Make Bookmarks that will Boost Your Business
Here’s an interesting idea for marketing purposes. Create a bookmark for your business along with other promotional material. The difference here is, the bookmark will hang around inside books as page markers for quite some time. Each time the recipient opens their book – instantly your message appears in front of them. Whether they choose to read the message on the bookmark or not, your company logo and name will flash before their eyes each and every time they open their book. There is no choice, but to see it.
So what’s happened to your brochure that went with the bookmark? Who knows? Tucked in a drawer, in a file for future reference, in the trash bin? You don’t know – but the bookmark – well — chances are it is in a book!
Too bad we can’t figure out a way to create messages on web-browser bookmarks as well – there you go programmers a new project for you.
So now, you need to think about what you want your bookmarks to say while having a design that is durable and is in keeping with the job a bookmark is supposed to do. Here are a few tips:
Stock
The paper product you use should be durable. Paper doesn’t cut it here. The stock should be a fairly strong card stock. Talk to your printer – there are great card stocks available in a wide variety of colours and some even have a texture to them. Pick something that is in keeping with your business and the product and service you are promoting.
The Message
Now – what to say. First your company name and/or logo should be prominent on both sides of the bookmark. It is possible for the bookmark to be placed with the blank side up if you choose not to print the second side. While not printing the second side may save you a few pennies, it is not recommended. You will run the risk of the bookmark being used, but your information may not be read each time the person opens their book.
Next, the copy should be short and sweet – this is not the place for detailed information about your product and service. You want your message short enough that the eye can catch the key components at a glance without necessarily stopping to read the entire message. If you really feel the need to add detail, do so on the second side. The brain is an amazing thing. We can read many items without necessarily being aware that we are doing so – just because it flashes in front of us for a brief second. Make that flash work to your advantage.
Getting it Out There
Okay – so now you have a fabulous design, the bookmarks are printed and in your office. Now what? How do you get these bookmarks in the hands of your customers? If you have a retail store – the easiest will be to give them to your customers when they are at your location. This serves as a constant reminder to them about your products or services. Secondly, you might want to have them available in grab bags at tradeshows or on a table as a free giveaway. Almost everyone needs a bookmark. They will pick one up for that purpose alone – and heck – now they have your message in their face every time they open their book. You can be very creative in how the bookmarks are distributed.
If your business is geared to the general public – you could even approach a book store or your local library to see if they will allow you to have them available to their visitors. You might run in to a few conflicts with this idea – but it’s worth a try.
Good luck designing your bookmark and when you do – send us the image for us to see what you have come up with store192@theupsstore.ca
Here are more examples of excellent bookmarks that function well as marketing tools.