Charlie Gould: a poster boy for print

• The MOO Team
• 4 min read
• November 28, 2019

The MOO Team

• 4 min read
• November 28, 2019

Illustrator Charlie Gould tells MOO how he weaves a love of B-movies, printmaking, and American packaging into his unique poster designs.

Charlie Gould is a freelance illustrator and printmaker who specializes in poster design. Since gaining a degree in illustration from Southampton Solent University in 2016, he has worked as a freelancer, attracting clients including the cinema fanzine Shelf Heroes, Paper & Cloth Design Studio, and Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett.

Inspired by his love of B-movies and American packaging, Charlie blends digital and tactile techniques to produce bold and colorful screen-printed posters, often using throwaway objects as a framing device.

We caught up with him to talk about his love of “films so bad they’re good,” taking the leap into freelancing, and the curious attractions of ephemeral art.

Tell us how you got into illustration and printing

I realized during my graphic design course at college that the disconnect between traditional methods [and working digitally] wasn’t for me. I like things to be tactile, and illustration and printmaking scratched that itch.

My campus had some amazing print facilities, and I wanted to get involved in that environment, so I asked my tutor if I could use them. He bluntly told me no, as I was on the wrong course. So from then on, I decided to focus exclusively on print, and to do the best work I possibly could. I like to think my tutor’s intention was to push me, but it definitely wasn’t!

I love how printing can give a whole new dynamic to a piece of work. Printing provides that extra spark which elevates it to more than the sum of its parts. 

I follow the mindset that one color means one layer, which means all my work can be created either digitally or physically. Working that way comes with limitations, but also forces me to think outside the box.

What advice would you give to graduates considering going straight into freelancing? 

I thought being freelance was a big part of being an illustrator, and jumped into it a bit blindly. I don’t regret it, because it gives me the opportunity to curate my clients and be responsible for everything from sourcing work to overheads.

But I’d definitely recommend graduates do their homework before doing the same – think about where you stand in the market, and what you can contribute. Try to generate some contacts before making the leap, and seriously consider finding another source of income – either just initially, or indefinitely. 

It can take the stress out of finding clients, as long as you also use that as a positive energy to push your work and yourself further.

How did you attract your first commissions? 

I’ve always been a big fan of mailouts, so when I started out I created packs including examples of my work to post to prospective clients – MOO circle Stickers, classic A6 matte Postcards, and Business Cards – I’ve recently ordered some new ones, and have chosen Raised Spot Gloss this time. I can’t see myself going back to standard Business Cards.

These packs were super-high quality, affordable to produce, and easy to distribute to people or companies who would hopefully commission me. MOO products have been massively helpful in attracting new clients to my work, as well as allowing me to show off a little and giving me bang for my buck, so I still do it semi-regularly.

I’ve also been told numerous times that people came across my work through channels I was involved in just after university – for example, I was invited by my university to display my work at D&AD New Blood after graduation. But it really boils down to being motivated to constantly produce work.

Tell us about the inspiration and influences behind your work

I have a real love of B-movies, classic slasher flicks and films that are so bad they’re good. I enjoy how these movies never conform to any standard – they’re always a bit weird and far-fetched, and completely represent the director’s vision.

The whole aesthetic of doing guerrilla-style work is very appealing to me. It removes expectations, and frees you up to produce work you’re personally pleased with, which is central to my concept of being an illustrator.

American ephemera from the 1890s to 1930s is also a massive part of my work. I’m fascinated by these wonderful, carefully designed pieces of packaging created just to be thrown away: not to be lauded for their design, but just to sell a product then be put in the bin. There’s something special about things that exist only to be thrown away.

How do you approach a client brief?

I like to get constant feedback from whoever commissioned me, and to be as collaborative as possible. I’ll start by asking why they’ve chosen me – there are always a couple of pieces that caught their attention, and I’ll springboard off that. 

I’ll send over some concepts and invite the client to give as much honest feedback as possible. Afterwards, there should be a fully-formed idea there, so I’ll go ahead and make it. Because a lot of my work will end up as a screen-print, I like to provide some color variants or slight design changes – which means I get to see more of my work out there in the world.

What’s been your favorite project to date, and what have you got coming up?

Because I’m picky in choosing who I work with, I’ve enjoyed every project – but the gig poster I did for Courtney Barnett stands out. It was my first-ever gig poster, for one of my favorite musicians, and everything that could go right, did.

My next dream commission would be working with [movie-poster illustrators] Mondo and producing a poster for Event Horizon, which is one of my guilty-pleasure movies. Joining such names as Matt Taylor, Daniel Danger and Dan Mumford would be a career highlight.

Next up, I’m planning to create and self-publish a book looking at some of my favorite directors and movies, with my own interpretation of the poster alongside each of them. So far, I’ve planned around nine posters, but I want to exceed my own expectations and produce at least 30. I’ve given myself a deadline of a year to get it done –  so no stress…

Love posters? Posterzine talks about the future of print

Designing a notebook can be a gateway to upping your brand game. From building awareness, to connecting with clients and onboarding employees, here’s everything you need to design a cover-worthy branded notebook for your business (plus, some clever ways to use them, too).

Why design a branded notebook?

Your visual identity is the shortcut people take to understanding your brand. It’s in the emotions that your colors conjure, and the spark of association a customer feels from seeing your logo. 

But building a strong identity isn’t just about finding a signature font or choosing the perfect palette, it’s about getting your brand into all aspects of your business. Big and small. 

A branded notebook can be a simple but effective way of boosting your brand identity (and even revenue) in a whole host of creative ways. Big names like RedBull and Berkshire Hathaway have already stamped their name onto a hard cover, with the real estate giant looking to make great client connections, and the drinks brand to up their employee onboarding game.

So, a branded notebook is an impressive bit of company swag, but how can you use them for your business?

What can a custom notebook bring to your business?

Before we get onto the design elements you need to consider for your own first editions, here’s some inspiration on how to use them:

1. Page turning product launches

Got a new product or service that you really want to shout about? Including the announcement in a newsletter or blog post is a great way to get the word out, but designing a notebook to give away could be a clever (and useful) way to raise awareness that won’t get lost in a customer’s inbox. 

Think about how you could design the cover to showcase the product or service you’re selling. For some inspiration, check out how LA based artist and illustrator Carolyn Suzuki used custom notebooks to promote her unique print designs to clients.

2. Useful thank yous

It’s important to consider clients when creating branded products, but what about your employees? 

Helping your people feel more connected to the brand they work for brings positives for both employer and employee, and showing appreciation for their hard work can go a long way to making them feel valued — especially over busy periods and for those working in customer support roles. 

Here at MOO, we tasked our in-house designers to create some bespoke Hardcover Notebooks for our own customer service team during Customer Service Week. It was our way of celebrating all of their hard work.

3. Memorable event takeaways

Does your business host events throughout the year? Maybe you’re a marketing agency sponsoring a conference, or a retailer showcasing their new product range ahead of the holidays. Whatever the occasion, providing some branded company swag for attendees is a great way of making sure they remember your name long after the complimentary canapés have vanished. 

Berkshire Hathaway’s California branch allow employees to order custom print products from MOO whenever they need them. This means they always have a stash of Stickers, Luxe Notecards and Cloth Cover Notebooks to take with them when meeting clients and attending events. As Judi Nield of the branch tells us, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

4. Onboarding your employees

First impressions don’t just count when meeting customers, they’re also important for new employees. Onboarding is an important part of getting new employees connected to your brand, and providing a kit full of useful stationary is a great way to get their first week off to a great start. Red Bull’s brand team told us, “All new employees get a four-day onboarding experience at our HQ, where they get acquainted with the brand.” 

When it came to designing a notebook, Red Bull echoed their iconic branding with a blue Cloth Cover, yellow inserts, and a red wayfinder, and It turns out employees can’t get enough. “Everyone wants one—I have to keep some of them hidden in my office!”

Create your own kit by including Postcards complete with your brand values, a custom-branded Notebook, and some Business Cards with their new title and name for an extra personal touch.

5. Securing leads from trade shows

Trade shows and events are a competitive space, with lots of different brands competing for the attendees attention — and once they have it — meaningful conversations. A study by Marketing Week found that of attendees surveyed, more than 80% of leads collected at trade show received a follow-up from the businesses they interacted with. 

Sending an email might be your first instinct, but gifting a branded notebook is an even more thoughtful and memorable way to say you’d like to stay in touch. Plus, a carefully considered design is a sure-fire way to show you take your brand seriously.

Top tip: Include a Business Card or Postcard with a handwritten note to really personalize your gift, and don’t forget to include your contact details.

6. Create your own limited editions

Find a great design and your custom notebooks could be desirable products in their own right. 

For example, if you’re a design agency, you could collaborate with other designers on limited edition runs to sell through your company website. It’s a great way of showing clients you’re passionate about design and authoritative in the industry, and it also provides your customers with something they’ll really value.

Choosing a customized notebook

All MOO Notebooks and Journals are made with premium Munken Kristall paper, and are crafted with unique Swiss binding that gives them a perfect lay-flat design when writing.

So, which kind of branded notebook is right for your business?

Hardcover Notebooks

• Velvety soft-touch cover
• Print in full color on the cover, spine and back
• Customizable heavyweight paper top sheet
• Customize with your brand colors, photography, logo and more

Hardcover Cloth Notebooks

• Tactile cloth cover available in 6 colors
• Make your logo shine with  gold, silver, black or white foil
• Call attention to your brand name with blind deboss
• Customize with graphics, logos, text and more

Softcover Journals

• Soft card cover available in 8 colors
• Add tactile details with blind deboss
• Customize with eye-catching gold, silver, black or white foil 
• Feature your logo, brand name, graphics and more

Customizing your notebook

Once you know the type of branded notebook that will suit your business. it’s time to get on with the fun part — designing. Here are 3 simple ways to make it yours:

1. Choose your colors

Including your brand colors is a really effective way to make your custom notebook feel unmistakably connected to your brand. 

Let’s say, for example, that your dominant brand color is green, and yellow and red are your secondary colors. You could use green as the color for the cover, and include yellow and red accents in the wayfinder and centre pages.

Check out how RedBull incorporated their brand colors when it came to designing a notebook.

2. Make your logo shine

If you choose a Hardcover Cloth Notebook or Softcover Journal Notebook, one of the design elements that you can play around with is foil.

Adding a hint of shimmer is a great way to draw attention to parts of your design that you want to stand out, such as your logo or brand name. Check out how Berkshire Hathaway added an opulent shine to their branded notebooks.

3. Show what you stand for

Hardcover Notebooks come complete with a customizable top sheet, so you have an extra space to tell your brand story from the very first page.

If you’re onboarding employees, why not design the top sheet that showcases your brand values, so they’re always front of mind. 

If you’re giving out your notebooks at an event or to a new client, include a personal statement that tells those new to your brand what you’re about. Whether that’s your mission statement, your passion, or a snapshot of the brand history.

Want some inspiration how some other big names designed their branded notebooks? Check out 5 brands with cover-worthy Notebook designs.

Why not get in touch to find out how MOO Business Services can help you create an amazing custom Notebook. Complete the form here and a friendly Account Executive will be in touch to help you get started!

It’s that time again – chilly weather, shorter days, and the lead up to the festive season. If you’re starting your company party preparations, here’s an early gift from MOO in the form of our best tips.

If you’ve been tasked with organizing the end-of-year staff party, you may be wondering where to begin. Getting it right requires a blend of creative thinking, organizational skills and a flair for fun. It might sound like a tall order, but with helpful suppliers, practical tips and a rock-solid party plan, you’ll soon have everything falling into place.

It might be your first time as a party planner, or maybe you’re simply looking to kick things up a gear as the decade draws to an end. Either way, here’s how to have an unforgettable company party that staff will remember happily for years to come.

Picking a party theme

Whether you’re working in an office of fancy dress enthusiasts or you just know that everyone’s looking forward to letting off steam with some late-night karaoke, a theme for your party can be a great way to pull everything together and help guests relax and get into the festive spirit. 

A company party theme can be almost anything, as long as it’s not too controversial – steering clear of religion, sex and politics is always a good rule of thumb. Check with your HR department before getting started. 

Your choice of theme will probably depend on the size of company you work for, the industry it’s in and the mix of people who will attend. 

If you work in a smaller company where co-workers share social time as well as working closely together, it could be something that’s in tune with the interests of your team, even if they’re quite niche. Maybe everyone loves a certain TV show, or you work in an industry such as gaming or fashion where there’s plenty of scope for having fun with work subjects. 

There are also some classic party themes that have become perennial favorites, such as:

• Masquerade party
• Festive potluck dinner
• Elf costume party
• Secret Santa gift swap
• Seasonal sweater party (the uglier, the better)

If your team has mixed interests, is large or includes a wide range of demographics and cultures, consider a broader theme that everyone will recognize and enjoy. For example,

• colors – you could have a black and white dress code, invite guests to wear rainbows, or decorate the venue and invitations using only gold or silver foil.
  .
• places – like a tropical beach themed party where everyone wears sunglasses, or a Cinco de Mayo theme with a Mexican dinner menu and sugar skull decor.
  .
• drinks – a cocktail or mocktail theme means you can get everyone channeling their inner mixologist, or hire a pro and print drinks tickets for guests to sample their concoction of choice.
  .

Another way to broaden the appeal of your event is to hold it in the daytime. An afternoon event such as an indoor picnic or pancake toss could be a handy option if your company has a strong work-life balance, and many co-workers have young families they want to bring along.

A popular option is to theme your party around the venue you’ve chosen. Unless your party is happening at your company premises, you can book somewhere unusual and make the venue, activities and party theme all tie in together for an even more memorable effect.

Here are a few ideas that could work as a venue tie-in or simply a stand-alone theme for your company party.

• Aquarium
  Have fun with an underwater theme featuring shimmery decorations and fish-themed name cards, or get everyone to dress as a sea creature – mermaids and mermen included.
  .
• Sports event
  Treat the team to seats at a match or contest, or simply hire out the local venue’s hospitality suite and have sports-related decor. Guests can choose between party wear or their favorite team jerseys.
  .
• Museum
  Have guests dress according to a period from history and use your decoration skills to surround them with pyramids, temples, columns and wild west towns. Vintage style fonts for menus and invitations will add to the period charm.
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• Theater or cinema
  Famous actors or characters from movies can supply the costume ideas, and you could bring clapperboards, director’s chairs and megaphones into your decoration. Why not mock up theater tickets and programs to act as your invitations and menus?
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• Barge or floating restaurant
  Go for a nautical theme, ask guests to dress in blue and white and adorn your decoration, menu cards and invites with anchors, compasses and ship’s wheels. Seafood menu optional, of course.
  .
• Circus or cabaret
  So many possibilities, whether or not you actually visit the circus or cabaret club. Acrobats, dancers, jugglers, mimes and magicians can inspire both costumes and design ideas.
  .

Whichever theme you choose, make sure it’s applied consistently across all of your party planning, including invitations, flyers, place settings and venue decoration. You can really have fun and be creative at this stage, so why not explore and try out a few ideas for themes before you send off for your printed party materials.

Building the buzz for your company party

Anticipation is half the fun of holiday parties, which is why it’s so important to start preparing early and building awareness of your festive plans. Here are some of the ways you can generate buzz about your coming event.

• Save-the-date cards
  Like an invitation, but with a hint of mystery! The save-the-date card gets the all-important date in staff diaries and starts them thinking about things like who to invite, if it’s a plus-one, and how to arrange their home commitments around the party. Choose a design that’s in keeping with your party theme but doesn’t give too much away.

• Invitations
  Follow up on your save-the-date cards with a full invitation that explains where and when the party is happening and everything guests need to know, including dress code, party theme, a schedule for the night’s dining and entertainment, plus practical details and transport options (Is there a bus stop nearby? Should guests with reduced mobility get in touch with you to arrange access?)
  .
• Envelopes and RSVP cards
  RSVPing via a notecard and envelope is a fun way to get guests feeling the party spirit ahead of time, and it also gives you the chance to collect any special requirements or suggestions guests have for the night. For example, you could ask them to write down a song that will get them up on the dancefloor so you can include it in the DJ setlist.
  .
• Awards
  Use the occasion as a chance to mark the achievements of staff members with a semi-serious awards ceremony. In advance, you can invite nominations from everyone as a way to build excitement for the event. As well as more serious role-related awards, throw in some joke ones like ‘person least likely to make their deskmate’s coffee’ or ‘most fridge leftovers’.
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• Costume contest
  Announce that there will be a prize for the best costume at the party – this news is sure to get the more competitive team members interested, even if you haven’t yet announced the party theme.
  .
• Charity donation drive
  Turn your party into a chance to share the festive spirit with your community. Ask guests to bring a donation item for your chosen charity, such as canned goods or children’s toys.
  .
• Menu cards
  A menu card can be placed alongside a buffet, on the bar for cocktail menus, at each table setting, or shared in advance of the day. It can be a handy way to gather information about food preferences and special diets, for example if you have a meat-free main as well as a turkey roast, you can ask guests to tick which one they prefer on the card.

Your party planning checklist

Here’s a handy list of things you might want to arrange for your company party. Of course we’re not saying you need to do all of them – you’re only human, we get it – but this way you won’t forget any essentials. Feel free to download and edit this so you can turn it into your own ultimate party masterplan.

Pre-party planning

• Write invitee list
• Design invitations and cards
• Send out save-the-dates
• Make seating plans
• Collect any special dietary and access requirements

Food and table settings

• Caterer or restaurant booked
• Special diet requests received
• Drink tickets printed (MiniCards work well)
• Place cards printed
• Table number cards
• Greetings cards for guests
• Table decorations
• Punch, punchbowl and glasses
• Cocktail station
• Menu cards

Decoration

• Posters
• Streamers
• Lighting
• Balloons
• Confetti
• Spray snow
• Tree and menorrah
• Mistletoe
  

Entertainment

• Live music
• DJ
• Playlist
• PA system
• Dancefloor area
• Compere/emcee
• Raffle
• Photo booth with props
• Games (charades, pin the tail on the donkey)
• Secret Santa planning
• Stickers and/or prizes for award-winners

Team roles and tasks

• Photographer
• Door person
• Coat check
• Taxi booking
• Clean-up crew

Looking to lighten the load? With MOO Business Services, you’ll be assigned an Account Manager who will set up your account and be available to answer any printing-related questions you have. Fill in the form here and we’ll give you a call back!

Have you got a big trade show coming up or a new product launching? Here’s how to magic up an effective suite of marketing materials to promote yourself.

Wait, what are marketing materials, exactly? Marketing materials are branded communication items used to reach your customers and prospects. They can be physical or digital and can include anything from flyers to catalogs and social media posts.

Whether you’re showcasing your latest wares, promoting a red letter day event at your business, or simply announcing to the world that you’re here and you’re awesome, there are a few rules of thumb that will help you save time, get fantastic results and hopefully have some fun along the way.

Here’s our 10-step guide to creating a set of marketing and publicity materials for your small business.

1. Define a mission statement

Before writing your marketing materials, you need to set your goals. What are you trying to achieve with your marketing push? Having a clearly set-out objective for your marketing project will help you keep your materials focused, consistent and easy for your audience to understand.

Your goal might be driving sales, building brand awareness, promoting a particular product or highlighting an event or destination you want customers to come along to. Those are typical goals, but there are all kinds of other reasons to promote that aren’t directly related to your bottom line. For example, your goal might be something like announcing you’ve had a rebrand and getting customers used to your new logo and brand identity.

Whatever it is, make your goal the main thrust of your content and check that everything ties into that central theme. You can add other things too, but make sure they’re minor side-notes and don’t compete with the main goal of your piece.

2. Look at your past materials

Are you designing marketing materials for the first time? If this is your first rodeo, skip this step. 

If you’ve done it before, however, you can get a major head start on the design of your new materials without spending a penny. 

Gather your previous promotional materials together and spend some time looking over them, either alone or in a small group. This will help you come up with marketing materials ideas for your project. Decide what worked and what you could have done better, looking at the wording, imagery, layout, and the physical materials you chose. Consider whether your brand identity and objectives have changed or if your main message is basically the same.

3. Step into your audience’s shoes

You know your small business is outstanding, because you’ve put all your efforts into making it that way. You also know your product offering inside out and could write a book of all the neat features and design touches that make it stand out from the competition.

But the people who are looking at your marketing material designs know none of these things, and here’s the fact of the matter: they have no reason to care enough to find out. 

That idea can be tough to take on board, but if you look at it in the right way, it’s also the key to making marketing materials that stand out.

Imagine you’re a busy person with minimal interest in discovering a new company and trying out its wares. What would convince you to take a look? What kind of benefits might entice you in? The answers to those questions are the messages you need to lead on with your marketing.

For example, does your product help save time for busy parents? Is it cheaper than someone might expect compared to similar things on the market? Are there life-long benefits like free repairs which make it attractive to someone with a sustainability-based mindset?

It’s likely that you’ll come up with a range of different benefits for different audiences. Try to find the most widely applicable one, e.g. money saving, to headline in your marketing. Look at your competitors for marketing materials examples and what they typically include. You can also refer to CRM data and social media listening tools, if you use them, to identify what’s most important to your typical customer.

4. Try some testimonials 

Testimonials are a wonderful way to market your small business. That’s because it’s not you bigging up your own products, the praise is coming from customers who are unbiased and have a balanced opinion of what you offer.

Including a testimonial in your business’ marketing materials can also help bring out the benefits and strengths of your products from a customer perspective (see the previous tip), something which has a selling power all of its own. 

Finally, customers can name and acknowledge things that might not sound right coming directly from you, like how your wares measure up against perceived weaknesses in the product format – for example “I thought vegan leather shoes were always flimsy and wore out too fast, but these have surprised me.”

5. Take a consistent approach to branding

Marketing materials creation requires consistency. Your promotional materials should all have a recognisable look and feel that shows they all represent one unique brand. They don’t need to be identical, but they should share a kind of family resemblance. 

You can achieve this by taking a single approach across your

• Color palette
• Font or font family
• Heading
• Slogan or strapline
• Logo and iconography
• Illustration or design style
• Paperstock and stationery

For example, if your business cards feature the company logo in blue and are printed on matte cardstock, make these elements part of your stickers and flyers too.

6. Always have a clear call to action

A call to action (sometimes shortened to CTA) is the part of your business’ marketing materials that prompts your customer to take the next step, such as visiting your website, connecting with you on social media, picking up the phone or coming into your store. 

Adding a CTA on your business materials is important because it actively leads the customer onwards in their journey with your business. It may seem obvious that they can contact you via web or email, but remember the customer mindset – they’re busy, distracted, and not yet loyal to or engaged with your brand. The call to action joins up the dots for them and makes the action very easy to take.

Here are some examples of calls to action. 

• For a free consultation, phone 800-000-000
• Visit us at www.yourbusinessname.com
• Find us on Facebook
• Come and see our store at 111 MOO Street

It’s a good idea to keep your CTA short, clear and straightforward. Focus on a single action for the user to take, rather than risking information overload by giving them too many options at once. That doesn’t mean you can’t include all of your communication channels on a poster, flyer or postcard, just that you should designate one as the main CTA and give it pride of place.

CTAs are often placed at the bottom of marketing materials to ‘catch’ the reader when they’ve scanned the rest of the content and are finished with reading.

7. Make every word and picture work

Cluttered marketing documents are off-putting and overwhelm the reader with too much information. However much thought and care you put into it, a flyer or postcard with too much wording or with photos squeezed into every corner will probably not suggest professionalism or quality.

Narrow things down by revisiting your mission statement when creating your marketing materials. Every single word on your piece should support the main mission behind it. And every picture should strengthen the message or add new, non-verbal information.

It can be tough to resist the urge to add more and more to your advertising materials, especially if it’s the only print run you’ll be making in the foreseeable future. But stay focused on the mission statement, rather than your personal feelings about what should be said. After all, it’s natural that you want to shout about every aspect of your business – you’re its number one advocate after all.

8. Add urgency with deals and deadlines

Everyone loves a bargain, and adding a time limit to your promotional code or discount will help prompt customers to take action and make a purchase.

Try adding a line like “Limited offer: Until December 1st, Save 15% when you order on our website using the code MARPROMO” to your advertising materials.

As an added bonus, you’ll be able to track the code to see how many people made a purchase as a result of your marketing materials. This can help you gauge the return on investment from your marketing drive so you can budget effectively for the next one.

9. Use premium materials

Printed marketing materials are your chance to make an impression on your customers using all of their senses rather than just eyes or ears. Paper and card communicate your brand through weight and texture as well as vivid color and crisp, sharp imagery.

Publicity materials that are printed on good quality, heavy-weight paper and card show that your business takes quality seriously. A business card or flyer that’s a pleasure to look at and touch creates positive associations with your brand. Conversely, if your promotional materials are low cost and low quality, customers are likely to expect the same from your products. 

MOO offers plenty of luxe options, from Luxury Business Cards made with 4 layer thick paper with a pop of colour in the middle to Pearlescent Flyers to give a touch of shine, so you’ll never have to settle for less than the best for your business.

10. Try out a template

We know that as a small business, you may not have the in-house resources to design marketing materials from scratch. If you’re creating business cards, flyers, postcards, posters or stickers, a design template can be a great short-cut to a professional finish without the time and expense of choosing and hiring an independent designer. 

Choosing complementing templates from the same provider can also help you keep the look and feel consistent across these different assets. 

If you use a service like MOO, you’ll have a choice between off-the-peg templates that require minimal customization – just add your own wording – and more flexibility to change the colors, fonts and images. Many of our template styles also come in matching versions for business cards, postcards, flyers and more, so you can create a neat suite of materials.

For more related tips, explore our guide to inexpensive marketing for small businesses. Or if you’d like to get in touch with our team simple fill out the form below!

Most would argue that professional relationships are built online in today’s digitally charged world. Kate Lance, founder and CEO of Katie Lance Consulting, would argue that isn’t entirely true, especially in the Real Estate industry. As a loyal MOO customer and enthusiastic print advocate, she uses offline marketing to step up her real estate business strategy.

Katie still relies on offline channels to connect with Real Estate professionals and believes that online connections alone, cannot build your Real Estate brand as much as involving offline channels. What exactly is an ‘offline channel’? She shares her best practices with us and how to find the perfect fit of online and offline marketing for the Real Estate professional.

Photo by Connor Williams on Unsplash

Do you ever feel like there is a lot of noise online? Often, when I log into Facebook, I feel like I am standing at the side of the freeway watching cars fly by.  Getting (and keeping) someone’s attention is the name of the game, especially in Real Estate. One of the most effective and authentic ways to do this is to take the online, offline.

Social media is that easy button, but it should never replace a real conversation.

I know, for myself, this is something I’ve believed in for years and years, and I am excited to recommit myself to the importance of a handwritten note, a phone call, and most importantly, that face-to-face time. At the end of the day, Facebook and Instagram are awesome, and it can certainly help build relationships, but it will never replace that face-to-face, personal time.

What are some ideas and ways we can do this? Here are a few ideas and suggestions: 

• Reach out to someone today. Reach out to that colleague that you haven’t talked to in a long time that you see on Facebook all the time. Call them, text them or facetime them if you don’t have the capacity to meet in person. Just let them know that you’re thinking about them.
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• Surprise someone with a note in the mail. Look for opportunities every day to send a thoughtful hand-written note in the mail to your list of contacts. I have a running list of contacts, whether they be recent clients, referrals, or prospective customers with their contact information. I aim to send one note per day to someone on that list. One or two cards a day doesn’t sound like a lot – but it sure adds up over time.  Relationships are built with small interactions over the course of time – every like, comment, and connection truly adds up.
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• Be a good finder. Use Facebook and Instagram as inspiration for taking the online, offline! Bonus tip – did you know with Facebook birthdays you could see whose birthday it is for the entire week or month ahead? Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/birthdays/ and scroll down to see upcoming birthdays. This makes it really easy to plan ahead to send a card!

In addition – there are many ways real estate professionals can take the online, offline with their marketing. Print marketing is a great way to reach people because it is tangible (which is why I love the quality of MOO products!). Here are a few of my favorite ideas for real estate pros:

• Referral program cards. Real estate pros can create business cards to hand to happy customers that encourage them to refer new business to them. You may be able to offer an incentive like a gift card to your local hardware store or favorite restaurant as a ‘thank you’ for referrals you receive. Make sure to check with your broker and local MLS on their referral rules.
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• Creative marketing materials. Create something unique and different for your open house or mailable marketing materials. Perhaps a square flyer with a shiny finish or unique sized postcard that really showcases the unique features of that home! Include links right on the marketing materials taking them to the video tour of the home or additional information.
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• Open house packets. Are you marketing a home with a plethora of upgrades and designer details? You may choose to create an open house packet, which can be handed out to prospective buyers. This packet could be housed inside a folder or perhaps bound together. On the packet you can include links to the property website and other resources available about the home online. Don’t forget to include  your business card!
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• ‘Coffee on me’ cards. Looking for something really unique? Next time you are at your favorite coffee shop surprise the person behind you with a coffee on you! Ask the barista to hand that person a card you created that says “Enjoy coffee on me!”with your contact information. You never know when they might be ready to buy or sell!
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• Community information flyers and/or packets. You may already have some great community information on your website – why not take some of that copy to create small flyers or postcards you could share in a packet for potential buyers or for open houses? When people are buying or selling a home – it is so much more than the four walls of the house – they are buying into the community!

One of the reasons I am writing this blog post over on the MOO blog is I have been a MOO customer and fan for years. I love the quality of their products. The quality of the products you share and how it feels in your clients hands is small, yet overlooked many times. Handing out a high-quality personalized item is what makes you look like the rock star you are! 

I have ordered thank you cards, holiday cards, business cards and stickers over the years and I love the reaction my friends, colleagues and clients have when they receive something from me created by MOO, in the mail. 

I would love to hear from you – let me know what you think about this post. Do you agree or disagree? Message me over on Facebook or Instagram!

Katie Lance is the author of #GetSocialSmart and founder and CEO of Katie Lance Consulting, a social media strategy firm. She’s been recognized by Inman News as one of the 100 most influential people in real estate and is a featured keynote speaker at many industry events. Her #GetSocialSmart Academy features on-demand social media education to help real estate professionals take their social media strategy to the next level.

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