Archive for the ‘Marketing Advice’ Category

When people think about business stationery design it is always about business cards, letterheads and compliment slips. However there is another stationery item which can make a huge difference to the number of customers you gain, and more importantly keep. The loyalty card. Loyalty cards are reknown for their use in coffee shops and restaurants, but the idea can be easily adapted to any business where there is substantial competition and repeat custom needs to be positively encouraged.

Introduction to the concept of loyalty

There is a famous statistic which is often quoted by business advisors – 80% of revenue is made up by 20% of customers. Of course, this statistic can’t be right for everyone but it does put the financial emphasis on the importance of repeat customers and keeping your most important customers as happy as possible. This idea of loyalty is now at the absolute heart of modern marketing and some of the largest companies spend a lot of money looking for and implementing ways to increase loyalty from customers. There is even a huge annual event devoted to the subject – Loyalty World in London which is attended by speakers from the largest companies in the world including Google, Facebook, Pepsi Co, Tesco, Sky and others.

Introduction to loyalty cards

Loyalty can be encouraged in a whole number of ways, but the loyalty card is one of the most familiar, simple to implement and successful. For many businesses it is now part of their standard business stationery design. Customers are given the option of a free card on which they can collect points every time they purchase. When full, the card is redeemed for a pre-set reward and the full loyalty card is replaced with a new card so point collection can begin again.

The loyalty card is usually a double sided business card, or fold-over business card. This allows one half to be devoted to the collection of points, while the front side can be used for branding and key contact details. Individual sales are usually marked on the card with a unique sticker, or an ink stamp.

The advantages of using loyalty cards

So what benefits can introducing loyalty cards have for your business? Here are a few ways in which adding a loyalty card to your business stationery design can increase customers.

Advantage over the competition

One of the key advantages of increasing loyalty is to stop customers experimenting with the competition. This isn’t just about buying coffee, it can work for all kinds of businesses both consumer and B2B.  In fact, the greater the individual spend, the less likely a customer is to risk not having that larger sum of money contributing towards the reward. At a salon for example, if a haircut is usually £50 and a loyalty card will provide  a half price haircut after every five purchases then a customer will think twice about risking the £50 elsewhere and not contributing towards this reward of £25. Even through, in real terms the half price haircut only represents less than a 5% discount across the total spend of £525.

Relationship building

However, the equation is not just financial. By offering a reward for loyalty you are showing customers that you understand there is a two sided relationship and reciprocal agreement. By both investing something in the relationship, it is likely to be stronger and last longer.

Advertising & branding

What would businesses usually pay for having their advert in every customers’ wallet – right next to the credit cards. A well designed and well branded loyalty card can act as an permanent reminder and reinforcement of your brand. It also puts your contact details directly at a customers fingertips.

Customer detail collection

A folded business card design allows you to add an additional section to your loyalty card and many of our customers use this for customer data collection. By asking customers to complete some basic information in order to redeem a card you can build up a database of some of your most loyal customers for targeted discounts and advertising. Just make sure your customer knows how you are going to use their data and provide an opt-out option.

Business Stationery Design – Add Design can assist you with all of your graphic design needs, including the design and print of loyalty cards. Click here to view our Business Stationery Design Packages.

The UK VAT rules for printing promotional literature such as leaflets, flyers and brochures are complex to say the least. It can be very difficult to understand why one product will incur the usual standard rate VAT, yet something very similar will be zero-rated for VAT.

To provide some guidance for our customers here is our attempt to explain the VAT rules for flyer design printing and other types of printing. This is designed to be a general guide, so if you need more specific information for your item then please contact us directly or talk to HM Customs and Revenue (HMRC). Unlike other printers and designers who will charge a blanket standard rate VAT on all items, we review each flyer design printing project individually in relation to VAT rules and only charge where we are sure it is appropriate. This is especially important for start-ups and smaller businesses who are not VAT registered and can sometimes see a significant saving if VAT is zero-rated on their flyer design printing.

Which items are always standard rated VAT?

There are some print items which are always classed as VAT standard rated. These include letterheads, compliment slips, business cards, folders, posters, greeting cards and items such as tickets, invitations and gift vouchers. We therefore always charge a standard rate of VAT on these items.

Which items are always zero-rated VAT?

Generally most books and booklets will be zero-rated for VAT as long as they fall under the HMRC’s definition of books and booklets which reads ‘These normally consist of text and illustrations, bound in a cover stiffer than their pages. They may be printed in any language or characters (including Braille or shorthand), photocopied, typed or hand-written, so long as they are found in book or booklet form’.

According to HMRC, brochures do not have an exact definition in law but they do come up with the following definition as guidance ‘Brochures usually consist of several sheets of reading matter fastened or folded together, which are not necessarily bound in covers. They usually contain advertising material in the form of text or illustrations.’

Items fitting these descriptions will be classed as zero-rated as long as they don’t fall under any separate definition or exclusion put forward by the HMRC.

What about the VAT rules for flyer design printing?

Here is where it gets complicated, not least because there is no absolute exact definition for a leaflet or flyer. The distinction which HMRC make is primarily one of permanence.

A leaflet is either a single sheet or folded sheet at A4 size or smaller. It is either designed to be read a few times and then thrown away, or is designed to accompany some other product or service. If the flyer or leaflet fits this general description then it is zero-rated for VAT.

However, there are some key exceptions which means that standard rated VAT would apply.

> If it is designed for general display rather than to be held in the hand
> If it is printed in insufficient quantity to permit general distribution (less than 50 copies)
> If it is larger than A4 size after final folding
> If it is printed onto stiff paper or card. This doesn’t automatically mean that an item becomes standard rated VAT but HMRC make it clear that use of thick paper and card is an indicator which suggests permanence and therefore excludes it from a zero-rated status.
> If it is used to obtain admission to a premises
> If it is used to obtain a discount off products or services
> If it includes a section designed for completion and return such as a form or an area which is designed to be detached from the main leaflet or flyer (i.e. tear-off section)
> If it is laminated or encapsulated
> If it is designed to hold another item – i.e. it fits the definition of a folder
> If it includes die-cutting to a particular shape

This is a general overview of the rules which we apply when making a judgement on whether VAT should apply on flyer design printing. More detailed information can be found on the HMRC website and we recommend that HMRC are always consulted prior to making any judgements regarding VAT payments.

Flyer Design Printing – Add Design specialise in all forms of business stationery design and print including flyers, company leaflets and brochures.

We design promotional leaflets for all kinds of businesses and purposes – from launching new products to hitting customers with exclusive discounts. However, one use of leaflets which always provides our graphic designers with a unique challenge is the creation of menus and price lists. Menus have to be logically layed-out and easy to read but in most cases they also have to be effective in building the brand and encouraging sales. A fine balance therefore has to be struck between information and design. If you let the design elements get out of control then your menu can be difficult to read and displeasing to the eye. If information overrules then it can be dry and not engaging.

Here are our leaflet graphic design tips for creating an effective promotional menus or pricelist.

Selecting the right leaflet type

We offer a large selection of leaflet types – from a single fold (A4 folded to A5 size – 4 pages), up to four folds (10 pages). These come in all different sizes from 110mm square up to A4 size. It is worth considering which leaflet design option will match the information and your budget the best. Having the correct amount of information on each panel is essential to make sure the leaflet design doesn’t look crammed, or too spacious. Many customers choose to send us the information first, so we can advise on the best size and shape for the job.

Get the essence of the brand

With so much information to include on your leaflet, there is often limited space for design. Therefore it is important to capture the essence of the brand in the space available. This will make sure that a customer instantly recognises who the menu or price list belongs to. Using designs which incorporate the logo design, or the corporate colours, or photographs of the premises instantly tells the customer who you are without impeding too much on the information. The graphic design also wants to ‘hold together’ all the pages of information under the same brand – so even if the services or products differ from page to page, there is a common thread holding the entire leaflet together.

The right amount of information

Think carefully about your audience and the amount of information they need to make an educated decision. If, for example, you are an Indian Restaurant then a short description of each dish might be essential to help people decide, or perhaps a ‘hotness’ scale to make sure that your customer gets a product they are happy with. Likewise, for a beauty salon stating the important differences between treatments is likely to guide a reader’s decision. Numerous studies have shown that too much choice is actually off-putting to potential customers who will decide not to buy rather than make a purchase they are uncertain about.

Using headings and sub-headings.

It is essential to divide your information up logically using headings. This allows readers to instantly find the area which interests them, and also breaks up the wall of information – making the leaflet less daunting to engage with. Always consider your audience when choosing how to divide your information. Do you clients typically shop by brandname, product type, price, age/gender, specification.

Use pictures, logos and brandnames

Drawing people to picking up and reading a menu or pricelist can be difficult when there is only a page of text. Using well chosen small pictures, recognisable logos and brandnames within the information is a great way to draw people in. If I drive a BMW and see the BMW logo on a page (no matter how small) then I am unconsciously drawn to it as I will feel it has relevance. Consider what names, logos and pictures would be best at pulling your target audiences attention and use them to divide up the information.

Leaflet Design – Add Design specialise in leaflet design, flyer design, brochure design, logo design and business stationery design. Visit our web site to view our range of competitively priced, graphic design packages which include bespoke design work, high quality printing and UK delivery. We also deliver to European and international addresses for a small additional fee.

Taking a strong design brief from our customers is hugely important in creating a great brochure design. By understanding the company, its aims and its intended target market we can make sure that the design and content of the brochure will work to is full advantage. While many clients may have a strong idea of what they require, our experience in creating brochures for all sizes of companies across a range of industries means that we can often add value and find ways to engage with the target audience which they may not have considered. Only by really understanding what they are designing and why, can our brochure designers create a product which will exceed our customers expectations.

Our brochure design service starts by taking a design brief. We ask clients to either complete a a design brief questionnaire which can be e-mailed for completion prior to starting a project, or alternatively we can take the design brief over the phone. In either case, this is what we ask about before starting on any major project with a new customer.

About the business – questions concerning the size, types and nature of the business, as well as the products and services it offers help us to put the company in the context of a wider market place. It also helps us understand some of the key selling points and points of differentiation which might be central to a successful promotional message.

Target market – there is no doubt that we can design a more effective brochure if we know as much as possible about the target recipients. This may include details on their position within a company (b2b communcations), age, gender, socio-economic information, geographical location and anything else which helps us build a picture of who you want to engage. If there is a wide target market of several different groups then we can make sure that the brochure will have a broader appeal, without side lining any particular group of people.

Previous look – For many of the companies we work with, this will not be the first piece of promotional literature they have created. They may have created some smaller items in-house, or relied on different companies to create each element of their promotional material. In many cases, our clients have moved away from their current graphic designers in search of a fresh approach or keener price. So while most clients are looking for a new creative input, they do not necessarily want a complete departure from their current branding or current material. By supplying any previous promotional material you like, we can make sure the new brochure design keeps context with the current presentation of the company.

Colour schemes – Although they may not have a design in mind, many clients will have an idea on colour scheme. This may relate to their personal preferences, the industry that they are in or the existing colours used in the branding for the business. It is also useful if we know any colours to specifically avoid, such as those which are synonymous with a competitor or ones which the company has previously tried and rejected.

Competition – Knowing the names and web addresses of your competitors is important for two reasons. Firstly, it ensures that the design we create does not repeat or look similar to the promotional material of a competitor. One of the key elements of successful branding is being distinctly recognisable, so instant differentiation is often important in the design. Secondly, it allows our designer to ensure that your own design will stand above that of the competition, without looking out of context for the industry.

Want to know more about our brochure design service? Click here to view our brochure design packages, look through our other brochure design blog articles or call one of our account handlers to discuss your project.

Add Design are a graphic design agency based in Suffolk providing a wide range of fixed price graphic design services to clients throughout the UK and internationally.

The majority of the brochures we are asked to design are for business to business use. This means that while the design will change significantly depending on the industry and purpose of the brochure, the audience are generally similar – business professionals looking for new suppliers and products. However, every so often a project comes along which has a different audience in mind – Young People. While designing for a young audience often lets our graphic designers stretch their creativity, it also presents a unique set of challenges due to the way that Young People engage with, and consume advertising literature.

Here are just some of the key things our graphic designers need to consider when creating brochure graphic design to engage a younger audience.

The exact age of the audience.

When designing for an adult audience, the age-bands for targeting tend to be very wide. Target markets are often defined as 24-30, 30-40, etc. However, with a younger audience the target age needs to be much more precise. What appeals to an 11 year old, is likely to be off-putting to a 16 year old. To create a successful brochure design it is therefore necessary to understand the exact ages you are appealing to.

The media they consume.

Trends and fashions change very quickly, especially amongst the young. What appealed to us as teenagers, is unlikely to be the same as what will engage teenagers today. Even when the same trends circle-round, they often do so with subtle but important twist. It may sound like a cliché, but you have to really ‘get into the shoes’ of the target market to understand the best way to convey your message. One of the best ways of doing this with a younger audience is to look at the media and brands which your specific age group consumes. Whether it is cartoon characters, TV programmes, websites, adverts, mobile phone apps, or clothes, these will all build up a picture which will help develop a design which will appeal.

The layout of the information.

There is a misconception that to appeal to a younger audience means that everything has to be in bright colours, capital letters and tilted off to the side. While breaking the conventions of traditional page layout is important to attract the interest of the audience (you do not want to look like a school textbook), the information still needs to be easy to read and easy to follow. The majority of young people do not make patient readers. A balance is therefore often necessary between creating something which is visually interesting and stimulating, but which makes sense on the page. The secret is not to throw everything at the page. Use bright colours, but not too many different ones. Use different font sizes, but in a logical way to show headings and key points. Move the text around the page, but make sure a logical line can be drawn from one piece of information to the next.

The text.

In terms of text, the right tone is really important. While there might be a tendency to imitate the way young people speak in writing, this often fails. Just as with an adult audience, the way we speak is very different from how we expect text to read. So while slang and txtspeak can be used in certain contexts, it shouldn’t be over used. Instead simple and straightforward language with a friendly tone can be much more effective. Again, looking at your target group’s favourite media will help get the tone right. If in doubt, we ask a member of the target audience to give it a read and cross out anything which sounds like an adult trying to be young.

The call to action.

Brochures and all forms of advertising media should always have ‘a call to action’; the course of action you would like your reader to take once they have finished reading. This is often something like ‘Call Now to talk to an advisor’ or ‘Visit www. to find out more’. The call to action is still an important element for a younger audience, but it must be aligned with the natural way your audience communicates. In an advertising context this might be ‘Text INFO to 88830′, ‘Sign up at www.’, or ‘Find Us on Facebook’. Just as long as you make it clear what you would like your reader to do once they have finished consuming the message.

Brochure Graphic Design – Add Design specialise in design and print for a wide range of industries including young people. Click here to view our brochure graphic design packages and examples of our recent work.

Great supporting promotional literature is key for any salesperson to do their job. While a good sales person will often be very persuasive, bringing out a quality corporate brochure can instantly develop trust in the company they represent and demonstrate to a customer that they are being correctly informed about the product or service on offer. Even if a brochure is not used during an engagement with a new client, it is a good rule of sales that you should always leave your new lead with something. This not only allows them to find out more about you, but by having the literature around on their desk it reminds them of your meeting and the course of action that needs to be taken.

While many large firms supply salespeople with everything they need, many smaller teams find it hard to invest in a high quality brochure. This is not only due to the time and cost of producing a single large brochure, but also because many smaller firms need to be flexible as product lines, prices and elements of service often change. The greatest fear most of our customers have is of investing in a brochure, only to find that it is not a good representation of their business six months into the future.

This probably explains the popularity of the Corporate Folder. While demonstrating the same level of professionalism as a brochure, a bespoke folder can hold any combination of inserts and other documents for presentation to the customer. Not only is this significantly cheaper to produce than a typical brochure but salespeople also find they have a number of other advantages to advancing sales.

Here is why salespeople love corporate folders.

Choice of material.

Salespeople want to direct clients to a decision. One way of doing this is to foreground one solution above other, less suitable, options. While a brochure will show the client everything, with a range of inserts at hand, a corporate folder allows the salesperson to select only the information they want the client to have – focusing them on a specific product or solution.

New products/services can be added quickly.

When a new product, service or add-on is launched, salespeople want to be selling it. It is often easier to sell something new, than something familiar and it also provides the opportunity for salespeople to visit old clients and leads with a new offering. Rather than waiting for next years brochure, with corporate folders a new insert focussing specifically on what’s new can be produced in just a matter of days and added alongside the current selection.

Presentation

Sales can sometimes come with a lot of paperwork. Quotes, pricelists, terms and conditions, and technical specifications are all items which are commonly supplied to customers during the process of a sale. Rather than single pieces of paper, the folder allows all this information to be presented neatly together alongside the main advertising literature – holding everything together as a single point of reference for the customer. Many of our customers ask us to produce a branded Word template or electronic letterhead, which allows sales staff to print their own branded paperwork and documentation.

The Business Card

Lastly, as a standard option our corporate folders can have 2 slits easily cut into the inner flap. This allows the salesperson to slot their business card right in front of the information. Not only does this create the personal touch, but puts the salesperson’s contacts instantly at the fingertips of the customer. When designing a corporate folder we often ask for a copy of the company business card to make sure that this fits within the design we are creating. We can also design business cards for clients which will fit seamlessly with the folder design creating an immaculate overall impression.

Corporate Folders - click here to view our printed folder graphic design packages

With the Olympics on their way to London, you have surely seen the London Olympics logo and all the controversy surrounding it. It seems to be a little bit like Marmite – people either love it or hate it (and Iran has even threatened to pull out of the games because of it). The debate over the logo aside, though, with the Olympics on the way, company owners should be paying attention to the way their own logo designs, so they can take advantage of the extra business the Olympics is set to bring to London.

If the bold and colourful London 2012 logo says anything it is the London is an exciting, dynamic and modern city, so those companies which are looking tatty and outdated risk missing out on the rush of new customers coming into the city. They also risk missing out on the partnerships and innovations which will be setting up in advance of the games, pushed forward by a government keen to see the Olympics become a legacy rather than a one-off sporting event.

This makes it the perfect to time to think about your business logo design, so you can make sure you come across as a modern, open, dynamic and world-aware organisation. At Add Design, we have 3 business logo design packages that can create a modern and professional look for your business. Read on to find out more.

The Logo Update Package
This is our cheapest logo design package at £75 + VAT. If you have a sketch or an idea for a logo, we can take your ideas and turn them into a fantastic, professional design. We can also update your current logo to make it fresher and more modern.

Once you’ve given us your ideas and we’ve come up with a design for you, we’ll send the logo back to you so you can decide what you think about it. If you would like any changes, just let us know and we’ll make them for you to create the final design of your logo.

Then, as soon as you’ve signed off on our design, we’ll get the logo sent over to you. We send it in a variety of formats so you can be certain it will be perfectly replicated each and every time you use it.

The Simple Logo Design
This logo option costs £150 + VAT and is the second option for businesses looking for a new logo design. We will create a striking, original logo for your business that will really help you to stand out and create a distinctive brand for yourself – something that’s sure to be very important during the Olympics with so many companies competing for customers’ attention.

When we’re designing your logo, the first thing we do is find out everything we can about your company. This gives us a good idea about your business and, more importantly, the types of customers you are targeting so we can design something which truly represents your company. We’ll also research your competition to make sure your logo is unique to your business. Then we’ll provide you with 3 initial design ideas. You choose one and we’ll take that one forward and go through 3 rounds of drafting to make sure the final design is exactly right. Once you’re happy with it, we’ll send the logo out to you.

Unlimited Logo Design
This is our third logo design package and it costs £225 + VAT. The process is similar to the one outlined above, except we come up with 6 initial design ideas and go through unlimited rounds of drafting until we get the perfect logo for your business. This makes sure your company will stand out above the competition and attracts attention for all the right reasons – perfect for while the Olympics is on.

Visit our business logo design pages to find out more about Add Design’s great business logo design service.

For a long time, Add Design noticed that mailed promotions such as leaflets and flyers were the most common marketing spends by most companies. Over the past couple of years, though, this started to shift to online promotion. This was absolutely fine because the graphic designers at Add Design are really skilled in both types of marketing – offerering design and print in traditional formats such as leaflets, brochures, catalogues and flyers as well as the creation of high quality web sites.  A recent trend we’ve noticed, however, is that there is a shift back to the leaflet as the preferred choice for promotions. There are some very good reasons this is happening, so here is why we think leaflets are still the top medium for getting your message across.

Cost
As the number of websites on the internet has grown, so has online competition. This makes it more expensive to promote websites successfully online. It also means that while online promotion was previously a cheaper alternative to leaflet design, this is no longer the case. Companies are realising this and shifting their marketing spend accordingly.

Trust
Frankly, anyone can set up a website. This means it can sometimes be hard to know whether or not a site is genuine, especially as online fraud has increasingly become a concern for consumers. They trust the internet less than they used to and so aren’t using it as much to choose which suppliers to use. Another factor is email spam, which has increased to the point where a lot of consumers ignore promotional emails, even if they appear to be genuine, because they can just never be entirely sure. In contrast to this, it is much easier to inspire and develop trust among your customers by using physical items such as leaflets, flyers and brochures.

Local services
Increasingly, people are turning back to local suppliers and are really keen to support local services. It is much easier to promote your business as a local company through leaflets as you can target them to specific local areas and emphasise your credentials as a local business. By contrast, if a consumer goes online to try and find a supplier that serves their local area, they are more than likely to end up finding a large national supplier that spends a lot of money on online promotion and so has a really popular website. This can lead to smaller companies getting pushed out of the online market because the business giants are dominating the arena and making it harder for others to break through, prompting the swing back towards more traditional forms of advertising.

Inspired sales
One issue with internet advertising is that people will only find your service online if they are already looking for it. However, if you have a well-designed, informative, catchy leaflet, you are much more likely to attract the attention of people who otherwise may never have considered your services. You can send you leaflet to potential customers to inspire them to purchase something from you they might not have considered before, whereas if you used the internet, your message would be more likely to get lost amongst the shear number of other adverts.

Be Remembered!
Unlike internet advertising, leaflets with great designs are likely to be kept and referred at any time.  This is why so many have pinboards in their kitchen – to remind them of important things and useful services they may need in the future.  As soon as a computer is switched off, people quickly forget what they saw – and if they do want to refer to it again, it is often gone or difficult to find due to the fluid nature of online advertising.  Simply put, spreading your message via a leaflet means you can target your customers more precisely, and stand out from the online crowd -  leading to a greater chance of marketing success.

Add Design specialise in leaflet design, offering fixed price leaflet design packages which include professional design, high quality print and UK wide delivery. We also work with international customers and can deliver to most countries subject to increased delivery charges. With a wide range of options to suit all budgets and purposes, our leaflets can show everyone what is great about your business.

Whether your company is large or small, there are many benefits to be had from rebranding your business. Of course, this isn’t something you should do too often or else your clients might find it hard to identify with you, but a well-timed rebranding is a great way of updating your image. This is especially important if you are launching a major new service or have recently revised your practices, as it shows you’re keen to move with the times and stay up to date with developments.

Often, rebranding can be done fairly simply as well, making it an even more attractive prospect. For example, your business logo design is something you can update without too much hassle but doing so can make a big difference to the impression that you create in the marketplace. An up to date brand will help your company look modern and dynamic, instead of out-dated as it might if you’ve had the exact same appearance for a substantial period of time. Even if you look at some of the largest and most identified brands in the world (Pepsi, Shell, Starbucks, BBC for example), they still make regular changes and updates to their business logos and branding to keep one step ahead and relevant to new audiences.

However, as well as engaging with new customers, another key benefit of redesigning your business logo and rebranding your business is to send a signal to your existing clients and customers. It shows that you think about the image of your business and that you know the importance of developing a solid, trustworthy brand. Introducing updated elements to your company brand via your business logo, web site and marketing materials shows that you are constantly developing and improving – characteristics which will always be considered positive by long-term customers.

The rebranding process can also help launch a new product or service. The change in branding will let people know that a major shift has taken place and if your new logo is engaging, they might be inspired to find out more. So, if your company is planning a change of direction but isn’t quite sure how to go about making the changes clear to existing and potential customers, investigating business logo design and other rebranding services could be a great way to do it.

A comprehensive rebranding of your company will also be a good opportunity for you to develop a coherent image. When you first started your business, you probably spent a lot of time making sure you had exactly the right image. As businesses grow, however, they often make piecemeal changes to their branding and so their message isn’t quite as sharp and cohesive as it could be. Rebranding the whole business will help to get that message back into line and make sure all your colleagues and employees are reading from the same page when it comes to the corporate image and values. On rebranding for larger customers, we often supply a set of brand guidelines which can be distributed amongst employees (especially those commissioning design work and advertising) which explains how the logo and brand can be used. Of course, we also work with customers beyond the business logo design and help produce everything they need – from stationery to brochures – to help keep the branding consistant.

One final benefit of company rebranding is that it can prove to be a great motivator for your employees. After all, everyone likes to feel that the company they work for is dynamic, constantly improving and good at keeping up with the times. Rebranding shows that you are thinking about the future, which is reassuring to your employees, especially in tougher economic times. You can also involve them in the process, which is a good way of developing loyalty as people like to feel that their opinions are being valued.

So, if you are interested in business logo design and company rebranding, please get in touch with Add Design. We’re always happy to talk you through your options and help you develop the perfect solution for your business. Add Design provide a range of logo design packages whether you want to update your business logo or create a new logo from scratch.

While quality graphic design is vital to getting the right response from your leaflet design, choosing the right distribution method is also key to the success of any campaign. Over the last couple of months we have looked at distribution to a mailing list, and distribution through a publication. This month I want to look at distribution through a professional leaflet delivery company.

Choosing a distribution company

When it comes to choosing a company to handle your leaflet delivery, reputation is everything. There is always going to be an element of trust involved so you must choose a well established company with a professional presentation. I have heard numerous stories of customers’ leaflets ending up in skips; in all cases because they chose a non-professional outfit to handle the distribution.

Talk to the company involved. Ask them what safeguards they have to guarantee delivery. Most distribution companies realise that trust is an all important element to winning business so will have a tight control over who, when, and how they deliver the leaflets.

If you are dealing with a large scale distribution, it is also worth considering Royal Mail. As well as standard post, Royal Mail will handle postcode distribution for non-addressed flyers and leaflets at a fraction of normal postal costs.

Choosing your postcode areas

Your choice of postcode will determine the type of customers you target. While one postcode area may be affluent middle class, a neighbouring one may be completely different – it is surprising how much variation exists in a reasonably small geographical area so try to be as specific in your postcode choice as possible. Your leaflet distribution company should be able to provide you guidance on the areas covered by different postcodes and there are many free services online such as UpMyStreet which will give you very specific social profiles based on postcode information.

If your distribution area is not too large, it is often also worth having a drive around. It will involve stereotyping, but just from a street-level a lot of information can be gleaned about the type of customers who may live there. It also helps you avoid obvious mistakes. You don’t want to pay to distribute your Conservatory company leaflet to an area dense with rented apartments. Nor information on your BMW garage to an area which already has a BMW garage on the doorstep.

How the delivery is done

The first check you want to make is whether your delivery will be SOLUS (delivered on its own) or alongside other leaflets. Obviously, if you leaflet is part of a bundle stuffed through a door then the potential impact will be much reduced. However, if the leaflet will be distributed alongside others then ask the distribution company if there is a maximum number, and also ask if you are going to be distributed alongside a competing business.

If your leaflet is an unusual shape then be specific about how you want it put through the door. If the leaflet is A4 size it is worth considering having it folded to A5 at time of print so it doesn’t come through the letter box creased into a ball. Thrusting an A4 flyer through a sprung letterbox with a draft excluder is no simple challenge and your deliverer will be more concerned by speed than quality.

Checking on the delivery

Although trust is a key issue in choosing a distribution company, that doesn’t mean it is not worth checking up. Always tell your distribution company that you know people within the delivery area so you can check delivery even if this is not true. However, if you do know anyone at all in the area then do check. If you are distributing to business addresses rather than residential, then call a few businesses in the area and ask if they received your leaflet.

Also monitor your enquiries and ask them where they heard about you. Most enquiries will come directly after distribution while it is still fresh in the mind. This will not only reassure you that delivery was made, but address information from leads will help you isolate the best response areas for your next leaflet.

How can we help? Alongside designing your flyer to maximise your response rate, we can advise on the best distribution methods to get the most from your marketing budget.

Leaflet & Flyer Design – Add Design are a leaflet design company based in Suffolk UK. We provide a wide range of fixed price leaflet, flyer, postcard and brochure design packages to clients throughout the UK and internationally.