Top 5 Design Tips to Create Eye-Catching Marketing Materials

Great graphic design looks effortless, but it requires lots of attention to details. Think back to an eye-catching advertisement, publication, or flyer you saw recently. Do you remember why you liked it? Perhaps it was something specific like the use of a cool graphic or font. Or, more likely, the layout and the words worked together to create an eye-appealing, memorable message that you're still thinking about today.

A lot of thought, money, and skill probably went into that design. But you don't have to be a design guru to achieve expert results! Follow these five tips to create effective, professional-looking marketing materials for your small business.

Select appropriate font treatment: More is NOT better when it comes to fonts. Pick no more than two typefaces per document - one for headlines and one for body copy. Stick to a simple, clean font for easy body copy readability. Headline fonts can be a little more creative. For emphasis on certain words or phrases, use italics, boldface, or underlining sparingly. Also try to make the typeface match the personality of the service or product you're representing.

Use white space wisely: Just because the space is there doesn't mean you have to fill it! Good designs contain well-planned white space. ("White space" is simply the areas in a layout that are left bare - without text or graphics.) It gives the eye a break and helps to highlight the important points. Make sure to have enough space around the edges and in-between columns and articles. And remember that there is a fine line between not enough and too much white space. Consult well-designed magazines and ads or computer templates for layout inspiration and ideas.

Find effective graphics and photos: It's always better to use too few than too many graphics. One great graphic is so much better than four weak ones. Sometimes they are not even necessary. When you do use graphics and photos, make sure they help illustrate your point, rather than just inserting them to take up space. Likewise, be sure their sizes are appropriate to the space. Stick with high-quality graphics - in this age of affordable, quality clipart, there is no excuse to use any image that isn't perfectly clear and neat. Never use a "gif" file in a print document; those are created for web use only. Make sure the graphic element illustrates your main point - it's the first thing the reader sees, so it's important it portrays your message accurately. Lastly, don't mix differently styles of illustration or photography - keep a consistent look to create harmony.

Keep copy short and neat: Readers are more likely to read short sentences, paragraphs, and articles written as if you're having a friendly conversation. Break up large blocks of text with bullet points and subheads. Instead of using fancy multi-syllable complex vocabulary, use everyday words that your audience will understand. A good rule of thumb is to write at a sixth-grade reading level. Finally, always have someone else - whether a professional copy editor or a skilled friend - proofread your work. It's impossible to catch all your own typos.

Watch the flow: People generally read a page from top to bottom and from left to right. Draw people into the top left corner of your ad or newsletter with a headline or strong graphic. Then, pull their eyes down and through the text in the mid-section of the page, and finish up in the lower right corner. Picture a "Z" shape. Finally, be sure to include a "call to action" at the bottom to get the results you desire. For example, give readers your contact information and special offer, and tell them to "Call today!"

Copyright 2005 Time to Organize

Sara Pedersen, author of the FREE e-zine "The Marketing Fairy's Guide to Simple Self Promotion," is a professional organizer and marketing specialist. She helps small business owners make their marketing dreams come true. Sign up today at http://www.time2organize.net to receive your FREE monthly subscription.

Copyright 2004 Time to Organize.

---

Turbo-Charge Your Viral Marketing- Five Easy Ways

The world of marketing has changed. With increasingly better educated... Read More

Why Trying to Get the Appointment Can be a Recipe for Dis-Appoinment

Why Trying to "Get the Appointment" Can be a Recipe... Read More

Becoming The Obvious Choice In A Sea Of Competition

Differentiation, niche marketing, and positioning. These and other related business... Read More

Two of the Biggest Hurdles

As I was preparing for a presentation recently, I was... Read More

How To Start A Mail Order Business

The Mail Order business is not a business of itself,... Read More

10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Sales IMMIDIATELY!

Alright you've got yourself a nice website with a great... Read More

Fundraisers - How to Raise Twice the Money With Half the Sweat

If your members, parents or donors wear clothes, watch t.v.... Read More

For Ongoing Success, Make Marketing a Habit

Make Marketing a Must, Not a MaybeWhen business is booming,... Read More

Fundraising Letters Should Raise Donors, Not Donations, When Mailed to Strangers

Are you willing to spend $1.25 to raise $1? To... Read More

Marketing Strategy - Shift the Focus

Most of the service providers I've worked for or with... Read More

How To Market Effectively Even If No One Understands What You Do

So how do you effectively market your product or service... Read More

Keeping your Business Card visible

Famous quotes that keep you thinking.Have you ever listened to... Read More

Comprehensive Marketing Details Not Found in Beginner Books

If this is the first marketing article you are reading,... Read More

Making Networking Work

Several years ago, "networking" was the hot buzzword. Everyone was... Read More

My Product is Obviously Better ? Why isn?t it Selling?

The movie, "Field of Dreams" opens with a farmer standing... Read More

Choosing Networking Functions

Time is a concern for all of us. We only... Read More

Sell More Online By Offering a Big Fat BONUS!

I don't know about you, but I secretly love watching... Read More

The Value of a Good Sales Letter!

Regardless of how many forms of promotional material you create,... Read More

Joint Venture: 50 Power Secrets Of Joint Venture Marketing, Exposed

What is a Joint Venture?A joint venture is an agreement... Read More

Marketing on the Cheap: Write? Right!!

We all know the value of writing articles for promoting... Read More

Five Tips to Make Your Marketing More Creative

Same old same old just doesn't sell anymore. To... Read More

Customer Retention with a Personal Touch

Personal contact with customers is a crucial element in the... Read More

Demographics For the Masses

Information is the lifeblood of the economy. That's especially true... Read More

Shine a Spotlight on Your Professional Service Firm

As a life-long dancer, I know a bit about the... Read More

Fundraising Letter Envelopes: How To Make Them Irresistible

Readers spend only a few seconds deciding the fate of... Read More

Increase Sales With Travel Incentives

Today's business environment has changed dramatically over the past 10... Read More

Where to Find Cheap Brochure Printing

Whether it is for is a real estate listing, a... Read More

Take a Leap! How To Take Your Business To New Heights

Take a moment to reflect on the current reality of... Read More

Postcard Marketing Done Right

Say it with a post card. A well designed, colorful,... Read More

Always Sell To New Eyes And New Ears

One of the hardest things for you to do as... Read More

Direct Marketing Puts Information In The Buyer?s Hands

Direct marketing is advertising from a manufacturer or front-end supplier... Read More

Modern Marketing With Postcards

Postcards may be one of the best kept secrets of... Read More

How To Bond With Customers So That They Stay With You Longer

How many of your customers are loyal customers? More importantly... Read More