Regardless of our culture, gender, or age, we can’t help but be drawn in by the colours surrounding us. Indeed, colours are everywhere, all the time, and they are one of the first elements our brains process when we notice something. Colours are so powerful that they stimulate our nervous system and evoke physiological and emotional states.
Of course, our unique experiences influence how we perceive colours as individuals. This is why the same colour can often mean different things to different people. For example, writing one’s name in red ink may mean nothing to a Norwegian, but it is condemned by a Korean as red is linked to death. So, it should come as no surprise that colour can be part of your marketing strategy to influence your customers’ purchase decisions.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common colours in business and how they are interpreted in North American culture.
o Commands
attention
o Stimulates
senses
o Symbolises
energy, excitement and passion
o Encourages
action; thus, a selling colour
o Represents
cheerfulness and playfulness
o Uplifts
people’s moods
o Stimulates
mental activity
o A
fun, happy colour
o Creates
a sense of calm
o Associated
with nature, environment, vitality, and health
o Soothing
on the eye
o Colour
of money
o Most
popular colour in business and in general
o Implies
loyalty, trust, and conservatism
o Reduces
tension and fear
o A
reliable, responsible colour
o Suggests
authority, boldness, and stability
o A
classic, luxurious feel
o The
ultimate power colour
o Can
add seriousness or weight to a brand
o Colour
of new beginnings
o Symbolizes
simplicity and organization
o Associated
with innocence and peace
o Adds
purity and transparency to a brand
Now, take a look at the colours used in your business’s brand
assets: your logo, brochures, business cards, office, website, and so on. And remember to take into account your
target market. Are your colours painting the picture you want reflected in your marketplace?
Achieving great results from a marketing agency has two parts to it. Here is the obvious part: you should hire a company that best fits all of your requirements. The second and often neglected part is being a good client to work with. Without both parts of the equation, the work that comes out won’t reach its full potential. So, keep the following simple tips in mind when hiring an agency’s services.
Adopting these traits will help you get the most out of your
relationship with your agency – and optimum results from
your branding and marketing programs.
Even with
the importance of the web these days, most companies still have a need for
printed materials – whether they are brochures, product sheets, newsletters,
presentation folders, trade-show hand-outs, direct mail, case studies and so
on. Here are our top five tips for developing compelling, sales-oriented
marketing materials.
1.
Define whom you are writing for. Resist the urge to develop content for a variety of
audiences. Appeal to your main audience with content that will lead them to
take action.
2.
Hook them with the headline. The headline is what will initially capture attention
and prompt the reader to read on. Make sure that it is short, concise and
communicates a key benefit.
3.
Use subheads to guide content. Subheads help guide your reader through your document,
separating it into manageable, readable sections. They can also highlight
benefits and keep interest at a peak. Used appropriately, they’re powerful
tools for getting your message across clearly and effectively.
4.
Be sure all your materials have a ‘family look’. Every piece of literature doesn't have to look identical,
but they should all look planned as a compatible unit. Picture all of your
marketing materials laid in front of you on a conference table. Does it all
look like it comes from the same company? It should.
5.
Invest in
good images. Companies
sometimes scrimp on getting good photos of their equipment, job sites, people
and projects. Strong, professional photography will go a long way to reflecting
the quality of your product or service while amateur snapshots can give a poor
impression. Consider professional photography as an investment in your future.
Writing for the Internet isn’t rocket science. But some do achieve better results than others. Give the following 5 useful rules a try-- you will notice an improvement.
1. Create keyword-rich content.
Load your writing with keywords for maximum impact. This will optimize ‘searchability’, thus increasing site traffic.
2. Less is better.
Keep each sentence to one line. If your sentences get too long, people will get tired of reading and drift away. They should sound quite conversational.
3. Use headlines.
Headlines break up convoluted paragraphs and make your writing more readable. They also let readers choose which topics they want to read about.
4. Include hyperlinks.
Links engage readers and make it easier for them to check out related information. Your writing becomes more dynamic and less like a textbook.
5. Avoid jargon.
Use plain English and make sure that anyone, not just experts from certain fields, can understand your writing. Keep it simple and concise.
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