Saturday, 15 February 2014

How Media Cards Can Improve Your Advertising Campaigns

Pocket media cards are a type of leaflet that fold up to credit card size, and which unfold to various sizes, most commonly A5 and A4. There are many advantages in using pocket media cards in comparison to standard leaflets, and below, we are going to explore this area in more depth.

Firstly, are leaflets a reliable means of advertising? Some people doubt the effectiveness of leafleting, but they do work. Just consider the following points:

·         Many large corporations use leaflets. Why would all the giants print leaflets if they didn’t work? They are all about increasing sales, and if something doesn’t work, then it goes. The fact that they continue to use leaflets mean that they have an effect. The effect? Increased brand recognition.

·         You may think that there are too many leaflets on the market for yours to stand out, and this may well be true. However, there is something that you can do: create an interesting leaflet that stands out from the competition. If your market is saturated, then you can help to increase the visibility of your leaflet by making it more interesting than the rest. Pocket media cards are a great way of doing this, because they’re different. Other things that you can do, is create a leaflet with an unusual shape, create a brightly coloured leaflet, or use images to capture attention.



·         Leaflets are relatively cheap. Most leaflets will set you back around £0.20 per sheet (this may be on the expensive side, but if you pay less, then you often sacrifice quality, and this will turn away quality customers).
·         Leaflets are the best way to increase brand awareness. Brand awareness means letting people know who you are and what you do, and you should always bare these two points in mind when designing your leaflet.

What are the Advantages of Using Pocket Media Leaflet?
There are many advantages of using folded leaflets, as opposed to A5 or A4 leaflets:

1.       They provide more space. It may sound unusual, because they shrink to the size of a credit card, but you can often get more information on a pocket media leaflet than on a standard leaflet. This is because they unfold. Even the smaller varieties unfold to at least A5 – although not necessary in the same rectangular. There is much more scope for information because there is a larger surface area.

2.       They are eye-catching. Few people use pocket media leaflets, and so they are different to the types of leaflet that you normally see when out and about. Because they are different, they catch the eye, and therefore, people are going to be more attentive and open to that style of leaflet.

3.       They can provide your customer with something that they can keep. For example, if you’re a shop selling diving equipment, you could have a calendar on the leaflet showing the year’s high and low tides, as well as the phases of the moon. This is something that they will find handy, and so they will keep hold of the leaflet; and the fact that it fits in their walled is an added bonus.




Friday, 14 February 2014

Thinking of a New Leaflet Design for Your Business? Why You Should Try Folded Media Cards

Leaflet design is often tough. There are many reasons for this, but most commonly, it’s because there is so much competition. The majority of businesses use leaflets as a means of contact with existing and potential customers. They are a tried and tested method, and they work. However, there are a few things that you need to understand in order to ensure that your campaign is as successful as it can be; this is what we are going to discuss below.

Differentiating Yourself from the Competition
As stated above, many businesses use leaflets to promote their products and services.  Unfortunately, this means that it’s hard for any particular leaflet to stand out. By using Z pocket media, instead of the standard A5 leaflets, you can help to ensure that your leaflet stands out from the crowd. This means that it will help you to reach a greater number of people than you would be able to reach with a standard leaflet design.



It doesn’t matter whether you're selling a service, a product or your business is outside the scope of buying and selling, if you want people to notice you, you have to stand out from the crowd of voices hankering for attention. Even if there are no other companies doing what you do, you still need to compete. This is because the market is saturated with advertisements, simply getting people to acknowledge yours is a skill in itself; but is made much easier by using techniques such as quirky leaflets.

A Call to Action
Within the marketing world, they have a term ‘Call to Action’. This is the idea that when you create an advert, or a piece of marketing, that you create a need in your potential/existing customers, to move and do something. For instance, it may be that you run a special offer, with a ‘contact us now to take advantage of this offer’. This is a ‘call to action’ because it’s asking them to do something, i.e. contact you. You can make the ‘call to action’ stronger by adding time frames, for example, ‘contact us before the 4th of February to take advantage of this offer’. The added pressure is much more likely to get them moving towards action.

There are many different types of ‘call to action’, and the one that you choose will depend on the type of customers that you wish to attract, as well as the type of product that you sell. Remember: the more unusual the offer, the more likely people are to notice.

Innovation and Creation
It is important that you are innovative in your approach to your leaflet campaign. However, innovation can sometimes come at the cost of attractiveness. For instance, you could be innovative by using bones to advertise a butcher's shop. However, people will dislike this – who wants to receive a bone in the post? Apart from the family Labrador, not many people would like this. Therefore, although the idea is innovative, it is also something that will turn people off. To make it special and attractive, your leaflet needs a good design, be distinct, and have great appeal. You may need to hire a designer to help you to do this, as they have a much better understanding of the type of things that appeal to other people, at least in a visual sense.


Thursday, 13 February 2014

How to Make Your Leaflet Stand Out from the Crowd

Leaflets are a useful marketing tool. Many businesses use them to promote brand awareness, to advertise specific products, and to communicate with existing and potential customers. They are extremely useful because they're cost effective, targeted and attractive. However, the problem is that many other businesses understand their usefulness, and so the market becomes saturated: there are too many leaflets out there for yours to stand out…unless you make them do so. Here, we’re going to consider some of the ways that you can differentiate your leaflets from the rest.

·         Choose an unusual shape: most leaflets are rectangular – normally A5 sized, but sometimes A6 or A4. If you stick to these standards, then you’ll find it harder to create a leaflet that people will notice. Some businesses get around this by having their leaflets cut to unusual shapes. For instance, a company that sells beer may have leaflets shaped like a pint of beer.

·         Choose an unusual design: as well as the shape, there are other design changes that you can make. For instance, pocket folding cards work very well. Pocket folding cards are leaflets that fold down into, usually, a credit card size. People have to open them up to see the message. These can be useful because they’re different, but also because it’s easier for people to keep hold of them – they simply put them in their wallets. If you make sure there is information that they find relevant – such as a calendar, or list to metric-imperial measurements (anything you can think of that people will find useful) – then they’re likely to keep hold of it. This is what you want: the longer a person retains a leaflet, the more likely they are to think of you when they need the service or product that you offer.



·         Colour schemes: Many businesses tend to stick to a set colour scheme, but if you want to stand out, then you need to stick to colours that other people will notice. This does not mean that you need to be garish, there are some subtle schemes that stand out, but that look good too. Keep the colour scheme simple – in general, you should use no more than three colours.

·         Pictures: a picture can tell a thousand words, so use them to your advantage. Something that will make your leaflet stand out is if your audience can tell a lot about what you’re saying without having to read anything. We’re constantly bombarded with information in the 21st century, and most of us want to understand more for the least effort. Pictures are a great way to do this. You hook them with the image, and then you add a few sentences to bring the concept to life. Remember when using images that you need to use high-res versions, or they can pixelate, and that looks bad.

·         Short and snappy: say as much as you can in as fewer words as you can.


We hope that you have a better idea of how to create a leaflet that stands out from the crowd. 

Friday, 3 January 2014

HOW TO MARKET YOUR WAY TO PROFIT

If you have not come across Z fold cards in your business you should investigate them as they are a handy and effective tool in your marketing and advertising strategy.  As the name suggests they are folded into a z form within an outer sturdy jacket.  In this jacket there is usually an A4 sized sheet of paper with all the information that your customer needs about your products.

As you will understand this is a much better way to promote your wares than having a flyer designed as the information will stay fresh inside the cover when it is in its folded state. The information will last a long time and it will be easy to hand when your customer needs it.

These cards are not only used by commercial businesses. Museums, art galleries and public transport also find them very handy.  They are a convenient way for travellers to keep underground maps and travel information in their wallets or pockets.



Museums are often vast places where it is difficult for visitors to find their way around.  They may only be interested in a particular section.  A floor plan of the building is very useful for them.  Organisations such as these can also inform the public of special exhibitions.

If you have a large amount of information to give, there are different sizes of these cards available to you.  Even the largest ones are not as big and unwieldy as the old fashioned road maps and because of their precise design they are easily folded back into shape again.

You may ask yourself the question what these cards can do what the internet is not able to. There are millions of websites out there in the ether and not all of them are on the first page on the search engine.

These cards allow you to target companies that you know sells products that you manufacture.  Because of their catchy design you are better able to give information about products, who they should contact and, of course, also your website.

Z fold cards are a practical and eye-catching way of increasing sales and for more information about this product please see http://www.alpha-cards.com/


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THE INFORMATIVE JACK OF ALL TRADES

If your company needs a new marketing strategy because sales are not as they should be, then designing Z cards for this purpose may one idea worth looking at.

Not every company can be at the top of the tree in the internet world, but if you are canny you can bring your company forward in an effective way by making use of these cards.

You could call them a cross between a business card and a flyer.  They are handier than business card as they contain more information about your company, your products and who to call or e-mail. You can have them designed with an eye-catching logo on the outer backing. 

Most businessmen who meet many people when on business trips may not put a face to a business card once they get back to base, but this marketing tool will definitely stay longer in people’s minds.  On top of that, they are hardier and more durable than business cards, whilst they are the same size when in their folded state.



It is amazing that the surface of the folded out card is often no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper, but because of their ingenious design wording and pictures can be printed in such a manner that all information is contained within the outer cover of the card.

Of course, periodically you may want to promote special offers.  Everything is possible with a proper design.  The design of the outer cover should also be given some thought.  The more flamboyant it is the more it stays in people’s memory.

You may just want to have some printed with company policy and health and safety information for your employees.  This is a much better way for your workforce to be reminded of these as they can carry their card in their jacket or overalls pocket.

All in all you can see that they are a much handier tool than the old fashioned flyers that normally get thrown out after a couple of days.

You will be able to get a free sample of Z cards and design ideas from http://www.alpha-cards.com/.






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Thursday, 2 January 2014

A GLOBAL MARKETING AID

The new buzz word in the world of commerce is the use of z cards, including the Alphacards for marketing purposes.

The reason they have caught on in industry and by the hospitality and tourist concerns is that much information can be stored on an ordinary A4 size format that is then folded right down to either a pocket or credit card sized booklet with a sturdy cover.

They have proved to be a very effective way to bring companies to potential customers’ notice, exactly because they are very durable and they do not disintegrate as easily as business cards.




Another advantage is that you will have a much higher profile than if you were one of the many manufacturers of a similar product on the internet.  Your customers will have your website address, together with a telephone number and a comprehensive description of what services to industry you provide.

It is not only big companies that make use of this marketing tool.  They have proved to be very useful for tourist information and for public transport companies.  The handy pocket sized version, which is slightly larger than the credit card format, can hold underground maps, service time tables and enough information of interesting places to visit.

The days of large street maps that were unwieldy when folded out have long gone.  Museums have also found them to be an invaluable tool in directing their visitors to the various exhibitions, together with a floor plan of the building.

These cards are not only useful as a marketing tool.  They can contain all kind of information about work practices for your employees.

They can contain changes in Health and Safety laws as well as much other information that your workforce needs, but cannot always remember. There will then be no excuse if bad working practices occur, as they should have the information on their person.

You need to know that even huge conglomerates and pillars of industry used these cards for all purposes even when everybody knows who they are.

Alpha cards are a useful tool whatever the size of your company.  If you need ideas for design or information please visit http://www.alpha-cards.com/.




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Monday, 30 December 2013

How to Create a Fantastic Leaflet

Leaflets are an effective means of advertising. Many businesses have moved their advertising avenues online, but the problem with this is that the market is saturated, and savvy internet users block any advertising. So, although the internet is the latest technology, when it comes to advertising, it is lacking. Leafleting is still one of the best means of advertising, particularly if you have a small budget, as small run leaflets are relatively cheap. However, the key to success with leafleting is design, and, unfortunately, many businesses fall short on their design. Here, we’re going to provide you with a brief guideline to creating a fantastic leaflet.

1.       Focal points are essential to any visual aids: this includes leaflets. You need to say what you need to say as quickly as possible. You need a focal point that explains the number one reason for the leaflet. It needs to capture the eye while delivering information. If you can grab people’s attention, they will read the leaflet. If your leaflet is boring, cluttered, or messy, people will turn away. A focal point needs to attract the eye first.

2.       Headlines and mind grabbers: you need a good hook to attract people into reading further into the leaflet. If you create a headline, make it interesting and give people a reason to read on then you are much more likely to sell your product/event/services. At the very least, people will remember you, and this is essential because they will draw on that memory when they’re sourcing your particular product or service in the future.

3.       Keep it succinct: we live in an information age. We are constantly bombarded with texts of all sorts crying for attention. We don’t have time to read everything we see. This means that you need to keep your sentences short, sweet and to the point. No one will read what you have to say unless you say it in the simplest terms. There is too much going on in the modern environment for people to spend time reading long walls of text.


4.       Say what you want to say, but don’t say it again: a common problem that we see on modern leaflets is repetition. If you repeat the information people will quickly turn away. You only need to say what you’re going to say once, and no more.

5.       Layout: your layout needs to be attractive. It must first grab a person’s attention, and then keep their attention. People often make the mistake of making their leaflet too bold. Too much colour and too many pictures will confuse the brain, and people will turn away. Keep your layout simple and elegant.

6.       Design: many businesses continue to use leaflets, and so the area is quite saturated. You need to make sure you stand out, and you can do that by using an interesting design. For example, z pocket media is relatively unique. People don’t often see z pocket media, and so it captures their attention. Because they fold up, they're also capable of holding a lot of information, while remaining convenient. These are the types of leaflet that you will see at special events.


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