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Guide to Customized Calendars

Make your company calendar stand out without spending a fortune.

By John Fuller


Giving away calendars to customers (or prospective ones) is a great way to keep your company's name in the spotlight 365 days a year. But since it's such cost-effective advertising, many companies do it; you need a calendar that stands out in either form or function, so yours won't be thrown straight into the round file.

A calendar that is used by customers will:

  1. Also advertise to your customer's customers if it's prominently displayed
  2. Remind customers of important business-related dates or promotions
  3. Provide a means to deliver coupons or other advertising
  4. Create a tradition if the calendar is unique. Every year you want customers to eagerly await YOUR calendar.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Pick your format

Calendars come in many styles: wall hangers, weekly planners, desk cubes, keyboard stickers, refrigerator magnets. Pick a style you think your customers will want to keep in view.
I recommend: Branders sells customized giveaways for business and its online store is a good place to scan the variety of calendars.

Do it yourself

Use desktop software to create a professional look yourself.
I recommend: See a comparison of the major calendar-creation software packages at TopTenReviews.Take a quick course in calendar design from Graphics.com .

Order from a promotions company

If you want to go with a basic design and stock photography, ordering from a promotions company may be the easiest and cost-effective route.
I recommend: Companies such as 4imprint and ValueCalendars.com provide calendar templates and photographs for you to choose from.

Get 'em printed

You can get end-to-end service from printers, starting with design help.
I recommend: digilabs offers free design software and discounts for ordering in bulk. My1Stop lets you design using their templates or their design team will create to your specs.Both companies take orders online and ship in a few days.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Consider hiring a local photographer. The photographer may also do design or will know somebody who does to make the graphics look great as well.
  • Instead of stock photos or pictures of your town in different seasons, putting your employees in the calendar is a great way to generate publicity and get the whole company involved. Keep it fun but tasteful.
  • Free gifting. Encourage customers to give the calendar away to their customers.
  • Check out the competition. See what they're doing and make your calendar stand out.
  • Keep it functional. Make sure there's enough space to write notes and mark important dates.

The official source of Customized Calendars is the Customized Calendars page at Business.com

Customized Calendars - 50% Off
Special Offer! 50% Off Calendars. Design & Order Online.
www.Vistaprint.com
Custom Promotional Calendars with Your Logo
Buy Wholesale Imprinted Calendars Now - Low Price. Big Savings. Great Value.
Branders.com/Calendars
Advertise Year Round with Promotional Calendars (10% Off)
Add your logo or slogan to a variety of custom desk, wall & appointment calendars. Choose a stock print or create your own fully custom calendar.
Wall Calendars | Desk Calendars | Span-A-Year | Stick Up Calendar
www.qualitylogoproducts.com/calendars
Custom Promotional Calendars
Find Custom Promotional Calendars. See listings and reviews of retailers, specialists and services in your area. Get your promo calendar today.
JustClickLocal.com

Recommended Solution Providers

Xerox: Color Connection
Find customizable calendar templates to choose from and get some tips about customized calendar printing.

Fedex: Office Printing
Create customized calendars as a sales promotion with this service. Feature your own photos, include your logo, mark all your special dates. Place your order online, then pick up in-store, or we'll ship for you.

My1Stop: Customized Calendars
Find your small business' customized calendar printing needs here. This provider's commercial printing services include complete design services, quotes on custom projects and customer service on every full color commercial printing order.

Print Lizard: Customized Calendar Services
Whatever your needs or experience with the printing process, this site can help your small business find the right solution for customized calendar printing.

Printing For Less: Custom Calendars
Get a custom calendar made with your photos or business logo.

Branders: Promotional Calendars
Promotional items and products for your small business' marketing and trade show promotions.

Asensoft: Custom Calendar Maker
This company provides downloadable software for the design of personalized calendars.

Yearbox: Promotional Calendars
Use this service find the right style of promotional calendar for your small business.

Best Sites to Learn More

About.com: Calendars for Marketing
Find calendar design software, calendar templates, and ideas for creative, decorative calendars. Count down the days in style with your own creative, custom daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly calendars. Create a calendar for your business, for clients, or as a promotional strategy.



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