Monday, February 16, 2009

Surviving the Flood

How to survive the flood of advertisements

It is not raining, but there is a flood out there on the streets.  It is not rain.  No, it is a flood of advertising.  Everywhere you look, companies are fighting tooth and nail for that extra bit of ad space in a battle for consumer attention.  

It can seem daunting for aspiring marketers.  After all, a mediocre ad is certain to get lost amid the throng of competing advertisements.  Do not give up hope before you have even
gotten started, though.  There are a few tips that can turn your average ad into a knockout punch to consumer's glass jaws.

Answer the question - The customer has one question they will ask themselves when they see your advertisement.  "What's in it for me?"  They may phrase it differently, but the basic idea is the same.  You have to appeal to a need or a desire to get your customer to pay any attention to your ad.  Your product will not appeal to everyone, but if you are actively addressing a need (real or perceived), you will not reach anyone.

K.I.S.S. - If you do not know it already, the acronym stands for "Keep it simple, stupid."  It is great advice for making ads.  There is a limited amount of space in your design layout and there is a limited amount of viewing time before your ad loses the customer's interest.  

With that in mind, it should be clear how important streamlining your message is.  Give your headline, make your offer and give just enough product detail to not leave the viewer confused about what you are trying to sell them.  Any extraneous product information can be given to them in person when they visit your store to inquire about the product.

Keep It Real - If you've ever done a job hunt before (if not, lucky you) you've likely seen classifieds that promise you can work from home, set your own hours and make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.  If your even halfway intelligent and have any job experience, you know at a quick glance that promise is too good to be true.

Your potential customers will turn away from your ad just as quickly if they sense you are making impossible claims you cannot follow through on.  Instead of telling customers your product will forever change their lives, tell them how you are product can help them in their day-to-day life.

By utilizing these tips when deciding on the color printing services for your next marketing campaign, you will make the difference between an ad that flounders and an ad that rises to the top.  In a flood of advertising , it is always nice to have a life preserver handy.

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About the author

Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of developments in color printing industry and how these improvements can benefit small to medium-scale business.