Ideas for Using Graphic Design for Marketing

Graphic design is much more than fine art. It is a way to communicate ideas through visual and textual content. If a design is catchy, clear, and memorable, it can be very effective in communicating to an audience. For this reason, graphic design can be a very useful tool in business marketing. There are lots of ways that design can be applied to marketing efforts, and below are several ideas to get you started.

A Website for your Business

One of the most useful ways to use design to your business’ benefit is to have a great website built. Phone books are practically a thing of the past, and most people use the internet to search for businesses. For this reason, it’s important to have a website so potential customers can find you on the internet. Many people will search for information about businesses on the internet before even considering using their products or services, so a website may be your business’ first and only chance to make a good impression. Your business website should be aesthetically pleasing as well as providing the information clients need so that it leaves a lasting impression on site visitors. The website should also be well optimized so that it ranks well in search engines, making it more likely that people will find your website. A website that has a professional design should make effective use of typography, color schemes, layout and navigation. Your website can either build your credibility as a business, or reflect badly on the company, if it’s not well designed, so hiring a professional web designer to build your website is an optimal choice.

Business Cards

No matter where you go in a day, it’s always a good idea to carry business cards with you. An opportunity may arise for you to give your business card to a potential client, or you might want to leave one on a bulletin board in a local business store. If you want your business card to benefit you the most, it should be well designed and memorable so people will remember you and your business. Handing out a business card to a potential client is one of the most personal forms of marketing that you can use. Not only should your card look great, but you should also present yourself as professional and friendly. A combination of professional business cards and an elevator speech make a great first impression and are an excellent way to market your business. Business cards are also relatively inexpensive to have designed and printed, so they are an efficient form of marketing.

Brochures and Flyers

If you want an easy way to give people information about your business, a brochure or flyer may be a good way to do so. Of course, the flyer or brochure will be more effective with a good design. You should also be conscious of how you lay out information so as to not overcrowd the document with text. If your brochure or flyer is eye-catching and filled with quality content, people may choose to hold onto it so they will remember to use your products/services in the future.

Signs and Banners

There are lots of ways that signs and banners could be used for marketing efforts. You could create car decal signs, posters, lawn signs, or even billboard signs if you want to go big. The possibilities are endless. The main objective of having business signage designed should be to get word out about your business. If you want people to notice your signage, it should be eye-catching and professional.

Newsletters

Print or email newsletters are an effective way to communicate your latest news to clients. Having good content and an appealing design for your newsletters can be a nice reminder of why people choose to use your company’s products or services. There are different benefits to print and email newsletters, but it is a good idea to use one or the other. Approximately three times more people use email accounts than social media accounts, so email newsletters can be a good way to reach many people. E-newsletters are also a very cost effective marketing method, making them a good choice if you plan to frequently send out newsletters. More people are likely to read and hold onto a print newsletter, and they have a higher average return rate, but the cost of printing is more than the cost of distributing an email newsletter. Regardless of which method your company chooses to use, the newsletter should be professional looking with quality content if you want the newsletter to result in returns.

Advertisements

Advertisements come in many forms and sizes, ranging from billboards to newspaper advertisements. If designed well, advertisements can go a long way in promoting your business. Most often, there is some investing that goes into publishing advertisements, but you can find advertising spaces for a small cost. Even social media websites have affordable advertising space to use. An effective way to advertise is to promote special deals on your company’s products and services. You could do this by promoting on social media, having newspaper ads run, or a number of other ways. The main point of advertising should be to give your clients an incentive to use your products and services.

A Memorable Logo

One of the most important graphic design services that you can invest in is a great logo. A business logo usually appears on all things related to a business, such as the company website and business cards. Because it appears everywhere, and because it represents the business image, it should be memorable and relevant. If you already have a logo, you should analyze it to see if it is sending the right message about your business, and if it is appealing. If not, you may want to have a logo professionally designed.

There are many ways to apply graphic design to marketing efforts, and the above ideas are just some of the most common. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the designs should be professional, memorable, and appealing. Feel free to contact us if you want to discuss your design needs.