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Thats a great idea - assisted living - I never thought of that,
but your`re so right on target! - I could place flyers on their
bulletin board or register with management there. That alone could come
result in a lot of new clients. I know that I have to be very receptive
to seniors - they do group together! Flyers are great for door
knockers and brochures for intial consultations but websites given
information 24/7.
Tks
jo
Second, the MS Publisher program includes an automatic logo feature. You choose the one you like, and it drops the name of your business into the pre-designed logo. I can`t say they`re stunning, but they do look professional. Another nice thing is that the logos are part of the brochure design templates (if you don`t want them or you want to use your own logo, you can choose one of those options instead).
Finally, I can`t say whether the desktop publishing software that came with your computer will work well for this. Probably will, but I`d need to know specifically what software it is. If it`s Publisher, you`re in business, and Publisher is part of the MS Office suite on many computers.
Good discussion, everyone!
Thanks for the post -
I have microsoft publisher 2003 (I had to order it separately, it didnt come with
my computer) I am going to try to print up my brochures myself, if I dont like the logos they have I will get prof help on that.
I should have mentioned, the seniors that I am marketing my services to are not
in their 60`s - I am talking about older seniors. Seniors that need help to live
independently and dont get around much. I am not talking about active seniors.
I know there are seniors that are internet savvy - but I feel there are a lot of
seniors that aren`t also. I will be marketing on line for the seniors and/their
family so either way someone will see my website.
Thanks ! and have a safe trip
jo
to look at clutter. The flyer should be clean with a crisp font
that is slightly oversize. Easy to read, not too many
words. A photograph of you looking professional and respectful
would probably also go long ways. Your information should be
placed in an over obvious spot that is impossible to miss. Some
seniors get frustrated easily and don`t want to have to search for you
number when they need something. Perhaps magnets that go on
fridge would be good? Also offering to put yourself on their
speed dial might be another option. My grandmother has had a
speed dial phone for years and still doesn`t know how to program it,
but she uses the numbers I put in for her.
Also, yes register with the management at any facility you are
marketing in. Most are going to have policies against soliciting,
but I am sure if you approach it with tact and a little kindness and
genuine concern for their residents you should be able to work
something out.
be done, but big companies pay a lot of money and don`t always get the
edge. Nothing is an exact science (at least not in
business). Great results can be had using common sense and a
little time and effort.
Great point - personalizing myself and leaving something for them to remember
me by.
I do have the magnetic paper (got it at staples) and I have made some biz cards
with that - that will be part of my kit when I make my presentations. My own
branding - thats the key - the cards and stationary I bought from vista
were a good price - but I never really liked them - they are so boring,
they`re pale pale yellow and army green. I like my own that
I made a lot better. I used a wine color so they would stand out. I
even put a quote on the back by Aristotle Onassis that I particulary
liked and others did too. I thought that would stand
out and others would appreciate some of his wisdom. I think now, after
all the feedback, that my targeted market would be ok with my cards,
stationary, and brochures made by me. If I was going to be marketing to
corporate business I probably would go the professional route though.
You`re right about the money research firms pay people. I went 2 times
(my 2 cousins do this). Once I got paid $125 and they didnt even call
my name (they always get extras), I got my friend to go and the same
thing happened. The other time I got called and I had a great time and
they even served refreshments!. Doesnt get better than that! Thanks for
your comments - they were insightful
jo
told me if they cant see it they throw it away. A photograph of myself
on the flyer is a good idea too.
Programming my number in their phone is excellent too. I am going to order
magnets for the refrigerator (there`s some phone magnets that I like) thanks
jo
It looks like you`re getting a lot of good advice. I should be clear up front and tell you (and everyone else) that I work for www.PrintingForLess.com</A> , a long time sponsor of StartupNation, and honestly want to provide some relevant advice regardless of where you print your brochure or get it designed. This post may sound like a plug, but I`d rather be clear about who I am and where I know you can find some advice instead of being secretive.
We were the fist printer to figure out how to print commercially from MS Publisher and have printed thousands of Publisher brochures since 1999. I can tell you that it can be done yourself and still look professional. If you do need a designer, I`ve worked recently with Concept Design Studios www.conceptdesignstudios.com</A> and had good results. This is a brand new 1 person company looking for business, so you may be able to get a good rate.
Also, if you look at the brochure page on our website, you`ll find some good design tips. http://www.printingforless.com/brochures.html</A> The "How to Write a Super Brochure" link may be helpful.
Finally, StockLayouts is a company that has professional designers put together editable templates that can be printed at home, or professionally. A link to their site is on the brochure page too.
I know that this may sound like a total marketing pitch, but I hope that you find some of these resources helpful in promoting your business. Best of Luck!
thanks for the post on "brochures", sorry for just getting back on this to you, but
busy working on my new website.
I appreciate the information very much, I should be able to
review everything in a week or two on my list of "priorities". I try
knocking a few items off each day from my list plus everything
else you have to do at home. I have looked at my templates on my
2003 publisher and nothing wowed me. I really would like something that
has graphics of seniors and not abstracts or anything else. So I
have to come back to this in a few weeks and may be calling on you
Thanks so much
jo
http://m4mentertainment.moonfruit.com/</A>
The problem is that this gets pretty expensive for each brochure that you`d like to have. Paying around $2.50/piece for a full color brochure is fine if you`re printing fewer than 100 brochures, but if you need more I would recommend professional printing.
Once you print the minimum quantity with a commercial printer, additional pieces are only pennies a piece. (PrintingForLess.com also offers 20% off for new customers too!)
Most people aren`t aware that they can save a lot of money through professional printing. So, whether you use PrintingForLess, or your local printer, you should at least compare the cost. As long as you need more than 250 brochures, I think that you`ll be pleased.Marketeer2006-4-20 18:3:28
Thanks for your post on brochures. Yep, your`e right, its an Inkjet!
More affordable than a laser and its great for text purposes. Appreciated the
comments about Kinkos -I was about to check them out shortly too. (I may
just hold up for now on the brochures since I have something else in mind
for the time being. I typed up what I am calling " Letter of Introduction". It`s
lengthy (several pages long) but it details who I am and company history and
ways to make senior`s lives better all around. I plan to leave them with the
seniors who call me and request a free consultation. But I still plan to check
out Kinkos in the near future. I just have to watch my startup costs right now
as I havent opened up for business yet and I still have a lot of other "have to
have" items such as comml auto insurance, liability insurance, bonding insurance,
etc. Thanks so much jo
Thanks too for your post.
I didnt know about bleeding colors, I never had my own brochure at all.
I am thinking of contacting the board of trustees at the senior
community in my area for a presentation (sometime this year). Then
brochures would come in handy and not the Letter of Introduction that I
mentioned to Karen. I would need the most 200 or 250 brochure
since there are 4015 homes in this community. Though
probably less than 100 people will show
up. &nb sp;
Most likely, I will try Kinkos ( for a sampling) just to see what I can
get for the money and if I like it. If I dont I will probably think of
going to a professional printer. Probably someone who get put together
the whole package for me (stationary, cards, brochures with logo on
all. But right now I just want to get into business the least expensive
way as fast as possible. If I was going to target corporate business
then I probably would feel that my marketing tools would have to look
100% professional to compete. Right now it seems that my only
competitors are people who are not registered with the state and just
list ads in the local senior papers for an hourly wage and their only
marketing tool is a flyer made on their computer. Thanks
jo
No need to apologize for giving me good advice
I will be providing services to seniors (non-medical only), things like errands,
shopping, help with organizing their home, assisting with medical paperwork,
medicine reminders, call monitoring and feedback to family & transportation and
a lot more. I plan to promote my new company with an ad in the senior paper
just for the one community I want to work in and also through my own
doctor who owns two senior business himself in toms river and
princeton. He will help me probably with recommending my services to
his patients. Right now he is in Iraq due to return next month. Then I
guess we will discuss a marketing plan. Also plan to meet with the
board of directors at this senior community to explain what my company
is about and bring over some articles about what a success this is in
Beacon Hill, Mass. I am going to ask them to put me on their vendor
list that they have there (I will be the only company providing
errand/concierge services). I am not sure yet whether I should offer a
discount on first time users since I
won`t have any competition (yet). There are no competitors yet in
this field. Sure there are a lot of non-medical help out here in toms
river, it is a senior town (6th largest senior community in the
nation). One of the reasons I selected this town to do work in.
Theseother companies are franchised and they do very well (my doctor
above owns two) but I am going to offer services these others don`t
(more geared towards business - one example is home organization which
can be anything from organizing their closet, kitchen, garage.
Setting up a filing system so they can manage their own medical
paperwork and pay bills efficiently without much trouble. (I got a lot
of feedback from seniors I know who say this is what they need help
with). Also I plan to help them sell things they dont want around the
house or help them with disposal of them. I have over 20 years
experience in air freight so selling on Ebay would be something I could
do without a problem. As far as the internet goes, some seniors use it
but older ones don`t, I mean I dont think people in their 70`s or 80`s
would use the internet, at least not the seniors that I know. But
others would, younger seniors and children of seniors. That is why I
need my own web presence,so seniors` children can check my company out
on the web whenever they want to and advise their parents.
I appreciate your comments about branding. I think also this is
something that I will want down the road but right now I really have to
just "jump in" with the basics. I will check out
"dankennedy.com" too. Thanks
so much for your good intentions and your time
jo