ADVERTISINGtag:hiroseno.com,2008:/blog/advertising-01/92008-03-29T20:51:56ZI will send you Advertising Informations.Movable Type 3.36Advertising Costs Getting Too High?tag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2602007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZEveryone knows that advertising is essen...
> http://madmarketer.com/diane]]>
The SKINNY on Newspaper Advertisingtag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2612007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZThe SKINNY on Newspapers Using the paper...
Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.comBIG Mike is a Small Business Consultant,Professional Speaker and former Major Market TVNews Anchor. http://BIGIdeasGroup.com
Subscribe to "BIG Mike's BIG Ideas" NewsletterMailTo:subscribe-956603364@ezinedirector.net]]>
50 Surefire Business Card Tipstag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2622007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZBusiness cards are one of the most power...
Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or your company do.
Order them in large numbers. By ordering 1000 your cost per card will be significantly lower than if you ordered 500.
Even if you can produce your business cards at home using an inkjet printer, have your business cards professionally made by a printing company. Your business card will be the first impression your prospects receive of your business, so let them convey the best possible one.
Avoid using standard clip art as your business logo. A logo brings credibility and brand awareness, so before you invest in business cards have a logo professionally made for your business. Nowadays, there are online companies that can produce a professional logo for as little as $25, so there is no excuse for not having one made.
Put up a website and use the URL in your business cards. If you don't have a website, people will notice the absence of a web address in your business card and, depending on the business you are in, it may make you lose credibility.
Keep all the information in your business card current. If you changed address or phone number, don't scratch the old number and write down the new one by hand; get new business cards.
Keep your business card simple. Don't use too many fonts or try to cram too much information in it. Try to use a pleasant layout and make sure that your main message (your tagline or your unique selling proposition) doesn't get lost.
If you live in the US, limit your business card size to 3.5" x 2". Anything bigger will not fit in standard card holders and your card may end up in the trash. Business cards in Europe tend to be larger, but so are the wallets and card holders.
Make sure that your business card reflects your image. If you are an artist or a graphic designer, it is OK to use trendy colors and fonts. If you are an investment banker, a sober layout and colors such as blue or gray work better.
Your business card is an integral part of your brand or corporate identity strategy. It should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your communications material (stationary, brochures, letterheads, etc.).
Find a way to make your business cards stand out. I've seen business cards with one of its corners cut in an angle, or with an interesting texture, all of which makes your business card stand out of the crowd. The best one I've seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.
Make your business card easy to read: use high contrast between the background and the type. Light background with dark type works better.
After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card.
Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.
Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.
Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.
Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. v
When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".
Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.v
Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as pushy. Try to establish a conversation with your prospect first. For example, ask them what do they do. That will usually prompt them to give you their card. That is the perfect moment to give them yours.
Don't try to give your card in situations where many people are giving them to your prospect. Wait for a moment when you can capture your prospect's attention span.
Another tactic you can try when your prospect is overwhelmed and can't pay you enough attention is to send your card by mail. Pretend you ran out of business cards and ask for theirs. Then, mail them your card and take the opportunity to drop a follow up note.
If you have a mobile phone number or a direct phone number that is not listed in your business card, write it at the back of your card before handing it out, and tell your prospect that you are giving them your direct number. This will make your card more important, and less likely to be lost or thrown out.
Another way of increasing the chances that your prospect will keep your card is by printing valuable information on the back, for example important phone numbers (local police, hospitals, etc), a calendar, or a football schedule.
Offer to hand out cards of complementary (non-competitive) business people in exchange for them distributing yours. An example of non-competitive businesses is real estate brokers and mortgage brokers.
If somebody gives you their business card, you should give them yours in return.
Always give your business card face up.
Take a cue from Far East business people, who hand out business cards with both hands. It helps give the impression that your business card is something very important.
If you conduct business internationally, use the back of your card to print a translated version of your business card in your customers' language. Even if they have no problem reading English, it will be a classy touch and they will appreciate it.
If you sell different product brands and want to put their logos on your business card, print them in only one color. Using each logo's brand colors could make your business card look chaotic and busy.
Create a business card in magnet form. Magnets are widely used, to hold important papers on the refrigerator door at home and on file cabinets at work. They are always visible and always get read.
When receiving somebody else's business card, don't put it away immediately. Instead, keep it in your hand for a while you talk to your prospect, or place it neatly over the table, and try to develop a conversation based on the information on the card.
Use the back of the cards you receive to write down important facts about the persons who handed them to you. It will help you enormously when you follow up with them.
If you are in a profession where relationship selling is important, it may be a good idea to include your picture in your business card (i.e. real estate brokers).
Even if your business is a sole proprietorship, you can still use "account manager" as your title instead of "owner" or "president". If you do sales (and we all do) "account manager" is a perfectly appropriate title, and it will give the impression that you work for a larger company.
Use logos of organizations that you or your business belong to in your business cards. They are an easy way to provide instant credibility to your business. For example, if you operate a repair shop you can display the logo of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or the Triple A (AAA). (Check with them first about the terms of use).
If you participate in affiliate programs online, you can still use business cards to promote your affiliate links. Use the name of the affiliate company as the company name, use 'partner' or 'associate' as your title, and the URL of the directory or web page where you have placed your affiliate links as your web address. Just because affiliate programs are online doesn't mean that you can't use off-line marketing methods to promote them.
If you need to give cards to different kinds of prospects (for example if you are a student looking for work), make business cards with just your name and contact information, and attach custom made self-adhesive labels at the back with information of interest to each specific prospect.
Include an information email address (for example: info@yourdomain.com) that is set in autoresponder mode, that automatically triggers an email message with full information about your product, service or company. This will increase the effectiveness of your business card since you will give your prospect much more information that you can fit in a card.
Take good care of your business cards. Keep them clean and crisp in a cardholder. Don't give away cards that are bent or damaged.
Try to get a cardholder with two pockets. That way, you can use one for your business cards and the other one for the business cards you receive.
Keep all the business cards you receive neatly organized in a rolodex. It will save you time and will provide you with a database of contacts with whom to build positive business relationships.
Collect all the business cards you can find, even if you don't need them. Together, they will act as an "idea file" that will provide you with valuable tips that you can use to design your business cards.
About The Author
Mario Sanchez publishes The Internet Digest (http://www.theinternetdigest.net) an online collection of tips and resources on Internet Marketing and Web Design. You can also visit his Business Card Tips page at: http://www.accordmarketing.com/businesscards/.]]>
10 Ways to Advertise Your Business For Free!tag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2632007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZAt some point many small business owners...
http://www.kpatra.com; info@kpatra.com]]>
Adding Art to Business Spacestag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2642007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZLarger companies have learned that colle...
http://www.will-harris.com/design/bizcards2.htm and Victoria Arico at http://www.lookslikejoy.com/BusinessCards.html. I prefer designers rather than mass-produced templates for many reasons, but primarily because I don't want to see my 'logo' on someone else's card. The image conveyed on your business cards, should match your work environment in terms of appearance and energy. A modest art program at work can help to unify your corporate image for your clients and employees.
Even if your company already has an art collection, it often doesn't include art for personal workspaces. People spend so much time at work that it is important to encourage them to create a sense of individuality with personal art that appeals to them. Shared or open spaces might be perfect for a small water feature to help keep competing noises down. It's best not to be too extreme in choices of art on these walls, but a couple of modest pieces, a collection of small art postcards or even a small sculpture can bring instant interest to a workspace. Because selecting art can be a bit tricky, guidelines or policies created for the company help people keep their art selections appropriate for the workspace.
If you are lucky enough to have room in your workplace for public art, you can use the space for rotating art shows by artists from across the country. You can also commission murals, sculpture or faux finishes to add creative and artistic touches to your space. Remember there is no need to over do it at work, but do consider the feeling you want to express. If you are in a hectic work environment choose art that makes you feel instantly calm in the midst of chaos.
There are so many ways to artistically enhance your workspace. Hold some after-hours art classes or host an exhibit that features art created by your employees. It's a modest investment that gives back over and over again, and also helps support local arts in your community. Use your imagination and put together a great arts program at work that will encourage employee creativity, interest in your company, and add to your overall company image.
About The Author
Lise Richards is an Artistic Lifestylist and owner of The Creativity Center, Inc and Red Door Gallery. Her Artistic Lifestyling program helps all people live more creatively in artistically designed spaces. Visit the company online at www.centerofcreativity.com; director@centerofcreativity.com]]>
How To Create A Better Brochuretag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2652007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZHaving a quality brochure makes a positi...
Know your market. Would a glossy, color brochure make that much difference to your target market? If you're selling financial services to wealthy investors, then appearance counts. But for most small businesses, it's not worth the extra cost.
If you can't afford to hire a designer and are creating the brochure yourself, ask questions before you prepare a computer file for printing. Does the printer want the source file or a portable document file (pdf)? Do you need to include fonts and linked graphics? If you're going to create a pdf, be clear what options the printer wants you to select before creating it.
BROCHURE FORMAT Brochures come in a variety of sizes. Probably the most common format is called a slim jim. It's either a letter or legal sized sheet that's folded two or three times vertically. It's a popular format for small businesses because it can fit a display rack or be mailed in a standard number-10 business envelope.
MORE TIPS ON REDUCING YOUR PRINTING COSTS]]>
Turn Your Ad Copy into a Goldmine!tag:hiroseno.com,2007:/blog/advertising-01//9.2662007-05-05T00:09:52Z2008-03-29T20:51:56ZToday, more than ever, it is crucial tha...
You'll receive all these benefits:
You'll be glad you did.
Supply is limited.
Your gift/donation/etc is tax-deductible.
We know you'll agree that ?
You simply can't lose.
Don't wait another minute.
Reserve your copy today.
There are many more but this should give you an idea on how to make stronger persuading suggestions to your readers.
SINGLE WORDS
Perhaps the best way to improve your ad copy is by replacing simple common words with more descriptive ones. It is important that your ad copy reads well so don't just rapid fire in alternative words. Following are some common examples of words you might use and some excellent replacements.
Word: Good
Example: Our product is good.
Replacements Include:
Highest quality
The greatest
Outstanding
Top-of-the-line
Top-notch
Sets the standard
The best in the business
Superior
Our product is top-of-the-line.
Phrase: Saves Money, Value Priced, etc.
Example: Our product is cheap.
Replacements Include:
Tremendous savings
Pays for itself
Inexpensive
Thrifty
Low cost
Your money's worth
Economical
Affordable
Cost-efficient
Our product pays for itself.
Word: Money Making
Example: Our product will make you money.
Replacements Include: