Las Vegas Graphic Design, Printing & Marketing Blog

I came across a discussion about business card printing: how and where to print high quality business cards. People were suggesting local Las Vegas business card printing sources as well as online companies. Some suggestions just made me laugh: one “business owner” suggested to use desktop HP printer to print business cards! Here are some main points

1. Everyone has their own opinion on “good quality business card”.
As I saw, some people are actually happy with printing their business cards on a desktop printer. I don’t think any business can be taken as a serious product/service provider with “home made” business cards. Ask to show a sample of the actual business card before using your friend’s referral.

2. Look at the exact printing specifications of the business card, not words like “thick stock”.
12PT, 14PT, 16PT (the nicest, thickest one). For example, 100LB gloss stock is thick, but not thick enough to make a presentable business card. Go with at least 14PT. For textured business cards to with at least 100LB cover stock. Card should have “bleed”, which means that the color can extend to the end of the card. Cards with white border

3. Gloss coating is not what it used to be.
It is used on everything and everywhere. As a result, your business card with UV coating doesn’t stand out anymore. I strongly suggest to my customers NOT to UV coat their business cards. There are many options: silk laminated, matte coated (business card with a satin feel), spot UV coated business cards (only parts of the card are glossy). My customers are always happier with these choices rather than UV.

4. Be careful with on-line business card printing
Unless you are completely positive about your artwork setup (bleeds, color mode, exact size, safe area, it is always better to have it printed through a company, at which someone will notify you if your art is not properly setup BEFORE printing it. Too many times we receive “print ready” files only to find that they do not meet business card printing requirements. If the system is completely automated, your cards may arrive with the text cut off (improper file size) or faded colors (wrong color mode).

Pro-File Marketing offers 1, 2, 3, or full color business cards on a wide variety of stocks: 14PT, 16PT, linen, laid, flat or raised ink business cards with square or rounded corners, including folded business cards. Contact us if you are looking to have a professionally designed and printed business cards in Las Vegas: (702) 233-6939

Like any business owner, you want your company to be very successful. You work very hard on increasing your clientele base through offering great services and/or outstanding products. But what if you just can’t break the barrier of reaching out to the masses? What does it take to let your target audience know about your products and services? You’ve heard of online marketing, but not sure what that includes and where to start.

There are some very simple things you can do yourself to bring your company up to the level of your biggest competitor.

1. GET A WEBSITE
First of all, marketing your business online becomes difficult if you don’t have a website. So, get one. It doesn’t have to be very complicated, but rather informative. Provide as much information about your company, products, and services as possible. Things that seem obvious to you, can be very helpful to your customers. Write about yourself, your company, list products and services you offer. Include answers to Frequently Asked Questions, describe your return policy, shipping methods, terms of service, testimonials, hours of operation and location of your business. This kind of information along with great photos will make your website work for you 24/7, even when your office is closed.

While the website can be simple, it doesn’t mean it can be unprofessional. Don’t let your friend’s cousin talk you into designing your website (unless this is his/her vocation, of course). A professional website design can make or break the deal. This will be the first representation of you and your business, so make that first impression a good one.

2. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Is your website effective? It is hard for an average user to tell without a knowledge of what to look for. Beautiful websites are not always effective as you may think. It has a lot to do with the content (what you see on the web page) and the code (what you cannot see, but makes the page appear the way it is). Las Vegas Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a service, in which professional analyzes the content and the code of each page and then adjusts it to uncover website’s best potential.

3. PAY PER CLICK ADVERTISING
If you use Google, Yahoo, or Bing search engines, you have seen Sponsored Links on the top and/or on the right side of the page. Those are Pay Per Click advertisement links, which cost you nothing unless someone clicks on it. More about Pay Per Click Campaign Why Use Pay Per Click Advertising.

4. ONLINE DIRECTORIES
List your business in online directories. Provide as much information as possible, and don’t forget a link to your website. Read more on Listing Your Business in Online Directories.

5. SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES
That’s right, social networking is not just for kids anymore. You’ve heard of them: mySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and hundreds of other ones: for personal and business use (websites like LinkedIn).
Once again, provide the most complete information about your business along with photos, phone numbers, and link to your website.
Here are the most popular sites:
LinkedIn
XING
ZIGGS
Ryze
Read the article on 50 Social sites for Businesses

6. GOOGLE MAP
You have probably came across the map on top of Google search results page. If you have ever used it, you know the convenience of choosing the business by its location. Need a flower shop? Type it in Google along with your ZIP code, and you’ll have a map of the flower shops nearby. Chances are, that’s where you will go, not to the shop that is 20 miles away. Create a business listing, if you don’t have one. Read How to create a business listing on Google Maps.

7. CRAIGSLIST ADS
Don’t just slap it together. Create a professional listing for your products and services. Your ad and its title must be descriptive, while the content should include photos and links to your website. You can use graphic design services to make it appear like a webpage, which is more appealing than a plain text.
Craigslist

8. eNEWSLETTER
To keep in contact with your customers, send out a regular electronic newsletter. It is a personal and very effective form of online marketing. The eNewsletter can be as simple as a couple of paragraphs and a coupon, or more sophisticated one with useful information, seasonal reminders, announcements and special offers. Start collecting your customers’ contact information, if you have not done so yet.

There are many aspects to online marketing. It cannot be done and forgotten: it is an ongoing process. Utilizing different online marketing tools in coordination will help your business gain more exposure and in return increase your revenues.

f you need professional assistance with setting up any of the above marketing tools, please contact Pro-File Marketing at 702.233.6939 or e-mail contact@pro-filemarketing.com

You have probably come across the map on top of Google search results page. If you have ever used it, you know the convenience of choosing the business by its location. Need a flower shop? Type it in Google along with your ZIP code, and you’ll have a map of the flower shops nearby. Chances are, that’s where you will go, not to the shop that is 20 miles away. Create a business listing, if you don’t have one. This will almost immediately create a positive effect on your online marketing strategy.

To make sure your business appear on the Google map under your product/service category, you must first find out whether or not you already have a listing. Go to Google Maps and type in your business name, city, and a ZIP code.

1. Your Business Appears On Google Map.
If your business listing appears on the map, that’s great. It means Google has already included you into the Local Business Center Directory. If you have not created the listing and not sure where your business information came from, Google may have received it through the phone company, or through one of online directories. Check your listing information as it may be outdated.

To update / modify your listing, click on a marker which represents your business location (red marker with letters A - Z), and then choose Edit. If this listing has not been previously claimed, you will be able to edit the information. As the last step, Google will have to verify that you are a legitimate business owner. The verification is very simple: automated Google service calls the phone number specified in your listing and gives you a PIN code. You will then have to enter that PIN in your listing. So, make sure you are at your business location when you make listing updates or that you have someone there to answer the phone. If the verification cannot be done over the phone, Google will send you a postcard with the PIN, which arrives within 2-3 weeks.

1. Your Business Does Not Appears On Google Map.
If the business is new or if your business does not appear on the map, you must create a new business listing. Go to Google Local Business Center. If you don’t have an account with Google, create one. You will be able to add your listing once you are logged in. After you enter the information, Google will take you through the same verification process to complete the listing.

Once your listing is active, you will be able to track its performance. Google Local Business Center will report the following counts: impressions, clicks for more info, clicks to your site, clicks for driving directions to your business location, and top search queries.

If you need assistance with Listing Your Business on Google Maps, please call Pro-File Marketing at (702) 233-6939.

Those were the days: the business owner publishes their listing in the Yellow Pages and knows it will be seen by prospective customers once they are looking under a specific category. Nowadays more and more people prefer using the Internet to find the product or services they need. Online directories are the websites that list local and national businesses under many different categories, just like the Yellow pages. It makes it very easy for the customer to find the information they need, but very hard for business owners to be exposed to every one of those customers. The reason is that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different “Yellow Pages”, and everybody looks in a different one.

So, what do you have to do to reach most of your prospective customers through online directories? You must list your business in as many online directories as possible. Good news is that most of those listings are free (unlike listing in Yellow Pages), unless you prefer to have a Featured listing within your business category, in which case the prices will vary depending on the directory popularity.

Here are some of the most popular directories:
YellowPages.com
CitySearch.com
Google Directory
Yahoo! Directory
Kudzu
CitySlick.net
ThinkLocal.com
SuperPages.com

You can also search for additional industry-specific directories by typing in Google “(your business category) directory”. For example, “landscaping directory”, or “doctors directory”.

Make a list of directories. I suggest you do so as it will be easier to keep track of your submissions (they will all look the same after the 5th one). Go to each website and look for “Submit your listing”, “Get Listed”, “Suggest URL”, “Business Owners”, “List Your Business”, “Add Business”, or similar type of link. Usually these links located on the top right corner or on the very bottom of the page. You may or may not have to register with each website. Keep track of usernames and passwords you assign to each website. Provide as much information about your business as possible. Under business description use words that outline your products and services, avoid using ALL CAPS, or excessive use of exclamation marks to keep it professional (one will do it). If you want to copy and paste the description throughout different directories, save it as a text document on your computer in a handy (like Desktop) place. This way you won’t have to write it over and over again. While some online directories do not have maximum character limit, some are very restrictive. Having two (or even three) versions will help you save time: short, longer and full business description.

If you use Google, Yahoo, or Bing search engines, you have seen Sponsored Links on the top and/or on the right side of the page. These links are called Pay Per Click ads. They are one of the major aspects of any online marketing strategy and cost you nothing unless someone actually clicks on it. The price of each click is determined by the amount of competition for the particular keyword you chose.

So, why use Pay Per Click Advertising? It is the most effective way of advertising in terms of reaching your target audience. Your ads will appear once the consumer is looking for your specific product or services.

The great thing about these ads is that even if your website is brand new or doesn’t rank high, you can land a first-page listing with Google paid ads.

You can create your ad campaign with any amount of ads, choose your own relevant keywords, and set your budget for each ad. But before you start spending, use Google Keyword Tool to do a research on relevant keywords, which can make your campaign more effective and save you some cash. Using non relevant keywords is a sure way to waste money.

Google AdWords
Yahoo! APT
Microsoft Advertising

Alternatively, you can hire professional Pay Per Click advertisement services, who will do a careful keyword research, write a compelling ad copy, setup the ad campaign, and keep track of its performance.

If you need professional assistance with setting up your Pay Per Click ad campaign, please contact Pro-File Marketing at 702.233.6939.