Need some general advice for flyers/mailshot

[TracyK]

I am trying to source some business locally. I have a couple of clients that I am letting go as the travelling is too much.

I do accounts/finance type stuff - but can also do training on Word and Excel.

Do you think I should do 2 fliers - 1 for each type of service - or list it all on one?

Also - include photo or not?

I would have one flier and a bit about you - I think it shows the scope of your skills and you may pick up a bit more business as a result. I think if you do training I would include a photo. For some reason I think people like to see who will be coming in to train them.

If you list too much then you may come across as jack of all trades and master of none.
Can you advertise your business by one all-encompassing description (eg training for administration staff) and then further down the text give examples of same (accounts, microsoft office).

I'm not sure about the photo. I think testimonials from satisfied customers may be more convincing. Also, won't a photo make the flyer more expensive?

WMA has a good point but you could have two quite clear sections on the flyer, eg,

Accounting Support
3 or 4 key bullet points

Microsoft Office Training:
bullets

If you lay it out in the right way it should look like you have two clear arms of your business. If you have two fliers, how do you know which one to target at which business and if you lead on the training, the accounts stuff might get overlooked.

The photo isn't essential but I can't see that cost should be an issue, unless you aren't going to go for a colour flyer anyway (however, I would recommend you do).

Testimonials are a really good idea. They sell my DH's guitar lessons time and time again.

HTH

How do I go about wording/doing testimonials?
I was just going to print my fliers on my photo quality printer in the house - I'm not going to do that many of them.

Just ask any of your (happy) clients if they would be prepared to provide a short quote about you/your business. Say that it need only be a couple of lines and you can then edit it down if necessary. You can write something yourself and then ask clients to put their name to it but in my experience, it is far more authentic if you clients write something themselves.

I would provide 3 or 4 quotes of a sentence or two length in your flier. If you can pick your clients so that they all will highlight a different aspect of your business (eg, knowledge, professionalism, dedication) then that would be great, but don't get too hung up about this. TO be authentic, your clients will need to be happy to be named.

HTH

If you are printing them at home use the best quality paper you can afford - actually, you might be better off using thin white card rather than paper - and cut them up with a guillotine, not scissors.

I agree with twofalls: ask your best clients for a comment and, if they are stuck for words, have a handy ready-made quote that they can put their name to (which just happens to major on your USP).

If you are setting this all out yourself (as opposed to getting a printer to do it) then will it also work as an e-mail?

P.S. Pedants' corner have decided that it is 'flyer' not 'flier'.

I can recommend both a cheap designer (£6.25 to design a flyer) and printer (about £35 I think for 1000). I have used both to produce some pretty good flyers.

Wheelybug,

Can I ask who did the fliers for you? Neef to find someone cheaper than my current printer.

These people Jo...

www.printcarrier.com/

Wheelybug - is it the same website for designing the flyer? I was going to use vistaprint as you can design using their templates and see it on screen before ordering. They've got my letterhead and business card info too.

Thanks for the Wheely.

Tracy - No its an independent graphic designer. CAT me if you want his details but your option sounds good !