Effective Postcard Marketing for Just About Any Size Business

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AppId is over the quota

Postcard marketing is the easiest way to spread information to a number of people. Postcards can be sent, handed out in person, left behind in public places - or even mailed. With all of the distribution techniques available, it is easy to see which could be the most effective for your business. Below are five tips to ensure that your postcard marketing lives up to its highest potential.

Interesting, Die Cut Shapes - Die cut shapes are perhaps the best way to get instant attention of just about anybody. They allow you to instantly make an impression, and enable you to show off your creative side. This is also the easiest way to draw your reader in, and then show how you are best equipped to handle their needs.

Interesting Brand Colors - Make sure that the colors you choose are in line with your company's overall branding. Choosing colors that are too mismatched will lead to a disjointed postcard, and ruin brand recognition. All colors should be the same. From your postcard to your website, to your brochure.

Casual but Enticing Copy - Make sure that the copy is casual in tone. Save the corporate marketing speak for other marketing materials. By having a casual tone, you are better able to relate to your prospect, and speak on the level they are most comfortable with. Also, try and consider having pictures to compliment your copy. This will help in getting your message across much more easily.

Call To Action - Make sure that the call to action is at the end of your copy. The copy should be simple, easy and to the point. It should also be concise and motivate the reader to instantly take action on what they are reading. Try to look at your competitors to see what they are doing, and see what you like and don't like.

In-depth Tracking - Make sure that the tracking system you choose to use is effective. You can track each postcard's design effectiveness by assigning a certain code to each. Then when someone calls or visits your business, they must reference the code in order to receive a special incentive such as a discount. This will help in streamlining your marketing efforts, and also help in seeing what is the most effective route for contacting your customer.

When you are done, be sure to ask for feedback. This is perhaps the most important part to just about any marketing campaign. Feedback from trusted friends, family and coworkers is best to ensure that your campaign is the most effective it can be.

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here

Can You Make Money From Selling Wholesale Clothes?

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The simple answer is yes! There are many ways to sell clothing. You can sell them at a clothing store, gift shop or even a second hand store. One exceptionally popular and surefire way of selling clothing is online especially when one is trying to move boxes of wholesale clothes. It is actually a good way to earn money, given how a large number of people nowadays are increasingly using online resources to shop for a variety of things including clothing.

Why clothes?

As just about everyone knows, there is a huge market for clothing. And while it is a given that we all have our own styles and preferences when it comes to clothing, it cannot be denied that most of us would grab the chance to score great discounts on fashion apparel.

Some of the more popular clothing lines are manufactured by large companies. Many of these big name companies produce very attractive clothing that prompts people to splurge and not worry about the costs. For these large companies, making a profit is not a problem however, for a startup company or even a mid-sized one, there might be some challenges. In this case, the not-so large clothing company relies on a wholesale clothing manufacturer to provide high-quality clothing that can be sold at prices that appeal to target customers.

Defining wholesale fashion clothing

Now when you think of wholesale, what comes to mind? Store sales? You guessed right. Many companies that sell wholesale clothes have their own list of buzzwords. Just about everyone can say one time or another that they have seen a sign reading "BLOWOUT WHOLESALE" or "WHOLESALE LIQUIDATION." So what does wholesale actually mean? You can explain it in a variety of ways but basically it is reselling new and/or used goods. A lot of times wholesalers or distributors buy in bulk and sell it for a higher price for what they bought it for resulting in profit. For example, at a larger corporate store like "XYZ Wholesalers" you can buy in bulk to save money; whereas if you were to buy the same quantity at a single family owned store, you most likely will pay more for the same item. This same concept applies to wholesale clothing. You can buy wholesale clothes from manufacturers in bulk at a discount and adjust prices accordingly to make profit.

Buying in bulk is really up to your sales or purchasing team. Managing relationships and purchases with manufacturers is how you get hold of these types of wholesale discounts. Also, many manufacturers and businesses may give rebates that you can take advantage of depending on the amount of buying that you do with them. This is seen not upfront but in the end and result in a rebate similar to a bonus for doing "X" amount of business or sales with them.

One thing is for sure, building relationships and buying from these smaller manufacturers instead of larger ones will help you get very good wholesale discounts and rebates. This is how you can make money selling wholesale clothing.

Ryan Garcia writes for LAwholesaleOutlet.com, a clothing wholesaler offering high quality products for boutiques and wholesale clothes.

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Flyer Printing: Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid

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AppId is over the quota

Flyers are a great way to bring instant attention to just about any cause, product or service. Due to their size, they can instantly allow you to explain your brand while also giving you the ability to blanket an entire region. However, many flyer marketing campaigns fall short in many ways. Below are the top five points to keep in mind before you execute your flyer marketing.

Visually Unappealing - Avoid this mistake by adding light and dark colors. Using light and dark colors adds instant visual appeal to your artwork. It also gives an added dimension to your postcard and can allow you to highlight certain aspects of your postcard. For example, you can highlight customer reviews in a yellow highlighted background. Or, you can use color to accent certain words in your company messaging to drive home your business' advantages.

Unoriginal Shape - Although die-cut is always preferred to the standard postcard size, die-cuts actually tend to be more expensive. They should be more significant than the standard square but also stand out from the crowd. As a result, try rounding corners on your postcard - sometimes it's the simplest touches of uniqueness that go the furthest. Also, if you must have a die-cut shape, consider asking the printer if they have any older die-cuts that you might be able to use. This will not only help in your marketing efforts, but also help in saving money.

No Call to Action - This is perhaps the most important mistake not to make. Be sure to have a strong call to action that will seek to motivate the reader to call, email, visit or buy in your place of business. Just be sure your call to action is easily traceable so that you may better understand how successful your campaign is. For example, if it is simply to have people visit your website, be sure you can easily track what postcard is where. That way you can easily determine what postcard-marketing tactic works best. Is it the time of day? Specific location? Or is it perhaps the distribution method?

Flyers are perhaps the best way to secure attention of just about anyone. Just be sure to avoid these mistakes and you are well on your way to marketing success. Also, be sure to ask friends family and coworkers what they think. This will help in just about all of your marketing initiatives.

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here

Top 4 Flyer Marketing Mistakes

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AppId is over the quota

Flyers are a great marketing tool for just about every business. They provide enough room to properly explain your business and allow you to clearly and concisely explain your business. However, before you get started on your flyer marketing efforts, you must be aware of a few things that could impede the success. Below are our top five flyer marketing mistakes that we see on a daily basis.

Unclear Imagery - Do not forget to include imagery that compliments and enhances your storyline. Include images that depict your story, and make sure that all are inline with your current branding. That means that all of the colors should be reminiscent of your current logo, as well as in line with all of your other marketing materials.

Ineffective Copy and Design - Many times the copy and design of the brochure will not be in line with the overall messaging. Not having an aligned message will create a loss in brand credibility, and will also lose readers. As a result, try and get a copy of your brochure printed on simple paper using your at home printer. Before you send it to print, pass it around to your friends, colleagues and co-workers - see what they like most about the brochure, and what they think the brochure could use. Then incorporate this into the design.

T.M.I. - Think of your flyer as a teaser. The recipient should know exactly what your business offers within the first three seconds. However, you have to leave a little bit to the imagination. This will not only help you in having the recipient act on your call to action, but will also help in creating general interest in your brand.

Unoriginal Shape - Make sure that the shape of your flyer is unique. Have a flyer that is intricate in shape, and fun. True the shape should embody what your industry is (i.e. a dentist would use a toothbrush, a chiropractor a spine, etc.)

When you are finished with your flyer, be sure that you pass it around to all of your friends, family and coworkers. This will not only help in getting feedback about your flyer marketing, but also help in getting feedback on all of your marketing collateral.

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here

How To Best Distribute Your Brochures

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AppId is over the quota

Brochures are excellent marketing pieces. They allow you to clearly explain your business, and also allow you to distribute them in just about any place you wish. In a way, they are your sales person when you are not around. They introduce the problem, give possible solutions, and then explain ways that your business is different. However, to ensure that your brochure is read by everyone, it is best to distribute it in the most effective way possible. Below are the top four most effective tactics, in order of most effective to least effective.

Face-to-face - Face-to-face interactions are perhaps the best way to ensure that your brochures are actually viewed by the prospect. This allows your prospect to view the brochure and also allows you to connect with them in a personal way. It also helps in brand recognition as the prospect now has a face to connect your company with. This will undoubtedly help your marketing efforts, as well as your business efforts.

Trade Shows - Trade shows are a great way to connect with prospects. They allow you to explain your services in an atmosphere that is conducive to connecting people with businesses and services. As a result, make the best of it, and bring brochures along that are directly targeted at the trade show's demographic. Having a brochure that is specifically targeted will help in personalization too.

Mailed - Mailing brochures is a great way to connect with customers at their home. Connecting with customers at their most personal time allows you to introduce your services, and allows them to view the material when its most convenient for them. Having materials mailed directly to them gives them the ability to read the brochure when they have time.

Leave-Behinds - Leave-behinds are probably one of the least effective marketing tactics. By executing a leave-behind program, you are less able to check the results of a campaign, as well as less able to connect with your customer on a personal level. However, sometimes, leave-behinds are necessary, such as the case when marketing to doctor's offices, churches and grocery stores.

Just be sure that with every tactic, you properly track the success. This can be accomplished by simply including a tracking number on every brochure. Then when the prospect calls in, ask them to reference the tracking code that is then linked to the time place and location of the distribution.

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here

Bookmark Printing for Every Small Business

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AppId is over the quota

Bookmarks are perhaps the most innovative way to market your business. They allow you to simply and easily spread word about your products and services. Unlike other marketing materials, bookmarks provide a utility for your prospect. They allow you to easily get in front of the eyes of people. It is also a gentle reminder of your business. Simply be sure that your bookmark is not strictly marketing focused. The size, shape and colors should all be taken into consideration.

Thought Provoking Copy - Make sure that the copy on your bookmark is thought provoking. Having a bookmark that triggers a thought or action will enable you to resonate with the recipient in a way that very few can. So consider a motivational quote, statistic or question that will get their attention. Just remember to limit the heavy marketing jargon.

Unusual Shape - Utilizing an unusual shape is probably the best way to get someone's attention right off the bat. Using a shape that embodies your industry is the most effective as it helps in explaining what you do, and how you can effectively create an impression that speaks to the prospect.

Interesting Colors - Try to include loud and vibrant colors on your bookmark. Including colors that are vibrant allow your prospect to easily remember what you bookmark means, and most importantly will get their attention. Try alternating colors, or even try to saturate certain tones to get more attention and add some depth.

Cartoon Characters - Many times companies will include characters on their bookmark. These could be related to their logo, or the character will be something totally unrelated to draw a little bit of attention. Just remember that the character you choose should be reflective of your company.

Hang Tag Style - Consider using a hang tag as a bookmark. They provide the most innovative way of creating a bookmark, while still staying at an affordable price. It also is a great a way to include a string. Using this creativity shows how you are a leader within your space, while also demonstrating the style in which you like to incorporate.

Bookmarks are perhaps the best way to market your business. By offering your prospect a tool, they are more likely to use it. So just be sure that the bookmark is not too much of an advertisement, and more of a special tool. Now it's time to start designing your next marketing campaign!

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here

Flyer Printing Tips for All Small Businesses

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AppId is over the quota

Flyers are a great resource for just about any small business. They allow you to completely blanket an entire region with your branding; while also allowing you to connect with your recipients on a personal level. For that reason it is very important that there are a number of points are covered to ensure that you are getting the most from your marketing efforts.

Color Scheme - Make sure that the color scheme you choose is symbolic of your brand. The colors should not only represent your brand, but also should be able to show that your brand is credible. Also, make sure that the color you choose are all within the same palette. This will not only help in creating a cohesive brand, but will also help in getting word out there faster - while making an immediate impact.

Fonts - Make sure that the font you choose are professional, yet casual. The easiest font to read includes serif fonts. Serifs attached to letters enable the reader to quickly read the text as the eye can quickly read where each letter begins and ends. This also allows the reader to quickly pass it off to friends allowing them to quickly and easily read the information.

Die Cut - Try to experiment with die cut shapes. Choosing a custom shape that speaks to your business allows the recipient to see who you are, what you do, and how they can benefit from your business instantly. Also, try to choose shapes that embody your industry on a whole. For example we see dentists use teeth a lost as flyers. This stands out amongst the competition and allows for great comprehension.

Design Layout - The layout of the flyer should be easy to read as well. The layout should be simple, uncomplicated and easy to understand. The easier it is to understand, the more likely the recipient will read it through to the end. As a result, try and have the flyer layout as bare as possible. This will help in getting both attention and getting your message across.

When you are done, be sure that you ask friends family and coworker for their opinion on the flyer. This will not only help in getting feedback, but will also help in disseminating your information to those who care about you most - your loved ones. Just be sure to utilize this information in other facets of your marketing collateral, such as brochures, stickers and banners.

Melanie Turner is a Business student at Columbia University and employee at 1800 Postcards. She has also been a Researcher at Deloitte Consulting where she worked with expert marketing teams on Fortune 500 clients. As a growing expert in the field of marketing, Melanie aims to provide insights and resources to Small Businesses.

She has worked with top agencies in brochure design projects for Fortune 500 clients. Brochures are a great marketing tool and there will be more articles to come about how to use them effectively for your business.

View the original article here