If you’re starting a new business, you might be curious about what is considered “essential” marketing collateral. After all, there are a LOT of things to think about when opening a new business.
And even if you’re already a business owner, you’ve probably noticed over the years that some of your most important marketing collateral has to be updated fairly regularly — and doing so can take up a lot of your time (and cost quite a bit of money). But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The online graphic design tool makes it easier to create eye-catching, professional graphic design for your business. You don’t have to be a professional designer to use Canva, and you can share the tool with professional designers if need be. (Learn how Bragg Media’s graphic design subscriptions can streamline your graphic design process).
Let’s take a look at the 10 essential Canva design projects that every business should have:
1. Business cards
But business cards are one of those items that needs to be updated regularly: If you hire a new employee, if your hours change, if your number or location changes, etc. Your business cards should also reflect your business’ “brand” style — your color scheme, logo, font, etc.
2. Social media graphics
Social media should make up a major part of your marketing strategy. And a large part of
social media marketing are the graphics! It’s what makes your posts stand out.
While it’s okay to reuse social media graphics on occasion, for the most part you need
fresh graphics for each social media post — making social media graphics perhaps the
one design project that takes up the most time in any marketing plan.
3. Rack card or brochure
The rack card/brochure can be updated regularly to incorporate different seasons, new promotions, etc. It should also stay up-to-date with the business’ “brand” style, just like the business cards.
4. Gift certificates
Your business can create a variety of gift certificate designs to go along with these different occasions — such as a few different birthday gift certificates, Mother’s and Father’s Day gift certificates, Christmas and Hannakuh gift certificates, wedding gift certificates, etc.
5. Customer loyalty cards or coupons
Customer loyalty cards and coupons are great ways to let customers know you care about their continued business and keep them coming back for more.
You can create customer loyalty cards with various incentives and at multiple “tiers,” such as a free drink after 5 purchases or a free meal after 20 meals.
Coupons are another item that will change based on your current promotion, making them a great project for a graphic design subscription.
6. Sales slide deck or other presentation
Slide decks are a great design project, and a great way to keep your meeting organized and professional — and keep everyone’s attention.
7. Informational/promotional posters
Posters are always a good idea, especially if you own a brick and mortar business. You can display posters in your windows with a variety of messages:
- One on the front door with basic business information, such as hours of operation and services
- Restaurants can make posters of their menus so people can decide if that’s where they want to eat before going inside
- You can create a poster with safety protocols (such as with COVID-19, or just basic bathroom hygiene — i.e., “all employees must wash their hands before returning to work”)
- Posters can be made for different sales or promotions, such as a BOGO deal or service special
- You can celebrate various holidays by creating festive posters
The possibilities are endless — and posters are also something you can frequently update, based on the season, holiday, promotions, etc.
8. Mailers/postcards
Believe it or not, postcards are still a great marketing tool. Don’t believe us? Check out this prior blog to see the statistics.
Like posters, you can create postcards for a variety of reasons:
- Sales or promotional events
- Coupons
- Customer loyalty incentives
- Birthdays and holidays
- New menus/inventory/service announcements
- New business hours or location
They’re an easy way to keep customers up-to-date on the goings on of your business — and customers are much more likely to look at a postcard they receive in the mail then to see that email that went straight to their spam folder.
9. Facebook cover photo/website hero image
These images can reflect your latest sales/promotions and inventory/services. You can also have fun with these images and reflect the seasons and/or holidays.
Website Design
Affordable website design with a process that works for you.
10. Logo
If you’re a new business or just ready to revamp your business’ logo, our advanced graphic design subscription includes the creation of a new, customized logo for your business.
LOGO DESIGN
Need a new brand identity? You’ve come to the right place.