I cannot emphasize enough how vital your stationery can be and the crucial role it plays in the market.
Wondering how?
Suppose a marketing agent steps into your office all dressed up. He offers you like a zillion services, and, if you were already looking for a few of those services, his offers would surely intrigue you.
The meeting ends (say, you have agreed upon a particular package), and the agent pulls out his “poor looking” business card. He hands it over to you and bam; the image of his company that he was building in front you for the last hour flies out the window because of the business card’s poor quality and design.
If that will ruin his firm’s image for you, wouldn’t your poorly designed stationery do the same for someone else?
Yes, it will.
Now that we are on the same page, I will tell you about some of the most fruitful benefits of perfectly designed branded business stationery.
Let’s start with my favorite one.
1. Your Brand Image
If you are regarded as “professionals” in the market, you are on the right track. But what will earn you this respect and trust?
Let me tell you a secret; how you sell is far more important than what you sell. Your customers not only buy the product you sell. They pitch in for the story you tell and how you treat them as customers.
When you give out your business cards to potential clients or sign a deal on your letterhead or send them a bill in your envelope, what will be the first thing they see and experience?
The first thing they look at will be your logo and its colors (because that’s your face).
And, the first thing they will feel is what they touch; the quality of the paper or card you just handed to them. Your first impression is based on these two basic human senses.
2. Brand Recognition & Awareness
Keeping the most popular companies in mind, think; what pops up in your mind whenever you hear words like McDonald’s or Nike?
That big “M” and the “tick” symbol, right?
Let’s take another example. What colors come to your mind when you hear the words “Coke” or “Pepsi”?
Surely, red, white and blue. Your logo and your color themes are the things your customers associate you with. Also, these are the most easily recognizable elements of a brand.
Your logo and your theme colors are usually the only elements on your stationery apart from your name and contact details.
If you work in an office or run a business, you must have seen that even the lines, shapes, and patterns used on different stationery elements of professional companies are exactly the same.
The thought behind this is to boost your brand’s recognition. Precisely, (trust me, I am not taking it far enough) stationery is the face of your company.
3. Free source of Networking & Marketing
If you are running a business, you must be spending continuously on marketing. It’s essential because, without adequate marketing, your business will not grow.
What if I tell you that you can do it for free, using your stationery? What is the first thing you give your client at a meeting? Your business card.
You meet a friend; you give him your card. That’s networking. Also, if your friend or client passes on your card to his friends (who need your services maybe), it will become a chain.
Your one card will be passed on to many people. This is the “free” continuous marketing I was talking about earlier.
Similarly, your calendars, key chains, goodie bags, pens, and many other things will provide an unstoppable chain of marketing. It’s just like paper currency; one note may reach a thousand people.
So, how can you take all these advantages from your daily-use stationery? And, what can go wrong?
Keep in mind the supposed-scenario I began with. What did that agent do wrong, or was it his mistake at all? No. It was the “quality” of the business card he gave to his potential client.
4. Quality – The Best Selling Point
If your business card doesn’t stay with your client after you leave the room, you’ve lost him. Maybe he wasn’t interested in your offer, or maybe your rates were too high.
But, what if it was your presentation? Or, the presentation of your business card or a goodwill goodie bag?
Well, you need to show that you care about quality through your quality stationery and the branded gifts you present.
The material used, and printing, must be of high quality because it will bolster your firm’s image. If you are looking for any help regarding this matter, you can get high-quality printing and stationery raw material from several online platforms.
5. Design to Be Remembered
No matter if you are running a small or large scale business, you need loyal customers to stand a chance in today’s competitive market. Give them something to remember you by.
The very first thing people will remember is the logo of your company. Designing a logo that reflects your company’s name and niche is crucial. Moreover, you must be aware of current design trends.
Those who do not know much about designing and branding will have difficulty making this happen until they get help by outsourcing this task (in case you do not have in-house capability).
I recommend having a professional and quality logo designed for your business by a reputable design company. With the internet that has become much easier to do.
If you are not comfortable outsourcing and want to design the logo yourself, you can give that a try too. Even if you are a beginner and don’t want to mingle with the pro stuff on Photoshop and illustrator, there are many photoshop alternatives that you can use to design your logo.
Winding Up
Branded stationery not only helps with brand awareness, but it also helps promote a positive and professional image of your firm.
Apart from all your marketing efforts, your stationery can market your business anywhere and anytime. Just keep one thing in mind; the colors, fonts, and design elements you use should be identical to each other on each and every item of your stationery.
I hope I have motivated you enough to reap the benefits of branded stationery.
