What is your creative strategy?

Are you ready to get started on your next magazine or newspaper ad, brochure, sell sheet, web page, email campaign, or direct mail piece? Jumping in without a clear plan is the fastest way to create marketing materials that don’t achieve your objectives.

You’ll get a better result if you start by defining your “creative strategy.” 

Your creative strategy is your “blueprint” for creating the campaign or individual element. It’s an outline of:

1. Your main message. How do you want to position your company? What is your unique benefit or combination of benefits that your competition doesn’t offer? What are the key messages you want your audience to know about your company or product or service? Why should your target buy from or do business with you?

2. Your target audience. Who are you talking to?  What is most important to your audience? What are their characteristics?  How familiar are they with your company or product or service? 

3. The tone you want to use.  Is this a friendly reminder? Do you need to prove you’re a trustworthy, professional company?  Is your image built on humor? Do you need to speak “CEO to CEO”?

4. The response you want (if any). Do you want your target audience to call for your latest white paper, or go to your web site to request it?  Do you want your target audience to visit your web site to learn more? What will motivate your audience to take the action you want? 

We all want beautiful marketing materials, but just looking good isn’t going to sell your product. Be clear about your goals – and make sure everyone on the team knows what they are.

This creative strategy outline will help guide your copywriters and art directors. You’ll get the most creative, effective and nicest-looking work by starting with a well thought-out creative strategy.

For more information check out the tips in “How to effectively use promotional print materials to market your business” at www.wildwomandesign.com/articles.html.

Wild Woman Design specializes in creating the right images for businesses. From developing logos to choosing color schemes to designing a look for Web sites and brochures, we make sure your business always looks its best.

For more information about our services, including testimonials and samples of our work, please visit our Web site at www.WildWomanDesign.com.

Looking for fresh, innovative, results-driven graphic design? Check out our portfolio, or contact us for a free quote on your specific project.
858.720.1484

Need an article for your website or e-newsletter? Feel free to use one of ours – just keep the copyright/author information intact. You can find articles at www.WildWomanDesign.com.

AOL Users: Please add us to your address book so you'll continue receiving future issues.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Contact us.