Getting your message in front of potential customers in a way that's clear and memorable is a key way to business success. If your business needs you to convey a high volume of information in a format that's professional and stylish, the answer is by using booklets.

Booklets can take many forms depending on your type of business. They could be product catalogues, extensive brochures detailing in color your range of products and services, or menus in restaurants or spas. Other types of booklets that organizations need include inspiration booklets for churches, programs of information for events such as conferences and trade shows, and tutorial booklets on how to use products.

Booklets are highly flexible and versatile. You can leave them in the public areas of your organization for people to pick up. They're cheap to send through the post so sending them out to a mailing list can work as an effective advertising medium and bring in new customers.

In fact, in any situation where extensive information has to be presented clearly and vividly is one in which a booklet can be used. But what about the cost?

Perhaps you believe that the cost of high quality printing makes the process prohibitively expensive. Or maybe you think your business is too small to justify such elaborate printing jobs. You would be wrong on both counts.

Digital printing has made it possible to get quality print work done quickly and conveniently. Better still if you’re a small operation, it has made small print jobs viable. This means that professional printing is now within the reach of any size of business. And ordering your printing work online makes the whole procedure a snap.

That said, among printed promotional tools, booklets are among the most expensive to produce. But it's more affordable than you might think, and a quality booklet can promote your business in a way that makes the cost worthwhile. In any event, the first thing you need to consider is whether your business really needs booklets.

Essentially, if you have a business that offers a wide range of products services requiring detailed descriptions that are clear and well-organized, then booklets are your best choice.

An example would be a spa offering a range of elaborate health and beauty treatments that would benefit by having the method and benefits clearly outlined. You might want to list all the herbs used in the treatment, for example, along with their beneficial properties for the customers’ health. Color images of the herbs and treatments in progress would help bring the message to life. The document would also contain all pertinent information regarding length and cost of treatments and how to make reservations, in short, everything a prospective customer needs to know about your offerings and how to do business with you.

If you've decided booklets are for you, here are some pointers.

Firstly, you need to define your main objective for putting out a booklet. Only by doing this can you define its content and style.

Then, follow the guidelines of effective communication. Keep it simple and easy to read and understand, while at the same time making it look professional. For this you'll need someone with strong graphic arts skills.

Next, when designing and writing your booklet, make sure both style and message reflects your business. Use the same logo, colors, fonts, and themes for all your print marketing materials. This makes your booklet into a branding tool and one which will be easily recognized by consumers.

As for the mechanics of booklet printing, you have many choices for sizes. Standard dimensions are 8" x 9", 8.5" x 11" and 8.5 x 5.5". The more important graphic are for your message, the larger your document should be. They're usually printed on 100lb Gloss Book Paper and come with or without UV coating, and scored and folded in the center. Bindery options include comb, plasticoil, tape, wire and velobinding.

Ordering your booklet printing online pays dividends in terms of speed, convenience and cost. After placing your order, you just upload your file to the printing company and your order is delivered in a day or two. The best firms have no minimum order size but generally, the higher the volume, the lower the unit cost.