Do your paper printed products reflect your company’s brand and image?
The paper products used by your business can boast some impressive marketing power if created with your brand in mind. Since a form, a receipt, a business card and a fax letterhead may stay with your customer long after the purchase has been made or the meeting is over, you should create your paper printed products with care. Think of every single paper item that leaves your business as a potential piece of advertising for a new or repeat customer.
DO have business cards printed. Some may say you don’t need any business cards in 2015, and that the web has eliminated the need, but the truth is that business cards are just as strong a printed product as ever. You want to make a good impression, so start with your most commonly handed out piece – the business card. Does it look professional and leave the right image?
DO use high quality cardstock and paper. Add professional grade artwork or graphics, and include the correct information. Make certain that you will be remembered by the recipient – if, six months down the road, they can’t make a connection between the card and yourself then your card has failed the test. Your name, your company’s name, what you do and all contact information should be front and center.
DON’T ignore your receipts. These are something that shouldn’t be thrown immediately away by your customer, but kept for future reference. Include your guarantee, or a discount offer for the next purchase, in order to convince the holder to retain it for the next time they need a product or service you provide. By making your receipts full sheet size and using heavier paper than the typical receipt machine, you can make them harder to misplace and more likely to be properly filed away.
DO make everything match. Your stationery and letterhead should match your cardstock in font, style and quality. by maintaining consistency across all print mediums, you establish and reinforce your brand. Use an easy to read font, use left alignment in most cases, and consider what colors you should use to attract the audience you desire. Red gives a sense of urgency, and is excellent for advertising same day service, for example.
DON’T be afraid to get creative. Consider making up a fun job title for yourself; for example, instead of “CEO” of a dog sitting service, try “DBF”. When people ask, you can say you are “Dogs’ Best Friend”! It’s an excellent conversation starter, and a little humor goes a long way.
All of your contact points should deliver the same message – that you know what you are doing and do it better than anyone else! By ensuring that your paper printed items are consistent and attractive, you make recipients more likely to hang onto them and refer back to you as their preferred provider – no matter what you are selling!