Trade shows are an excellent avenue to help any company bring in a completely new set of clientele. However, it is very easy to get lost at a trade show as they are filled with plenty of other reputable companies that are also there for the same goal: to gain new business. At trade shows, it is important to not only stand out based on your amazing business model, but to also draw in clients with an aesthetically-pleasing display and custom-printed promotional products that are useful and memorable. Standing out at a trade show is tough, but it can be done. Here are some great tips on how to make your business truly stand out at a trade show.
1) Have a Professional Trade Show Kit Printed – Many companies go to trade shows with brochures, key chains and a table cloth. There is a common assumption that this is all you need. However, if you are going to attend trade shows regularly, it is important to create a kit that you will be using regularly. Table toppers, banners, and other features can be added to a regular card table to make it look magnificent. Miami printing services can surely help set you up with things like this.
2) Invest in creative promotional products – Creative promotional products will help you stand out at a trade show. Everyone always remembers the person that gave out disposable cameras, drink flasks or another useful and memorable product. Try to keep your promotional product as closely related to your industry as possible. Otherwise, even the most creative of ideas will get lost in translation.
3) Create unique business cards – Business cards are always useful at trade shows, but most of them look completely the same. Creating a business card that also turns into a 3-D model of itself, or a business car printed on actual tree bark will truly stand out. Be sure to consider your industry and brainstorm creative ideas for memorable Miami business cards.
How to “Wow” at Trade Shows with Creative Printing Services
Car Wrap Advertising: Does it Really Work?
There is a good chance that you have seen at least a few cars speeding around your town with advertising of some sort on them. These advertisements are referred to as “car wraps.” The benefit to this type of Miami print advertising is the ability to reach many people across a certain location. Although it can be difficult to take down a phone number, website or email address, the advancement of search engines has allowed companies to be found just by their name. So if your logo and branding are strong and utilized on a car wrap, this can be a very beneficial form of advertising. Here are a few reasons why it is worth it to look into car wrap advertising.
1) Car Wrap Advertising is very cost effective – Depending on where you live, this can be very true. It’s important to be realistic about this though. If you live in a mountain town and drive past only 10-15 businesses or homes a day, then a car wrap is probably not that cost effective for you. However, if you are able to get someone who commutes a long distance daily, parks in a heavily populated parking lot, or is a traveling professional so they travel all throughout your area, then it is definitely a great investment.
2) Car wraps are not industry-specific – With most forms of advertising, it is necessary to market to a certain niche. With car wrap advertising, you are never fully aware of who you are driving next to, so the opportunities regarding certain demographics are astounding. You will probably pass a teenager, children, mothers, fathers, working professionals, liberals, conservatives, poor people, rich people… you get the idea. Car wrap advertising works because it takes a lot of the strategic necessity out of marketing. You pay for the printing of the car wrap, and maybe a certain stipend for the driver to keep it on their car, and that’s it.
Have you ever used car wrap advertising to promote your business? How has it worked for you? Have you been able to analyze how many leads you get based on car wrap advertising? Comment below and share your experiences regarding Miami car wraps.
Top 10 Tips For Creating New Business Cards
Creating a new business card is not just a way to get out your name and information anymore. Business cards are truly a representation of both yourself, as well as the brand or company you are representing. Since many people feel business cards are antiquated since it is far simpler to just add a new contact into their smart phone, or find them later via social media. However, business cards will always reign supreme as the simplest way to pass on contact information, as it does not require a person to whip out a phone, tablet or computer (and let’s face it, pen & paper is almost non-existent,) so it allows you to pass on your information in a small interaction, very simply and in just seconds. The problem is, basic business cards are not memorable and now that the concept appears so antiquated, they are not really useful unless they are innovative and creatively made. Below are ten helpful tips to make your business card stand out:
1) Make it 3-D – 3-D business cards are typically able to be folded and unfolded to become wither one dimensional or 3 dimensional. The option will definitely make your card stand out.
2) Change the Dimensions – Don’t make your card too big or too small, but based on your industry, try to play with the typical dimensions and change them to reflect something regarding your industry. Potential networking partners are bound to recognize this creativity.
3) Add Promotional Products – Business cards are typically very simple, but if you put a small rubber bracelet around them with your contact information, this can allow your business card to stand out even more. And people you give it to will be able to wear the bracelet and remember your company.
4) Experiment with colors – Many companies try to distinguish themselves with brand colors. It is important to stick to this for logos, but utilizing complementary colors to make your business card stand out can show you represent your business, but also represent yourself.
5) Utilize White Space – Sometimes people are so focused on designing the entirety of a business card that they forget that simplicity is valuable. Sometimes simple text in the middle of the business card, and then a logo on the back with plenty of white space allows the consumer to remember your minimalist style.
6) Make Each card slightly different – Consumers really are suckers for exclusivity. Making business cards that are each slightly different, (maybe a slightly different clipart item, or something) can really impact how the consumer views you as a business person. Just knowing that they are the only person to have that particular card paints an exclusive view of your company.
7) Reappearing Ink – As a child, I loved playing with invisible ink. To hand out business cards that show your information if they are exposed to sun, water or some other entity is a really cool way to impress customers and keep your business cards memorable.
Make your card the shape of an item from your industry – If you run a t-shirt company, little t-shirt shaped business cards will help you remain memorable. Little touches like this make all the difference in getting noticed.
9) Braille Business Cards – Business cards that also have a braille translation work twofold. They show a level of humanity few people have for others that are different than themselves (in this case, people who are blind or have vision limitations) and also, they create a nice texture for a business card that will be memorable to everyone you pass it out to.
10) Make it double as a bookmark – Even though more and more people are using tablets and e-readers to enjoy novels, magazines and news, there are still plenty of people with a love for the printed word and physical books. Try making tour business card in the shape of a bookmark, so that people who receive it can utilize it that way. Now every time they read, they will think of you and your business.
Creative Printing Projects to Boost Your Business
Every company can use a boost in business at one point or another. There are certain times of the year that tend to be far harder than other times for every business. Most retail businesses focus on their holiday sales, while Flower shops make their most money around Valentine’s day and costume shops are typically only relevant around Halloween. During the off-season, how can businesses create buzz with limited money, but a ton of time on their hands? Creative printing projects can be the solution to bringing your business to the next level both during the slow and peak times of the year.
Below are a few ideas that illustrate creative printing projects that any business can utilize to take their company to the next level.
1) Car Wraps – The fact is, we all need transportation, and in many cities, a car is the main way of transport. Obviously, the demographic and transportation habits of locals must be considered for any company looking into car wraps. If you live in New York City, it is likely that car wrap advertising is a more difficult sell, but in Los Angeles or Miami, car wraps have become a largely competitive market. Some companies even offer reward programs to individuals willing to advertise with their cars.
2) Promotional Products & Trade Shows – Trade shows happen year round, so when business is slow, this is the perfect way to pick up new clients. The world does not stop because your industry is not bustling at a certain time of the year. And, in fact, there are always people looking to network with like-minded people. Attending trade shows during slow times of the year is great, but you need to focus on providing something that can further help potential clients remember you. Creative promotional products with your logo on them always do the trick.
3) Creative Business Cards – With social networking sites and Smartphones, the idea of having a business card is almost pointless to many professionals. However, business cards still do have their place. The important thing to factor in when printing business cards is to create a new aesthetic that draws people it. Consider cards printed on an object, such as a chunk of tree bark if you own a furniture company, or a 3-D version of your card that people can fold or unfold to make it 3-D. Creativity will help business cards get picked up and kept by anyone they are handed out to.
Have you ever come up with a creative printing campaign for your company? Comment below and share your thoughts on this concept!
How to Choose the Right Design Company
When a new company opens, one of the most important tasks it will face is executing proper branding. We all know McDonalds from the golden arches, and Best Buy is well known for its bright, eclectic yellow sign and blue background. These companies have executed their branding in the correct way because people remember these examples and know to associate them with those companies. Choosing a poorly designed logo for your company, or having signage that is far too complicated and overdone will definitely set your company back. That is why when you are setting up the branding for your company, choosing the right design company is of the utmost importance. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right design company.
1) Stay Away from Companies that offer EVERYTHING – A company that seems to offer just about every service known to man, and ALSO offers design services is probably not the best company to invest in. These companies are not well known for their design services, they are simply known for being one stop shops. Now if you need some services completed cheaply and the design is not nearly as important, these places are fine. However, they are not appropriate for choosing the logo design that will represent your company for as long as it is in existence.
2) Choose a Company That has Previously Designed For Your Industry – This one should pretty much be a no-brainer. It is always good practice to trust in a company that has worked with other companies in your industry before. They will know the audience you are typically trying to attract, as well as the types of designs that have worked (and not worked) in the past.
3) Educate Yourself, Then Test the Design Company – There is certain lingo and design basics that every graphic designer should know. It is a good idea to educate yourself and learn a little bit about what goes into a logo design and then talk to the potential design firms. Make sure that you ask specific questions and that they are forthcoming with the information necessary to move forward. If they seem shaky on specifics, they are probably not knowledgeable enough to be trusted with your logo design.
Have you had a good experience working with a local Miami design company? How did you choose them? What advice would you give to people looking for logo design? Comment below and share your thoughts!
Land Your Dream Job with Custom Printing
Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to land a job these days, let alone your dream job. With the economy experiencing such dire times, many people are finding that it is near impossible to get into a job they actually feel passionate about and comfortable with. This just should not be how things are though. Even with the state of the economy, there are still ways to land that dream job, it just takes a lot more effort. In reality, this is probably a good thing, because only the truly qualified and passionate will receive the jobs that are worthwhile, right? Well, probably not entirely. To discount the idea of “It’s not about what you know, but who you know” is just silly. However, not every job situation is dominated by multiple candidates that know the owner of the company. How can you stand out in situation where merit, creativity and perseverance are the game changers? Custom-printed materials are actual a great way to move ahead of your fellow colleagues and snag the job of your dreams.
When preparing to attend any interview, have items that are basic for every interview (resume, work samples, letters of recommendation, etc.) but try to include a few standout items that are unique to every particular job. First of all, be sure to include a cover letter that is centered on that particular position. Having some custom-printed stationary is a good idea for this. It creates a higher level of professionalism, as also informs the interviewer that you are serious about your career and the possibility of taking on this position.
Another positive idea is to have custom-printed presentation folders made. You can set up multiple custom-printed folders with all of the regular items that you provide for all interviews and then just add personal items to each folder. This will make the interview process a lot less difficult as you will be half-way prepared before any interview is even scheduled.
Having your project samples printed on high-quality paper is also a good practice for interviewing. It is important to treat every interview as if it might be the time you finally land the job of your dreams. Custom-printed presentation folders, project samples and cover letters will truly set you apart.
Have you used custom-printed items to help you with interviews? If not, would you consider it? Also, how have you always landed the job you wanted? Or what might you have done that may have caused you to not get that job? Share your thoughts with us by commenting below!
Five Reasons To Invest in Custom Printing For Your Business
Every business can always use a boost. In fact, one of the most important things to remember when running a business is to continually switch things up so that your company can remain fresh and forward thinking. Promotional products may initially sounds like an antiquated idea, as we have all been to plenty of events where we received far more custom-printed t-shirts, key chains, magnets and stickers than we probably ever cared to see or own. However, there are plenty of ways to bring promotional products to the next level and have them truly reflect the mission of your company.
Get creative! If you run a swim suit company, get some goggles or swim caps printed with your logo on them and give them out at trade shows or in goodie bags for customers as a small freebie. If you happen to own an Asian restaurant, have custom-printed chopsticks made, or print your logo on the wrappers of fortune cookies. Marketing with promotional products really does hinge on the creativity you put into it. Keeping that in mind, here are five reasons why you should invest in custom printing for your business, and not just for promotional products!
1) Be Remembered After a Business Presentation – If you often meet with various clients to pitch your company’s products and/or services, it is good practice to leave something behind to make them remember you. Putting together a marketing packet is definitely a good idea, but if you put all of those documents into a plain manila folder, it will immediately speak to your company’s professionalism. As simple as it is, having custom-printed folders to display all the documents necessary for your pitch will just add another level of professionalism to your presentation.
2) Stand out at Charity Events – Custom-printed t-shirts are a great way to promote your business while still supporting your community. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or run in a 5K to end muscular dystrophy. Just don’t forget to wear your custom-printed t-shirt with your company’s logo!
3) Leave a Lasting Impression at Trade Shows – As previously stated, promotional products can do a great deal of good for your business. Getting creative will work even better. Print your logo on pens if you are an office supply company, and create paper fans with your logo if you run a tropical travel agency.
4) Have Your Employees Help out – Employees should always carry a few custom-printed business cards, key chains or other kitsch items that feature your company’s logo on them. Frankly, no one ever knows when they may come into contact with a potential client, so it is best to impress them by having a simple custom-printed item to give them to remember you by. Many great networking relationships spring from the smallest of interactions.
5) People Hold on to Useful Promotional Products – When creating custom-printed products for your business, think of things that people use often, such as bottle openers, pens, and even key chains. These are things people probably see on a daily basis, so if they hold on to a quality promotional product with your brand logo on it, then it is likely that even if they do not require your services at the moment, they may think of you when they do, simply from seeing your logo daily on one of these promotional items you gave them.
Promote Your Brand And Serve Your Community At the Same Time
Many businesses like to participate in philanthropic activities within their community and beyond. Some companies run a 5K together to help raise funding to study new cures for a disease, some volunteer their time with a charity on a regular basis and others make sizable donations to the charity of their choice. While all of these are great ideas and giving to charitable endeavors is always a positive venture for a company, many of them miss out on a grand marketing opportunity that is already factored in to most charity events. What these companies are forgetting to do is have some custom printed promotional products with them during these events.
Clearly, it can be more than a little tacky to run in a 5K to raise money for breast cancer research and hand out your business cards to those cheering on the sidelines as you run. This is not the type of promotional products to focus on during these events. Promotional products that are incorporated into charitable events need to be subtle and need to not take away from the philanthropic work your company is doing. Here are some positive ideas to help you promote your business in a subtle way while participating in charitable events.
1) Have Custom T-Shirts Made – This is the simplest and most common way to promote your brand during a charitable event. Your entire company can wear a custom-made t-shirt with your logo printed on it, and no one ever has to talk about your company unless asked. Nevertheless, you are getting your company out there in a positive way because people will notice the t-shirts and associate your company’s name with positive community events.
2) Have some Custom Buttons Created – Wearing a button with your company’s name along with the logo for the charity event or organization you are volunteering for can go a long way. This way people can identify you both with your company as well as with the organizations you help with. These are also great, because you can wear them whether you are currently physically volunteering or not, as long as you are still associated with that organization.
3) Create Name Tags with the Company Logo – If your employees will be helping out by maybe serving food to the homeless, or even sorting clothes at the Salvation Army, a name tag with the company logo can go a long way. Even if most of the attention comes from other business owners or employees working alongside them, it makes it simple to associate your company with philanthropy.
Have you ever participated in a charity event with your company? Did you invest in proper promotional products beforehand? If so, did it help your business? Comment below and share your thoughts on this topic!
Promoting Your Business Brand With Custom Printing
We have all seen the cheesy beer cozies, over-sized stickers and other trinkets that have been emblazoned with some unknown company’s logo and passed around by others who may have acquired several of them at a trade show and is now passing them off as “thoughtful” holiday gifts. This is the end game for many promotional products, simply because they were not creative or well thought out. What is truly most important when creating a promotional product to reflect your brand is to think up something creative that will stick in the consumer’s mind. This is especially important if your logo is relatively plain.
There are several ways to not let promotional products go to waste. They are a strong investment and provide a very sizable return on investment, or ROI. However, if they are haphazardly ordered with little thought put into the items chosen, it is likely that they will provide little-to-no exposure for a business. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing promotional products to help market your business:
1) Invest in a FEW simple products – Stickers, key chains and magnets are not completely useless. In fact, it is recommended that you order at least some promotional items in this arena. These can be used by going door-to-door locally and leaving them in mailboxes, or giving them out to passing customers at a trade show. They are also useful in office for brand new clients, or even old ones. Everyone likes a little gift now and then. Just be sure that these types of promotional products are not your main focus. They are simply supplementary.
2) Pick a Product Related to Your Industry – Using a promotional product related to your industry is not always possible, but when it is, it is a good idea to capitalize on it. For example, if you are a dentist, order toothbrushes with your company name, website and phone number on them. You can even order small toothpastes or mouthwashes with your practice’s name on those as well. Each time a patient takes care of their oral health, they will be reminded of your business and, if it’s time, they’ll be more inclined to make an appointment.
3) Be Creative! – Above all, creativity is key. Everyone hands out mugs, key chains and t-shirts. Put your logo on energy drinks and take them to a music festival. Attend a marathon event and hand out small towels with your logo on it to runners as they go by. People really do remember things like this. If you are going to invest in promotional products for your business, be sure to focus on making things that people will remember.
Have you ever created promotional products for your business before? How did it work out for you? What types of products did you have created? Would you invest in this marketing tactic again? Comment below and share your thoughts on this idea!
Enhance Big Events with Custom-Printed Gifts
From the very personal occasions, such as having your first baby, to the highly-publicized major events, such as a store’s grand reopening, custom-printed promotional products are a highly sought after commodity. There are multiple reasons why simple, “kitchy” gifts have become so popular. Affordability, branding and leaving a lasting impression upon potential and current customers are certainly among the top three.
For a moment, let’s imagine that you are planning a large event to attract new clientele to your recently launched public relations firm. You have a solid business plan, a well-educated and experienced staff and a gorgeous office location. However, aside from family and friends, no one knows who you are. This can be very discouraging considering how much work you have clearly put into to this professional project. More than likely, this public relations firm is not simply a project, but actually, your livelihood. Therefore, ending up in debt with a fledgling business is simply not an option.
Promotional products are an incredibly simple and intelligent way to get your brand out to the masses. People do hold on to promotional products such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, magnets and key chains. Often, these are things consumers will see on a daily basis without even intending to. Chances are good that at one point or another, a good percentage of the people you give out these items to will need your services and give you a call. Just a few clients will typically offset the cost of having several hundred promotional products printed. And most likely, you will receive more than just a few calls based off of these custom-printed promotional items.
Here are a few best practices for printing promotional products for big events and how to best distribute them.
1) Have a Tiered System of Promotional Products – Smaller promotional products, such as magnets, key chains, buttons and stickers are far less expensive than t-shirts or mugs. Make sure that if you are at a trade show or other event where you can give out multiple branded promotional products, be sure to offer the less expensive items to passer-bys or people who politely stop, but express little interest in your business. Those that stop for a longer period of time, genuinely ask questions and engage you regarding your business should receive the more expensive options, such as a t-shirt, coffee mug or calendar. Be sure to send them with a nice custom-printed folder full of clear information on your company as well.
2) Just to Have around the Office – After big meetings, or even if someone drops by your office inquiring about services, leave them with a parting gift. Again, try to stick to a tiered system as to not waste an expensive product on someone showing little interest in your services.
3) Pick Promotional Products related to your Industry – For the most part, key chains, magnets, stickers, t-shirts and mugs are the main promotional products that companies purchase. However, certain businesses are able to capitalize on these promotional products by putting their name on relateable products, such as staplers for an office-themed company, or stress balls for a psychology practice. Build on your brand by choosing products that are relatable and memorable.
These are just a few of the best practices for distributing and choosing promotional products for your business. Have you had any business come your way by using this method? What types of products did you have your logo printed on? What worked and what did not? Comment below and share your thoughts!