IS THE RECESSION BITING INTO YOUR
COMMUNICATIONS BUDGET?

Bite Back! Here are four tips on how your company or
organization can minimize marketing communications costs
and still maintian maximum exposure in your markets:

• Use publicity to get regular media exposure for your products or services—the equivalent of thousands of dollars worth of advertising—at no media cost.
  
  
• Develop a visual identity which forcefully conveys what your organization is all about. Remember: it costs no more to print a strong image than a weak one. And your logo speaks for you whenever it’s seen.
  
  
• Explore the use of direct mail communications. A well-designed postcard can be an effective tool (at a third less mailing cost). Enclose sales or fund raising messages with billings and notices you have to mail anyway. It’s more tangible than email, costs less than personal calls and can be targeted more effectively than expensive media advertising.
  
  
• Make sure all your marketing communications materials are professionally written and designed. Too often, executives doubling as communications managers lack the perspective and creative training needed to produce effective communications.
  

WMC can help you with these and other marketing communications strategies. For more information on how to take the bite out of the recession and still keep the good work going out, call or e-mail now for a free consultation on your communications program. (Go to the Contact page of this site for links.)

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NEW CLIENTS / PROJECTS

HAZELDEN – ADMISSIONS PACKAGE
Hazelden, the internationally renowned chemical dependency treatment and education center, engaged WMC to write, design and produce admissions materials for its new Graduate School of Addiction Studies. The project includes the admissions "viewbook", a course catalog / student handbook, a series of "shells" to be imprinted with varying viewbook insert content, and a graphic symbol for the Graduate School.

MCMILLAN ELECTRIC COMPANY – FLEET GRAPHICS
WMC has designed graphics for McMillan Electric's fleet of semi-tractor trailers. The new "rolling billboards" will feature the company's logo and contact information, and a gradient stripe that wraps around to the rear panel. McMillan, manufacturer of small precision electric motors, has shipped over 100,000,000 motors.

STATE AND LOCAL POLICY PROGRAM, HUMPHREY INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA –
IMAGE PACKAGE
The State and Local Policy Program helps policy leaders and average citizens to understand how changes in the global economy, technology and the workplace affect communities. WMC has worked with SLPP to design and produce a series of publications which show off the organization's new graphic identity (also designed by WMC). Included are a small brochure, a general-purpose presentation folder, a report cover and an insert sheet format.

GAINING GROUND SEMINAR – PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
The Gaining Ground Seminar is the joint effort of a financial development consultant, a church construction company, a bank and several lay church congregation members to identify the essential "building blocks" of a successful church building or remodeling project. WMC was engaged to edit, design and produce the "teaser" announcement and the comprehensive brochure / registration form.

PRO BONO PROJECTS
WMC believes that what is good for the community is good for business. In this spirit, we're working on a pro bono basis with two new clients:
Ready 4K – WMC is designing a letterhead package for this new organization, which promotes quality parenting, child care and other factors which contribute to making children ready to thrive when they enter kindergarten.
Independent School District 621 (Mounds View Schools) – WMC is conceptualizing, writing, designing and producing a brochure to help promote the district's visual arts program. The Art of Learning will make the case to prospective students and their parents that art is not an "activity", but a vital component of any school curriculum.

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