You know how you tell your friends about your favorite video game or cool new toy? Well, businesses need to tell people about what they do, too! And one of the best ways to do that is with printed stuff you can hold in your hands.
Sure, everyone’s on their phones these days. But there’s something special about getting a colorful flyer or a cool business card. It feels real. You can stick it on your fridge or keep it in your pocket.
At BCS Print, we help small businesses make all kinds of printed things. Let’s talk about the seven most important ones you should know about.
1. Business Cards: A Tiny Paper Introduction
Think of a business card like a mini poster about yourself that fits in your wallet.
What they are: Small cards (about the size of a credit card) with someone’s name, phone number, and what they do.
Why businesses need them: Imagine you meet someone at the grocery store and they ask what you do. Instead of writing your phone number on a napkin, you hand them a nice card. It looks way more professional!
How to use them:
- Keep them everywhere – your car, your bag, your desk
- Give them to people you meet
- Leave a couple when you pay your bill at a restaurant
- Put one in every package you mail to customers
- Ask friendly store owners if you can leave some on their counter
The important stuff on them: Your name, what your business does, your phone number, and how to find you online. That’s it. Keep it simple!
2. Flyers: Like a Poster’s Little Brother
Flyers are those colorful papers you see taped up at coffee shops or stuck under your windshield wiper.
What they are: One sheet of paper (usually) with big, bold information about something happening or something for sale.
Why businesses need them: They’re cheap to make, and you can hand them out everywhere. Perfect for telling lots of people about a sale or event fast!
How to use them:
- Pin them on bulletin boards at stores and libraries
- Hand them out at busy places like farmers’ markets
- Give them to your neighbors
- Leave a stack at other friendly businesses
- Mail them to people who already shop with you
Real example: A bakery opening nearby handed out flyers at the farmers’ market. On opening day, the line of customers went all the way to the street!
3. Brochures: The Booklet That Explains Everything
A brochure is like a tiny magazine about your business.
What they are: A folded piece of paper (or several pages) that opens up to show pictures and lots of information.
Why businesses need them: Some businesses are complicated. Like, if you’re a plumber, people might want to know all the different things you can fix. A brochure has room to explain it all with pictures!
How to use them:
- Keep a stack where customers can grab one
- Mail them to people who ask about your business
- Put them in hotels and visitor centers (if you have a restaurant or tour business)
- Hand them out at big events
- Give them to new customers
Best for: Any business that needs to explain more than one thing – like restaurants with lots of menu items, salons with different services, or contractors who do many types of jobs.
4. Banners: The Giant Signs That Say “LOOK AT ME!”
Banners are those huge signs you see hanging outside stores or at school events.
What they are: Big pieces of fabric or vinyl with huge letters and pictures on them. Some are as big as your bedroom wall!
Why businesses need them: When you want everyone to notice you, go big. Banners are hard to miss.
How to use them:
- Hang one outside your store during a sale
- Set them up at events where you have a booth
- Use them at grand openings
- Put them where lots of people walk by
- Display them at sports games or community events
Smart trick: Make one banner with just your business name and logo. Then make smaller ones for special sales. That way, you don’t have to keep buying new big ones!
5. Door Hangers: The Thing That Says “Hello!” on Your Front Door
You know those “Do Not Disturb” signs at hotels? Door hangers work the same way, but they advertise businesses.
What they are: Pieces of cardboard or thick paper with a hole cut out so they hang on door handles.
Why businesses need them: People have to touch them to get into their house. They can’t ignore them like junk mail in the mailbox!
How to use them:
- Put them on doors in neighborhoods you want to reach
- Hang them in apartment buildings (ask the manager first!)
- Use them for weekend specials or limited-time deals
- Add a coupon so people have a reason to keep them
- Leave them in neighborhoods after you do a job nearby
Perfect for: Lawn care people, house cleaners, pizza delivery places, gyms, and anyone who works in specific neighborhoods.
Important rule: Don’t put them on doors that have “No Soliciting” signs. That’s not cool.
6. Posters: Bigger Than Flyers, Easier Than Banners
Posters are like the middle child between flyers and banners.
What they are: Big sheets of paper (bigger than a school notebook) with eye-catching designs and information.
Why businesses need them: They’re big enough to get attention but not so big that they’re hard to put up or carry around.
How to use them:
- Tape them in your store windows
- Put them up at colleges if students are your customers
- Hang them in community centers
- Display them at events
- Use them inside your business to show off specific products
Design tip: Use big pictures and not too many words. People should be able to read your poster while walking by!
7. Postcards: Mail That People Actually Want to Read
Unlike boring bills, postcards are fun to get in the mail!
What they are: Thick cards (about the size of your hand) that you can mail without an envelope. One side has pictures, the other side has writing and the address.
Why businesses need them: People actually read postcards because they can see what’s on them right away. No envelope to open means no envelope to throw away!
How to use them:
- Send thank-you cards to customers
- Mail special deals to people who’ve shopped with you before
- Send them to everyone in a neighborhood
- Remind people about appointments
- Send holiday greetings with your business info on them
Extra special idea: Write a quick personal note by hand on postcards to your regular customers. It makes them feel special, and they’ll remember you!
Using Them All Together
Here’s the secret: these all work better when you use them together!
Think about a gym. They might:
- Give out business cards at community events
- Hang a big banner outside saying “Join Now – First Month Free!”
- Put door hangers on houses nearby with a free trial coupon
- Keep brochures at the front desk showing all their classes
- Post flyers at coffee shops and health food stores
The trick is to make them all look similar. Use the same colors and the same logo on everything. That way, people start to recognize your business just by looking at your stuff.
Starting Small
Good news – you don’t need all of these right away! Start with business cards and maybe one or two other things that make the most sense for your business.
At BCS Print, we help small businesses figure out what they actually need. We’re like a helpful friend who also happens to have really cool printing machines!
We won’t just print your stuff and say goodbye. We’ll help you design things that look great, don’t cost too much, and actually help you get more customers.
Every business is different. Maybe you need something printed super fast. Maybe you need help drawing up a design. Maybe you’re not sure what would work best. Whatever it is, we’re here to help!
Come Say Hi!
Making printed marketing stuff doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. With the right materials, you can reach more customers and help your business grow.
Visit us in Bryan Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call us at (979) 774-4111. Or check out our website at bcsprint.com to get a price quote.
We deliver for free if you’re nearby, we work fast, and we’re friendly. We love helping small businesses succeed!
Let’s make something awesome together. Your next customer is out there waiting to find you – let’s help them!
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