature that is easy to read and understand will appeal to everyone.
The Greatest of Graphic Design for Posters
Ice Cold Effects Tutorial
This tutorial shows how you can create an ice cold looking image taken from a vodka ad.
Feather Under the Water Effect
Learn how to create an image of a feather floating underneath the surface of the water.
