A mistake that entrepreneurs andbusiness owners making is trying to create their own marketing materials or tohave an amateur a friend, relative, or neighbor design their materials. Itmay seem like you are saving money by doing your own logo, business card, orwebsite, however, the reality is that you are making a VERY costly mistake thatcan make your business more likely to fail.
By trying to create yourmarketing materials cheaply, you end up lookingwellcheap. Many businessowners do not realize the high cost of this mistake. They do not understandthat by having a logo, stationery, brochures, and other marketing materialsthat looks unprofessional and poorly designed is creating a sub par impressionin the minds of new prospects.
When you are in the building andgrowing phase of your business, you need everything you do to accelerate yoursuccess. Your logo and marketing materials are the first impression people getof your company a professionally designed logo contributes to your success byenhancing your business visibility and credibility.
Your marketing tools should moveyour prospects closer to making a purchase. You cannot afford to lookunprofessional and thrown together because you wont look like the expert youare, and you wont attract your dream customers. If a prospective customerviews your materials as unprofessional or confusing, you will lose them to acompetitor.
Here are specific reasons why unprofessional marketing hurtsyou:
1. Your business does not lookreliable and trustworthy. Customers may assume your company is more likely tofail because you have not taken the time to create a stable branding presence.No matter what business you are in, people want to purchase services orproducts from a company that appears established and secure. They want to knowthat you will be there for them if they have a problem or need yourproducts/services in the future. Well-established, sound businesses need tolook that way.
2. You appear less capable.Larger, successful businesses would never conduct business withoutprofessional, custom-designed marketing materials. Using marketing materialsdesigned from templates or by an amateur gives your company the appearance ofbeing flighty and inexperienced. You are less likely to attract professionalclients when your business doesnt appear professional. It may give people theimpression that you dont care about quality and attention to detail.
3. You are less likely to standout. By using homemade marketing materials, you not only make your businesslook confused but you also have a problem differentiating your company fromyour competitors. You dont have a solid branding strategy, your core-marketingmessage isnt being reinforced, and you arent memorable.
People make decisions on wherethey make a purchase based on first impressions and imagery. Anything yourcompany puts out in front of prospects and customers must be of the highestquality. If your logo, website, business cards, and brochures arent welldesigned and professional, why would prospects think your services are anybetter?
Your appearance sells your company first!
Here are some specific tips tohelp you with the first impression you make through your marketing materials:
- Never hand out a homemade business card.
- Dont print out your own marketing materials.
- Go to a professional designer to create your marketingmaterials, especially your logo.
- Make sure all of your links onyour website work. Avoid "under construction" and simply hide tehpages that aren't completed yet.
- Add your website URL to all of your printed materials.
- Avoid clipart in your printedmaterials and never use jumping animals or rotating whirly-thingys on yourwebsite.
Remember, people make decisions on where they make purchase based on first impressions and imagery. Anything your company puts out in front of prospects and customers must be of the highest quality. If your logo, website, business cards, and brochure arent well-designed and professional, why would prospects think your services are any better?
ACTION ITEM: Conduct an audit of your current marketing materials. What is your logo like? Your business card? Website? Brochure? Are there specific items that need to be designed, redesigned, or rewritten? If so, which ones? Keep in mind, your appearance sells your company first! Spending money to have your marketing materials professionally designed is in investment in the future of your company that will pay off 100-fold over time.
About the Author:
Wendy Maynard, the Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly marketing strategy ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have more fun, get your FREE TIPS now at http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine.html
To read more articles on Textile, Industry, Technical Textile, Dyes & Chemicals, Machinery, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail, Leather, Footwear & Jewellery, Software and General please visit https://articles.fibre2fashion.com
To promote your company, product and services via promotional article, follow
this link: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/services/article-writing-service/content-promotion-services.asp
Comments