Marketing Manner

Does your company need to give promotional gifts? If you have not already asked yourself this question, then it’s time that you do. Does your promotional t-shirt, cap, pen, mouse pad, or print calendar really have an effect on potential clients? If the answer is yes, then you should start passing them out now! Here are some reasons why I – and most companies – find that the answer is yes. Continue reading »

When you are doing a calendar printing, there are some tricks you need to know to prepare your photographs for the printer. Great looking photos are the most important part of wall calendars, so here are some tips for getting clear, sharp images that have the colors you intended. Continue reading »

The big temptation is to send your marketing message to everyone. The more people who hear about you, the more clients you will get, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case. The most effective way to market your company is to direct your approach to a specific smaller group. Once you have found your niche in marketing, you find that your client lists will grow far faster then if you send a general message to everyone. Here is how to make that happen. Continue reading »

Advertising a fundraiser is a large task, but it can be accomplished successfully if you are deliberate. Since there are many avenues to take when advertising, it can be difficult to know which ones are right for your event: flyers and posters make great advertisements, but mailers and phone calls are also effective. Here are some great tips for advertising your fund raiser that will help you to know what methods of advertising are right for you. Continue reading »

Sticker printing is a very cost effective marketing method for increasing brand recognition.  Because of the limited space on a sticker, you’re often limited to a short message or even just your logo.  But careful design and placement can yield your business a significant brand recognition boost.  Take the following examples into consideration when you think about inexpensive advertising that your company could use.

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Do you have trouble creating an effective piece of advertisement? Maybe you don’t know where to start. Or maybe you have so many ideas that your poster printing piece looks like a novel. Fortunately, ad writing is relatively simple if you know a few simple rules. When you are creating advertising for your small business, keep the advice in mind for a much smoother writing process and much better results.

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The best way to increase your profits is to provide everything people need in one place; just look at the success of Wal-Mart Supercenters or Super Targets. You can create this same atmosphere through cross-selling and up-selling techniques in your print catalog. All you need to do is brainstorm about what people need — what will help them solve their problem the most sufficiently. Here are some ways that you can use cross-selling and up-selling in your print catalog for encouraging a larger purchase.
Cross-sell Products that Go Together
Consider your main products and what people will need to use that product. Then offer those other products along with your main product. Very often, consumers will never see the importance of purchasing more than the one product they have set their mind on without some help. So not only will you increase your profit by selling more stuff, you will be helping consumers better fulfill their needs.

Cross-sell Services Along with Your Products
Some products are difficult to use and so customers need services to go along with them. For instance, if you sell computers and software, most customers would appreciate help with the installation. Either offer such services at a low price, or include it with the cost of the software as a promotional perk.

Up-sell Products that Work Better
Up-selling is simply getting customers to upgrade to a better product from the one they were originally going to buy. When you create your print catalog, you should describe the benefits of upgrading to a better model in glowing terms. In the computer catalog example, tell how much faster and more efficient a higher quality computer would be.

Sell Packages at Bargain Prices
Customers love to buy everything they need in one package when it saves them money. In your print catalog, spell out how much they will save by buying everything together. On the pages with your big ticket items, give a bullet list of complementary products that go with it along with their separate prices, and then print the bargain package price in large, bold type.

Cross-selling and up-selling can take your struggling business and make it thrive. Just keep the above tips in mind and your print catalog will be one that customers feel they can trust to truly fulfill their needs.

So, really, why all of the hype about promotional calendars? Of course, they are an excellent marketing tool that can be customized to fit any industry or clientele. And they do offer your business the ability to find advertising real estate right in your customer’s living or working space at a small cost to you. But are they really worth the time and cost for your business? Here are some ways that promotional print calendars are a big deal for your business. In other words, yes, you should invest in a new promotional calendar each year. Take a look:

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Marketing is tricky. While marketing efforts are supposed to be what turns your small business’s product into a household brand, marketing can also become a money drain if not conducted correctly. If you find yourself quickly sinking down the drain of inefficient marketing, turn your efforts around by following a few steps that will increase results, not increase your costs.
Trade More Expensive for More Effective
Any marketing that isn’t bringing in leads and making an impact on consumers needs to be eliminated. For instance, brochure printing and mailing to your most encouraging prospects or in response to direct inquiries are more promising rather than continuing to air lots of radio commercials that aren’t bringing in leads. Also, look at those areas in which you can increase exposure while cutting costs, for instance, a weekly email newsletter rather than monthly print newsletters.
Go After the Right Consumers
Don’t waste your valuable marketing dollars chasing those consumers who will never be interested in your products or services. Rather than sending your print brochures to everyone in town, reserve them for your target market. Instead of hanging print posters on every street corner, post them in the path of your intended audience.
Prepare a Better Message
Is your sales pitch all it can be? Does it really tell consumers why your product is the best, how it can solve their problems, make their life easier, and then some? If not, then you will need to revamp your message and print brochures and business cards and re-design your website to include this new approach. When making a purchase, customers don’t care about the history of your business and other irrelevant information. They want to know why they should be purchasing this product from you.
Use a Combination Approach
Limiting your marketing to only a few different media and materials will limit your results. Combine print brochures, email blasts, social networking, and more. Get creative and try some new methods of exposure. Accept speaking engagements, attend a trade show or two, hand out your print brochures during carnivals, if your target market will be there. Just remember to choose those marketing efforts that are bringing in new customers, otherwise your marketing will suck your pockets dry rather than increase revenue.
Commit to Daily Marketing Tasks
Write a portion of your newsletter. Send greeting cards to customers with birthdays this month. If you are the only one doing the marketing in your business, you may need to complete several tasks a day. What if you don’t have time to keep up with it all? Instead of hiring a new employee for marketing purposes, divide marketing tasks among current employees. Or, for less than hiring a marketing department, you can outsource your efforts to a marketing firm. You just need to decide which path will give you more for your marketing dollars.

Powerful call to action phrases will make all the difference with a brochure printing design – a difference between a stellar increase in sales and a little bit more than what you had before. In this market, brochures can illustrate your willingness to do what it takes to go the extra mile, but make sure that yours are worth your time and advertising dollar by including the following call to action phrases.

Sweeten the Deal with an Upgrade
Insist upon a giving an upgrade for ordering now, for instance, “Call now and we will add even more to your order for the same price.” Leave out how much you are adding on the printed brochure to create a curiosity. This will entice the procrastinators to order now rather than putting off ordering and just forgetting to order later. 

A Guaranteed Trial Period is a Must 
Nothing motives more than a win-win situation. With a guaranteed trial period, the consumer has no risk or reason not to order. Inform the consumer that returning the product will simply give you feedback and allow you to better serve your other future customers. Best of all, most consumers do not return a product within the given time period.  

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! 
“Special offer” or “Limited time only” are great call to action phrases for brochure printing pieces. Motivate the consumer with a discount that will not be available in the future. Use a short term deadline or a coupon. You might even try a “Coupons are limited to the first 1000 callers.”

Free Gifts are Great Motivators
Offer a free gift if the customers places their order now. To further encourage an immediate purchase, make it clear that the gifts are limited with a phrase such as, “Get your free gift before they are gone!” Free gifts are great for causing the phones to ring with more orders. Everyone loves a good deal and a free gift is just the way to do it.

Other Free Stuff! 
The customer will say, “Oh my gosh, this is unbelievable!”  A free gift, free accessories, and a limited time discount. No customer will be able to resist. Oh, and don’t forget the upgrade. All of this will call customers to action and push your printed brochure over the top.
        
One final tip for motivating customers: if what you sell is only available on your website or at your storefront, let customers know. For instance, “Call now! This is not available in stores.” You may even want to advertise that operators are available 24 hours, but only if you plan on following through with this offer.