» Heather Clifford

Apr

Understanding 3 Print Ad Basics

By: Heather Clifford Category: Design, Marketing Tags: A Cut Above Landscaping, Gold Star group, Ken Yorston, Lakes Region Referral Alliance, print advertising

When sitting with a professional graphic designer to work on a print ad for your business, it helps to understand some of the basic principles of effective magazine and newspaper advertising.

Feb

Why You NEED to Start Sending Out Postcards

By: Heather Clifford Category: Marketing Tags: postcard design, small business mailings, small business marketing

I wrote recently about “How NOT to Design a Postcard.” Today I’m giving you four good reasons to start using these marketing tools now. 1) Postcards are a cost-effective use of your marketing dollars. Newspaper ads and radio ads are beyond the budget of many small-business owners. But almost any business can afford postcards – which offer a big impact …

Jan

3 Things to Change About Your Attitude Towards Marketing in 2015

By: Heather Clifford Category: Marketing Tags: follow-up mailing, small business marketing, word-of-mouth advertising

Skip the resolutions list this year. Many small-business owners would grow their companies more in 2015 – and find greater work-life balance to boot – by making a few small attitude changes about marketing. Which one of these sentences have you found yourself saying in the last year?

Dec

Last-Minute Ideas for Promoting Your Business This Holiday Season

By: Heather Clifford Category: Marketing Tags: Christmas promotions, holiday promotions

Three things you could accomplish before lunch today! 1) Spread some smiles by supporting a local fundraiser. Is there a Scout troop or school group selling wreaths in your town? By now those hard-working kids (and their parents) are probably getting a little worried they won’t sell all they have left. Give ’em a hand by offering to take a …

Nov

9 Places to Use Your Professionally Designed Logo

By: Heather Clifford Category: Design, Marketing Tags: business apparel, customer freebies, logo usage, promotional magnets, promotional product

You’ve invested in a professionally designed logo – it’s time to show it off! Let’s think beyond business cards and website banners: Pocket folders that include all client paperwork for easy filing and future reference Company shirts, fleeces, and hats (give your employees some options depending on the weather!) Magnets (distribute to current and potential customers) Thank-you notes (then use …

Oct

How NOT to Design a Postcard

By: Heather Clifford Category: Design, Marketing Tags: graphic design mistakes, postcard mailings, professional postcard design, small business marketing

Thanks to today’s software and online options, it’s pretty easy for anyone to design and print postcards on their own. Yet the process can still be filled with pitfalls for those without a graphic design background. Below are some of the most common errors – any of which just screams “amateur hour.” And that’s an especially big problem if you’re …

Oct

3 Reasons You Need a Professional Logo

By: Heather Clifford Category: Design, Marketing Tags: business identity, marketing strategy, professional logo design

Numerous printing websites are available that let small-business owners choose from template designs for business cards, car magnets, and other promotional items, and then select accompanying images or font treatments to serve as a sort of business logo. And for many people, this is a great first step in promoting their business. But if you have a solid business plan …

Sep

Making Your (Winter Promo) List and Checking It Twice

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: Christmas promotions, holiday promotions, winter promotions

Taking advantage of the holiday sales season is much easier with a little planning before fall arrives! 1) Plan, don’t pay. Sure, we’re in the middle of fall-themed promos and the kids are barely back in school. But you’ll get the best deals by having your winter holiday promo materials designed and printed now – without having to pay rush …

Sep

3 Ways to Market Your Business This Fall

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: back-to-school promotions, fall promotions, youth sport league

Some of the fall marketing ideas I shared with my networking groups two weeks ago: 1) Back-to-school promos work! And you’ve still got time in which to get a postcard mailing out to your current customer list. A heating company might do something along the lines of a checklist that reads: “Buy new backpacks. Get haircuts. Arrange car pool. Have …