Your printed catalog is your Advertising vehicle, a good one will drive your sales right to the bank. Cover these five key points for a successful catalog.
An online version of your print catalog is highly recommended – the USPS reports that 55% of online shoppers shop with a printed catalog in hand. Cover these five areas with the help of advertising professionals who can design, photograph, write, and help with paper selection and printing decisions – and get your catalog online.
1.Product Photography
Quality –poor quality photos diminish your credibilityFocus – whether sharp or selective, be consistent with your brand Color – accuracy is a must and depends on paper, prepress, and printingConsistency – of style regardless of type (silo, background, location)
Visual interest – all your photos should be interesting to look at
Space allotment – bigger is better, use as much space as you can
2. Product Copy
Balancing act – romance with personality plus descriptive information of productAlways benefit driven – customers want to know “What’s in it for me?”
Always credible – accurate, authoritative, helpful and informative
Targeted to the audience – know who you’re speaking to and use appropriate language
Easy to read and understand – readers don’t want to have to figure it out for themselves
Space allotment & size – consider brand, product being sold, and target audience
3. Page Layout
Product is focus – quick identification of what’s being soldPrice point visibly noticeable – especially if price is your nicheClean and simple and easy to shop – readers usually don’t spend a lot of timeConsistent in format and purpose – all pages should look like they’re from the same brand
Space allotment – good design sense is key here
White space – rest for the eye is criticalLocation of information/order form – make it easy for the customer to purchaseOverall print quality – must be consistent with your brand4.
Front Cover
An invitation – inviting the reader to open the catalog
Provide a taste of what’s inside – use top sellers
Point to purpose of catalog – is there a season or other reason
Focus on merchandise – you are what you sell
Convey company image – ALWAYS be consistent with your brand
Provide stopping power and reason to go inside – there’s a lot of competition out thereHighlight new products – especially if you carry the same items each monthSell company services/policies/extras – sell your customer service right up front5.
Company Policies and Services
Guarantee – strong return policy visually evident
Make shopping simple – customers will go elsewhere if not
Ordering info – placed where easy to find
Web address – placed where it’s easy to find, and specify online services
Personalize and caring feeling – utilizing demographic information and purchasing history
Going beyond basic services – poor or non-existent customer service is not an option
Honesty and Sincerity – be your image. Don’t ever promise what you cannot deliver
Websites: Start to Finish
Wanna Website? Better yet, wanna website project started and completed within your time frame and budget? Choosing the right designer for the job is critical for success. But before you hire, or even interview designers, you need do some “goal-searching”.
Getting Out The Word
At this very moment there are AT LEAST 9 other companies competing for YOUR customers. How will you convince them to buy from you?The success of any business depends upon its ability to attract, and retain, customers. When you started your company you decided many of the marketing strategies needed to bring a product or service to market. We show you how!
5 FREE Ways to Jumpstart Your Web Traffic
You need to get the word out on your new company website, and here’s the best part… it doesn’t have to cost anything at all, if you’re willing to take the time and make the effort to do it yourself.
