» Marketing

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 …

Jul

4 Ideas for Heating Up Your Summer Marketing Efforts

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: Fisher Cats, Lakes Region hikes, Monadnock picnics, summer giveaways, summer promotions

Fireflies and bonfires, farmer’s markets and county fairs – summer is here! Some ideas for heating up your marketing efforts during this great season in the Granite State: 1) Think “back to school” when others aren’t. A realtor could blog about taking school districts into consideration when looking at New Hampshire homes this summer. A café owner could offer lunch …

Jul

3 Must-Dos for a Successful Small-Business Event

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: event planning, event websites, promotional banners

With advance planning, you can host a successful event no matter the size of your business. Here are the basics: 1) Define your audience. We can’t design a print ad or a brochure or a website for a client who has never formally identified the business’s ideal customer. (Although the Infusion Studio team can help you with that definition!) Nor …

Apr

3 Low-Cost Ways to Get Your Business Name “Out There”

By: Heather Clifford Category: Marketing Tags: church festivals, Cinderella Project of New Hampshire, community marketing, town fairs

Small-business owners don’t need big marketing budgets to spread the word about their products and services – just a little research and creativity. 1) Donate – and feel great! Whatever your business, there’s a cause or charity out there that could use what you have to offer. Hair salon? Offer your services for the Cinderella Project of New Hampshire (providing …