Business cards and brochures are two great marketing materials you can use to get the word out about your products and services. There are several different ways to go about using these materials for advertisement purposes, and it can be far less expensive than taking out an ad in a regional magazine or a local newspaper.

Business cards can be left out on the counter at a store for people to pick up or included in mailings. You can also give them to friends, family and customers to give to their friends. Brochures can be used in much the same way, but provide a bit more information to potential customers. They can also be mailed out to reach a wider group of people. Think about adding photography to the brochure if it would help sell your product, or try providing a coupon in them for potential customers. Vistaprint.com can accommodate any business brochure services you need and should you need help uploading photos or laying out your brochure for printing, customer services representatives can assist you with any of these tasks.

Creating a sharp look for this type of marketing material is important, so it pays to really put some serious thought into the design and layout before you print. Two things to focus on are: a good logo that is well-displayed, and maintaining a consistent color scheme that follows along with your business image.

A logo is important for any business because it helps your company become more recognizable. Logos can be simple or complex, but you’ll want to find one that says something about your company. Sometimes a company name in a particular font is enough, but adding a simple graphic can really “dress up” the design, particularly if you intend to use said image for future branding and imagery.

The color scheme need not be overwhelming. Again, select colors that go with your company. For example, if you sell bottled water, you may want to use shades of blue. Every marketing or design element you use can have an impact on your brand recognition.

Consistent placement will also help people become familiar with your brand. Try to keep the layout for business cards and brochures consistent with your branding. If your logo goes in the top right corner of the card, make sure it holds the same place on the brochure. You may even want to take the whole card design and put it on the front page.

Employing these simple ideas when designing business cards and brochures can help formulate a strong brand and look for your company. Since these two marketing materials are not prohibitively expensive, they can be a good place for a small business owner to start when it comes to getting the word out about their goods and services.