How Promotional Products Boost Your Visibility

Promotional products are a particularly effective way to increase the visibility of your business at events and right at home. These items serve as a constant reminder of your company to the person who uses them. To make the most of your promotional products, check out these tips for success.

Choose Your Item Wisely

There are plenty of great promotional items to choose from today, including pens, mugs, magnets, tote bags, hats and key chains. Choose items your customers will use regularly, so your business name is always fresh in your mind. Think about the items your particular customers might use the most, rather than the promotional products you like best.

Maintain High Quality

It won’t speak very well of your business, if your promotional mug cracks the first time it’s washed or your company pen doesn’t write. When you order promotional products, make sure they are the highest quality items you can afford. These items are designed to promote your business; so they should work well and look attractive.

Link Your Item to Special Events

One effective way to push promotional products is to link them with a special event. For example, if your company is participating in a walk for Earth Day, choose a promotional item that corresponds with the event, such as water bottles. This allows for bigger distribution and greater appreciation for the items.

Keep Message Simple

Like any printed advertising materials, promotional items should keep their message short and sweet. A good guideline is to use seven words or less to describe your business, so the item doesn’t become overwhelmed with text. Be sure to include some basic contact information as well, in case your customer needs to get in touch with you.

Promotional products are an excellent tool for promoting your business. There are so many great promotional products available today; it is easy to customize your promotional item to your specific business and the needs of your customers. Useful items like mugs and pens may get plenty of daily use, so your company name is always at the forefront of your customer’s mind.

Latest Trends in Business Cards

Business cards have been an integral part of business dealings for decades, but those standard rectangles have come a long way since their early years. Now there are plenty of options to help you make your business information stand out from the crowd. Check out these latest trends in business card printing.

Sticker Cards

Want a business card that will stick with your potential client forever? Sticker business cards are one of the hottest ways to share contact information and advertise your business today. These cards are either sold individually or in a roll. Business card stickers can adorn presentation folders, promotional materials and even be used as a name badge at trade shows!

Die Cut Cards

The standard rectangle card is so last century – today’s card is all about unique shapes that stand out from the rest. Choose a basic round card or select a shape that illustrates your business. Some standard rectangles are also sporting cut-outs in the middle of the card for eye-catching style.

Folded Cards

Business cards that fold into shapes and objects are just too much fun to throw away. Some of these business cards simply fold up to display a photo, but others are much more intricate; featuring actual objects you can create out of the card and set on your desk.

Plastic Cards

Plastic is a more durable material than cardstock, so your plastic business card is sure to withstand the test of time. These cards have come a long way since their introduction, and now sport bright colors and designs to compete with their paper counterparts.

Memorable Images

Business cards are about much more than providing information today; many boast spectacular graphics and images that make the cards shine. Begin with a company logo and then add color and an image that complements your company.

Glossy UV Finish

A glossy UV finish does more than make your card get noticed – it also protects the information more effectively. A glossy UV finish also brings out the colors and graphics in your business cards beautifully.

Business cards are still in vogue, with plenty of new trends to enjoy. Check out one of these new business card ideas to make your next set stand out from the rest.

Using Signage to Promote Your Business

Signage is often something taken for granted by customers, but it is a key component in an overall business marketing plan. The right signs, banners and posters – both inside and outside your business – effectively attract new customers and direct current clients to the products and services they need. We have tips to help you make the most of the signage you use.

Use the Right Materials

There are many different types of materials that can be used for your signage today, including metal, plastic, paper, wood and vinyl. When you choose a material for your signage, consider the location and use of the sign. For example, signage located outdoors needs to be crafted of a weatherproof material that will hold up over a period of time.

Consider Branding in Your Design

As you are choosing colors, graphics and fonts, make sure your signage coordinates with the rest of your company branding. Signs should make it easy to identify your business at a glance, with a consistent color scheme and logo prominently displayed somewhere on the signage. Professional appearance is another must if you want your signage to help your business put its best foot forward.

Make it Easy to Read

Signage posted outside the business needs to feature much larger lettering than signs inside your business directing customers or advertising new services. A good rule of thumb is for signs 100 away from the customer; letters should be at least three inches. Signs meant to attract passing cars should also sport fewer words – 7 or less – to advertise your business. Dark lettering on a lighter background is also easier on the eyes for quick reading.

Consider Local Regulations

This is an especially important point for exterior signage. Most cities have regulations regarding the size, height and design of signs displayed outdoors. Become familiar with the regulations for your community, so you don’t make a costly mistake that requires you to replace a sign after it has been hung.

Signage is an effective way to promote your business when it is used properly. These tips will help you make the most of the signage you choose for your company.

Expanding Your Customer Base with Mailed Marketing Materials

With Internet advertising becoming more popular today, many small business owners neglect to make the most of direct-mail advertising methods. However, mailed marketing materials can be a great way to stay in touch with current customers and attract new clients. We have five tips to help you make the most of your mailed marketing efforts.

Develop a Good Mailing List

Begin you mailing list with a roster of your past and current customers, and then add to the list with highly targeted prospects who have never worked with you before. The right mailing list will ensure the mailed marketing you create and pay for will get to the people where it will have the greatest impact.

Draw Attention to Yourself

People get plenty of pieces of mail every day, so your printed advertising needs to stand out from the crowd. A compelling offer, bright colors or beautiful, color photographs will often be enough to get a potential customer to spend a little extra time examining your marketing material.

Keep it Cost-Effective

Direct-mail advertising tends to cost more than online advertising, but there are plenty of ways to keep expenses down. Opt for smaller postcards that are cheaper to print and send. With effective color and photos, your mailed marketing will get noticed in the smaller size.

Provide Information

When you take the time to send out mailed marketing to customers, be sure it provides all the information they need to initiate a professional relationship with your company. Include contact information on printed materials, as well as what you do and what makes your business stand apart from the rest.

Call the Customer to Action

Just like any other type of advertising, the most effective mailed marketing will end with a call to action. Whether you entice a new customer with a special promotion or simply provide sufficient contact information for him to get in touch with you, a call to action is essential to actually closing the sale.

Mail marketing continues to be one of the best ways to grow your business today. With these tips, you can make the most of every piece of advertising sent from your company.

Get Your Signage Moving for More Effective Business Promotion

Signage has come a long way since the first billboards began appearing on the sides of highways decades ago. Today, companies do not have to wait for customers to see their signs on buildings or the side of the road; instead, the signs can travel directly to the customer! Mobile signs have become one of the latest advertising trends, because they are both cost-efficient and effective. Check out these options in moving signage that you can choose from today.

Mobile Billboards

Mobile billboards are typically placed on trailers or trucks to be displayed wherever you might cart along products for your business. These mobile signs serve a dual purpose; in addition to alerting potential customers to your business, you add storage space for toting important business supplies. If you have a mobile business, these moving billboards may be worth considering.

Vehicle Wraps

One of the latest in mobile advertising, vehicle wraps cover a vehicle with your company name and information. The wraps are usually attractive and eye-catching, while distraction during driving is kept to a minimum. Some businesses even pay individuals to wrap their vehicles and drive them around town to advertise their company.

Portable Signs

Portable signage is designed with mobility in mind, whether you are moving your sign to the sidewalk in front of your business every day or carting it along to your next trade show. Small business owners that like to advertise at local events may find portable signs are a cost-effective way to draw attention to their products and services.

Bumper Stickers and Magnets

Bumper stickers are the tried and true means of mobile advertising that have been in existence almost as long as the cars they cover. Magnets signs come in a wide range of shapes and sized, and sport your company logo just like bumper stickers of the past. However, these mobile signs won’t damage the paint on your car like stickers might.

Mobile signage can be a great way to get your company name maximum exposure. Any of these ideas will help you get your business name on the road where potential customer are sure to see it.

Effective Advertising Materials for Your Business

While much of the focus in advertising in recent years has been on the Internet, there continues to be a plethora of options in printed advertising materials as well. The effective use of flyers, catalogs and business cards cannot be underestimated, even in today’s digital age. These materials can be prominently displayed in your business, mailed to potential customers or passed out at trade shows. We have some of the top types of printed advertising materials that can be used effectively to promote your business.

Best Printed Advertising Tools

• Flyers – These promotional pieces are an excellent way to advertise a new product or service or provide potential customers with additional information about your business
• Posters – Big and bold, posters are an internal advertising method of alerting new and current customers to the products you have available.
• Sales Letters – There is nothing more personal than a letter, and sales letters are an excellent way to let customers know what is going on in your business and thank them for theirs.
• Postcards – Postcards can be passed out, mailed or even left on dashboards. These small advertising pieces are typically directed to a single point, like a new product or upcoming promotional event.
• Catalogs – Catalogs filled with color photos and enticing descriptions are still an effective way of selling your products to a wider range of customers. Seasonal catalogs are especially effective, when you can introduce new merchandise and clearance out discontinued items.
• Door Hangers – Door-to-door sales are still a popular way for small business owners to peddle their wares, and door hangers make it easy to cover a large territory in a relatively short period of time. Add an enticing promotional offer on your hangers and you are likely to get more callbacks.

The sky is the limit when it comes to the type of printed advertising material you can use for your business today. From small pieces to mail out, to large posters that prominently advertise promotions and products right in your business, the value of these advertising tools cannot be underestimated. If you are looking for a way to boost you bottom line, printed advertising may be one effective way to grow your customer base.