Toot Your Own Horn…No One Else Will

As a small business owner, the primary concern is keeping the organization afloat and in the black. Receivables, payables,  invoices, estimates, cash register receipts, taxes, payroll and human resource concerns, etc. are always at the top of the list.

However, there is an interesting conundrum in that yes, one needs to take the most efficient steps business-wise, but how is anyone going to know what a great business you have in the first place if marketing your company is at the bottom of your priority list?

It’s a delicate balance – the blending of sound business practices with more “trivial” issues such as spreading the word about your enterprise – but alas, if you don’t publicize yourself and your business, who else will.

Here at AA Printing we have an employee who is always on Twitter, Blogger, Facebook and other social media websites doing research and reading in addition to their other front desk, administrative and clerical duties. The obsessive reading and social media watching is a skill well utilized as our company is publicized frequently through these tools – pictures and links are posted, ideas taken from them are given to me to approve or disapprove, and most importantly referrals are made and new business is drummed up – leading to positive cash flow and positive good will between our clients and us.

For the business owner who is uninformed about getting the word out in a positive manner, the key is to ask for help. There are many people available who are skilled in social media who will gladly answer any questions. If you know a teenager, young adult, a friend, or someone who enjoys social media, don’t be afraid – ASK FOR HELP. There's no shame in that!

Just a Programming Note

When it comes to printing, no design programs used for creating marketing materials are the same. The delineation between them has to do with the level of professionalism and creativity of the graphics designer in question.

As mentioned in earlier blog posts, the look and feel of your materials are crucial to creating an identifiable brand that reflects its image.

Some reference points to remember are simple ones. Graphics designers worth their salt use the Adobe suite of products such In Design and Creative Suite. These are the granddaddies of design, or as it used to be called “desktop publishing.” They allow for varies of fonts, shading layering, textures, shaping, whatever your heart desires, etc. The one caveat is that the cost of these programs can be high, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands!

If you need something quick, easy and dirty (how does that sound) people can always turn to the Microsoft products such as Word and PowerPoint. These programs are good for what could be considered the homegrown approach to design, for instance a neighborhood newsletter, small signs, letters, documents, etc. Cost varies, too, ranging in the hundreds of dollars.

Just remember, it is very important to decide which type of program you need so you can the best result for your marketing materials.