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Planning to Print Brochures? Layout Ideas You Can Borrow

When you print brochures, you want to make sure that you are getting maximum results. For this, it is good to determine what your goal is in the first place. Brochures are printed to introduce a company or a new product or service. They can also be used as a travel guide, as a form of advertising for an upcoming show, or to encourage parents to enrol their kids at a class or school. As you can see, brochures are quite versatile. So in order for you to reach your goal for printing the, you must know which layout option works best for you:

Corporate brochures

If you’re a startup company and you would like to introduce your business to potential customers, suppliers, and business partners, go for a corporate brochure layout. This would usually include your company’s mission and vision, as well as a brief description of the products or services that you are offering. Corporate professional brochures have a good mix of text and compelling images.

Travel brochures

Image-heavy, travel brochures are usually seen in airports and tourism offices. Targeting travellers or all ages, these printed advertising materials should encourage readers to scratch that itch to travel.

Advertising brochures

When you print brochures online and your goal is to advertise something, you need to design it in such a way that it appeals to your target market. If you’re selling beauty products, for instance, the color scheme and images must appeal to your main buyers – who could be females aged 18 and above. Also plan the assembly of pages – there should be an introduction, a brief description of what you are advertising, and a call to action in the end.

Financial brochures

If you’re selling insurance packages, go for a financial brochure layout. For this, use images, pie charts, and graphs which can be easily understood even by someone without a financial background.

Real estate brochures

If you are in the real estate business, you will naturally target single professionals or families who are looking for a property to buy – or sell. Just like corporate brochures, there must be a balance between text and image so that it will be easy to read.

Which among these brochures are you planning to have printed out?

Reach Out to Your Target Market when You Print Brochures

Do you know which businesses print brochures as part of their print advertising campaign? Almost all of them do – solo entrepreneurs, partnerships, freelancers, corporations, startups, and established businesses. Unlike what most people think, print advertising is not dead. In fact, it is getting a revival because most professionals have discovered that print is the perfect complement to digital advertising.

How to Target the Right Market with Brochures

Next, as long as you know how to do it properly, you can reach out to your target market by printing out brochures. How, exactly? Here are a few tips:

Make sure that the design reflects the image that you want to project for your brand.

When designing professional brochures, it is best to make it look as if they are designed by, well, professionals. A client or a potential business partner can easily determine if your brochure was not laid out by a graphic designer, or is fresh out of a desktop printer. The quality is just not there because the results do not look professional. While you’re at it, make sure that the design of the brochure reflects the image that you want to create for your brand. If your target is women in their 20s and up, for example, which color scheme would appeal to them? What are the images that will grab their attention? The answers to these questions would be entirely different if your target market is young professionals looking for a house, or teens or tweens who do not have their own money to spend just yet.

Know where to distribute brochures to get maximum impact.

Unlike postcards which you can send by mail in bulk, brochures need to be distributed face-to-face. You can do so in events that draw big crowds, trade shows, or you can display these brochures in your office reception desk on in parts of your work area where there is plenty of foot traffic.

Look for a good brochure printing company.

Finally, look for a print brochures online that will deliver the best quality print. Digital printing companies are good but offset printing is even better. These companies use state-of-the-art offset printing presses to deliver professional results.

All in all, reaching out to your target market through brochures require a lot of planning because you must come up with a suitable design. After that, the right printing company will do the trick so you can distribute the brochures to your target audience with utmost confidence about the results.

Paper or Not? Why It Pays to Go for Plastic Business Cards

If you are thinking about using plastic business cards to promote your business, you are definitely on the right path. These business cards are thick, durable, waterproof, and fade-proof. With such characteristics, not only will you get the best value for your money but you will also make an excellent first impression to your prospective customers.

As compared to paper, here are the many reasons why you should consider going for plastic business cards:

Plastic falls under the category of premium business cards. On a side-by-side comparison with thin paper or thick cardboard cards, plastic is extremely durable so it will last you for practically a lifetime.
Because of the uniqueness of plastic as a printing material, offset printing is better than digital printing. See-through ink is used and depending on the type of plastic that will be used, you can achieve different effects.
The see-through effect is achieved when clear plastic is used; the colors are a bit more solid with frosted plastic; while white plastic is similar to printing on regular paper – only the material is different.
Using plastic business cards will make you stand out from your direct competitors. If a company offering the same services that you have in your business has thin, cardboard business cards and yours is made from plastic with high-quality print, which one do you think will stand out?
Plastic business cards are similar to credit cards so they have a higher perceived value. Instead of tossing a cardboard card inside an office drawer, customers will most likely keep your plastic business cards inside their wallet or in a prominent place in their office desk.

When looking for a business cards online company to print your plastic cards, make sure that they use state-of-the-art printing presses. Again, plastic has an entirely different surface than paper so a different kind of ink and printing process must be used. Called offset printing, this offers much higher quality than desktop digital printing. With the right printing process, what’s printed on the plastic business card is practically fade-proof, so you won’t worry about customers forgetting about your contact information anytime soon.

With all these benefits, there’s really no reason for you to say no to the prospect of using plastic business cards.

Plastic Business Cards: Durable, Flexible, Impressive

Competition in any business is very tough so you need to have something that makes you stand out – and plastic business cards do exactly that. Durable and flexible, these unique business cards will impress the heck out of your customers.

The Characteristics that Make Business Cards Stand Out

So what exactly are the characteristics that make business cards made from plastic stand out? Here’s a preview:

Plastic cards are premium business cards.

Clients will definitely not be impressed with thin linen cards which look like they just came out from a desktop printer. Cards which are as thick as a credit card and plastic cards are considered premium because of the quality of material used. By showing customers that you are investing in high-quality material, they will have the impression that you are also delivering the same level of quality when it comes to the products or services that you are offering.

The material is durable and flexible.

As compared to paper, no matter how thick, plastic is waterproof, durable, and fade-proof. Just make sure to look for a business cards online printing company that specializes in printing plastic business cards.

The uniqueness of the material will make your business card stand out.

If a customer has a stack of business cards collected over the years, they will most likely be made from standard-sized cardboard material. If your plastic business card is inserted in such a stack, it will really stand out and it will increase the likelihood of a customer calling you. Another thing that makes plastic cards stand out is the fact that there are different styles or finishes to choose from: white, clear-colored, frosted, or textured. When designing the card, make sure that the layout, font, and colors used will be a good fit for the material used.

Size-wise, you can go for the standard 2” x 3.5” option – or something a bit bigger like 2.125” x 3.375”. Square, oval, or standard-sized business cards with rounded edge are the other options that you can choose from. Stylish, durable, and flexible, plastic business cards are a must-have if you want to leave a lasting impression to your clients.

What Makes Up Rack Cards: Size, Material, and Design

Rack cards are a familiar sight in theaters, hotel lobbies, airports, tradeshow booths, office reception desks, and similar areas. These thick cards usually indicate the contact information of the business, as well as a brief description of the products or services offered. In a doctor’s office, for example, you might see a rack card which lists down the most important vaccines that new born babies must get. At the bottom of the card is the contact information of the doctor that you can contact for vaccines. If you’re a business owner, you can use rack cards in your own advertising campaign as well. Read on to find out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about rack cards.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rack Cards

What’s the standard size of a rack card?

Rack cards are printed advertising materials and in order for them to fit in display cases, you must go for one that’s standard-sized. The most common sizes of rack cards are 3.5’ x 8.5” and 4’ x 9”. The orientation is portrait, while the design is colorful and eye-catching.

What is the best material to use when printing rack cards?

When looking for a company to print rack cards, make sure that they use only high-quality offset printing presses. This is better than desktop digital printers which may not necessarily be capable of printing on thick or heavy cardstock. Most rack card printing companies use paper which have a 16.pt thickness. Depending on whether you want a matte or a glossy finish, there is a suitable paper thickness and type that you can use for printing.

How can I effectively design a rack card?

For rack card printing to be effective, the design must be eye-catching. The colors and design should be eye-catching enough so that anyone walking by or standing near the display case of the rack card will notice enough to grab one or two cards. Of course, similar to business cards printing, the colors used and the overall design should also match the image that you would like to project for your brand. Another way to make your rack card stand out is to incorporate maps, QR codes, discount coupons, or a detachable business card at the bottom of the material.

By doing your homework and learning as much as you can about rack cards, you can successfully use it to promote your business.

Getting to Know Rack Cards

When you are checking out of a hotel, you are bound to see a stack of rack cards that promote the other services of the establishment that you just visited. You pick one for future reference, or to give to a friend who might be planning to stay in the same hotel in the future. Such is the effectiveness of marketing through rack cards. They hold a person’s attention enough to grab one card, read through it, and hopefully take it home.

If you would like to take advantage of the appeal of rack cards and use it as a way to advertise your business, here are a few things to learn about them:

Rack cards should be placed in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic.

Aside from hotel lobbies, you will usually see rack cards displayed in theaters, the waiting area of doctor’s offices, showrooms, booths in tradeshows – basically any area where there is a lot of foot traffic. Placement is important because the more that people will grab one of your rack cards, the more exposure your business will get.

Design, color, and overall look is important.

Since your goal is to capture the attention of anyone standing near the place where the rack card is set, the design of your card must be eye-catching. Think of the brochures distributed in airports which showcase the most beautiful tourist destinations in the country you’re visiting. The images are attention-grabbing and are professionally photographed. The same thing should apply when it comes to your own set of rack cards. Remember that design, color and the overall look of the card should compel passersby to grab one of your rack cards.

When you print rack cards, make sure to use high-quality offset printing.

Offset has up to eight times better quality than desktop digital printing, so the extra investment is well worth it. You should also know which size and material is most effective for rack cards advertising. The standard sizes are 3.5” x 8.5” and 4” x 9”.

You can also incorporate special features in the rack card design.

Finally, you can incorporate special features when rack card printing. You can design it in such a way that the bottom part is detachable and can be used as a business card or a discount coupon. By learning as much as you can about rack cards, you can turn printing them into a vital part of your print promotional campaign.

Ways to Excel in Business Card Printing

When performing a task like business card printing, you want to do it in such a way that you will achieve desirable results. Whether you are just starting out in business or if you want to kick off a new product or service that you are offering, you do need to have a set of high-quality business cards on hand. The good news is that there are plenty of printing service providers that can give you excellent quality prints at an affordable price. You just need to do your part in designing the cards in such a way that it will reflect the image that you want to project as a brand, and it will appeal to the tastes of your target market.

To get started, here are the ways for you to excel in business card printing:

While designing the card, keep your audience and image in mind.

If you are an interior designer, a plain, boring business card is a huge no-no! You are in the creative field so you need to give clients a glimpse into the quality of your work – something that will be reflected in the design of your business card. Similarly, a neon-colored card will not necessarily appeal to the more conservative clients of a divorce lawyer, for example. This means that you must match the design of your card with the image that you want to project for your business. You should also take into consideration the colors and overall look that will appeal to your target audience, keeping their age range in mind.

Invest in good quality material.

A set of gold foil business cards are perfect if you want to achieve that elegant, luxurious feel. Foil and other specialty cards are made from thick material – some ranging from 70% to 100% the thickness of a credit card. If you want to go for something thin, make sure that it has a luxurious finish to it, like linen business cards. This will still feel and look expensive. Ask your print service provider which material works best for the finish that you want to have for the business card.

Think of ways for your business cards to stand out.

Finally, look for ways to make your business cards stand out. Would you like to go for something smaller or bigger than the standard-sized cards? How about having a portrait instead of a landscape orientation in the design? Instead of rectangular edges, go for rounded edge business cards. With a printed material this small, it’s the tiniest details that will make your business cards stand out.

Business Card Printing Tips: Collect, then Digitize

Entrepreneurs have different takes when it comes to business card printing. Some think that printing your business’ contact information is obsolete because everything has to be digital these days. Others say that it is still necessary because handing over an elegantly printed business card is one way to impress customers. So which way should you go? First, let us take a look at the reasons why some people think that business cards are obsolete:

Because sites like LinkedIn is the best way to search for a business’ contact information.

There are entrepreneurs who would tell you that they haven’t handed out – or asked for – business cards in so many years. Why? Because if they want to search for a potential business partner’s contact information, for example, all they have to do is ask for the name and do a quick online search. LinkedIn is specifically helpful in scoping out employees if you are hiring, or looking for an executive’s profile.

Because business cards go straight to the trash can – or end up getting lost in a worker’s office drawer.

Again, everything is digital these days so it is more convenient to keep electronic instead of physical files. When you hand over your business card to a supplier, for example, it can easily get lost in an office drawer or worse, thrown straight in the trash.

Because business cards are old school.

Even if you have a set of elegantly printed gold foil business cards, they will still be considered old school by the millennials and the even younger generation. If this is your target market, they might think that your distributing these contact cards is a novelty – which they won’t even bother keeping or using.

Despite these seeming disadvantages, there are still a lot of benefits in printing out business cards. There’s a certain human connection that you can build when you formally hand over a card – which will especially be appreciated by an older clientele. Your print advertising campaign which can include a set of rounded edge business cards is a great complement to your digital promotional campaign.

Perhaps the best way for old school to meet “new school” is to collect, then digitize business cards. This way, you will have the best of both worlds. Whether you’re part of the old school or millennial generation, there is a benefit to be had from printing out high-quality business cards.

Where to Distribute Your To Go Menus

To go menus make for a great advertising material. If you don’t have dishes that customers can order to go yet, you are not tapping the maximum earning potential of your food business. People these days are always up and about and they want almost everything to be instantaneous. As such, they’d want to have delicious dishes that they can order quickly, to go.

Now, if you would like to print to go menus, you must look for a reliable printing service provider. You can actually take your pick from digital or offset printing. There are many digital printing services which make use of desktop printers, while there is a lesser number of offset printing presses available. Quality-wise, however, offset printing is far superior. If you want to print carry out menus, it’s better to go for offset printing – the investment will be well worth it in the end.

Next, how and where should you distribute these to-go menus? Here’s a quick list:

Place a to-go menu right outside your restaurant.

People get intimidated or shy at the thought of entering a restaurant without actually ordering anything. But what if they want to order something to go in the future? To make it easier for people to check out your food products and the prices, leave a basket with copies of your to-go menu right outside the restaurant. This way, they won’t have to ask the staff for a copy – and they won’t get one if they are not interested to buy. This is a win-win situation for the business owner and the customer.

Have your own staff distribute them to their personal and professional network.

Your waiters, dishwashers, chef, and all the other staff in your food business would have their own network of contacts. Families, friends, acquaintances from school, neighbors – the contacts of your employees will multiply and before you know it, your business’ popularity will soar simply through word of mouth and print advertising. Having your own staff distribute menus to the people they know is a very effective way of promoting your dining establishment.

Distribute to go menus to your suppliers, business partners, and other people you interact with.

When running a restaurant, you will deal with suppliers and other business owners on a regular basis. When doing a transaction, make sure to include a copy of your to-go menu to help spread the word about your business.

Include a copy of your menu on every to go food package.

Finally, you can broaden the reach of your to-go menu advertising by including one in every food package, doggie bag, pizza box, etc. Knowing where and how to distribute your to-go menu will help boost the sales of your food business.

Elements of a Great Design for To Go Menus

To go menus do not just add to the overall dining experience of a customer, but restaurant owners can also use them as an advertising tool. If you have a pizzeria, for example, you can print to go menus and distribute them to customers or suppliers. The more widespread the distribution is, the more well-known your food products would be. However, you do need to take into account that the menu should be cleverly designed. If the layout of your menu is a graphic designer’s nightmare, it will appear equally confusing and not visually appealing to your customers. Here, we will take a look at the design elements of an effective to go menu:

The ‘sweet spot’ on the menu.

Designers or layout artists of traditional menus think that the ‘sweet spot’ on a menu is the upper right hand corner – so this is where they place their bestsellers or the most profitable items. But new studies suggest that customers actually scan menus like they would a book – starting from the top left corner. As such, if you want your bestselling dishes to be the first one that a customer reads, place it on this exact spot.

The sectioning of the menu.

Next, make the menu easy to read by dividing it into logical sections. If you’re a fine dining restaurant and you would like to print carry out menus, divide it into sections so that the appetizers, main dishes, and desserts can be easily seen.

The prices on the menu.

People go to restaurants to eat and when you put the dollar sign before the price, they will feel the impact of the food that they’re ordering on their wallets. To avoid this, most menus are designed without the currency sign. You can also use a pricing strategy with cents – instead of 10.00, put a 9.95 tag price next to a dish so that customers will feel that they are not paying the full price for the item.

If you want to highlight a food item, you can change the font, use color or boxes. Match the look of your menu with the décor or the logo of your dining establishment. By following these tips, you can give your profit a boost with the help of a well-designed takeout menu.