Direct Marketing Tool: Brochures

Brochures are one of the very important tools used in direct marketing and direct selling. A brochure can be defined as a written hard material that is used to pass information about something. It is an advertising piece which is largely used to introduce a company or organization and inform about products and/or services to a target audience. The alternate names for brochures are pamphlets and leaflets. They may be considered as grey literature, meaning informally published material that is difficult to trace through channels like journals since it is not published commercially or widely accessible.

People often confuse brochures with flyers, although there are some fundamental differences between the two. While a brochure is folded, a flyer is just a sheet of paper that is used as an insert in newspapers and magazines. Brochures also often use more color on high quality or glossy paper.

Brochures are one of the tools that has been used since a long time, and have maintained their popularity even with the advancement of technology rising trend of online marketing and electronic means of advertising. There are a number of reasons for this.  For example, brochures are highly space efficient. Since they are folded into panels, they seem compact, but they can be opened up to reveal large amounts of information. Also, you can control your target market very well with brochures, since they are being delivered to people individually, whereas in other marketing tools such as billboards and television commercials, the marketer can't really control each individual watching them. Brochures are also used as a complement to direct selling, and are used in techniques such as door to door selling. These methods engage potential customers and encourage them to respond, thereby, increasing the chances of a potential customer being tuned into an actual customer.

Common Types of Brochures:
Bi-Fold: A single sheet printed on both sides and folded into halves, which results in four panels (two panels on each side).

Tri-Fold: A single sheet printed on both sides and folded into thirds, resulting in six panels (three panels on each side).

Tips For Making A Better Brochure

• Design a brochure using out of the box creativity, such that it should immediately catch a person's attention. You can also alter the shape, instead of going for the mundane A4 sized rectangular shapes. For example, you can design brochures so that they can be used as coasters or origami toys. This will encourage people to retain the brochures for future references instead of immediately throwing them away in the trash. 
• Provide contact details so that you can get back to people asking for any queries.
• Write an appropriate introduction, with subheadings.
• Use maps for directions, if you want people to know where exactly you are located.

Cross selling

Cross selling is a marketing technique, in which the seller tries to sell to their established clients other products and services other than the ones the client original bought, being more effective if they are complementary products or services.
Next time your clients ask for the 3D Fiber Lashes mascara, show them the eyeshadows Minerals Pigment Powder, or when they show interest in buying the BB Cream , explain them great the BB Cream shades match with the lip glosses.

XXI century direct sales parties

Imagine having a direct sales party with your customers all over the world. Or being away on vacation with your friends or family and still be able to participate in a sales event. Wouldn't it be great?
Luckily for us, we're in the XXI century, a new millennium of possibilities at just one click of a distance.

• Skype -> you can build your community around Skype by creating a group, and engaging in a group chat, talking about your products, hearing your clients feedback, and giving advice to one another, all of this in the comfort of your own home. 

• Google Hangouts -> it's easy to create a Google Hangout. Just schedule a day and a time for the hangout, set up your webcam and invite your customers. It's like a living room environment, everyone will be able to see and hear everybody in the hangout face to face, as the one speaking is the one who appears on the screen. Also, everyone is able to hear what everyone is saying and you can still chat or send some links to your products on the chat window on your right.

Enjoy your XXI century direct sales parties !