Improve Your Marketing Letters with Custom Letterheads

Boring letterheads just don't cut it these days in business. If you are going to use marketing letters today, you need special kinds of letterhead printing that delivers more than just a company label. What you need in your letterheads are custom designs and powerful professional letterhead printing. Here are the advantages of investing in such for your marketing letters.

1. Better overall impact - Of course, as expected, custom letterheads with fancy designs will always get a better overall impact. If you compare a simple, “canned” letterhead design with a professionally made and customized color letterhead, you will easily see the difference. Custom letterheads have personality, emotion and energy, all contributing of course to a larger overall impact. This can really help get you more responses and interest from your marketing letter, so the customized designs are well worth the price.

2. Chance to show your capabilities - With customized letterheads, you will get the chance to show off your capabilities as a professional. As you well should know, letterheads are of course an expression of your business image as well as your company's. By creating a very powerful design that shows off what your business can do, you can easily impress people with your special marketing letters. Instead of just the text of the letter itself, the letterhead can communicate the strength and professional skill of you and your company. So if you want that opportunity to flex your business image and show off your capabilities, you can use custom letterheads to communicate those great characteristics.

3. Chance to advertise - Custom color letterheads also give you the opportunity to advertise your products and services. Besides serving you and your business image, you can task your marketing letter to advertise your newest products, not only via text, but also via a color letterhead.

It is easily possible to insert advertising images and content into a large professional letterhead. Typically you can put them on the right side, whilst all the other important information is at the left. This will add extra functionality to your letterhead printing, giving you more things to do with your marketing letters. This is a great investment that you should really consider.

4. Chance to develop a business image - With custom letterheads, you should also be able to develop your own unique business personality. By using a certain style of design along with your business contact information, you can easily impress upon people what kind of business image that you want to convey. You can use corporate themes to establish a professional reputation, or you can add in very creative and wild themes to convey the energy and innovative spirit of your firm. It is all up to you and your design, as long you have that customized color letterhead it is quite possible to develop any image that you want and need.

5. Chance to be more memorable - Finally, custom letterheads give you the chance to become more memorable. This is simply because customized letterhead designs look more unique and original than the typical ones used today. This makes custom letterhead printing quite the lingering powerhouse for marketing letters that is well worth the price of printing.

So why don't you improve your marketing letter's chances by using custom letterheads? It will be one of your best decisions for your business in your life. Good luck!

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 446
Date Published : Nov 7 2010

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Your Database: Your Most Valuable Asset

Your most valuable asset is not the money in your bank account. Your most valuable asset is what you know about your customers - because that will lead to more money in the bank. Money in the bank is good. But it's more important to consistently generate more. Money in your bank reflects what you did yesterday. Knowledge about your customers determines what you will do today and tomorrow.

If your business depends on strong relationships then you need information to maintain and strengthen those relationships. Maybe that's why some companies call this process "CRM" - Customer Relationship Management. It's just a sexy term for simple database management.

Some say that information is valuable. Not by itself. Relevant information about your customers is not only valuable but vital to the growth of your business.

If you know who your customers are - you know whom to call. If you know what your customers want - you know what to offer them. If you know when your customers want it - you know when to offer it. If you know your customers' challenges you can help them. If you know your customers' concerns you know how to sell to them. The more you understand your customers' habits, environment and personality - you can more likely anticipate their needs and wants.

Today it is imperative that you maintain a useful database of customer information. A database is a record of information. Here are a few examples of databases: the yellow pages, a recipe book, a shopping list, a game schedule and a TV guide.

The Rolodex, a simple database system, worked very well However, today technology allows us to get more from our customer databases. We put it on the computer. There are many computer databases you can choose from.

Criteria in selecting your database
Your database is a combination of: name and address book, phone book, journal, bring- forward (tickler) file, idea file, activity planning tool, business map and to-do list.

In selecting your database consider these basic needs:
It should be simple to update information.
Information must be found quickly.
There must be multiple search methods.
If more than one person can update information it must name and date stamp the update.
You can categorize contacts by different groups.
Contacts can be part of more than one group.
You can set date and time sensitive reminders
It tracks history of contact details.

When more people need access to your database you will have additional needs concerning access, security and timeliness.

Typical questions about a customer database:
Who should be in your database?
What information should be in your database?
How can you use your database?
How else can you leverage your database?
How do you protect your database?

Who should be in your database?
Almost everybody. For example: everybody you ever did business with, everybody you expect to do business with, and everybody who might influence those you do or might do business with.

Your database might include clients and prospects, but also: media, suppliers, association leaders, community leaders, corporate executives, associates and competitors. Some of these might also be clients or prospects. But others can influence your clients and prospects. You want to keep track of them - and influence them.

What information should be in your database?
It depends on your business. you might include: details of every business transaction; details of every discussion, meeting, and bid; alternate contacts including assistants, associates and superiors; personal details about family, likes, dislikes, activities, education, alma mater, awards received, association memberships, significant dates; information about their customers; all promises you made to them; all promises they made to you; your feelings about the person and company; notes that trigger your memory about their appearance or character; where you took them for lunch and who paid etc.

Get the idea?

Maintaining your database might feel boring - but the results you get from it can be very exciting and profitable.

How can you use your database?
This is the exciting part. Using your database allows you to think and plan your activity then follow the plan systematically.

Use the reminders in your database to remind you of the next step. For example: depending on the contact, you might set the reminders to tell you to call regarding status in two weeks, send more information in 3 months, or meet to renew the contract in one year. By setting these reminders no one falls through the cracks. Of course you must check your database every day.

When you contact your client or prospect you can quote what you both said the last time, then move quickly forward with your follow-up discussion. When you talk with them you don't need to rely on memory. Instead you have the details about the relationship on your computer. You can tell them, "You paid for lunch last time - this one is mine." You can ask them about the project they were working on, their daughter's soccer tournament or their anniversary vacation in Hawaii.

How else can you leverage your database?
More excitement. Use their past behaviours and buying habits to predict future patterns and behaviours. Remind them before they realize they need you again.

Segment your database into categories. Not all of your customers are equal. Not all of your prospects are equal. So don't treat them equally. Some deserve more attention than others so allocate your resources and time appropriately. Some you contact every month - some only twice a year. Send special offers to your best customers. Send postcards to your hottest prospects.

How do you protect your database?
This is the most boring part. Until you don't do it and things go wrong. Then watch the excitement fly. Your computer only works for you part of the time. The rest of the time it is scheming to make your life miserable. Everything from viruses, power glitches, general freeze-ups, and other nasty pestilences that are inflicted upon us by the gremlins of technology.

But you can prevent these pains by backing-up your database - regularly. Backing up your database might seem boring and time consuming. So ensure it happens regularly by making it a habit. Better still make it an addiction. You will thank your foresight one day.

Who wins?
It's not the information that determines who wins. It is the innovative use of that information that makes you different from your competitors. In the game of chess everyone knows the rules, all the previous moves of the game and all the possible moves. The one who wins is the one who understands the relevance of that information and makes the best use of it.

About the Author:
© George Torok helps business grow. He is co-author of Secrets of Power Marketing. Get your free copy of "50 Power Marketing Ideas" at http://www.powermarketing.ca/ You can learn more about his speaking and training programs at http://www.torok.com/ To discuss your needs and how he can help you call 800-304-1861 No. of Times this article has been viewed : 517
Date Published : Nov 9 2010

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Why do you exist?

Normally at the end of year I would write a post about getting your marketing plan and budget in shape for the coming year. Not this time. This time I'm going to ask a simple question… Why do you exist? Or, more specifically… Why did you start a business in the first place?

The obvious answer for most is to make a profit selling a product or service. Some may even say it's to make a profit doing something they are passionate about. But, that's not really why your business exists. As Simon Sinek describes it in his book Start With Why, why your business exists is “The problem it set forth to solve or the change it wanted to make.” It is not your strategies or your goals, it is your reason for being.

This reason must lie outside the business itself. It must lie in society, because business is a major force in shaping society. No, I'm saying that all businesses must be philanthropic in nature — but wouldn't that be wonderful — what I'm saying is that your reason for existing as a business is to make an impact on society. This impact may come in the form of helping underprivileged children get shoes on their feet. It may be that you intend to change how the world uses computers. Or it may be something more practical like helping dog owners find a good place to eat. Whatever the case may be, this is the reason that drives your business. this is why you exist.

Why does Catch Light Productions exist? That's an easy one. We want to help small businesses stop settling for less when it comes to their marketing — to fill the gap between modest budgets and outstanding results. We achieve this by remaining lean and pulling together specialized teams to match the specific needs of each individual client.

So, as the new year approaches take some time to think about why you exist. When you realize your reason for existing, the game changes. Your marketing efforts will seek to fill a valid and well defined need rather than simply persuade a consumer to make a purchase.

About the Author:
Catch Light Productions http://www.catchlight.com Established in 1989, Catch Light Productions is a creative agency specializing in turnkey advertising, marketing solutions and graphic design for small business, new business, and the entrepreneur. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 288
Date Published : Dec 2 2010

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Branding Secret: Controversy Sells

Do want a powerful branding strategy? Take a controversial position. Offend someone and attract your target market. But you have to pick your position and enemies carefully. Don't offend your fans or best customers.

Controversy sells newspapers, books, and movies. You can also use controversy to sell your product, service or yourself. Notice how they often do it in the movie business. The entertainment industry has lots of vivid controversy lessons for marketers.

Controversy can be a powerful branding technique. But it comes with a cost. It means that you will need to take a position. You will offend some and strongly attract those who like your position. Are you willing to be so bold?

It could be as simple as the title that sells the movie. Consider the success of "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" or "Snakes on a Plane". Both of those titles were vivid, graphic and controversial. People either immediately hated or loved the movie when they first heard the title.

At one time in the entertainment world it was enough to title your program as "The Greatest Show on Earth" to grab attention and get people talking. Today you might need to label your show as "The Vagina Monologues" or "Puppetry of the P*nis" to get attention and create controversy.

The Guides for Dummies and Idiots series of books generated attention with the controversial titles. They sold very well. The multiplicity of topics tells you that.

The sensitivity of the content could create enough success in a movie. Consider "Passion of the Christ" and "The Da Vinci Code". There was little need to advertise those movies. The controversy did all the heavy lifting for promotion. The media was talking and bloggers were blogging. Church leaders were preaching. People were protesting and arguing. What a great controversy.

Along came another movie with content guaranteed to raise controversy, "Death of a President". To fan the flames the promoters not only published the usual supporting testimonial reviews - but also the comments from the detractors as well. Let's hear from those who hate us. What delicious controversy. What terrific and profitable promotion.

And to tilt the readers' perspective of the views they headed the positive views with the title, "Have seen Death of a President". And on the other side the heading, "Have Not seen Death of a President."

The controversy is both shaken and stirred by the strength of the negative comments as well as the sources.

Here are the negative 'testimonials" for the movie, Death of a President:

Have Not seen Death of a President

"I think it's DESPICABLE." Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

"I find this SHOCKING. I find this DISTURBING." Gretchen Esell, Republican Party of Texas

"(Director Gabriel) Range is a SICKO." Rush Limbaugh

"We're not commenting because IT DOESN'T DIGNIFY A RESPONSE." Emily Lawrimore, White House Spokesperson

Powerful words from powerful people. It's impossible to buy endorsements like that. Unwittingly those people endorsed the movie by polarizing the controversy. Imagine how many folks would watch the movie because of those powerful negative endorsements.

Controversy sells. Why? Because controversy is one technique for branding. Powerful branding declares both friends and enemies.

What people say against you can be powerful promotion.

When you want to create a strong brand in the marketplace first decide on who you want to attract then who you are willing to annoy. This could be the beginning of a strong branding position.

Are you ready to make some passionate friends and enemies? Go ahead, make your brand.

About the Author:
© George Torok helps business owners gain an unfair advantage over the competition. His bestselling book, "Secrets of Power Marketing" is the first guide to personal marketing for the non-marketer. Get your free copy of "50 Power Marketing Tips" at http://www.powermarketing.ca/ To arrange a speech to your conference or team meeting visit http://www.torok.com/ To arrange a media interview call 905-335-1997 No. of Times this article has been viewed : 515
Date Published : Nov 10 2010

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How to Craft the Perfect Offer and Weed Out the Bad Ones

There are a lot of moving parts that go into creating an effective postcard campaign. Make sure you are addressing the ten elements of a successful postcard design. One of the most important parts in the article "Ten Elements of a Successful Postcard Design" is "The Offer". This article will show you the difference between a good offer and a bad offer when marketing to your customers and prospects.

It may seem counterintuitive to give your customers a price break when you are struggling with your revenue, and it may seem crazier to give them one when they are lining up to pay your normal rates, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Allow me to explain...

There are two major functions that an offer (special rate, sale, discount, etc.) plays in your marketing campaign:

1. Enticing new customers to try out your product or service.
2. Rewarding current customers and ensuring future loyalty.

In a successful marketing plan, these are your two main goals. Neglect new prospects, and your business will plateau. Ignore your current customers, and your business will see high customer turnover, and plateau - right before it drops off a cliff! Here are some tips you can use to reinforce your marketing.

Marketing to New Prospects

The offer you present to prospects will be different from what you offer to your customers. It needs to have the following attributes:

1. High Value
Do your homework. Come up with something that would be considered a great value in your industry.

· Good Example: FREE Dental Exam & Cleaning
It is of high value to the prospect, and it gives you the chance to WOW them with your service and professionalism.

· Bad example: 5% OFF Haircut & Style
The incentive is not valuable enough to inspire action. Nobody jumps at savings in the single digits.

2. Low Cost
The prospect needs to feel as if they are getting a steal, especially if they're trying something for the first time. The profit you gain from a lifelong customer far outweighs the price of a free promotion. If a free promotion brings in a new patient who spends $400 a year for 10 years, you more than paid for the free promotion.

· Good example: FREE!
Anything FREE is enticing. But don't attach many strings or you will lose customers' trust.

· Bad example: $400 OFF Outdoor Kitchen!
You may know that's a great savings, but if the dollar amount is too high, it will frighten away your prospects.

3. Believability
Your offer needs to be straightforward. It can't sound "too good to be true," because the prospect will write it off.

· Good example: Buy one sweater, get a second one free!
It is believable. The customer understands the cost involved and will think it is a great value.

· Bad example: FREE* Phone!
The customer instinctively (and thanks to that asterisk) knows you're not giving them a phone for nothing, and will not trust you.

Our results manger tracks successful offers based on industry. Here are a few examples that were great successes for my clients:

· Dental — FREE Teeth Whitening
· Chiropractic — FREE Massage ($260 value)
· Landscaping — First Two Lawn Cuts FREE
· Restaurant — Celebrate your anniversary with a FREE dinner on us!

These were successful for our clients because they offered something that had a high-perceived value — for free! Free is great because it has automatic value for consumers. But as long as your prospect feels they are getting a great value, it will work.

Remember! Price differs in many industries. A free massage at Benson Chiropractic is worth $260, while a free dinner at The Grotto restaurant may be worth $15, but both were successful deals because the offer was valuable within their respective industries.

Marketing to Current Customers

To tailor an offer to your customers, you need to follow the same basic principles as a new prospects offer, but with an added condition.

The offer must have:

· High value
· Low cost
· Believability
AND
· A reward

Your customers need to know they are getting this deal as an exclusive reward for their loyalty, and because you value their business. This is not an attempt to draw them in — you've already done that!

Here are some examples of what reward offers look like:

· Dental - Free cleaning on the anniversary of your first visit!
· Jewelry - A "secret sale" scratch-off coupon to customers who spend over $100 in a month!
· Skin Care - $100 off next purchase and a free sample product!
· Theatre or Entertainment Services - Save $10 off your next ticket!

It's important to reward your customers and continue the relationship. Even a small gesture can go a long way. Consider what you can offer and make sure your bottom line isn't taking a huge hit. If you can't offer a free product or service (e.g. free dinner), scale down your offer to something that still offers value, for example, free appetizer with any 2 entrees.

Follow these simple tips and you'll see your offer will do the work to bring in more sales and build loyalty! Remember, if you give a little, you'll get back a lot!

You can find the article "Ten Elements of a Successful Postcard Design" at http://www.postcardmania.com/marketing_articles/article.php?articleID=58

About the Author:
Using a powerful, simple, extremely cost effective way of communicating with customers has earned Joy Gendusa Inc Magazine's recognition as the nation's fastest growing direct mail postcard marketing firm with year 2007 revenues estimated at $19,000,000. Gendusa began her firm, PostcardMania, in 1998 with zero investment capital. Today her firm employs over 150 people and prints 4 million postcards each week. Visit http://www.postcardmania.com/ No. of Times this article has been viewed : 244
Date Published : Dec 5 2010

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Enhancement Options for Your Color Labels

Continual enhancement is the name of the game in label printing for business products. The more you try to improve and enhance your color labels, the more successful you should be in selling those products. In this guide, we will teach you how to enhance your color labels. You have five major options to help your color label designs look better. Just read and learn with the list provided below.

1. Digital filter effects - One very simple way to enhance the look of your color labels is to add some digital filter effects. Many design software such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw have features that can apply filters to your label designs. These filters can enhance the visibility of your color labels by making them more vibrant with more vivid colors and effects. Usually these effects can be added automatically by just clicking on the effect you want. Of course the effect you need varies depending on the design, so you should try to mix and match the filters that you want to use.

2. Digital blending effects - Another great enhancement technique for your color labels is to apply special digital blending effects. This is different from filters because these effects are localized only to the design element selected. For example, you can use special blending effects in Photoshop to add shadows to your text elements. It is also possible to make design elements glow or even add shape fitting borders to the whole element. These blending effects can help you make a label that is more coherent with its theme and integrated with its parts. Moreover, you can even emphasize certain parts of your labels with these blending effects, giving them more impact.

3. Delivering the gloss effect - You might want to enhance your labels by adding that gloss effect to symbols and text. This gloss effect is basically a kind of lighter segment of color in a design element that simulates the effects of something smooth and glossy. This can easily be done through design software by just adding the gloss effect, or the embossed effect. You can use this trick to enhance the look of text elements as well as symbol or shape elements. This should make your labels look sleek and professional, so you should try these out in some of your color labels.

4. Upping the color quality - You can improve your labels by simply increasing the color quality of your label. This is easily done by special color correcting algorithms to your draft, or by just increasing the brightness and color vibrancy level of the whole design. With brighter more intense colors, labels can usually attract more people since they can be more visible with their fancy colors.

5. Using some expensive materials - Finally, one of the best enhancement options for your color labels is the use of some special expensive materials. Full gloss paper materials, with thick waterproof coatings are the ideal upgrades for your labels. By using these material enhancements, your color labels can be tough. They can look fresh and new for a very long time, even if they are bombarded by various environmental stresses. So if it is possible it is good to invest on your label printing and use high quality materials in its make.

So those are your enhancement options for label printing. If you need your color labels to look extra great, you should try one or even all of these tips. Good Luck!

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 518
Date Published : Oct 22 2010

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Get Affordable Custom Poster Printing Services

Printing numerous posters for business marketing can be quite costly for your company. You may have to go for a high-quality custom poster printing service that is not easy for your pocket. If you are managing a business start-up, you may want to lessen your expenses. Money does not grow on trees, so if you can get these for free or cheap, the better. If you wish to save on costs, you may want to consider getting affordable custom poster printing services. These custom poster printing services can be your convenient approach in business marketing. Finding these affordable custom poster printing services can be quite tricky. So, read the following guidelines to improve your search for affordable custom poster printing services.

- Not many people know that you can get discount cards over the internet. Many of you may have received these discount cards being offered at department stores and shopping malls. On the dates the discount cards are valid, you can make purchases which can have huge price cuts, depending on what you get.

- Get hold of these online discount cards and make use of them when you are ready to make your purchase. There may be restrictions with regards to the use of your discount cards, so read these carefully. Take note of all the relevant information you need.

- Get design and printing services from reputable companies. You can save on costs if you get only one company for the services you need. You can earn discounts by just simply availing of their services. Bulk printing can also offer you discounts. Thus, it pays if you do not go for staggered printing.

If you wish to go for custom poster printing services, just go online. You can have various offers from different companies. Make a search over the internet, and you will be provided with a lot of options. Out of these options presented to you, make a shortlist of your top choices. On this shortlist, write down each of their advantages and disadvantages. Weigh your options carefully. In order to help you out in your decision making process, here are some pointers:

- Check the registry or payment system. You do not want all your financial details to be compromised, right? Thus, take time inspecting how the online transaction works. If you are dubious about the process, scratch the company off your list.

- Take a look at the pricing system. Different companies may offer different prices. That does not mean that you have to deal with the company that offers the lowest price. You should know all the services inclusive and make sure there are no surcharges.

- Always read reviews over the internet. If you have not availed of design and printing services before, conduct a thorough research. Read online reviews that were written by different clients. You can find these in discussion forums and blog posts.

- If you wish to be assured that you will only be provided with quality services, ask for product samples. Make a request over the internet. Expect these product samples be delivered to you in no time.

- Provide your design template. You can have the option of making your own design template or choose from the selection of online companies. You can get a graphic designer to provide you with a unique template.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 558
Date Published : Oct 14 2010

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How to Print Hang Tags for Business

Whenever you go inside a store, it is but natural to check the products and items in store for you. You inspect the quality, craftsmanship, and uniqueness of each individual item. If there are different products that have the same use, you inspect the materials used in making them, the over-all appearance, as well as the price. A retail item is never complete without a hang tag which comes in different designs, sizes and shapes. You can find hang tags that have simple designs and even intricate details. You can make hang tags as attention grabbing as possible or you can settle with simple designs that complement the over-all look of your hang tags.

Basically, it all depends on your preferences and your objectives for your products. Hang tags are indispensable in retail shops and grocery stores. Products or items need to have hang tags to showcase the price, branding and other pertinent information to your clients or customers. If you are selling fashion items and other similar products, these are especially necessary as these help establish your retail brand. Retail shops always have hang tags that can serve different purposes.

Hang tags can have various uses. Aside from containing all the necessary information about your product, you can make use of hang tags to promote an event, invite people around, inform them of sales, and other activities. There are a lot of things you can do with hang tags. Thus, on the get go, you have to know what your objectives are as well as your target outcomes. You may want to improve your sales and increase your clients, among others. After you identified what you want for your retail brand, work your hang tags around it. Work with your graphic designer to define your design theme.

If you are working on your own, start plotting the design. But do not create the design on your preferred publications software. You can first start on a piece of paper to allow your creativity and imagination to rule. Once you are satisfied with the over-all result, transfer your design to your computer. You can make of publications software, such as Adobe In-Design that can provide you with utmost aesthetic control. As you know, there are design techniques that you can use through this software and other similar programs which can surely grab the attention of others.

If you wish to print hang tags on your own though, always bear in mind the following reminders:

- Invest on full color printing, particularly when you make use of images, whether they are illustrations or pictures. If you have no printer on hand, there are local and even online printers who can offer you affordable printing services. If you wish to have your hang tags printed by professionals, make a search reputable printing companies that can offer you what you need.

- Never forget to print a sample of your hang tag. You may consider this as unnecessary, but here's one thing to keep in mind: there may be some errors that you do not easily notice on your computer screen. Once on print, you can find even the most minute mistakes when it comes to design and other concerns,

- Choose the material - thread, yarn, rope, etc. - that you can use to tie your hang tags to your products. You may want to think outside the box and look for other alternatives. Just make sure that the material you choose would function as expected. As it connects your hang tags with the products, make sure that it is of high-quality. Otherwise, it can just break easily.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 463
Date Published : Dec 19 2010

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Mega Marketing for Mega Money Part 4

You can have a great Product or Service however if you keep it a secret, there won't be any Sales. Of course the missing part of the puzzle is always Marketing. Many people in Business feel that Marketing is an expense that can't afford. Nothing could be further from the truth and in this series of Articles I'll cover many ways to market your Product and/or Service for little or no money.

[19] Sub-Conscious Computer:
We all have the greatest Computer in the World, our Sub-Conscious Mind. You can give it instructions to do something and then allow it to do it's magic. Ever tried to remember the name of a Movie and the name comes to you in the middle of the night? You can tell it to come up with 5 new Marketing Headlines by next Saturday and then get out of your own way and allow it to do it's thing. It always comes up with the answers you need.

[20] Don't forget the Sales Training:
A friend recently asked me to Mentor his Daughter who works for a major Telecommunications Company with dozens of Call Centers with thousands of Sales Reps. I was amazed at how lost she was regarding her Sales skills and the Sales process. They put her through 6 weeks of Product knowledge and only 2 days of Sales Training. When I offered to critique her Script or Call Guide, she admitted they didn't even have one. When I asked about on-going Training she admitted that her Manager was buried in Reports and Meetings and couldn't spend any time with the Reps. It seems that most Companies hire Sales Reps and assume they already know how to sell. Don't waste money on Advertising and Marketing if your people can't Close a spring loaded Storm Door.

[21] Use Familiar Sayings:
Your Prospects and Customers are bombarded with hundreds of Ads on a daily basis and your Marketing needs to stand out from the crowd. Why not use a Familiar Saying that most people already know to grab their attention? Remember the old adage; "When Pigs Fly"? Burger King has adapted that to introduce their new Bar-B-Q Bites.

[22] Reward Card or Frequent Buyer Program:
Reward Customer loyalty with a Reward Card which gets punched (or keep track electronically) with each Purchase and when your Customer buys 5 or 10 or 20 items, they might get 1 free. If that doesn't fit your budget, you might give them a 20% discount on their next purchase when they buy a specific amount. Or you could give them a free accessory with the purchase of a larger item, etc.

[23] Social Networking:
Facebook has over 200 million Members. You Tube visitors watch 13 Billion Videos a month. Linkedin has 15 Million Business people networking. Twitter is growing at over 40% per month. So what's your excuse for not using these Free Promotional tools to help build your creditability, your reputation, your List of Prospects and yes, even your Sales? For those who believe you are too small, this is how you become Big. For those who believe you can't afford it, you can't afford not to do it. For those who believe you just don't need it, your Competition will eat you for Lunch.

[24] Piggy Back your Press Release:
Here's a great way to get more bang for you buck with Press Releases. The original Press Release should provide information about the upcoming Event. Next, put out a follow-up Release a few days, weeks or months later about the success of that Event. Finally, send a nice Letter to the Editor thanking them for their coverage both before and after. Of course, in that Letter you can also plant the idea for a possible interview for a Human Interest Story or a Trend Setting Idea or a Series of Tips for their Readers, etc.

About the Author:
For over 20 years Stan Billue conducted up to 22 Motivational and Sales Training engagements a month and his powerful Audio and Video Training materials are sold in 45 Countries. Visit http://www.stanbillue.com/ and subscribe to a Free monthly Newsletter and a Free weekly Marketing Tip. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 303
Date Published : Dec 12 2010

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Read Printing Reviews To Get The Best Online Printer

You are very fortunate. You know why? Because you came across this article at a time when you are looking for the services of an online printing company to reproduce the marketing materials that you need. You are very lucky because you will know from this article why it is important to read printing reviews such as that of printplace reviews when you are choosing the best printing company found in the internet.

According to printing reviews, PrintPlace.com is one online printing company that can give you printing solutions to any business need you have. You can browse their website and see for yourself if they can help you with your own requirements. Just write printplace reviews in a search engine site and you will find a list of printing reviews about the company.

Why are printing reviews very important? Because with these reviews, you can get customer feedback that helps you to decide the best online printing company that can provide you with the printing services you need at the price you can afford.

Getting customer feedback and reviews is actually not difficult. It is easy to find reviews and testimonials to help you gauge the expertise and skills of the printing company that is appropriate for your needs. You can go to a search engine tool such as Google, key in keywords or even the printing company's name itself, and you can already get reviews and feedback coming directly from those who have actually experienced the services these online printing companies provide.

The best thing about getting reviews from the customers is that you can actually get the truth behind each service. Of course, printing reviews you find in websites of these online printing companies would always tell only the positive. Seldom will you see an online printer to tell you truthfully that they can't do a service you ask for, right? But from customer reviews, forums and blogs, you can almost always get the information you need to help you decide on the most appropriate online printer for your requirements. From these reviews, you can then make your own shortlist so you can finally decide on ‘the one'.

When reviewing the feedbacks from customers, remember that the information you get is not something you should take lightly. The benefits to be had from the reviews make it so easy for you to discern which companies can really give you what you need. Most of these customer feedbacks found online are fully grounded that they are real and easy to rely on.

Here are additional pointers for you to consider when gauging the effectiveness of printing companies found in the internet.

Ask for a product sample. This is the way you can check on the quality of the work and output you can get from your online printer. Ordering is very easy when you go online. Just click for it on the website and you can already get a sample in no time. But beware if the online printer hesitates or simply declined on your request for a sample. This company has something to hide so better look for another printer.

Look for a pricing system. Again, it is easy get the price of your print order as you can do the instant price quotes. You can then compare all the prices you can get from the websites of the printers to finally decide if the price of your printing company is something you can afford.

When looking for an online printer, it is best to get as much information as you can. Printing reviews like that of printplace reviews can help you a lot in deciding for the best online printer to give you what you need and at the price that you want.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 707
Date Published : Oct 13 2010

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Improve Your Sales With Postcard Bulk Mailing

If you are introducing a new product to the market or holding a grand event sometime soon, have you ever thought of mailing postcards to your clients? If you haven't, it's time you not only think of it but translate the thought into action as well. Postcards have always been effective tools in publicizing company events, advertising a new product or service, or making people aware of an upcoming sale.

If you already possess a dependable mailing list of your target market, you can successfully market your business to the right group of people. This can be done by embarking on bulk mailing of your postcards. Also, it is important to hire the mailing services of a seasoned company to ensure that you reach out to your target market with success.

When you opt for a veteran company to do your bulk mailing with their mailing services, you can expect them to produce, print and mail your postcards to the people you intend to market your products to. Indeed, there are a lot of printers nowadays that boast of impressive mailing services of postcards as well as design services. Moreover, most of them professionally handle the mailing lists that clients give them. If you don't have a mailing list yet, they can provide you with one. This entire deal would guarantee you that your postcards will end up as one of your most victorious marketing collaterals. Your chosen printer will see to it that all these services are carried out flawlessly to satisfy you.

Truly, postcards are a unique way of disseminating information about your business to your clients. And postcard bulk mailing will definitely allow any entrepreneur to communicate his/her marketing message to his/her clients at a cost that he/she can afford.

Do you primarily know why postcards can advertise your business successfully? Once you produce full color post cards, you absolutely make them instantly noticeable from the other materials that your clients get frequently. The moment your print your postcards remarkably; their colors and design concept can immediately grab attention. For instance, you want to announce to clients that your new store will be open soon. If you want your clients to be aware of this at once, you can send out postcards for them and go for bulk mailing. What you only need to do is look for a seasoned company that can give you proficient mailing services.

Indeed, when you send your postcards in big volumes, you are assured of announcing business updates successfully to a lot of clients in various areas. And once you've created striking and convincing postcards, your clients are sure to act on your announcement optimistically. Therefore, it is a must to create eye-catching and compelling post cards so your clients will be attracted to look at and pay attention to them.

It is equally significant to create an interesting content to keep your readers' attention from the beginning to end of your material. Truly, postcards are an innovative way of marketing your products to consumers. If you want your postcards to be even more convincing, you might also want a gimmick included in your material. For example, your clients may get some great freebies if they go to your store and present your postcards. Indeed, postcards can be one of the greatest advertising materials for any business owner, whether you have been in the business for a long now or just starting.

Remember to partner only with the most trusted company. Connect to the net and look for the greatest printing company that can effectively carry out the job.

About the Author:
Brent Durrell writes articles about advertising and marketing strategies such as postcard bulk mailing. Learn more about mailing services. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 505
Date Published : Sep 23 2010

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Set Your Business Up for Success: How Getting Help will Keep You on Track for the Future

One of the best things you can do for yourself to grow your business and propel yourself forward is to get help. But so many of us keep justifying that we can't afford help. We say things such as: "I'll hire an assistant when I start making more money." Or "I can't hire an assistant until I start making more money."

I can relate to this personally because back in November of 2008 I had $1200 to my name. One of the things I did that led me to a quarter million dollar income at the end of 2009 was to hire some help. I realized I couldn't do it all on my own. Now, I'm not talking about a full-time personal assistant here - though that would have been wonderful. I started small.

I really needed to get my e-zine out, so I invested in 10 hours of help from a Virtual Assistant team. As soon as I had that team in place, I started to look at my business in a completely different way. I found that there were all these other things that I could delegate. And, more importantly, I was also ready when the big opportunities came my way, because I wasn't doing it all alone!

Here's what one of my top clients, Christine Lewicki, founder of O Coaching, had to say about investing in herself, making some huge leaps of faith and getting the help she needed.

"There's my business before I met Lisa and my business after I met Lisa. Before, I was spinning my wheels. I knew I was a good coach, but word of mouth wasn't happening and I didn't have enough clients," Christine says. "I felt that if I didn't grow my business I wouldn't be making the difference I want to make. I wasted a lot of years trying to figure it out on my own. Then I went to a convention and met Lisa and thought, “Here she is - this is exactly what I need.'"

Christine continues, "Lisa gave me the opportunity to work with her and I knew it was time for me to get some help. So I signed up and I barely had enough for the first payment, but it was pretty exciting and super scary. Literally in the next 10 days I got two new clients to fund my investment! The work with Lisa was a mix of spiritual work and technical business strategy to get me to my own juice. And that juice is very sweet for my marketing and awesome for me because deep in my bones I know what I'm all about and what I have to give."

So as I move into 2011, I celebrate doubling my income again last year. Yes, over half million in 2010. And I can tell you without a doubt that having my team, now five people strong, was critical to my success. Especially because I did it working only 3-4 days a week! (Not possible without investing in a team.)

You know how they say you should dress for the job you want? Well, you need to set up your business the way you want to see it in the future. And if you want to break six figures, you can't do it without having a team. There is a lot of power in asking for help. I know it sometimes feels risky to get help, but you need to do it so your business can expand and you can focus on your genius and creativity. You should be delegating the day-to-day, mundane tasks so you can focus on bigger, better - more juicy - things...

About the Author:
Lisa Cherney, a.k.a. the Juicy Marketing Expert, founded Conscious Marketing to help small business owners find their authentic marketing voice, attract their ideal clients and increase their sales. Following her own Stand Out & Be Juicy program, which centers on owning your unique self and laser-focus marketing, Lisa has tripled her income while working part-time. Learn more about Lisa at http://www.consciousmarketing.com/ or call 887-771-0156. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 308
Date Published : Jan 14 2011

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What are Your Door Hanger Printing Options

Planning, preparing and producing print marketing materials can take most of your time. It can take days, weeks, and even months to design and print one marketing material. If you are working on a full marketing plan, work can be quite a taxing challenge. However, with the help of design and printing professionals, the whole process can be a great experience. Thus, it is critical to get the right individuals or companies. You may have one or two design professionals or printing companies in mind for the job. In your locality, there may be these professionals who you can visit anytime of the day. Your business or company may have had worked with design and printing professionals previously. Probably, you have already built and established a rapport with them. There is also a likelihood that you get to have access to promos and discounts which can make a big difference on your budget. On the other hand, if you are still on the look-out for printing services, you can go online for alternative options. This is especially true if you are planning to make door hangers for your business or company.

You should know that door hangers may seem unlikely to be used as print marketing materials. After all, these have been traditionally used in hotel rooms and other similar establishments. Nowadays though, these can be used to promote and advertise. A lot of businessmen and advertisers are now using door hangers in introducing their new products or services to the market. These door hangers can be a form of direct marketing as you get to talk directly to your target clients and customers. Thus, it is important to go for quality door hanger printing. If you or your team can make door hangers, you can customize your own printed materials.

However, if you wish to get hold of professional-looking door hangers, you can always avail of the services of printing companies, found either online or in your locality. Here is one way you can get door hanger printing services: get online companies. These days, you can get design and printing services over the internet. If you are looking for custom-made designs printed on quality materials, do not hesitate to get door hanger printing services online.

If you have yet to zero in on one local or online company to provide you with door hanger printing service, here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

- Contact the companies you are considering, and find out what services they can provide. For example, they can provide you with in-house designers that can provide you with custom-made designs. Provide what your design preferences are, so that the designers can have an idea what you your printed materials would appear to be.

- Aside from the design, the message is also important. Thus, take time writing your message. You need to entertain your readers as well as encourage them to avail of what you have to offer. Basically, it all depends on your objective. From the beginning, know what your goals are and work your message around it.

- Get product samples for the design templates. You need to know if there is anything you can do to improve the over-all appearance of your door hangers. Once you have identified mistakes, make the revisions needed. There may be errors in indentations and formatting, among others.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 384
Date Published : Dec 20 2010

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Mega Marketing for Mega Money Part 9

You can have a great Product or Service however if you keep it a secret, there won't be any Sales. Of course the missing part of the puzzle is always Marketing. Many people in Business feel that Marketing is an expense that can't afford. Nothing could be further from the truth and in this series of Articles I'll cover many ways to market your Product and/or Service for little or no money.

[49] Media Interviews:
The best publicity is the kind you get for Free. Hundreds of Newspapers, TV and Radio Talk Shows, Magazines and Newsletters are always looking for a good story. It may be your Products or Services, a Donation made, a Community Service performed, a Company expansion, acquisition or additional location planned, etc.

[50] A Slogan for Branding:
Any Marketing Guru knows the value of creating a Slogan for Branding purposes. Consider Don't leave Home without It, The Greatest Show on Earth, Just Do It, Let your Fingers do the Walking, It's the Real Thing, They're Grrrreat, Imagination at Work, I can't believe I ate the whole thing, Have It Your Way, Put a Tiger in your Tank, So Easy a Caveman can do it or The King of Beers and the odds are you immediately think of the Company or Product behind the Slogan. What can you come up?

[51] Clone Yourself:
A great Vegas Show was Siegfried and Roy with their Magic and White Tigers. Unfortunately their lifetime gig ended when Roy had a Heart Attack and was carried off stage by one of his Tigers. Their Show closed and their business was gone. Another popular Show is the Blue Man Group. It's 3 guys painted electric blue, who splash paint and make weird sounds with a live Rock Band backing them. They realized they could leverage themselves by hiring and training actors, painting them blue and starting more shows. Currently, they can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin, and Tokyo plus a touring Group. The secret is leverage. Siegfried and Roy never figured out how to get paid beyond their personal performance where the Blue Man group duplicated themselves. How can you leverage yourself or your Products without painting yourself blue?

[52] Is the Wrong person writing the Right copy:
When you put together a Cover Letter, Email, Ad Copy, Web Page, etc., do you have a Sales Expert write it or at least ok it before it "goes to press"? I didn't say Marketing Expert, I said SALES Expert because every Sentence and even every Word can be critical. Let your Marketing people do what they do best with their layouts however it's critical that you have a Sales Pro write the Copy.

[53] A different LOOK means more LOOT:
Ever noticed that major Corporations change their Slogan, their Jingle and even their Logo from time to time? It's so their Customers and Prospects don't become bored. They also change the Colors in their Ads, the Headings and even switch their Ad Copy from Long to Short and back. Most Companies have been using the same "Look" for years if not decades.

[54] Continuity means Cash:
Most Companies miss one of the best opportunities for Cash Flow there is, which is a Continuity Program. What Product or Service do you have or could you develop that your Customers would gladly pay for, month after month after month?

About the Author:
For over 20 years Stan Billue conducted up to 22 Motivational and Sales Training engagements a month and his powerful Audio and Video Training materials are sold in 45 Countries. Visit http://www.stanbillue.com/ and subscribe to a Free monthly Newsletter and a Free weekly Marketing Tip. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 336
Date Published : Dec 12 2010

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How to Create Cheap yet Quality Custom Labels

Want to print custom labels cheap? If you do, then you should know the things you will want to sacrifice so that the printing costs for labels go down. There are a few simple and specific options out there that should reduce the cost of printing color labels by as much as half. So pay attention to the list below and see if you can sacrifice these for cheaper label printing.

a. Shape customizations - People like customizing the shape of their custom labels. It might be a product label or it might just be a simple naming label, but whatever the case, customizing the shape adds that more natural and “fitted” feel of the label to the item it is attached to. Now, this is good in general terms, but in label printing this means that the additional shape customization will require extra customization fees.

If you sacrifice that custom shape though for your labels and use a more standard and prebuilt shape or format, you can drastically reduce the cost of your labels. By just printing standard small rectangular labels for your purposes, it is possible to cut down a few hundred dollars in customization costs. So if you really want that cheap label printing, just cut down on the customized shape.

b. Material customizations - You can also eliminate a lot of the label printing costs you might be charged with if you can dial down on your label material customizations for printing. Instead of a plastic label, or labels with special reflectors and metallic inks, you can just for a simple color label printed on standard non-glossy paper. With all the material customizations weeded out, your label printing quotation should really come down significantly. Some can even save half of the whole printing cost since those special inks really are quite expensive additions to label printing.

c. Full color printing - For really cheaper label printing, you can actually just sacrifice the full color element in your labels. If you don't really have a full color picture in your custom labels, then you can just have your text in the labels printed in black ink, with a symbol or so attached printed in a spot of one pure color. By eliminating the full color combination option, you can actually cut down your printing cost by as much as 70%. Black and white or spot color labels are that cheaper than their full color counterparts, so if you really want cheap labels, sacrificing color is really the best way to go.

d. Design talent - Finally, you can also sacrifice your design talent to get a lot of savings in your label printing and design. As you no doubt know, the fees of the layout artist, even from label designing can really be quite a handful. This is especially true if you want them to edit or create lots of variations. Fortunately for you, if you really need to save money, you can just eliminate the design talent and use FREE label templates.

Free label templates are easily available when you surf the Internet. Many label printing companies will offer standard label formats from their websites for free. So just access those templates, customize their sample design templates a little and then have a good look color label in moments, without having to pay anyone for the design. It is that easy, so if you need that extra label printing savings, this is a good trick to use.

So are you ready to sacrifice these things for cheap label printing? If you are really desperate then you will have to sacrifice almost all of these. Hopefully though, at least one of these sacrificed can get you that extra resource breathing room to print good looking labels affordably without sacrificing everything. Good luck!

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 248
Date Published : Dec 6 2010

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What Do Large Poster Printing Offers

With large scale printing companies in the market nowadays, you can now enjoy varied and versatile arrays of services that you can enjoy and use for your entire poster printing job. This will allow you to attain the most appropriate print products, at the ideal cost, term and of course function. With the aid of these large scale printing companies, you can now print on several different kinds of media that will perform and bring out the intensity of your print material's design.

Through this process, you can also attain the right types of print that will do wonders and perform according to your business requirements and expectations. Along with these things, you can gather services that will fit accordingly to your entire printing task. Below are some benefits that you can attain with the aid of large scale printing companies.

a. Wholesale printing of your posters - when it comes to the process of wholesale printing of your print materials, you can turn to large format printing companies which run offset posters that give you value for your business budget. You can enjoy both quantity and quality with these wholesale process and offset prints that are run with color accuracy and quality. Wholesale printing process usually starts with 100 prints or more. These can be printed in quality and reliable paper materials which might not be exactly the same as high gloss paper or semi gloss paper materials. Nevertheless, you will still attain sturdy and reliable print outputs that are produced on a 100lb gloss cover.

b. Offset printing - printing in the process of offset allows you to create or print just one hundred prints for a very low price. This process, of course, does not usually diminish the given quality. Both quality for these prints are always preserved, in addition, the printing process used for this usually gives you the color accuracy and the definition that is consistent in every type of poster in the market. This is the type of quality that you can rely on for printing your materials. It is also an economical choice for print outputs as low as one hundred to a large bulk of several thousand print outputs.

c. Vinyl banners - transform the out of date vinyl banners into colorful and exciting ones by using great colors. These things are not just usually text placed across a blank, almost bare background. With these things, you can now make and also transfer your poster design into them without problems or difficulties. The digital printing technology that is used by most huge printing companies in the market will usually give you rich, luxurious print outputs that can be used for displays and presentations.

d. Last but not the least adhesive and static clings - poster printing may also be placed on other locations or areas aside from grommets to poles. With the adhesive backs and static clings, you can now adorn your window glass and the façade of your business establishment with all your poster design. Moreover, posters are also flexible materials that can also blow up or enhance your design.

There are other ways you can benefit from large poster printing. If you take advantage of these benefits, you can be sure to get the most out of your investment and bring your business to success.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 311
Date Published : Feb 13 2011

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The Marketing Pyramid: How to Find Your Ideal Client

If you were trying to find your soul mate through a dating site, a description such as, "Looking for someone 35-45 in Seattle who drives a red car" isn't going to find you your Prince or Princess Charming.
The same is true with your marketing materials. Generic marketing will only attract generic clients.

To find those people who get you excited about your business and what you're doing, you have to laser in on what I call your "ideal client." You have to be very conscious about what you are saying so you can attract the clients who get the best from you and get the best results from your unique services.

"Well, Lisa, I do that by marketing to my target audience," you might say. That's great, but it's not enough. And it's not enough to market to your niche - you have to go further!

Picture a pyramid. The bottom or widest part is your target audience - let's say women, age 35-45, living in Seattle. The niche is the next part of the pyramid, such as women going through divorce. Many people stop right there in defining their clients, but not everyone fitting that niche is ready to invest in your services. You need to reach the ones who are ready - your ideal clients who are at the sharpest point of the pyramid.

A great way to start pinpointing your ideal client is to ask yourself the following questions: Which clients are my favorites (you'd want to clone them, that's how much you love them) and why?

Once you start creating this profile, you'll start thinking of the words your ideal clients need to hear. If your favorite client is super ready for change, then which do you think will resonate more with them?
1. "Are you going through a divorce?"
2. "Are you going through a divorce and ready for that life transition to catapult you on a new journey?"
I'm guessing you'll agree with me that it's number two.

The next step is to channel your ideal client into your marketing. You should know them so well that it should be as easy as writing to your best friend. You'll be amazed how your marketing will be transformed when you connect with your ideal clients...

About the Author:
Lisa Cherney is a Marketing Intuitive and President & Founder of Conscious Marketing™. Lisa has helped thousands of business owners tap into their intuition and market their businesses from the ‘Inside Out'. Lisa tells her story in her co-authored book “Inspiration to Realization,” available at http://www.consciousmarketing.com/ Conscious Marketing also offers workshops and coaching. Visit her website for more details or call 887-771-0156. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 388
Date Published : Nov 24 2010

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Why Avail of Online Printing Services

Traditionally, most people avail of the services of local companies for printing. There are the mom-and-pop printing shops that are available in your locality. There are also those specialty stores that can offer you custom design, printing, and more. When dealing with these local printers, you have to make your way across town or into the city. You may have to check their printing capabilities by taking a visit to their facilities, among other way to check that you will be getting the best possible service. Meetings are regularly conducted, so that you can get the best deals possible. However, you may also be strapped for time as you may be working on other things, too. For example, production of marketing materials requires a lot of your attention. You have to work on the design and make sure that they are perfect as prints. There may be an instance in which you have to have these printed on the fly using minimal resources, including human effort. Here comes the importance of online printing services. You will be assured that you do not have to waste gasoline money or representation fee. With just a few clicks, you can be able to get online printing services. You do not have to break a sweat or run around, making errands.

Online printing services are, of course, a convenient approach to your business marketing needs. Aside from printing, you can get the following services:

- Design

Online printing services have resident designers that can provide you with custom-made design templates for printing. You will be asked to provide your print specifications and other details and you will be offered with a design template. You can also choose from a wide selection of pre-design templates available. Choose from different categories or publications type and make a print order for that design.

- Mailing

You do not have to make the distribution and delivery yourself. After print production, the online printing services can do the mailing immediately. They may also have the printing capabilities for printing the names and addresses and even bar codes. For this, you need to come up with a mailing list which contains names and addresses of those individuals you are sending the print materials to.

When choosing online printing services, it is important that you get to assess different criteria. To help you out, here are some guidelines that you need to follow.

- Price

Of course, price is one crucial determining factor. As you may work on a budget, you do not have the resources to indulge on the production of marketing materials. Of course, you do not have to scrimp on the quality, too. There are online printing services that offer quality prints at affordable prices. Take advantage of them.

- Quality

As mentioned, never short shrift when it comes to quality. Get product samples from the online printing services you are considering to find out if the prints match your expectations and preferences. Make a request on their website, and the product samples will be delivered to you in no time.

- Payment

As you make an order, you have to make sure that the online transaction can be trusted. You will be providing your details for credit card and other means, so you need to make sure that the payment set up is safe and secure. Do not proceed if there are a lot of questions being asked about personal as well as financial information.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 341
Date Published : Dec 23 2010

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Kinetic Typography: A Killer Web Video Marketing Technique

Sometimes business people make things harder than they have to be, take marketing for instance. Marketing is pretty simple when you get right down to it: discover the emotional value inherent in what you sell and present it in a memorable manner that differentiates you from the competition. What can be so hard? Of course we all know the devil is in the details, and implementation is the sharp end of his pitchfork.

Those who know our work, or who have read our articles, know that we recommend video as the best strategy to achieve your major marketing objective: delivering a memorable, differentiated message highlighting the emotional value of your brand. And if you follow the trends, you know video is spreading across the Web like cream cheese on a freshly toasted bagel, unfortunately quite a bit of that cheese comes in a bland tasting, homogenized package that makes little impression.

A while back we created a series of articles called Killer Campaigns showcasing great commercials and pointing out the methods used that made them effective. In this new series, Killer Video Techniques, we'll show you some cutting-edge methods we use to create memorable, differentiating marketing messages.

It Starts With Words

The best place to begin is at the beginning, and everything starts with WORDS. Let's face it we do not live in the Golden Age of Articulation. The communication era spawned by the Internet and its social media craze has created a Tower of Babble. The eloquence, clarity and emotional impact of Churchill, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Martin Luther King have been replaced by instant messaging abbreviations, fifteen-second sound bites, and 140 character tweets, all coming at you a mile-a-minute, all talking at the same time, and for the most part empty of anything useful or relevant.

If you can't articulate your message in some meaningful manner then you're in trouble from the ‘get-go.' You may think this is old-fashioned, but words DO have meaning. The blurring and confusion of what makes marketing and sales different has led to a generation of business owners and executives who cannot produce or deliver a finely crafted statement of who they are, what they do, and why customers should care.

The problem is often hidden because you can get away with a lot of blather when you're face-to-face, but remove the physical presence and human interaction from the equation, like on your website, and you've got a whole new ball game. This is one of the reasons why we highly recommend a video Web Host but that's a discussion for another time, now we want to concentrate on words, because words can deliver your marketing dreams or they can create your worst advertising nightmare.

You're Looking At The Wrong Mentors

There are endless articles, piles of statistical analysis, and countless essays and white papers on how business should use the Web to its advantage. And like a lot of business writing it concentrates on high profile major corporations as the source of expertise and savvy business strategy. Well, let me let you in on a little secret, most of these big businesses are badly run and creatively and intellectually bankrupt. Most are running on past successes from a bygone era and consumer inertia. In the end big business is about power and money, not expertise and innovation. Are there exceptions, of course; am I being harsh, probably; but the bottom-line here is that you need to look more carefully at what really works and why, that is unless you have endless stacks of money available to bury your competition and flood the airwaves with endless repetitive drivel that seeps into viewers' consciousness like some alien mind-altering drug.

Kinetic Typography

Now some people are thinking, when the heck is he going to get to the technique. Why doesn't he just give me the bulleted points? Why? Because if you don't understand why you're doing something, you shouldn't be doing it. And if you don't know why things work, you won't know how to fix them when they don't.

People are busy, and the pace of business is fast, but if you don't take the time to understand how and why things work then you are going to waste a lot of time and money. This applies to your clients as well. They need to be attracted and motivated enough by your video presentation to absorb your brand message. If clients don't understand who you really are and what you really do, they will never be satisfied customers.

So here it is, Kinetic Typography an exciting, innovative video technique that combines the power of sight and sound to deliver a meaningful, memorable message based on the power of words.

The technique has its origins with motion designers who took famous movie monologues and animated the words of the script to provide visual emphasis. It's a simple idea, but tricky to execute, and when done well, it's a powerful method for delivering a marketing message. It's a technique that will access both the verbal and visual memory centers of your audience's brains and create the brand recognition that is the goal of every marketing initiative.

Why Kinetic Typography Works

Kinetic Typography penetrates the consciousness because the dynamically presented spoken and written words act as mnemonic devices reinforcing each other. Don't be fooled into thinking that the visuals alone will make up for any deficit in the script. Your words create a language framework that defines your brand; it creates the context within which you can communicate with your audience; and it allows you to take ownership of those words thereby limiting your competitions' ability to feed off your marketing efforts. In short, words have meaning, words can move you, move you to action, and isn't that what marketing is all about?

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 370
Date Published : Jan 11 2011

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5 Reasons Why No One Reads Your Company Newsletter

Truth be told, there's probably more than five.

There could be a hundred reasons why your company newsletter isn't getting the results you expect. And almost all of those reasons have the same specific problem...

Your readers just don't like it!

There... I said it. It's the ugly truth no entrepreneur wants to hear.

However, don't despair. It's not your fault. No one has ever explained it to you.

So, I've narrowed it down to the five most common mistakes found in nearly every company newsletter.

Mistake # 1: Your newsletter isn't helpful

This is a big one. Bombarding your customers with whole bunch of promotional stuff isn't going to work.

Of course, you probably realize that non-stop, shameless self-promotion isn't going to endear you to your clients.

Yet... most entrepreneurs can't seem to help themselves.

They really do want to send something useful; they mean to be helpful; but in the end, self-promotion wins out. Why? Because it's just easier to do.

It's easier to pitch your products or services than it is to write another article about your stuff.

Trust me. Send a company newsletter like that and your customers will see right through it.

Mistake #2: Your style isn't especially compelling

When you speak to a friend over the phone, you sound animated and excited. Try to write it down on paper and your style suddenly becomes dry, brittle and boring. It just doesn't sound like you.

From voice to print, your style gets lost in the translation. That means your writing doesn't really get across how you feel. Every artist, singer, and yes, writer has a signature style. This 'voice' needs to be real and authentic.

Try this: Get a friend to ask you questions about the topics you'll be writing about in your newsletter - and record it. Just blab away; then transcribe what you've said.

Yep… it sounds tedious. But it works because it's a great way to find your own unique writing 'voice'. Also, practice DOES make perfect. Write something every day. Try writing an email to your customers two or three times a week.

Style matters. And you have one - you just have to learn to get it on paper.

Mistake # 3: You're not telling a story

Most people think their newsletter has to be a formal affair - perfect sentence structure that's all prim and proper.

Literary perfection isn't the way to create a great company newsletter. Stories are.

Its human nature: From infancy we learn to be spellbound by stories.

Tell stories about your clients. Write about you… and make it personal. People love to know about you. And the more you tell, the more they will love you. Nothing gets your readers involved like the color and drama of a good story.

And be sure to tell the moral of the story. Explain what you learned or what you should have learned or what someone else could learn from your experience.

Mistake # 4: You have a wimpy call to action

Let's say you need to fill up your martial arts class. In your company newsletter, you're going to create a killer special offer to get them to commit. You need your customers to respond. You can't simply hope they will - you have to make an irresistible buying opportunity for them.

You have to be pretty darned clear what you want them to do, too. Just saying 'please respond' is wimpy and vague. Tell them to 'call today'. Provide a deadline to take advantage of your great promotion.

Offer a fast action bonus if they are among the first 10 respondents.

Most biz owners just hope their customers will act on their offers. And most customers don't - because they're usually pretty busy people. So you have to stop them dead in their tracks - interrupt them and get their attention.

Of course, none of this will work if you're a complete stranger to them...

Mistake# 5: You don't mail your newsletter every month

At 6 p.m. turn on your TV. What do you see?

In just about every city in the U.S. you'll see the evening news. Granted, it's usually the same old news, but you know it's consistent.

Most newsletters are NOT this dependable. If you write a company newsletter, you must have a consistent publishing schedule.

The best frequency? Monthly. Just like you get your favorite magazine or even your bank statement every month - people have learned to expect things of importance on a monthly basis.

If you have promised your customers your newsletter will go out every month - then you do whatever you have to do to keep that promise.

Your newsletters can't go to Aruba on vacation. It cannot become ill and call in sick. That won't wash with your readers. Can you imagine the TV station canceling the news because some news anchor didn't show up one evening?

Newsletters are doing the grunt work of relationship marketing for you.

And you want to miss a month? Are you crazy?

Although listed last, this mistake is the unforgivable sin of newsletter marketing.

The biggest reason for newsletter failure is because your company newsletter is a stranger to your clients. Muck up the frequency and the other four points become irrelevant. If you send it quarterly or just whenever you feel like it, you're wasting your time and money. The response to your newsletter is directly connected to mailing frequency.

The bottom line

Unbridled self-promotion doesn't work here. It's necessary to promote yourself - just make it useful.

Your tone of writing is critical. Record yourself if you have to; but make sure you connect with your own unique voice.

If you can't get your head around a casual and informal writing structure, use customer stories instead.

And never forget: This is not a hobby. Your send a company newsletter to make money. Don't be half-hearted about promotion - use a strong call to action.

Without consistent frequency - i.e. monthly - your customers will forget who you are even if you do everything else right. It's not fair; but that's the harsh reality.

Newsletters require a lot of work and effort. There's no point in doing them unless you get the results you're looking for. Avoiding these five big mistakes will perk up your response rate in a hurry...

About the Author:
Company Newsletter Expert David Gruttadaurio's website: http://www.newslettersmadeforyou.com/ is the place where busy entrepreneurs go for print newsletters that attract and retain clients for life. Discover his bulletproof plan to thrive (not just survive) in the new, emerging economy. Get his plan now and claim your FREE Gift Package at http://www.newslettersmadeforyou.com/No. of Times this article has been viewed : 559
Date Published : Sep 27 2010

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Get Satisfied Customer by Selling Benefits

Every one of us has an ulterior yearning to be our own boss. We all long to own our own business. Well, who would not want that? Your business would be your ticket to financial freedom. But before you realize your financial heaven, you need to know that there are a lot to go through and accomplish. It's especially important to be successful in your marketing campaign. After all, getting known out there is the key to getting a good customer base.

But a good marketing campaign still requires certain elements. Crucial among them is delivering the benefits of your products or services clearly to get good response. You need to tell people of what they will get out of your products and you need to make sure that you deliver on your claims.
Think about the time you were enticed to buy a magic cream that promises to make you look younger in two weeks? Did it really made you look younger? Chances are it didn't even do anything to your face. You would definitely not be encouraged to buy the cream again.

Marketing faux pas like this are what discourages people from trying out products they don't know. This is why it is important that you convey your benefits clearly and deliver on what you promised. If deciding on how to create your brochures or posters today, here are some pointers to consider that will help you stay away from false advertising.

- Know your products and services. That's a basic requirement as you need to know about your products to effectively tell clients of what you can do for them. But effective marketing is not simply about knowing your products because in truth marketing is selling more than your products. You are selling them comfort, experience, or great look. You are providing them a good image, a better performance, or a better way of living. In other words, you are selling them the benefits of your products. Your products are not really important; it's not what people want. It's the end result and the benefits that they really desire.

- Determine the benefits of your products. When we talk about benefits, we mean the changes, improvements, and differences people get after they purchase your product. Would your customers get better standard of living with your products? Would they get their tasks done more effectively? Would they experience noticeable differences in their life with your products? These are what your products should promise to your customers.

- Deliver the benefits you promised. Nothing can be more annoying than not getting the experience or changes promised in the product you bought. This would only ruin your reputation and cost you customers. So, after determining the benefits of your products or services, it's time to give it to people. It's best to write down every possible way you can think of on how your product will change people's life. Sell each benefit in your brochure or poster printing. But make sure not to hype up your marketing campaign. Promise only those that you can fulfill or else your customers would lose interest in you.

If you follow these pointers, you can be sure to get satisfied and happy customers. Keep in mind satisfied customers come back, so aim for that in your marketing strategy.

About the Author:
Brent Durrell writes articles about advertising and marketing strategies such as using attractive posters. Get more information about poster printing. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 789
Date Published : Sep 20 2010

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Allowing Your Expertise to Shine Through: Common Reasons that Keep Entrepreneurs from Moving Forward

In today's fast paced world we have access to more information than ever before, be it books, media or opportunities for education. And while it's great to have all this information and learning at our fingertips, it can sometimes be a detriment to us. In fact, for some people, it can be an excuse for them not to move forward in their business.

Two reasons like this I've heard recently include: "I'm just not sure I can be successful. I know I help people, but I need more experience." And "I need to get another certification [take another seminar/get another degree] before I can be an expert and really put myself out there."

My friend and client Michele PW was held back by these specific reasons. Michele is an example of someone with great expertise - she is one of the hottest marketing strategists around, writes copy and creates campaigns for very well known people that get results.

Michele started out as a freelancer, selling services. She got into infomarketing and had some really big successes, but she always had trouble doing it for herself. She came up with a couple of products, but none of them sold as well as what she did for her clients. Her belief was that the real money would be in copywriting, not her expertise.

"I knew people could make a lot of money selling products. I knew that in my head, but I didn't believe it for myself. I guess when you're doing copy for people, even though you're out there in the spotlight, you feel like you're still the support and behind the scenes," Michele says.

"The problem for me was that I was the expert who always needed to read one more book before I could call myself an expert," she explains. "I was so stuck on that and I think that's why I really didn't value selling my knowledge. I had people pushing me to do some sort of copywriting product and all I could say was, 'There are plenty of good products out there, what am I going to add to the mix?' Working with Lisa pulled me out of that and now I've had some very successful products. Now I see that I didn't value my knowledge. Then I wouldn't have said that was the reason, but looking back I see that now. A big part of working with Lisa was her support and being able to call her in my moments of weakness and angst about change. If you don't push through and have a number of people who support you, you'll just start spinning your wheels and never get out of it."

There will always be another book or blog to read or another degree or certification to be earned. There will always be another seminar to take or conference to attend. But at some point you need to realize that you ARE an expert in your field and you are holding yourself back - and not helping people you could be helping - by not allowing your expertise to shine through.

Entrepreneurs fail. It's as simple as that. Every single entrepreneur out there, no matter how successful they look on the outside, has failed. Yes, they are very successful, but for all those successes, they also have failures. There were things they tried that didn't go anywhere. But if you don't own your expertise and take risks, you're never going to have the big successes. Granted, you'll never have failures, but you'll never have success either...

About the Author:
Lisa Cherney is a Marketing Intuitive and President & Founder of Conscious Marketing™. For 15 years she worked at Fortune 500 companies and top advertising agencies. Lisa tells her story in her co-authored book “Inspiration to Realization,” available at http://www.consciousmarketing.com/ Conscious Marketing also offers workshops and coaching. Visit her website for more details or call 887-771-0156. (www.MichelePW.com) No. of Times this article has been viewed : 510
Date Published : Oct 17 2010

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Primer on Brochure Printing

Brochures are considered as a leaflet promotion or advertisement in the business world. This marketing material is a fancy booklet that differs from an ordinary booklet and is usually made from heavy and thick quality paper. It uses extensive color and expensive ink, and is require special attention and care from you.

The term brochures originated from the French word or verb brochure that means “to stitch” signifying a booklet that is stitched together, although nowadays binding technique is mostly utilized to stick together the pages. Essentially, brochures can be used to advertise locations, hotels, business gatherings, hotels, and products and services. They are now one of the most frequently used promotional material and are often send out with the Sunday paper.

The common kinds of brochure that you can see and receive nowadays are as follows:

The leave behinds - this is named as such because they are usually the kind of material you leave behind after meeting or talking with a prospective customer.

The point of sale - this is the kind of brochure that you pick up while waiting in line at the bank or other business establishment.

The respond to inquiries - if someone asks about your product or service and you distribute your material through mail to follow them up, this is the respond to their inquiry.

The direct mail -your sales letters are designed to sell. You can send your brochure together with your letter in the direct mail package.

The sales support tool - this is just like the leave behind material, but you use this as a sales support that help deliver your sales pitch.

Types and styles.

The most common types of brochure printing style that you can see in the market nowadays are the single sheet and the booklet form:

- Single sheet brochure is a double sided material that is folded into thirds mostly in the Z fold or in the C folds way. The larger sheets are usually folded into four, five and six panels.

- Booklet styled material is usually made from multiple sheets that are mostly stapled on the edges or perfect bound.

Pointers that you need to know and understand before printing your brochures.

For designing and making a professional brochure, below are some of the pointers that you need to consider:

a. Consider the print size - be very careful with your print layout. Avoid sending bigger layout as this can affect the delivery of your message. Think also of the size as printing large layout on small paper size won't provide you a good output.

b. Provide bleed - your materials are usually printed collectively in sheets and then it is cut into single units. Cutting down into thousands of pieces can usually change over a course of printing. Your material must be designed with an extra 1/8th inch beyond each of the edges.

c. Resolution- using the right and needed resolution for the images that you will use on your materials is a very critical step that you must consider. If you fail to this, your materials might only end up in the trash bin.

d. Choose the right paper material for your brochure printing -utilizing the right paper material will convince your target clients and customers that you are professional than your competitors.

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 354
Date Published : Feb 21 2011

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How to Stand Out from the Crowd And Look Good Doing It

Wherever you find a successful business, you will find a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) — something that sets them apart from the competition and defines them in the minds of consumers. Companies without a USP either struggle to form an identity, or fail to leverage the benefits they offer.

When you boil down a USP to its basic ingredients, you find it is made up of two things:

1. The aspect of your business that makes it unique
and
2. The benefit your business offers to the consumer.

Without the uniqueness, no one will be able to distinguish you from your competitors. Without the benefit, no one will see why they should care.

So the USP is vitally important — but how do you create one?

I'm glad you asked. Follow these three simple steps to a specialized USP for your business.

1. Have the meeting

Gather your staff together, especially those who have direct contact with customers, such as salespeople. Once you have everyone together, you need to have a brainstorming session and answer these three questions:

1. What makes us different from our competitors? (and don't say "it's because we have the best customer service" - everyone says that and it's NOT unique ...at all)

2. Why is our product/service a "must have"?

3. What are the benefits of choosing us over the competition?

Disclaimer: You are going to hear your staff say things that will make you cringe!

However, everything said here is productive because you need to know not only what you want the USP to be, but also how you are currently perceived. It is good to get a dose of reality every now and again. You also may find out you are unique in ways you hadn't considered before.

Usually, one question will be harder than the others. For instance, a lawn service company is pretty clearly a must- have for people with lawns, and the benefit is obvious as well, but it may be difficult to find out what makes you different from the thousands of other similar businesses.

Here's where you really need to dig in. No two businesses are exactly the same — find what is different about yours. If you can't, come up with something! There are always ways to separate yourself from the pack.

Once you have discovered what makes you different, and why a consumer would want you, you are ready to create your USP.

2. Craft the Wording

Take your businesses uniqueness and benefits and marry them together in a way that is absolutely crystal clear and easy to read. You don't want a single word to be lost on the reader.

For example, my company PostcardMania's USP is, "PostcardMania is the ONLY postcard marketing company that creates custom marketing campaigns based on proven industry results."

From that you clearly understand why we are different (i.e. we are the only company that tracks industry results and uses them to create our clients campaigns), and why we benefit you (better marketing = better results).

3. Put It Everywhere

Now that your USP has been discovered and crafted, simply put it on every piece of marketing that goes out the door. This is how you build recognition of not only your name, but your business' purpose and benefit as well.

About the Author:
Using a extremely cost effective way of communicating with customers has earned Joy Gendusa Inc Magazine's recognition as the nation's fastest growing direct mail postcard marketing firm. Gendusa. Visit http://www.postcardmania.com/ For more information on how you can increase business by marketing your USP, call one of PostcardMania's marketing consultants at 800-628-1804. They'll give you FREE advice on how to grow your business. No. of Times this article has been viewed : 274
Date Published : Feb 12 2011

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