Magazine Advertisements - Good Idea Or Bad Idea?

By Eric Herskowitz

Despite the many media available for marketing in this age including direct mail, television, radio, Internet, and newspapers, magazine ads are quite effective as a marketing tool. This effectiveness was gauged by subjects' ability to recall ads. The authors of this article state that, in the creative aspect, five main factors affect the effectiveness of marketing through magazines.

The ad must be: "appealing...attention-getting...communicate(s) the main message... believable... persuasive." Of the two metrics discovered, in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) area, researchers concluded that magazine readers' ability to recall an ad was based on ad quality. This was best demonstrated in the apparel category. Ads of this type were considered visually arresting. However, the most influential factor in the readers' assessment of ad quality for CPG was that which "encompasses communication/believability/ persuasiveness." Hence, magazine marketing must first attempt to be convincing and believable before trying to catch and hold a reader's attention.

Another area where magazine marketing is greatly effective is in the category of pharmaceuticals products. However, magazine ads are most effective for this area because the reader involvement is a key driver where pharma products are concerned. For pharmaceutical product ads to be most effective, it was found that the likeability of the magazine is most important. Also, subjects' having a home subscription to the magazine was shown to be unimportant, as many readers who were drawn to pharmaceutical ads noted purchasing their magazines at newsstands and often reading magazines while away from home.

Therefore, these findings showed that magazines carrying pharma ads should look to appeal to broader audiences in whose hand the magazine may fall rather than just a set subscription base. Finally, to be most effective, magazine ad campaigns should consider their choices of magazine genres and their audiences as they relate to categories of products. As well, magazine marketing should focus less on the conventional metrics that were once thought important, such as: ad placement and strategic positioning, frequency of readership, subscriber versus secondary reader base, and the publication's length. Magazine marketing should consider newer metrics, two of which are those mentioned above - ad quality and reader engagement.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Herskowitz

Always Provide a Focus For Your Adverts

By Alice Elliott

At my first networking meeting for a month I met an interesting lady who taught golf, at home as well as at the golf course.

I asked her how she marketed her business. (It's wise to do that to see if they know what they are talking about - there's nothing worse than trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs.) She mentioned that she did do advertising in magazines in the past, but had given it up because it was a waste of money.

Probing a little further I found out that the magazines that fared the worst were the national golfing magazines, whereas the adverts that did achieve a result were from the monthlies that are pushed through letterboxes. I asked her what did the ads say, and found that the contents was generally publicising the business and what it offered to customers.

I asked her if her ads had a purpose, an aim or an end goal. I explained that general adverts weren't going to do as well as ones with a focus, something that led towards an event, a special course or whatever, and that there should also be an incentive, like 10% off when you present this advert or coupon, and a time to achieve this by, for example the actual day of the event or advance bookings to get 5 pounds off the price.

Three simple things to include in your advertising: a purpose, an incentive and a time to achieve it by. General ads don't grab the customers' attention, don't play with their wants or needs, don't pander to their greed, and don't command an action to 'get something for nothing' by a certain date. Think about these phenomena the next time you write your ads or leaflets...

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Alice Designs offers graphic design with a marketing twist. We specialise in makeovers of your marketing material to make your message matter, in other words, your promotional literature not only looks good, it gets you business as well.

We do this by marrying design and marketing together to maximise your promotion. This includes analysing the customer's problems, finding solutions, exploring the publication's purpose, aiming for high visual impact that initiates a response, and combining off and on-line methods for immediate response or improved relationships eventually culminating in sales.

If you liked what you've read and want to know more, visit our website http://www.alice-designs.co.uk and our blog http://alicedesigns.wordpress.com and join up to our e-newsletter 'Clear to Go' - details on our website - to learn more about combining design with marketing and keep one step ahead of your competitors.

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12x18 Magnetic Signs - Ways to Grab Attention

By Viktoria Carella

Memorable signs are those that grab reader's attention. These signs are generally memorable because of what they say or the graphics or colors that are utilized. When individuals post signs they want them to be seen by the public so it is important for individuals to design signs that will be remembered. Signs should be different and able to be distinguished from the crowd in order to get maximum attention.

The size of the sign is important. 12x18 magnetic signs are a good size but it is important that owners do not overcrowd the sign. In other wards it is important not to put too much information on the sign. This ensures that interested consumers will be able to easily read the information. Signs that are too cluttered make it hard for individuals to adequately read the information and when this happens many consumers won't even bother with trying to continue to read the sign. Individuals like signs that are easy to read and can be read by just glancing at them. If individuals are driving or riding by in a car the sign needs to be able to be read right away because they will not have time to try and decode the message. Signs are for the public to read so it does not make sense to have an unreadable sign.

The color of 12x18 magnetic signs is also important. Owners must make sure that the colors do not overshadow the words. If the color is too bright or dark the wording may not appear clearly. However colorful signs do draw lots of great attention so it is important to take advantage of beautiful color schemes when designing any type of sign. Some people prefer to use multiple colors and when used together properly, the sign can be really appealing. It is important to appeal to the audience and use phrases or other designs that will draw the most attention.

If the sign is about an upcoming concert, it might be a good idea to use pictures of the celebrities in order to get people excited about attending the event. Some of the best 12x18 magnetic signs give people information or talk about important issues. These signs are always beneficial because people enjoy reading interesting facts, quotes or even a humorous quote. Magnetic signs can be used in a variety of ways to grab the public's attention and keep the audience entertained.

Visit Esigns.com for more information and to order your 12X18 magnetic signs and start getting the attention you want today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Viktoria_Carella

Clever Packaging - Products and Services

By Bernadette Stevens

Packaging your products and services will allow you to sell a lot more, increase average transaction value, and leave your customers satisfied knowing that they got better value for money.

Companies will package their products in a number of different ways. Let's take a look at a few examples:
1. A dog training company that offers to extend your training programme by ten days for the price of five.
2. Fast-food restaurant meal deals. Buy a Big Mac, get fries and a coke for an extra dollar-thirty. (If you had bought separately, you'd be looking at a two-dollar expense increase.
3. Holiday packages that are all-inclusive, offering you massive savings and a lot of headaches, eliminating planning and preparation time. You may get meals, airfares, tours and transport cards and food and, of course, hotel or resort stay.
4. Time-specific prices. A restaurant may offer cheaper deals before 6PM to encourage more people to eat during less-crowded times.

Packaging is important because it creates customer value, and is practically an instant sales bump that is landed on by the customer. It's great for starting to move the lower-traffic products and services by attaching them to the popular ones at special prices. Similarly, you could package brand new products at discount rates, enabling you to get a lot out there without advertising or marketing by other methods.

It will be useful to gather customer opinion after the point of use to help improve the product before pushing it on a bigger scale.

A good packaging deal removes hassle and gives the customer choice, ideally eliminating any potential issues the customer may have before they arise.

The author runs several webpages, including the baby crib website, where you can find info and special deals on travel cots.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernadette_Stevens

Rhyming Advertising Slogans

By Susan Purcell

"Don't be vague, ask for Haig" (a brand of Scotch whisky). "Don't just book it, Thomas Cook it" (Thomas Cook is a travel company). "Nothing sucks like an Electrolux" (vacuum cleaner). Those advertising slogans have endured, and one of the reasons that they are so memorable is that they rhyme.

After all, we use rhymes to help children learn: "One, two, buckle my shoe, Three, four, knock at the door." We know that children will want to sing along, and to repeat the rhyme because it's fun. As a result, they remember numbers much more easily.

A study carried out by two psychologists from Lafayette College a few years ago found that adults, too, respond well to rhymes. The researchers read out two short phrases that were identical in meaning, but one of them rhymed and the other didn't. The phrases included "Woes unite foes" and "Woes unite enemies" and "What sobriety conceals, alcohol reveals" and "What sobriety conceals, alcohol unmasks." Respondents judged the rhyming aphorism to be more accurate than the non-rhyming version (even though both versions meant the same thing).

The psychologists concluded that the ease with which people are able to process information plays a large role in their ability to trust that information. The mind accepts rhyming phrases more quickly and thus we feel more comfortable with them. We certainly remember rhymes, even those we learned years ago. When you are unsure how to spell a word you may say to yourself "I before E except after C." When you wonder what the weather will be like tomorrow, you might recite "Red sky at night, shepherds' delight; Red sky in the morning, sailors' warning."

If you haven't yet chosen a business strapline or advertising slogan, it might be worth checking in a rhyming dictionary (you'll find several online). It's not the spelling of the word that matters, but the sound, as in 'vague' and 'Haig', 'sucks' and 'lux' above. The stress of the word is important too; 'widget' and 'forget' don't rhyme because the first syllable is stressed in 'widget', while it's the second syllable of 'forget' that carries the stress. Don't forget to take account of the pronunciation of your customers when choosing a strapline or slogan. To paraphrase Fred Astaire, it just doesn't work when "You say tom-ah-to, and they say tom-eh-to."

For more free information on words in business and brand names, please go to Susan Purcell's site, http://winningnames.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Purcell

Elements of a Professional Looking Custom Folder

By Colleen Davis

Want to make custom folders that look like they were made by professionals? Well then, we have the best tips for you on how to make your folder printing look like they were made by the experts. We will share with you the usual elements of a professional looking custom folder and how you can apply them to your own. So try and read on below and learn.

Proper use of color - Color choice is an important aspect in folder printing. Most professionals will use simple colors for their custom folders, while a typical amateur will choose vibrantly loud ones. So take a mental note of this when you do choose the dominant color of your custom folders. Try to keep off on the bright yellows, blues, greens or pinks. Especially for corporate custom folders, light pastel colors or neutral colors like white, or gray will usually work. Never use anything too dramatic as well like black or red unless it is actually needed for the project. As long as you keep the color simple your custom folder should look very professional.

Professional looking images - Beyond color, we go to images. All professional custom folders will usually use very high resolution images for their designs. This keeps the images very clear and without any hint of pixels. Moreover, the images must usually done with taste. Run of the mill clip-arts will not do. You have to use professional photographs that have good lighting effects and color balance. As long as your images look crisp and clear with a hint of a guiding style, you should be able to pull off that professional looking custom folder easily.

Functional and Aesthetic designs - Also, all professional folders will always aim for a functional and aesthetic design. A good balance of both is the key to a successful custom folder. All the design elements as well as slits and pockets must be in their proper places while other layout components should be placed around them to make the design look beautiful. Never sacrifice one for the other, so that you can have a more professional looking folder at the end.

High grade folder paper - Finally, one big secret that all professional folders have is their professional high grade paper. That shiny-shimmery look that professional folders usually have comes from the special coatings in their folder paper. People like the elegance and subtle beauty of it that is why all professionals use to for impact. You can try this out on your own folder printing as well to ensure that it looks professional.

That should cover most of the basic elements in professional folder printing. Use this on your own custom folders and you may be able to see them in a more professional looking light. Good Luck!

For more information, you can visit this page on custom folders Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Davis

Get Paid For Driving Your Car - Some People Make Up to $3000 Per Month From Car Advertising!

I'm sure you have already seen lots of cars wrapped in advertisement. This method is called car advertising and has been used for decades by companies that want to get more exposure for their products or services. Companies such as Kraft Foods, Nikon, TCF Bank, Yahoo, USA Networks, Coca Cola, Proctor & Gamble, JM Smuckers, Papa Johns, Jiffy Lube, Nabisco and many more are willing to pay you to promote their products.

An ad with a company's service or product, can be seen by a whole city just because of one car. This means huge exposure for only a small amount of money.

Of course there are some requirements: you need to be more than 18 years old, you need to drive at least a minimum amount of miles per month (about 200-300), you must own a driving license and if something goes wrong, like if your vehicle get damaged or if the ad becomes deteriorated, you will be obliged to report it to the company.

Other than that you can continue to drive your vehicle as you usually do and get paid up to $800 per month.
More specifically the amount of money you can make depends on many things, like:

• The size of your vehicle: truck drivers can get up to $3000 per month, but in case you have a regular car you can expect to make $600-$800 monthly.
• The size of the advertisement: you can earn more if you choose an ad that covers the three quarters of your vehicle.
• The average distance you drive every month.
• The size of the city you live in.
• Your driving patterns and lifestyle.

Keep in mind that if you are willing to attend special events or hand out brochures or samples, you can get more money.

The good thing about this deal is that owning a vehicle is optional. In many cases these companies can give away free cars, already wrapped in advertisements.

Just make sure to avoid scam websites that make wild promises. It would be a good idea to sign up with a respectable agency that can help you locate the best deals.

If you truly want to GET PAID FOR DRIVING and want to avoid all the scams out there, just Click Here to find out everything there is to know about car advertising!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_M._Watson