Business Cards… waste of paper? or effective tool?
Business cards can either be a waste of paper or an effective tool. They are an integral element of your company’s branding strategy, and can sometimes make or break you when it comes to getting prospects to take you seriously. A lot of companies skimp on business card design, concept development, and printing; and that lackluster image is conveyed directly to prospective clients.
Bottom line is: Your chances of favorably impressing prospects will improve substantially if your business cards are printed on high-quality paper, display a professional-looking logo, and use a font style that’s easy to read and is representative of the nature of your business. Your business cards should also contain either a well thought-out slogan or a short bulleted list of your services, or your expertise.
Click on the images below to see a few card designs.
5 Ways to Update Your Image
Your company name and image are a couple of your most valuable assets. And whether you like it or not, your company is judged on a daily basis by the look of your logo, website, letterhead, business cards.
Many companies update their logos, taglines, etc. over time. For example, Pepsi recently updated their logo to reflect a more modern look. If you haven’t taken a hard look at things like your logo in the last couple of years, now is a good time to do a little analyzing. So, after looking, is it time for a little “sprucing”? One way to improve your company’s image is by producing excellent letterhead, product and service brochures, presentation folders and newsletters.
1. Ask your clients and vendors what they think of your logo and how they perceive your company. Many times what you think you portray what you actually portray are two different things.
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your current image? What misconceptions or negative perceptions need to be corrected?
3. Devise a strategy for updating. Updating could include changing your company’s logo, colors, tagline or even product mix.
4. Get help from a professional! Your outcome is going to be more professional if you involve an expert in that field. They can help you devise a plan and implement a new concept.
5. As you are working on your new look show it to a few people. See if their reaction is what you’re looking for. Have you changed any perceptions you were trying to change?
Company Perception
Unfortunately, this cartoon is a little too close to the truth for many of us who have worked in Corporate America.
Companies do not know that how they treat their employees is part of their marketing. Marketing happens internally as well as externally. And these kinds of behaviors affect a companies image. Image is part of marketing and image is also created internally and externally.
If a company mistreats its employeed they are going to talk to others about their job and the culture at the company. Negative words spread much faster than positive words, and with the help of social media a company can have a PR crisis on its hands overnight. Thus leaving the company with not only a bad reputation as an employer, but it can also come back around and effect the attitudes of the customers.
Twitter Bot Cartoon
Ran across this funny cartoon on Mashable. Thought it was too funny not to share! 
This cartoon was a collaborative effort between Mashable & HubSpot.
Congratulations Bess Wills
i4 Marketing sends Congratulations our friend 
Bess Wills, General Manager of Gresham Ford.
Bess is a 2011 Orchid Award winner, and was chosen as Woman Executive of the Year (small/medium business).
The Orchid Awards are sponsored by the Portland Business Journal. The awards recognize 25 outstanding women influencing the local business community. This year the celebration will take place Thursday, April 7th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel, Grand Ballroom.
Bess is a humble and kind business woman. She leads by example and her generosity has touched many lives. She truly deserves to be recognized as an outstanding woman.
Congratulations Bess!
10 Hilarious Print Ads
Print ads can be challenging to design. The message must quickly be conveyed and it also must catch the attention of the viewer. In order to accomplish this many times the designers use humor. Don’t believe me? See for yourself!
1. Nikol Baking Dish – Treat your food to something good
2.Bose Noise Reduction Headphones
3. Cemex – Fast Drying Concrete
4. DealerTrack – Tools For a Competitive Advantage
5. KISS FM
6. Nissan – The 280-hp Nissan Altima SE-R. Make Way.
7. Listerine – Bad Breath Affects Those Closest to You.
8. Timotei Styling Mousse
9. Senior Self Defense Academy – This ad ran in Belgium
10. Pedigree Light – Perhaps it’s Time to Turn to Pedigree Light Dog Food.
Top Ten Networking Tips
Networking is such an important part of doing business. Effective networking will inspire you, give you an edge and also help you build lasting relationships. It’s a fact, on average, 70% of new business is gained through referrals. It is also one of the most cost-effective ways to build your business. So, read our top networking tips and prepare for your next networking event.
1. Networking is about building relationships. Be genuine and authentic. People do business with other people they trust & have a relationship with.
2. You get out of it what you put into it. Do not join a group, never attend the meetings and expect to receive leads.
3. What are your goals? Have clear goals in mind. What are you attempt to accomplish by being part of this group? Make the goals include connecting others.
4. Networking is not selling. Do not go with the goal of selling your product or service. Go with an open mind and being willing to educate people when the time is appropriate.
5. Be known as a powerful resource, a connector. Be the one people come to when they want a professional.
6. Listen, listen, listen. Stop planning what you are going to say next. You will miss the details and may miss out on a great opportunity.
7. Ask open-ended questions, not just questions that elicit yes/no answers. This will get the conversation going.
8. Approach the person standing alone. Most people do not want to stand in a room by themselves. More than likely they will welcome the company.
9. Thank everyone who refers you or connects you. Recognition is powerful!
10. Prepare a self-introduction. Be ready to introduce yourself with a seven to nine second introduction, not a thirty second “elevator-pitch”. Make it slightly personal.
If I Build it They Will Come
This approach may have worked in the movie Field of Dreams. But, w
hen it comes to business, this isn’t usually the case. Many companies think their product or service is so great that once they open the doors people will flock to them. If this is the approach you’re taking with your business 90% of the time you are going to be sorry.
So, what do I need to do so people will flock to me and buy my goods or services, you ask? The main answer is MARKETING!
“Marketing is everything you do to promote your business from the moment you conceive of it to the point at which customers buy your product or service.” Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerilla Marketing
Marketing planning is the essential place to start. Why is marketing planning essential? The profitability of a company is impacted by many intertwining factors, marketing being a large part of it. Bringing strategic knowledge to the marketing planning process is essential.
A few items under the umbrella of marketing planning are:
This isn’t something that should just be done at the start of the business. Your target market can change as can the avenue in which you need to market to them. Once you determine your target market, you must decide how you are going to communicate with them.
Many businesses don’t understand branding or think they are small enough that they don’t need branding. Not True! Every company needs some level of branding. Branding covers many different aspects, but often refers to the name, logo, fonts and color schemes used to identify your company or product. Building consistency for your brand is the first step in building your image.
What is your budget for communications? Are you going to use traditional means of communication (i.e. radio, television, newspaper, magazine)? Does your target market use social media? If the answer is yes. Then, what social media channels are going to get you in front of your target market while aligning with you brand. This requires research and a lot of listening.
The items listed above are just a few of the things you need to keep in mind. However, if you can determine who your customer is, what problem they have, how you can solve it and how you are going to effectively communicate that with them, then you are headed in the right direction.
East County Home Show
Welcome to the First Annual East County Home Show!
Our goal for this show is to help local businesses, offering services related to the home showcase products and services to your local target market at a low cost.
The current economic situation has helped make people more conscious of where they spend their money. Many consumers want to do business locally and thus help support the local economy. Take advantage of this change in mindset and market to local home owners by being a part of our First Annual East County Home Show.
We have a broad range of vendors so you won’t want to miss it. We’ve got it covered from masons to mortgages!
Participate as a vendor this year and when you sign up to be a vendor again next year your registration fee will not increase!
Booths are going quickly! Contact us to reserve your space. 971.235.3120 or apickett@i4mktg.com.