Small Business Marketing Guide - DIY (do-it-yourself) BRAND MARKETING STRATEGIES to HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again: Whether your business is just launching or has been in the black for years, your brand is — or should be — as unique as you are. Your “story” is often the reason customers decide to spend money with you.

The expertise, strategy and tips shared right here in the DIY Small Business Marketing Guide will help you develop and evolve the compelling and unique story of your business — whether that brand story is a logo, a brochure, your company letterhead, a website, or all of these and more. I want to help you start sharing that story — without breaking the bank. And it starts with three easy steps.

1. Visit the HP Creative Studio and select a free template.
2. Download the template and customize it with your information.
3. Print it, share it, and start building your business.

It’s really that easy. But I’m betting you’ll be more likely to give it a try – and succeed – if I show you how.

Follow these steps to get customized, professionally designed letterhead and envelopes for your business in 15 minutes or less.

Step 1: Visit the HP Creative Studio and find a free template.
I selected the “Stationery and Envelopes” category.

Then I selected the FREE “Circles” Letterhead Template. (You can choose from more than 25 FREE professionally designed letterhead templates by using the arrows to scroll through the thumbnail menu.)

Then I downloaded the matching “Circles” envelope template.

Step 2: Customize and Save your new Marketing Materials.
Tip: In Microsoft Word, I first do a “Save As” to rename the files and save them to my notebook. (I find it’s better to have a locally stored copy to edit, tweak, and have available for future use and printing.)

Get started by selecting the text and replacing it with your company name. I’ll show you what it looks like before and after I change the text.

Be sure to customize the contact and address information in the footer of the page, too:

Then do the same for matching envelope by editing the placeholder text to insert your company name and address. The before and after…

Step 3: Print it, share it, and start growing your business. (And get a 20% off coupon!)

You now have professionally designed, customized letterhead you can print yourself. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t share one more piece of advice: If you want professional quality color marketing materials that you can print yourself (at up to 50% less cost per page and energy costs than laser), I highly recommend the HP Officejet Pro 8500 and Original HP Officejet Ink and Supplies.

Through May 5, 2009, you can save 20% ($80) on the new HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One.

Get the coupon and terms here and see the All-in-One (print, scan, copy, fax).

Related articles from the Small Business Marketing Guide,
brought to you by HP:

From Adrienne Machina:  Incredible, Credible Marketing Materials

From Anita Campbell:  What Google Can Teach Us about Printed Marketing Materials

From Guy Kawasaki: The Art of Branding

From Dane Carlson: Make your Marketing Market You

More from Angela LoSasso: Top 5 Reasons Small Business Can Hit Print Affordably

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Angela LoSasso manages HP’s Small Business Wiki and writes for HP’s Small Business Blog. You can also find her on Twitter.