BLOG: Eye-Popping Tips

From Karen Saunders

Your Branding, Marketing & Self-Publishing Coach



Archive for the ‘Marketing Materials’ Category

October 28th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

How to Define RGB and CMYK Color Models

Are you confused by what these letters mean? Can you define RGB and CMYK? Do you know how they affect your desktop publishing and website files? These letters represent two different color models or systems, (which are types of color definitions). RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue, with the first letter of each word represented in the acronym. RGB is an “additive color” system. Red, green and blue beams of light create the colorful images on your computer monitor. Where red and green light overlaps, you see yellow (see diagram at left). When red, green and blue mix together, you…

Read More


September 24th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

12 Ways to Increase Your Postal Mailing Response Rates

Do you have dismal results from your direct mail campaigns? As a small business owner, it can be frustrating to spend time and money on a postal mailing and not understand why it failed to deliver. If you want to increase your postal mailing response rates, I recommend you follow these 12 proven tactics. Know your objective. Do you want customers to place an order, call you, visit your website, or return a reply card? Create an eye-catching design or theme for your campaign. Use the same theme for every piece in the campaign. Explain the benefits rather than listing the features. Make the…

Read More


May 19th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

What Makes a One-Sheet A “Must-Have” Marketing Tool?

Suppose you meet someone who could hire you for your expertise and services. In the spirit of getting to know you, that decision-maker asks, “What do you speak about?” or “How do you help organizations?” or “Which groups have you worked with?” These questions become your opening to convey how you assist people and why you’re the one experienced to do so. That’s exactly what a marketing one-sheet does, too. To convey that you’re a “must-have” expert, your one-sheet needs to be written and designed effectively. Answers Key Questions Your one-sheet, in effect, succinctly answers these seven questions that decision-makers…

Read More


April 8th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

Create a Giant Postcard to Market Your Business and Get Results Fast!

A wonderful, hardworking marketing tool is a giant postcard! With colorful eye-catching graphics on one side and your promotional copy on the back, it will grab attention faster than an email, ad or sales letter. Make it BIG A giant postcard, also called an oversized, jumbo, or #14 postcard is a low-cost, effective device for branding your business and creating prospect response. Start with a 6″ x 9″ or larger size postcard and print in full color to make it stand out from the stack of white envelopes in today’s mail. Postage is the price of a first class stamp….

Read More


March 21st, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

Color Meaning—Unlock the Symbolism and Color Psychology of Common Colors

Color is a magical element that gives feeling and emotion to art, design, and advertising. By understanding color meaning, (or the psychology of color) you can choose the right color to support and emphasize your design. A dominant color or overall color scheme can determine the tone of your document. Certain colors will help your product, corporate document, or advertisement attract specific target audiences and evoke desired responses. The information below provides generally accepted guidelines on the symbolic meanings of color and how you can use color more effectively in your marketing pieces. The meaning of the color yellow (including…

Read More


March 9th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

I was part of Mark Victor Hansen’s MEGA Marketing Magic event!

Attending my first MEGA event was a wonderful experience for me. Here you can see Mark Victor Hansen interviewing me on the main stage during my giveaway–I am wearing my “magic hat.” I gave away a copy of my book, “Turn Eye Appeal into Buy Appeal” along with $280 in bonuses. The lucky winner climbed over tables to race up to the stage to get my book! If YOU are interested in ordering my book, click here: www.BuyAppealMarketing.com As an exhibitor, I was given a breakout session. Mine was called “Graphics Wizardry: Turn Your Branding Concepts into Designs that Magnetize…

Read More


February 19th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

10 Easy Ways to Make your Flyer Stand Out in the Crowd

A flyer is an inexpensive and highly effective way to grab attention in a very busy marketplace. How do you make your flyer stand out in the crowd? Here are some techniques that professional designers use to make flyers “pop.” 1. Write a snappy headline or title. Make it memorable, unusual or provocative using a few carefully chosen powerful words. Popular titles contain one or more of these words: Easy, The Secrets to, Unlock, Finally, Insider, Time Sensitive, How to, Free Bonuses, Now You Can, Discover, Proven. 2. Use colorful or striking graphics. One large image will have more impact…

Read More


January 29th, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

Award-winning Designer Reveals Secrets to Attractive Page Layouts

The way a book interior is designed has a part in whether the book will sell or not. A customer will not read—or buy—a book that is designed in a way that is difficult to read. If the type in your book is too small, or the spaces between the lines are too narrow, many prospective customers will move on to another book. Your goal with book design is to create an interior that is inviting, pleasing, and easy to read. This involves good use of fonts, word spacing, leading, line length, and alignment. Here are some techniques that professional…

Read More


January 3rd, 2006 | By: Karen Saunders

Five Design Techniques to Turn Your Marketing Pieces into Marketing Masterpieces

It’s almost 5 o’clock on Friday afternoon. Do you know where your newest marketing pieces are? If you’re a small business owner, they may be buried on your desk because you’ve got so many other important details to handle. Or they’re still sitting on your assistant’s desk where she’s staring at them hopelessly. She’s an admin assistant, for heaven’s sake, not a designer, and she knows what she’s produced so far is not very memorable or effective. All of us would like to think our product is so good, our services so unique, they’ll simply sell themselves. Not so! Strong…

Read More


December 22nd, 2005 | By: Karen Saunders

First Impressions Count! Lasting Impressions Sell! Bet Your Business Card on It!

It’s the trade show of the year, and you’re poised to meet, greet and network up a storm because the precise buyers for your product or services are here. Business card? Check. Sales brochures? Check. Product samples, informational literature, or other appropriate peripherals? Check. But wait. Let’s go back to item #1 – both in the list above and the all-important first step in creating a strong, lasting and favorable impression. In other words, what you looked like or said may not be remembered when potential customers are back home, but your business card will be in the pile he’ll…

Read More