What would you rather be doing? You’re a small business owner interested in building your business with some marketing. Next, you head to the local print shop and inquire about business cards, letterhead, envelopes and a brochure. They ask if you have a logo. You turn to a friend and small business owner for their advice. They suggest you get a Web site, send out press releases and consider starting an online e-newsletter. Your eyes widen as they hand you a wad of business cards as you silently contemplate, "How long is it going to take to get this done?" For business success, every business must have a brochure and other printed forms of printed literature for their prospects and clients. Communication. It must be brief and communicate the most important fundamental aspects of your business and your products or services. It must "move" your prospective customer, who knows nothing about your company.
Time-saving. People want printed material to take home and read at their leisure. A leave-behind piece is an added personal touch that reminds the prospective client about your product and services and why they should get it from you.
Bigger picture. A brochure gives the customer a visual "feel" of who you are, what you do and provides a "door opener" for a follow-up call. A brochure is like an executive summary of your operation and offerings. It leaves a lasting impression. Economizing on a brochure may also be viewed as scrimping on your products or services. Have the very best brochure that you can.
Brochures and advertising materials are wasted if they are sitting in your office or mail room. Get it out to your prospects' hands.
Much of the same can be said for your Web pages. Most people expect successful businesses to have a Web site, particularly for credibility. Additionally, it builds on your brochure content, adding more detail and further convincing your prospect to utilize your product or service. Check out our Services. 
Marketing Tools
"Marketing is not an event, but a process . . . It has a beginning, a middle, but never an end, for it is a process. You improve it, perfect it, change it, even pause it. But you never stop it completely." - Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerrilla Marketing
Now you're back at the computer trying to find an image which represents your branding. You have no idea of what looks good or what color you want, but you pick a symbol and your favorite color (verified by your oldest child) and return to the print shop the next day, only to hear that the logo doesn't have the correct dpi and/or the image selected will be pixelated if enlarged to the desired size.
What?
Your afternoon calendar is full and you have a presentation tomorrow. There isn't time in the schedule to wonder what this means or how to get to the next step with your marketing materials.
The next months are spent meeting writers, designers, product suppliers, printers, and Web designers. You're fielding phone calls and receiving all kinds of proposals. Your own work is falling behind and you've made little or no progress in marketing your business.
Sound familiar? We know.
That is why Creative Writing & Design… was founded - to become your one-stop marketing solution. Contact Us
Brochure Tips
Credibility. Prospects expect a "real" company to have printed materials. It is important to look like you mean business and that the product or service you're promoting is valid and true. Having a well-written brochure and supporting materials can provide the visual marketing support to accomplish this. It must leave the impression that you are a solid, reliable company, and therefore your products and services must be equally as good, solid and reliable.
Web Site Tips
In regard to a Web site your message must convince your visitor to stay on your site and to be convinced that it will be worth their while to browse through it. Remember, you only have seconds to grab their attention so it is a necessity that it speaks to your visitor's needs effectively.
Periodically your website should be refreshed and updated with new material to encourage visitors to re-visit your site frequently. This requires planning, creativity, sales promotion and good writing.
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Remember, you only have seconds to capture and hold your customer's attention. A professional flyer can position yourself in the marketplace, giving you credibility and corresponding compensation for your services. You marketing collateral is your first introduction and impression when you're not there in person. Adding attractive imagery can make the difference as to whether or not your materials are read and retained. Only 5.6 percent said that the physical feel via the sense of touch was most important. Hearing and smell each drew 0.9 percent. When asked to approximate the importance of color when buying products, 84.7 percent of the total respondents think that color accounts for more than half among the various factors important for choosing products.
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Copy is critical. Make sure your marketing materials answer your customer's questions and meet their needs - not yours! Indicate how your services or products will solve or enhance the client's situation.
Color and Branding
Research conducted by the secretariat of the Seoul International Color Expo 2004 documented the following relationships between color and marketing:
"We must look for ways to be an active force in our own lives. We must take charge of our own destinies, design a life of substance and truly begin to live our dreams."
- Les Brown, a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality
Photography
The picture that accompanies your fabulous magazine article gives you credibility. The portrait on your website attracts or reassures your prospective clients.
The headshot on your brochure or resume could make a first impression that determines whether you get the interview or appointment.
Even the most beautifully crafted layout and copy can be let down by a poor head shot, yet many people make do with home snapshots which do them no justice at all.
A good head shot builds name and face recognition and encourages the prospect to feel comfortable enough to call you.
Photo samples below. Stretch your imagination and allow the photographer to capture your essence!
