1260 Productions

Make Bookmarks that will Boost Your Business

Bookmarks can be used as marketing tools. And I’m not referring to those bookmarks on your browser.

Outside of web-based marketing, mass distribution of brochures and flyers remains a popular way to connect with customers and market a brand. But while these marketing tools do reach potential customers, there’s a possibility that they’ll land in the trash can after being barely read. This is the cruel truth. Unless a person is urgently in need of the product or service being advertised, that piece of paper containing dull copy will have no further use. Hence, it’ll be no different to a piece of worn-out tissue paper.

An alternative you can consider is to print out strategically designed promotional bookmarks. Unlike brochures and flyers, these bookmarks, if distributed to the right people can help promote your product or business for months…even years. Just think about it. People of all ages read books and most of ‘em read several books a year. If these potential customers get a good look at your company’s logo or tagline every time they open their books, then wouldn’t that be successful marketing?

Before you get too excited though, there are some things you should consider both from a design and business stand point with regards to using promotional bookmarks.

No Tissue Paper Please

Most flyers and brochures aren’t thrown away just because of the boring copy they contain. Some are tastelessly designed and made of low quality material–qualities that immediately turnoff potential customers. Give your customers some respect. Have your bookmark printed on some durable and classy card stock. Also keep in mind that your bookmark should function properly–meaning it should be long/short enough for its primary purpose which is of course… to be a bookmark. Contact us with for a printing quote for project.

Bookmarks as miniature Print Ads

Not only will your bookmark have to look good, you have to make sure that it can effectively advertise your product. Strategically place a logo, visual ad and/or a tagline on either or both sides of the print. Feel free to use typography or at least choose fonts that could properly represent your ad’s (yes, ad as in advertisement) tone. However, try to avoid filling it up with copy. Sure, you can be certain that your customer will be staring at the bookmark every now and then. But you can’t expect him to read the ad every single time he does. Why should he when he’s already reading a book?

Remember, though your bookmark is relatively small, it does have two sides. Use the space wisely.

Target Distribution over Mass Distribution

When companies print out brochures and flyers, more often than not their goal is to distribute these promotional tools to as much people as possible despite their knowledge that a huge percentage probably won’t bite. Now, let’s assume that you’re going to spend a bit with the production of these bookmarks. It will be very important to identify your target market in relation to your product. For instance, if you’re trying to sell men’s perfume, make sure that your bookmark has a masculine design. Applying your trademark scent would also be ideal. Lastly, give out your bookmarks for free, but only to those who you deem would be interested.

Hertz to rent electric cars

by Amanda Wills

On Monday, Hertz announced that it will offer electric vehicles (EV) for an hourly rate starting Dec. 15 in New York City, followed by an expansion to Washington D.C. and San Francisco.

The all-electric Nissan LEAF, which has a range of 100 miles per charge, will be available for rental from Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. (Nissan Press Photo)

Part of the Connect by Hertz car sharing operation, the company plans a full-scale deployment of EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) in the U.S. and other countries throughout 2011.

Hertz says it will use its rental and car sharing locations as bases for vehicles and charging stations. The company has ordered vehicles from Nissan, GM, Toyota, smartUSA and Mitsubishi.

The launch of its EV program supports Hertz’s goal of expanding usage of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company is working to establish partnerships with manufacturers, charging station providers, municipalities, NGOs, corporations and other stakeholders. Hertz has already signed an agreement with NRG Energy Inc. to support development of a charging infrastructure and services for EVs in Texas.

“By introducing EVs in New York, Washington and San Francisco, we’re the first to make tomorrow’s driving experience available to consumers today and we look forward to continue building out our EV platform, making electric mobility a reality for consumers worldwide,” says Mark P. Frissora, chairman and CEO.

While Hertz is the first to provide consumers with access to EVs on a global scale, its competitors aren’t far behind. Earlier this year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car laid out its plan for its distribution of electric vehicles. According to Enterprise spokesperson Lisa Martini, the company will receive 500 Nissan LEAFs over the course of 2011. Starting in January, the EV program will be available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Ore., Seattle, Phoenix and Nashville.

Martini explains that the initial launch will coincide with Nissan’s path of infrastructure for its EV charging stations. Enterprise, who also operates Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental, says it plans on installing charging stations in its rental locations as well.

“This will be great for customers to experience an electric vehicle,” Martini says. “That’s why we’re putting charging stations in our rental locations. That’s why it makes sense to start out where Nissan already has charging stations.”

The company plans on offering more EV models as they become available. Currently, Enterprise does not offer an hourly rental EV system like Hertz, and the company is still unsure about the exact roll-out date of the program. However, Martini estimates that it will likely be in the next couple of weeks.