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Looking Like a Pro |
Written by Andrew Michaels
Thursday, 22 May 2008
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You only have to open your local newspaper or open your mailbox to find examples of both poor and excellent advertising design. Sometimes it isn't always clear what separates the two, though, and many startup entrepreneurs end up with ineffective ads as a result. We all need a little help getting started sometimes. Below are a few tips to help guide you along your way to creating attractive and powerful print ads that can help establish your company‘s image. Don't crowd out your message - One of the most common mistakes of those with little marketing experience is overcrowding. You have limited space in you ad to convey your message and there is a tendency to try to "make it all fit." Certainly, you can fit a couple of paragraphs worth of text into an ad if you make the font small enough, but ask yourself if your customers are going to take the time to read it all. Simply, they aren't. Keep it short and concise, instead. Lead with a strong headline and follow up with an offer or highlight the benefits of your product. Clean and Neat - Similar to the previous point. Make sure your imagery is professional and uncluttered. Many first time advertisers have a hard time getting past the notion that every bit of empty space has to be filled with something. You are going for eye catching, not distracting, though. If you are advertising a flower shop, the floral boarder can work for you, but if you are selling used cars, you might want to forgo that floral design, no matter how badly you want to fill that open space. Create Flow - In the Western world people read from left to right and top to bottom. This is important to keep in mind when designing your ad. Use your headline to lead your customer's eyes to your imagery and use your imagery to lead to the body of your ad and your product offerings. Make It Pop - A flat, colorless ad isn't going to grab anyone's attention. Complimenting and contrasting colors should be used thoughtfully to reinforce your message and make your ad stand out. Try to keep in mind the mental effects of colors so you can utilize them effectively. For instance, there is a reason that reds, whites and yellows are used in traffic signs. They catch the eye and people pay attention to them. These printing tips can help you sidestep some of the common mistakes of novice marketers and lay the groundwork for designing a successful marketing campaign. Just because you are new to the advertising game doesn't mean you have to look it. " Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
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