Trade Show Handout - The Perfect Trade Show Marketing Tool

If you are a professional in your field and are striking out into the industry by attending a trade show, you will of course need to be ready with tons of trade show marketing materials and trade show ideas. The Mini Brochure as a trade show handout makes your business resonate with interested parties. They are the leader in your arsenal of print material that echoes your business name, service and product.

Trade Show Handouts Make Better SWAG Friends

Businesses at trade shows are notorious for deploying SWAG to passersby in an effort to entice and advertise their service. The Mini Brochure adds more to the giveaway concept. It gives more info and more persuasive power over some simple giveaway item.

The Mini Brochure capitalizes on a small brochure design that is printed in such a way to put a lot of information in a small wallet brochure size. You can attach these to your schwag item of choice, or simply have them as a handout after talking to customers who stop by the booth. You don’t have to overload them with lots of literature. The Mini Brochure trade show handout can have all of the selling points in short order, and in full color print.

There is no question about it – if you want to build a successful business, you have to be a “people person.” 

And what better place to meet people than at social events!

Social events often time provide business owners (and employees) with their best opportunities to market the company.   People like to talk about what they do for a living, and they like hearing about what you do.  If the person or people you are talking to at the event can’t use your products or services, they usually know someone who can!

This is where the Mini Brochure takes over!

The Mini Brochure is a pocket sized brochure that contains all of the information that a potential client needs to know about your company!

And because of its convenient size, the Mini Brochure can be taken and used to market or network your business anywhere, anytime!  

If your Mini Brochure is being used as a referral source for a potential client you have yet to meet, you don’t have to worry about being there to explain why he or she needs your product – the Mini Brochure will do it for you!

In the colorfully attractive pages of your Mini Brochure, your future client will learn everything he or she needs to know about you, your company, your products and services, your location, and how to reach you.

The best thing about the Mini Brochure is that it uses less paper and ink, making it not only environmentally friendly - it’s convenient size also saves you and your client time, space, and money! 

 With the Mini Brochure, you no longer need to be afraid to aggressively market you business and/or solicit referrals.  With a Mini Brochure in hand, you can be bold, brave, and confident that you will make a great first impression with potential clients, and that your business will continue to prosper and grow!

So go out and market your business – and when it comes to using the Mini-Brochure, don’t be afraid to let it do the work for you!

By Julian Wilson

     A properly planned and perfectly designed Mini Brochure will work wonders for your company when it comes to marketing and networking your products and services – so it is essential that you know what you need to make your Mini Brochure complete.

Here are five issues to consider when planning and designing your Mini Brochure:

1.      Know how your Mini Brochure will work
The objective of your Mini Brochure is to sell your products and services. The way you choose to write your brochure will determine how it works.  Your brochure should be versatile, providing you with the ability to use it for more than one purpose.                                                                                                                                             When talking to potential customers, you need the type of Mini Brochure that you can leave with them.   Your brochure also needs to be functional so that you have the ability to use it to respond to inquiries, engage in direct sales, place in direct mail, and use for sales support.

2.      Does your Mini Brochure stand on its own?                                                                                      Most companies use their Mini Brochure in conjunction with other types of advertising such as print ads or television commercials.  You must keep in mind when writing your Mini Brochure that the content will be determined by the type of advertising campaign you have chosen for your company.  

3.      Understand your target audience                                                                                                    Know the needs of your audience and design your Mini Brochure accordingly.  It is imperative that you know what your potential customers want to purchase, and you need to be able to illustrate to them that you and your company can fulfill their needs.       

4.      Outline key selling points                                                                                                                          Your Mini Brochure is a book; it tells the story of what your company has to offer.  If your Mini Brochure is designed correctly, your customers will read it from front to back.  Every page should highlight a point that tells your customers why they need and should buy your product(s).   

5.      Make sure your Mini Brochure is accurate and complete                                                                    Be sure you have gathered all of the information on your company that you want your (potential) customers to know.  Show them that you have a thorough knowledge of the products and services you provide, and be sure to direct your customers to your location by providing phone numbers, websites, e-mail addresses, and maps.      

And don’t forget, when it comes to your company, it’s about making sales – not a history lesson, so don’t load the pages of your Mini Brochure with information of “passed times.”                                                 

The purpose of the Mini Brochure is to separate you and your company from the rest of the competition.  Having Mini Brochures on hand will make the difference in whether you get the sales or if you lose out to your competition.

By Julian Wilson

Effective and profitable marketing involves the use of a combination of viable strategies to attract, secure, and retain customers.  Internet marketing has proven in recent years to be one of the most effective tools for showcasing businesses, but unfortunately there are thousands of prospective customers who practice extreme caution when shopping online, and without hesitation, each will decline to make purchases from unknown vendors.  For this reason alone, every online business must have some sort of printed sales literature, such as a Mini Brochure, to distribute to potential customers and future prospects.  Some additional reasons why online businesses need the Mini Brochure:

Integrity/Credibility – Most people expect businesses or companies to have some sort of printed sales literature.  Not everyone walks around with the Internet in their pocket, so if you refer a potential customer to your website (via a business card), that person may or may not follow up at a later time to examine your business.  People need to know that you are serious about your business, and nothing says that more than a Mini Brochure.

Convenience – Mini Brochures add an elegantly professional dimension to your business; a dimension that you can place right in the palm of a potential customer’s hand – allowing them the flexibility to review your business at their leisure.  Your Mini Brochure will outline your list of products and services, and explain why they should by from you.  The Mini Brochure also supplements other forms of advertising such as business cards or flyers, and provides your customers with a complete picture of your company in a handy, attractive pocket-sized brochure. 

Here are some tips on writing a clear, concise, and informative brochure that will enhance your marketing efforts and increase your business.

Know your audience
     It is important to know what your customers and future prospects want, so your Mini Brochure must be written from their point of view and follow an order that answers their common questions.  The easiest way to do this is to thoroughly analyze your business and write down all of the questions that a potential customer might ask.  After writing down all of the questions, you need to make sure that each question has an answer that supports your business, promotes your products, and informs your customers.    

Create an attractive cover
     If the cover is not eye-catching, chances are that your potential customer will look any further into your brochure or your business.  Do not use your cover for technical information.  Instead, use the cover to excite and motivate your customers.  Your company and product should be clearly displayed on the cover of your Mini Brochure, and don’t be afraid to add a splash of information that will direct your customers to open the brochure; information such as “look inside for discounts/coupons” or “free gift inside.”

Clearly describe your products
     There could be more than one benefit to your products, and there is always the chance that the purchaser of your product will not be the user, so it is important to fully describe your products.  To best describe your products, create a list of facts and features about each product, and add the phrase (“which means that,” or “making it”) after each fact or feature.  A good example of this would be, “The vehicle is constructed with the latest seat belt and airbag technology making it a safer vehicle for your family,” or “The new roof is coated with the best fiber-sealant which means that your home will be completely protected from the damage caused by leaks.”

Provide helpful hints
     Place hints in your Mini Brochure whenever possible to help encourage your customers to not only keep your brochure, but to pass it on to their family and friends.   Hints also enhance your credibility as a professional, and they heighten the confidence of your customers in you, your expertise, your business, and your products.

Get up-close and personal
     Most customers like attention – personal attention.  Your Mini Brochure should speak directly to their wants and needs, making them feel as though they are your only (and best) customer.  Writing a brochure that directly speaks to your customers is sure to increase your business.   Also, write your Mini Brochure to make your customer feel at home by adding a line or two about how your product will be the answer to what they need in their life.

Keep it simple
     The object of the Mini Brochure is to sell your product.  Organize your products so that they are easy for your customers to find.  Don’t spend a lot of time (or take up too much space) on your brochure by talking about you and the history of your company.  If a potential customer is looking at your brochure, he or she is most likely looking for a reason to buy your product, so don’t sell your product with history - sell your product by talking about your product! 

Include response/contact information
     Direct your customers to call you, e-mail you, write you, or stop by to see you.  Give your customers the option on how they stay in contact with your business.  Include toll-free numbers in your Mini Brochure when possible.  Place this information (your business name phone number, your e-mail address, and your physical address) in plain view of your customers so that the information is easy to find.

     Incorporating these tips into the development of your Mini Brochure will guarantee that your brochure will attract more customers, enhance your ability to market and network your products, and significantly increase your business. 

By Julian Wilson

The Mini Brochure (also known as the “Pocket Brochure”), a multi-fold brochure about the size of a business card, has proven time and time again that it is one of the most effective marketing tools you can have at your disposal when it comes to networking and promoting your business. 

But that’s not the good news!

The good news about The Mini Brochure is that it can be used for more than just promoting your business!  The Mini Brochure can be used to promote anything – concerts, special events, weddings, parties, announcements, you name it – the Mini Brochure can promote it!   

Individuals, groups and organizations have used The Mini Brochure to advertise everything from graduations to sport schedules, providing all in attendance with a handy pocket-sized reference guide to stay informed, and an attractive keepsake to take home at the conclusion of the event.   

So if you really want to make a hit at your next party or special event, promote the occasion with a colorful, attractive and informative Mini Brochure! 

Trust me – you’ll be glad you did!   

The history of business cards and their use can be traced all the way back to the 15^th Century, when business cards were known as “visitor or trading cards.” 

Today, if you own a business, you can’t be caught anywhere without a healthy stack of your business cards.  You should always be prepared to present you and your business to anyone you meet, and business cards have proven over the years to be the fastest, easiest, and most convenient method for marketing and distributing your contact information to others. 

Brochures are also a very popular means of disseminating information about your business.  Brochures (when designed properly) look great, are inexpensive, and have proven to be extremely effective in spreading information about your business.  Brochures allow you to present your ideas, your visions, and most importantly - the mission of your business.  

The addition of colors and graphics to your brochure not only work to enhance its appearance - they also set your brochure (and business) apart from the competition.

Most companies use business cards and brochures for marketing their products and services, but both (though effective tools) have limitations.

Business cards are convenient and easy to disseminate, but unfortunately only hold a limited amount of information.  Brochures, on the other hand, are much larger, attractive, easy to read, and contain all of the information you choose to publish about your business.  Unfortunately, the downside to the brochure is that it is large; it takes up three to four times as much space as a business card, and is not as convenient to carry.

But there is good news!  A tool has been developed that combines the best of what business cards and brochures have to offer (and cuts your printing cost literally in half)!  

It is known as The Mini Brochure!

The Mini Menu (also known as the Pocket Size Menu) is a handy, practical marketing tool that is easy to distribute, and easy to use.  When used properly, the Mini Menu will not only attract more customers to your restaurant, it will also significantly increase your first-time as well as repeat business.  Listed below are some strategies you can implement to maximize the use of your Mini Menu.

1.       Properly display your Mini Menu.

        Place Mini Menus at the host counter, the bar, in the waiting area, and in your restrooms.  Through this strategic placement, you’ll find that most of your customers will hardly be able to resist picking up one of the attractive Pocket Brochures.  Through use of the Mini Menu in your restaurant, your customers (old and new) will have easy access to your product line, and your brand will conveniently be on display for all to see.  

2.       Insert Mini Menu into your check presenter.

        Check presenters are the perfect place to insert your Mini Menu!  Statistics show that 25% of restaurant customers take the Mini Menus with them when paying the check.

3.       Include a Mini Menu with every gift certificate.

        If someone receives a gift certificate to your restaurant, with a Mini Menu in hand, this potentially new customers will know your exact location, the food you serve, and the cost, all at their fingertips!

4.       Place Mini Menus in take-out bags!

         Another perfect place to insert your Mini Menu.  Allows for the additional marketing and distribution

        of your brand, and guarantees repeat business!

5.       Distribute to local hotels and motels.

        Hotels and motels pride themselves in being able to provide their customers with access to great restaurants, providing you with the perfect networking opportunity.  Distribute and display your Mini Menu at local hotels and motels, and take advantage of the access you have to their business.

 6.    Hand out Mini Menus at your catering and/or social events.

        Mini Menus are a terrific conversation piece (and an excellent way to promote your restaurant),  so be sure to take plenty of your Mini Menus to catering and social events.  These events provide you with additional opportunities to market and network your business, so take advantage of it!

This is where the Mini Menu comes in!

The Mini Menu is a conveniently packaged pocket-sized menu that allows you to advertise and promote your restaurant anywhere, anytime!  Some of the advantages of the Mini Menu include:

• It provides customers with a pocket-sized reference to your restaurant
• It is attractive and easy to read
• It is a complete menu featuring your signature dishes as well as take-out
• It helps to secure and maintain repeat business

You have probably tried a number of other traditional marketing and networking strategies to stimulate more traffic and increase your sales, but with the Mini Menu in hand, your days of solely relying on flyers, coupons, newspaper ads and sign shakers will be eliminated!  Mini Menus go where your customers go, providing them with easy access to your restaurant anytime, anywhere!

Keep in mind when creating the outline for your Mini Menu that it should contain nothing but premium information.  Your customers need to know why your restaurant is the best place to dine.  When people are hungry, they don’t always want to read about how long you have been in business – they want to eat!  So instead of taking up space with history, fill your Mini Menu with flavorful, appetizing meals that will melt in your customers’ mouths, and be sure to list all of the tasty ingredients that go into your creations.  Fill the remaining space on your Mini Menu with the address, phone number, and a map to your location (you can usually download a map from Mapquest or Google online). 

Be sure to properly display your Mini Menu in your restaurant on open counters, bars, and at the cash register.  When your customer doesn’t finish his or her meal, place a Mini Menu in their to-go bag, and always be sure to place Mini Menus in the bags of your take-out customers.  Mini Menus are so convenient, you can even place them in the bathroom stalls!

With the right marketing and networking strategy in place to fit the needs of your establishment, the Mini Menu will go a long way toward promoting your restaurant, and increasing your business.

By Julian Wilson

By Julian Wilson    

The process of marketing your business is probably the most important aspect of your journey to building and maintaining a successful business – and no marketing strategy can be complete without a solid plan for networking. 

That’s where the Mini Brochure comes in! 

The Mini Brochure (also known as the Pocket Brochure) is the “complete business card,” filled with information on who you are, what you do, where you’re located, and what services and/or products you offer.  More importantly, the Mini Brochure demonstrates to your potential clients how serious you are about marketing and networking your business.    

 

Mini Brochures are compact, concise, and convenient, eliminating the need to carry stacks and stacks of flyers, conventional brochures, and business cards, and they reduce the cost (by reducing the amount of paper) that is customarily associated with promoting your business.  Mini Brochures go where you go, providing you with the opportunity to market and network your business anytime – anywhere!  

 

With a Mini Brochure in hand, you can separate yourself from the competition, and let people know that you are open for business!  Listed below are some tips you should consider when using the Mini Brochure – tips that will increase your chances of developing solid business opportunities. 

 

1.       Keep Mini Brochures with you at all times

Don’t leave home without them!  Every person you meet represents a potential future client and a

marketing opportunity, so make it a habit to carry them. 

 

2.       Insert Mini Brochures in your mail-outs                                                                                                     

        Want to guarantee repeat business?  Place Mini Brochures in your mailers, or drop them in your customer’s bags as they leave your store or restaurant. This will provide you with an additional opportunity to advertise products or services that your customers may not be aware of.

 

3.       Use proper protocol when networking

Do not forget to ask potential business partners or clients for their business information when handing out Mini Brochures.  When you receive the information, take a moment to review it.  This gives your potential client a good feeling about the contact, and it gives you an additional opportunity to talk more about what the Mini Brochure is doing for your business. Showing interest in another person’s business increases the potential for future follow-up contact.  

 

 

4.       Give Mini Brochures to family and friends

Family and friends need services too, so don’t hesitate to provide them with copies of your Mini Brochures.  Family and friends can be great sources for referrals, so be liberal when handing them out.

 

5.       Ask for referrals

Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals.  If a person becomes interested in your products or services after receiving one of your Mini Brochures, you can almost bet that they know at least one other person that can use your products.  

 

6.       Use Mini Brochures at social events

Social events provide you with the perfect opportunity to market your business, and many people attend social events to meet others who have products and/or services to offer, so don’t be shy and make sure to keep your Mini Brochures handy.

7.       Properly display and promote your Mini Brochures                                                                        

        Place Mini Brochures at check-out counters, lounge areas, waiting rooms, or any area inside your business where the public has access.  Mini Brochures are attractive and easy to grab, so be sure to keep an ample supply on hand at your business.