Thousands of businesses today still make use of old-school marketing materials such as brochures, banners, flyers and catalogues because these still convert quite effectively. These materials are mostly used in events like conferences and symposiums because they help attract the attention of folks passing by. You can also use these materials to introduce your brand to highly interested folks.

But how do you ensure that the materials you create can help you achieve your marketing goals? Where do you start? What factors do you need to consider during the creation process? Learn that and more as you read on.

Common types of printed materials used by business owners today

Business owners use a wide range of marketing materials. A few examples include rollerbanners, pamphlets, business cards, letterheads, bumper stickers, flyers and lawn signs. Business owners often use these materials to inform customers about their new products, invite investors to join their business and improve customer service and relationships.

Before creating the materials

Before you deep dive into the design process, it’s best to clearly define a few things. First, you need to gather all the important information about your business such as its name, logo, and business contact information. Then, you need to check the existing materials in the market. Find out what your competitors are doing and identify points you can improve on. This will help you identify opportunities where you can provide more value to your target customers.

Hiring an expert vs DIY

Designing a banner, flyer, pamphlet or other printed material requires some level of technical expertise and creativity. This is why most business owners hire graphic designers. Rates tend to vary depending on the level of expertise of the designer, the total number of allowed revisions, turnaround time and complexity of the project. It’s best to consult with your target designer about the cost of a project. He/she can give you a quotation for his/her services.

If you’re working on a tight budget, you can try creating the material on your own using apps such as Adobe Photoshop and Canva. Adobe Photoshop may require advanced technical knowledge, but it produces the most professional looking output. You will need to dedicate a couple of days to master how the software works and to complete a project.

Canva, on the other hand, is a more user-friendly app. It comes with thousands of templates you can edit. Some prefabricated designs and layouts come for free, but others cost around $1 each. You can easily customise the font colour, type and style of the content to match your brand.

If you opt for DIY, ask your family, friends and colleagues to check out the design. They might be able to provide valuable insights. Apply the necessary improvements and submit the file to your chosen printing shop.

Creating your first ever printed marketing material shouldn’t be too intimidating. As soon as you get the hang of it, you will feel more confident in creating future marketing materials. Don’t forget to focus on the goal of the material, check its consistency with the brand, and eliminate any obvious errors.