Double the Effectiveness of Your Company Brochure

Let's face it - most brochures go straight into the bin. But if you know the big mistake to avoid, as well as the secret to make people keep your brochure - and read it, over and over again - you're laughing.

The big mistake I'm talking about is that brochures too often focus on the company itself. They describe, in great detail, the company's commitment to excellence, how pro-active the company is, how many awards the company's products or services have won and how innovative they are.

Prospective clients, of course, couldn't care less.

Prospective clients want to know what's in it for them. They want to improve their bottom line. They want to make their lives easier. That's what's important to your clients. To get their business you must fulfill their needs. And that's what your marketing materials must communicate - how you can help them. And don't just tell your clients about the benefits of your services - show them. Nothing is more convincing than a good demonstration of how you can help. So use your company brochure to do just that.

By offering information your client can use, you'll demonstrate the benefits of your services and create a "value added" brochure. The more useful the information, the stronger your demonstration will be. For example, if you're a web design company, include a section: "Top 7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Web Designer". Then outline problems bad web design can create. Explain how your client can spot inferior service. If you're a printer, give some advice on "How to Get The Best Results From Your Printer", possibly with tips on formatting text and graphics.

A "value added" brochure accomplishes several goals:

1. Your prospective clients will keep your brochure. Your name will be in front of them every day of the week.

2. By providing free, useful advice, you start building a relationship based on trust.

3. You establish yourself as an expert in your field. If your prospective clients have questions, chances are they'll get in touch with you to ask.

About The Author

Frauke Nonnenmacher is a copywriter who specialises in clear, easy-to-understand technical copy and educational materials. For more information, please visit her web site at www.creativecats.com.

frauke@creativecats.com

In The News:


CBC.ca

GM says Super Bowl ads too expensive and bows out
Philadelphia Inquirer
The Detroit automaker said Friday that it won't be advertising on the Feb. 3 spectacle because of a steep price hike demanded by CBS, the network broadcasting the game. "We understand the reach the Super Bowl provides, but with the significant increase ...
GM Drops Another Advertising Bombshell -- On the Super BowlForbes
GM Says It Won't Advertise During Next Super Bowl GameBusinessWeek
Recommended: GM won't advertise on next Super Bowl, report saysmsnbc.com

all 305 news articles »

Christian Science Monitor

Advertisers and Facebook face an uphill battle. But it could be worth it.
Christian Science Monitor
General Motors' decision to invest significantly less advertising dollars in Facebook inspired some to suggest that the world's most popular social network needs to grow up. By Megan Riesz / May 18, 2012 Facebook increased the size of its initial ...
Is Advertising on Facebook Worth the Expense?TIME
Companies ask: Does advertising on Facebook pay?Seattle Post Intelligencer

all 13,909 news articles »

Oakfield marketing students dive into advertising
Fond du Lac Reporter
Marketing students at Oakfield High School delved into the world of "Mad Men" recently by creating an advertising campaign for a local business. Fondy Sports Park teamed up with the high school's marketing department to give students a realistic ...


CIO Today

Does Advertising on Facebook Pay?
CIO Today
By Peter Svensson And Tom Krisher GM's advertising spending is a tiny fraction of Facebook's total 2011 advertising revenue of $3.15 billion. But the automaker's decision to cease advertising on the social network could be symptomatic of Facebook's ...
Facebook Advertising Shows 'A Lot Of Potential But It's Not A Slam-Dunk'Huffington Post
Advertisers weigh in on the value of Facebook adsExaminer.com
Why I Lost My Faith In Facebook AdvertisingForbes
New York Times -AdAge.com -San Francisco Chronicle
all 204 news articles »

USA TODAY

GM Says Facebook Ads Don't Pay Off
Wall Street Journal
By SHARON TERLEP, SUZANNE VRANICA and SHAYNDI RAICE General Motors plans to stop advertising on Facebook after the company's marketing executives determined their paid ads had little impact on consumers. Sharon Terlep has details on The News Hub.
Facebook's biggest problem is that it's a media companyWashington Post
Do Facebook ads work? IPO, GM spotlight issueUSA TODAY
Facebook sparks divide: GM, Ford advertising strategies divergeDetroit Free Press
Chicago Tribune -Forbes -WebProNews
all 939 news articles »

Dragas Mortgage Company Selects JASE Group LLC as Advertising Agency of Record
PR.com (press release)
JASE Group LLC (jasegroup.com) will serve as the Inbound Marketing & Creative Advertising agency of record for Dragas Mortgage Company (dragasmortgage.com) of Virginia Beach, VA. Virginia Beach, VA, May 20, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Dragas Mortgage Company ...


AIADMK spent crores of public wealth on their advertising: Karunanidhi
Daily News & Analysis
Place: Chennai | Agency: PTI DMK President M Karunanidhi on Sunday flayed the Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu for its advertising campaign listing its "achievements" on completing one year in office, saying it had spent a "huge amount" of ...

and more »

Presidential TV advertising onslaught begins, but is Pennsylvania really a ...
The Republic
The advertising onslaught of the fall presidential election has begun in Pennsylvania and a handful of other states that may be up for grabs between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney. Republicans and Democrats both ...

and more »

Successful Merger Creates New Integrated Advertising Agency for Automotive Dealers
PR.com (press release)
New Jersey based automotive wholesaler, Vincent Grace, gained a substantial partner this week, RDI Inc, an automotive advertising & marketing firm. Teterboro, NJ, May 20, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Dealers nationwide will be presented a direct mail marketing ...


Speedway green flags advertising
Post-Tribune
With Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka and Shell Oil Co. signs hung on the walls of turns three and four, Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus is predicting double-digit percentage increases in Indianapolis 500 advertising and sponsorship revenue.

and more »
Google News

Advertising on a Budget -- Part 2: Thinking Small

This is the second article of a three-part series. I'm... Read More

The Motivational Triggers That Make People Buy

In order to sell more products and service, you need... Read More

Internet Advertising: How To Use The Golden Rule To Enrich Yourself.

What is the golden rule of internet advertising?Give, so you... Read More

Graphical LED Display

Graphical LED Displays utilize high-resolution graphics and video to transmit... Read More

Customer-Involving Signage and Selling

Here's some easy ways to create signage that will attract,... Read More

Business Cards: Why Waste Valuable Space?

So many business people neglect this valuable asset that may... Read More

Advertise Where Its Forbidden To

The most common way to drive people to your business... Read More

Turn Your Ad Copy into a Goldmine!

Today, more than ever, it is crucial that your ad... Read More

Business Ideas: 5 Uncommon Ways To Generate More Online Business

Sometimes, it is not an obvious business idea that will... Read More

What Happened? Troubleshooting Poor Response from Ad Campaigns

Too many small business owners today run ad campaigns that... Read More

Advertising 101

Advertising has truly become a part of all of our... Read More

Secrets to Profitable Mail Order Products

The most profitable mail order products are simple... Read More

Using Ad Agencies and Designers

Advertising and promoting your business is expensive, so it's important... Read More

Increase Business By Being Nice

I have been reading articles on increasing sales using search... Read More

Unlock The Power Of Online Groups

Yahoo Groups: I see countless marketers on shoestring budges turn... Read More

Design Your Own Newspaper Ads

Many people in business lay-out (design) their own ads. That... Read More

How To Track Your Advertising Like A Hawk

Tired of pouring endless money into advertising? Do you wonder... Read More

Double Your Sales Potential With Double-sided Business Cards

Swapping business cards is one of the most basic and... Read More

Three Keys to Crafting Successful Print Ads

Want to create print ads that get results? Below are... Read More

Can I Write and Print My Own Business Brochures and Business Cards?

If you have a computer and a printer, preferably one... Read More

How You Measure Yourself Is How You Motivate Yourself

One of the keys to strong positive mental attitude is... Read More

Add More Pizzazz To Your Ad For More Profits

I recently completed a Marketing Makeover for an Ad that... Read More

Advertising: 10 Powerful Secrets To Help You Sell Your Ad Space Like Crazy

If you want to sell more ad spaces, you must... Read More

What are Text Adverts?

Not everyone is aware of what are text adverts? Text... Read More

Media Savvy - How To Lead, Persuade And Influence

The ability to lead, persuade and influence are integral skills... Read More