by Andrew Michaels

Presentation folder printing has always been proven as an effective strategy for success when it comes to reporting. Many businessmen and businesswomen have found that it can improve their chances of communicating well with their audiences, making their reports always a success. In fact, there are plenty of ways that folder printing can help a report succeed. To convince you of this proven strategy for success, below are the bare facts about presentation folder printing and how it can help you with your own presentation.

Improves message delivery – The major advantage of using presentation folders is that it improves your message delivery. If you have made a report in the past, you will of course know that there are those awkward pauses in a report as you pass around material for people to read. If you have lots of graphs, reports, images to give, this adds several minutes of awkward pauses that breaks the whole flow of your presentation.

Custom folders however eliminate this problem by collecting all your materials in one very useful folder. You just need to give away your color presentation folders at the start of the report. You can then go through your speech telling people to refer to their folder for certain information. There will be no awkward pauses and your message should get to your audience very efficiently.

Organizes important information – Presentation folders of course are also good at organizing all the important information that you want to give out. Besides having pockets for the usual paperwork, it is possible to add slits, special diagonal pockets, straps and other features that can organize everything you need for a presentation. This makes it easier for your audience to look at all the information you want since it is all one location.

Establishes a professional reputation – Your custom folders are also a mark of being a professional. The modern businessman or businesswoman usually pulls out all the stops when it comes to reporting. That is why ordinary off the shelf folders will not make do. A professional will always try to report the best way he or she can, that is why presentation folders are needed. Since it represents the best way to give out information to the audience, people will respect you as a true professional that used professional methods to improve his or her reports. With this reputation at hand, you will surely have a great chance of success in your presentations.

Useful in many levels – Finally, the best thing about presentation folders is that they can be used beyond the presentation. You can also use them for your press release kits, public relations kits, internal communication projects, training modules etc. As long as you need a container of information that gives along a certain custom message as well, a color presentation folder should be quite useful. So it is well worth the price in printing them.

Those are the reasons why presentation folders are the proven strategy for success. You should try to use them in your own reports. You won’t be disappointed.

source: www.isnare.com

How do you use presentation folders in your small business? How have they helped you close a deal?

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by Mat Kelly

Your trade show displays are a major determining factor as to whether you will have a successful trade show exhibit or not. You need to use high quality displays that will attract visitors to your exhibit. You want to make sure that your trade show display not only attracts visitors it should make them want to know more about your product and services.

You want your trade show display to be neat and it has to be visible so visitors will know what message you are trying to get across. You can use a display board to put some of your products on. Make sure the display is at eye level to draw them in. The display board should be nicely organized and not too cluttered. You should also make sure all your prices are clearly marked.

Your customers will want your items if they think they are in high demand. You can put a sold sign on one or two items. This will make visitors to the trade show think that they better purchase your product now because it might not be available later.

You can use interactive trade show displays to attract a crowd to your exhibit. You can use surveys, computer games, drawings or demonstrations. You don’t have to have an elaborate presentation or demonstration, just something that will peak the visitors interest.

Giveaways and promotional items are also a good way to attract visitors. It is also a good way for the visitor to remember you after they have left the show. Make sure the promotional items are something people will use or look at often, such as magnets, key rings and pens. It’s better to place your promotional item in a place where they have to walk into or through your exhibit to get one.

You can use a drawing or contest to attract visitors and it is also a way to collect contact information. The contact information can be used after the show to contact potential customers. You can have a drawing for a promotional item or you can use one of your products as a prize.

You want to make it easy for your visitors to get information about prices, minimum orders or other basic information. You can provide this information by using signs and graphic displays that are easy to read. This way a visitor already knows exactly what you have to offer without having to ask.

One very important thing to make sure you have is plenty of marketing materials. You will want color flyers and brochures. You will also want to have plenty of business cards and order forms available. That way visitors will have information about your product and services they can refer to at a later date.

You want your trade show exhibit to look professional and organized. You should make sure you have table top covers to give the space a unified look. You can use table top or floor displays to get your message across. You can use literature racks so your marketing materials are easy to get to. All of the things above will help you to have a successful trade show exhibit.

Mat Kelly is the president of ExhibitDEAL, a leading provider of trade show displays and accessories such as trade show flooring and banner stands. ExhibitDEAL can be found online at: ExhibitDEAL.com.

source: www.isnare.com

Tell us what you will  display at your next trade show to capture the attention of your visitors and convert them to customers.

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by Susan Gunelius | Entrepreneur.com 

In my book, Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps, I teach small and mid-size business owners who can’t afford to hire professional copywriters how to write effective copy that will bring the results from their marketing efforts that they want and need. However, just as there are steps you must take to write great copy, there are also mistakes you can make that can destroy your marketing messages and reduce your ROI to a fraction of what it could have been. Whatever you do, don’t believe the five myths described below. 

1. Consumers care about me and my business
No, they don’t. They care about what’s in it for them if they pull out their wallets and hand over their hard-earned money to buy your product or service. They don’t care that you’ve been a member of the local Chamber of Commerce for 20 years, and they don’t care how cute your kids are (so leave them out of your commercials, please). Consumers care about having their needs and wants fulfilled. The goal of copywriting is to convince consumers that the product or service you’re selling will meet their needs and desires, even if you have to create perceived needs and desires for them. In other words, your copy must focus on the benefits consumers will receive if they buy your product or service. It’s great that your business has operated from the same location for 10 years, but for the most part, consumers only truly care about what your business can do for them and how your business can make their lives easier or better. Those are the messages your copy should focus on in order to drive results. 

2. I can use the same copy everywhere
No, you shouldn’t. Your copy should change depending on the medium where you’re using it. For example, if you’re writing copy for an outdoor billboard that consumers are likely to have only seconds to view while driving 65 miles per hour on a busy highway during rush hour, your message must be short and to the point with no room for confusion. However, if you’re writing copy for a direct-mail piece that will be sent to customers who have requested to receive information about your business, your copy should be far more detailed with messages that explain, answer questions, and create a sense of urgency to boost response rates. 

3. I can use the same copy for everyone
No, that’s not a good idea. Different audiences will respond to different messages depending on their demographics, behaviors, experiences and so on. For example, if you’re writing copy for a direct-mail piece that will be sent to prior customers, your messages should be very different from those that would appear in a mailing to prospects. One audience is already very familiar with your products and services, while the other has no prior experience to draw from. Clearly, the messages to both audiences must be different to achieve the maximum response rates possible. 

4. I need to sound smart in my copy
Not always. The language and tone of your copy should speak directly to the people who are likely to see it. For example, if you’re writing copy for teenagers, your copy should be quite different from copy targeted at senior citizens. Consider McDonald’s, which goes so far as to change references to its brand name depending on the audience. Turn on MTV and you’re sure to see a McDonald’s commercial referencing the fast food chain as “Mickey D’s”. It’s also important to omit jargon unless your copy is intended for an audience that will understand and expect it. For example, a business-to-business ad might be an appropriate place for jargon. Again, it always depends on the target audience that you ultimately want to respond to your marketing message. 

5. It’s easy to write copy
Never. Writing marketing copy is like no other form of writing. It defies many of the rules you may have learned in English class, and it relies more on subtle persuasion, psychology, creativity and an understanding of your specific business and consumers than any other type of writing. Not all writers are good copywriters, and not all copywriters are good writers. If you decide to write your own copy, study the craft prior to putting pen to paper. And if you decide to hire a copywriter to help you, remember that not all copywriters are the same. Only invest in a copywriter who has experience and takes the time to understand your business and your customers. 

Susan Gunelius is president and CEO of KeySplash Creative Inc., a full service marketing communications provider and branding consultancy, and owner of WomenOnBusiness.com, one of the leading blog communities for business women. Susan is a marketing, branding, social media and copywriting expert with nearly 20 years of experience in the field. Her clients include small and large businesses around the globe. She is the author of several marketing, branding and social media books, including Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps published by Entrepreneur Press. 

When was the last time you took a fresh look at your marketing copy? What copywriting challenges does your company face?

What does YOUR copy say about you?

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