Marketing Communications

A company's marketing mix can be as elaborate and sophisticated, or as simple and conservative as it wants. Your marketing choice must be effective, however, or it is a waste of time and money. For example, handing out a business card is even more effective when there is a tag line or some sort of description besides the name that tells the reader what the company does. Wise use of color can further enhance the message.

A logo design will add a touch of sophistication and professionalism to your company's name and creates an identity to associate with. It helps position the brand in the mind of the customer. Put your logo proudly on your business card, Web site pages, letterhead, envelopes, and invoices. There are promotional items companies that put images of logos on items like golf balls and apparel and all sorts of items used for promoting businesses.

Every day, companies of all sizes attempt to hold the attention of their customers and prospects using different types of media. Full color printed post cards, tent cards, book marks, door hangers, greeting cards and mailers are successfully used in many of today's business-to-consumer advertising.

Print media is affordable when properly executed, and a great way to introduce prospects of your business. Your printed matter should always direct the reader to your Web site for more and current information.

A small business Web site with a limited budget can have immediate results using a campaign of printed media.

• Post cards - Mail colorful, informative post cards to targeted prospects and alert them to your business's services and products.
• Brochures - Leave information-packed brochures with your prospects and notify customers of solutions your to their needs with testimonials and other lead-generating ideas.
• Information packets - Send pamphlets, booklets, brochures and business reply cards to prospects that respond to press releases and other news feeds.

Transforming to electronic communications from print

All sales, marketing, advertising, and public relations literature can be formatted into electronic form and is arguably growing in popularity. As more people get their information from the Internet and mobile devices, the printed material is continually becoming obsolete. Electronic forms are also more cost effective because there is no printing or distribution costs associated with it. More important to the buyer (your customer) is your solution to their needs; your guidance, your expert opinion; your help. These are what will place your business at the top of the customer's mind as the authority--exactly what you want!

White papers, tips, hints, guides, bait pieces, e-books, and newsletters are popular forms of communication devices and are often offered free for the email address of the person interested in the value that is contained in each piece. This is a very efficient way of acquiring prospects who self-qualify their interests and their potential for sales of a company's products.

Corporate marketing on large scales or small can benefit best with a combination of methods that will control costs while providing the largest return on the objective. The J Howard Company has many years of experience in printing and electronic media for advertising, marketing, and public relations.

Electronic media

Compact Disks (CDs) and Digital Video Disks (DVDs) hold a vast amount of information and graphics and are easily transported to trade shows or handed out like a business card. There are many shapes available and in different sizes, adding much to a presentation that may be too elaborate to present economically in printed form.

Although expensive compared to other print media, the advantages for animation and sound greatly enhance messages and instructions that are more interactive and stimulating from a laptop or desktop computer, and the contents can be transmitted via the Internet to additional customers and prospects that need your information quickly and easily.

Social Media Marketing

Leverage the Internet and the fastest method of connecting to larger audiences. Engage customers more directly and become the authority in your market niche. Take a good look at what is required to begin and sustain a successful business social networking campaign.