Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Anyone have some advice in this area ? I  don`t have any brochures yet. I have microsoft desktop publishing which I did plan to use for brochures. Any opinions
on whether it would be a good sales tool for me to use or  would it just look
" homemade" and I should just bite the bullet and go for the professional brochures?  Thanks !
jo          &n bsp;         &n bsp;         


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Jo
NJ

I`d ask a couple questions.

What`s your budget for brochures and how would they be used? What do you think would be the return on investment for a professionally designed brochure. What are your competitors doing? What do their brochures look like.

Sometimes, the brochure is nothing more than an ego massage. Sometimes, the brochure is a real sales device.

If a brochure is necessary, I`d recommend a professional designer. I`ve seen too many brochures that look like the annual Christmas letter you hate to receive.

But, if it`s more collateral, you might make it yourself. The key, in my opinion, "Keep it simple... keep it elegant."

And if you don`t end up liking it, it could serve as a model for your designer???

 

Matt

 

 

Thanks for replying. Budget - don`t have one yet, this  is an upstart cost and
I dont have a business budget yet. Just starting out and trying to learn as I go along.
As far as the ROI - I really dont know at this point - I am just thinking
"doesnt every business have brochures?" - some don`t pop out to
me and I will read only if I am interested in what they are selling.  The disadvantage or the advantage (depends how one looks at it) is that I am starting a brand new service in this area (or maybe anywhere that I am aware of). It is a service focused at seniors, later on  two income families.So I don`t have any working examples to compare anything to. I did print up some visuals for people so they could know  about my business and what I am providing and some history on me. But these are rather lengthy and I dont think it is something people will be that interested in.  I think for people considering a service like mine, they want information, but just a little or they will just put it down.  I have
been checking out brochures from vistaprint and others but they seem pricey.
On the other side of the coin, I want to start out with the right sales tools, so this
is something that I have to think about more !


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Jo
NJ

Yes, I use vista for my cards and stationary. I looked at their brochures
and they seemed pricey - but maybe that is the going price ? I don`t know.
I really didnt see anything that I could say really grabbed me, but I am getting
close to the point where I have to do something. I think I have a few months
before I start advertising.
thanks
jo


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Jo
NJ

It does sound like you need a brochure as a sales aid or leave-behind.

 

I know, Matt, thats what I think too

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Jo
NJ

How about friends and family. Do you know any graphic artists?

 

graphic artists - no - don`s know any - family or friends - no one that I know
has their own business at all


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Jo
NJ

I was in your position about a year ago, very little money to work with and totally new to marketing my business.  I spent a lot on brochures and found that compared to my website, they weren`t worth it.  But if you are going to do direct mail marketing you can either get brochures or, more economically, get postcards with your corporate design on the front, info on the back and send them via bulk mail. 

The most vaulable lesson I learned about marketing was that corporate image, or branding, was the most valuable initial investment I made.  It was also the largest.  I used two one-person companies (like me!), one for logo design and one for web, and the result was fantastic at a much lower price than using an established design firm.  Everything I use from website to tickets to business cards use the same design and, after a year, people are starting to recognize it.  I frequently get comments that it was the website design that drew customers to my tour.

It`s much more impressive to potential customers if your advertising, brochures, website and business card all use the same design.  It will give you the image of being serious and established and customers will feel more comfortable doing business with you!




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Karen
Patriot Tours, Inc.
www.patriottoursnyc.com