Does Your Brochure Pass the Test - Or is It Headed for the Trash? Part Two

In part one of this article we discussed the importance of the look or appearance of your brochure.

The look or image that your brochure conveys is vastly important. In fact, the appearance will determine how most people form their initial impression of your company. But, the message on your brochure is just as important. Ultimately you need to say something of value in your brochure if you want it to move people closer to the sale. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure that your brochure has the right message.

1. Speak in Terms of Your Prospects Interests. There's an old saying that all people are tuned in to the same radio station ? WIIFM, which means "What's In It For Me?" That is the question that all people will be asking on a conscious or subconscious level as they read your brochure. Only talk in terms of your prospects wants and interests.

2. Focus on Benefits, not Just Features. Features are the technical aspects of your product ? i.e. power sunroof. Benefits are the enjoyment or satisfaction your customer will get from that feature. Remember that people buy the benefit that your product will bring them not the features. For example people don't want to buy a treadmill; they just want to loose weight and look great. They don't want to buy a washing machine; they want clean clothes with no effort and so on. Don't stop at features; make sure you mention all of the benefits that you offer.

3. Brand Your Logo and USP. This falls under image and message. Make sure you put your logo and your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) together. You want to reinforce the fact that your company is different and better than the competition.

4. Have Some Kind of Offer. To get the most out of your brochure have some kind of offer. Offer a discount, a free report, a sample, a free trial, or whatever makes sense for your business. Having some kind of offer will increase the chances that your brochure will generate sales.

Following these 4 tips will greatly increase the likelihood that your brochure will be noticed, and read, and, hopefully it will aid in making a sale. If you don't follow these 4 tips, then you brochure is probably headed for the trash.

Brett Curry is a Marketing Consultant and Marketing Director for Brochures.com. Brochures.com is the home of top quality, full color brochures, business cards, postcards and more at up to 70% off of retail. http://www.brochures.com marketing@brochures.com

In The News:


CaymanMama.com (press release)

Online advertising up 11 percent from last year
CNET News, CA - 4 hours ago
Internet advertising revenues for the third quarter were nearly $5.9 billion, representing an 11-percent increase over the same period last year, ...
Internet Advertising Revenues in Q3 '08 at Nearly $5.9 Billion MarketWatch
Online Advertising Nearly $5.9 Billion in the Third Quarter Seeking Alpha
Growth In Online Advertising Revenue Slows InformationWeek
PC World - Forbesall 210 news articles

Reuters

TV Ads Contribute to Childhood Obesity, Economists Say
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
The researchers used several statistical models to link obesity rates to the amount of time spent viewing fast food advertising, finding that viewing more ...
Researchers: Ban on Fast Food TV Advertising Would Reverse ... MarketWatch
Study: Banning fast-food TV ads could dent obesity The Associated Press
Fast-food ad ban could cut child obesity: US study Reuters
Los Angeles Times - Telegraph.co.ukall 460 news articles

Sport Chalet Teams With TM Advertising
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
one of the nation's premier specialty sporting retailers, today announced that it has hired TM Advertising as its first advertising agency of record. ...
Precor Names New England, New York Metro Home Fitness Dealer MarketWatch
Precor Selects Sport Chalet for California, Arizona and Nevada MarketWatch
all 28 news articles

Advertising Agency Search Consultant, Hank Blank, Speaks to AAF ...
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
"I recently had the honor of attending several of Hank's presentations when he spoke at the American Advertising Federation 4th District quarterly ...

WideOrbit Welcomes Angela Bandlow as Chief Marketing Officer
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
WideOrbit drives the business of selling advertising - maximizing advertising profitability and sales efficiencies. Media companies around the globe rely ...

Advertising pioneer George Beach to be honored
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 3 hours ago
By Jane M. Von Bergen The interview was winding down, and longtime advertising executive George Beach had begun to relax a little. ...

Journal Communications Reports October Revenue for Its Publishing ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
For the tenth period 2008, advertising revenues of $32.48 million decreased 3.8% compared to $33.75 million for the 2007 tenth period. ...
Journal revenue down in October The Business Journal of Milwaukee Bizjournals.com
Journal Communications October revenue slips Forbes
Journal Radio Revenues Fall In October Streaming Magazine
all 14 news articles

A Global Strategic Business Report on the Advertising Industry ...
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
The global outlook series on the Advertising Industry provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research ...

Telegraph.co.uk

Compromise On Search Deal With Microsoft Could Lift Yahoo
CNNMoney.com - 6 hours ago
Microsoft also wants to build a unified search and display advertising platform, a goal that will be hard to achieve without Yahoo's search business. ...
Yahoo! Is the One for You, Microsoft Motley Fool
AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:33 pm EST TMCnet
Analyst upgrades Yahoo, calling stock cheap MarketWatch
Redmond Channel Partner - DailyTechall 79 news articles

The Associated Press

What if Carmakers Stopped Advertising?
Conde Nast Portfolio, NY - 7 hours ago
What if GM -- and Ford and Cerberus/Chrysler -- stopped advertising all together? Would that be enough to save them? Almost certainly not: It would barely ...
Advertising stalls for Big Three automakers www.rbr.com
The Future Of Automotive Advertising mediabistro.com
Ad Spending By Big Three Carmakers Hits the Skids Multichannel News
USA Today - AdAge.com (subscription)all 1,717 news articles
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