Marketing Tactics for Increasing Ad Response: Why Wisdom Wins Out Over Flash Any Day

Whether or not you can afford the time and money on your marketing campaign, you need to figure out how effective your current methods are. Marketing doesn't end after you mail out your full color print ads and flyers. You need to know who's responding to your ads and how to get that number up.

Here are a few ideas on how you can increase the responses to your marketing efforts from your print advertising campaign.

Always use the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method, no matter what you think of it. The fact is, it works, even if some business owners scoff at the acronym. Don't clutter your print ad with unnecessary words and graphics. You have precious little space. Use it wisely. Edit your text and keep your graphics a pleasant size in proportion to the text. Use colors carefully. If you choose to send full color print ads, don't use neon colors with primary colors or any other clashing colors. Use complementary colors that will stand out from the rest of the mail.

Think about what your planned result is for the campaign. Your first goal is to generate leads. Your second goal is to provide information that leads to sales. After you generate leads, it's important to give them the information they need so you can make the sale. Do they need to call you? Don't forget to include your phone number. Should they visit your Web site? Include your Web site address.

Add a benefit to your print ad that the customer can take advantage of if they hold onto it. You need to clearly mention the largest benefit they'll receive from your product or service. This should be the main point of your print ad.

Also attach some motivating factor for the client. Include a discount or coupon on the print ad. If you're having a sale, be sure to include an end date for the sale to create a sense of urgency. People will be motivated to take action if they know they have a limited amount of time.

At the bottom of the ad, but in a prominent place, you should put down your contact info in bold, clear letters and numbers. Include your Web site address, email address, phone number and any other information needed to contact you.

By utilizing these methods together, your response rate should rise dramatically. You aren't really doing anything differently from what you've already been doing, you're just making the decision to purchase from you that much easier. And with a clear method of contacting you, they don't have to think twice.