Branding – IFTS, Inc. Blog

Cupid’s Key to Crafting Valentine’s Day Cards for Your Customers and Clients Using Canva

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion that businesses can leverage to connect with their clients or customers on a personal level. Sending a heartfelt Valentine’s Day card not only shows appreciation for their patronage, but it can also help forge stronger relationships and foster a sense of community. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Canva, a user-friendly graphic design tool, to create a creative and professional Valentine’s Day card that will leave a lasting impression on your clients or customers.

Choose a Template or Start from Scratch

Canva offers a wide range of Valentine’s Day card templates that can save you time and effort. To access these templates, simply visit Canva’s website and search for “Valentine’s Day card” or a related keyword. Browse through the available templates and select one that best suits your company’s branding and the message you want to convey. If you prefer to start from scratch, click on the “Create a design” button and choose a custom size for your card. A popular choice for Valentine’s Day cards is a 5×7-inch (horizontal or vertical) format, but you can also opt for a standard 4×6-inch card size.

Add your Brand’s Style

Once you’ve chosen a template or started a new design, it’s time to customize it to reflect your company’s branding and the message you want to convey. Here are some tips to help you create a unique and eye-catching Valentine’s Day card:

Use your brand colors: Add your company’s colors to the card to make it instantly recognizable and reinforce your brand identity. You can do this by selecting the “Color” tool in Canva’s sidebar and choosing your brand’s primary and secondary colors.
Add your company’s logo: Incorporate your company’s logo to make the card more professional and memorable. You can upload your logo to Canva by clicking on the “Uploads” tab on the left-hand sidebar and selecting your logo file. Once uploaded, drag and drop it onto your card design.
Choose an appropriate font: Select a font that complements your brand and the message you want to convey. Canva offers a wide range of fonts, from classic and elegant to modern and playful. Experiment with different fonts and sizes to find the perfect combination for your card.
Add a personalized message: Write a heartfelt and personalized message that expresses your appreciation for your clients or customers. Keep the message concise and focused on the value they bring to your company. You can add text to your card by clicking on the “Text” tab on the left-hand sidebar and selecting a text box.

Customize with Team Photos and Selfies

To add a touch of camaraderie and a personal connection to your Valentine’s Day cards, consider incorporating team selfies into the design. This not only humanizes your brand but also showcases the people behind the business, fostering a sense of familiarity with your clients. To enhance the visual appeal of these selfies, utilize Canva’s background removal feature to eliminate any distractions. This ensures that the focus remains on the team members themselves. Take it a step further by injecting a dose of humor through the addition of fun photo backgrounds to use in your card. Canva’s extensive photo library provides a plethora of options, allowing you to customize the selfies with playful and lighthearted graphic “props” and backdrops. This creative touch not only brings a smile to your clients’ faces but also reinforces a positive and approachable image for your brand.

Add Some Sweet Stickers

Add Valentine’s Day-themed Elements To make your Valentine’s Day card more festive and engaging, consider adding themed elements such as hearts, flowers, or Cupid. Canva offers a vast library of Valentine’s Day-themed graphics and illustrations that you can use to enhance your card design. Here’s how to access and add these elements to your card:

Search for Valentine’s Day elements: On the left-hand sidebar, click on the “Elements” tab and type “Valentine’s Day” or a related keyword into the search bar. Browse through the available elements and select those that best suit your card design.
Customize the elements: Once you’ve added an element to your card, you can customize it by changing its color, size, and orientation. To do this, select the element and use the options in the top toolbar to make your desired changes.

Change out the Font For a Festive Feel

Typography can elevate the overall design of your Valentine’s Day card. Experiment with different fonts to find a combination that complements your message and aligns with your brand. Canva provides a variety of font options, including script, serif, and sans-serif styles. The possibilities are endless!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Take your Valentine’s Day card to the next level by adding a QR code that links to a personalized video message or a special offer. This interactive element adds a modern touch and engages your clients in a unique way. Canva allows you to generate QR codes and seamlessly integrate them into your design.

Once you’re satisfied with your Valentine’s Day card design, it’s time to bring it to life. Canva offers printing services, or you can download the design and print it locally. Consider factors such as paper quality and finish to ensure the final product meets your expectations.

Decide on the most effective way to distribute your Valentine’s Day cards to clients. If you have a physical office, hand-delivering cards adds a personal touch. Alternatively, mailing cards with a personalized note shows thoughtfulness and consideration. Canva also allows you to create digital versions that can be sent via email or shared on social media.

There You Have It!

Sending Valentine’s Day cards to your clients is a meaningful gesture that strengthens your professional relationships. With Canva’s user-friendly interface and versatile design features, you can easily create personalized and visually appealing cards that reflect your appreciation. Follow this comprehensive guide to craft memorable Valentine’s Day cards that leave a lasting impression on your clients and contribute to the growth of your business.

Need some help with your marketing strategy?

Give IFTS a call at 412-559-7177 or email us at si@iftsdesign.com

Get The Marketing For Your House Painting Business Right – January Edition

Should I Offer Promotions or Discounts, and How Do I Market Them?

Are you the owner of a house painting business?

Do you want to get your marketing right this year?

Well, we want to help you!

Painting business owners often ask us lots of questions about marketing. They want to know how to enhance their business visibility and attract more leads. They also want to know about the best way to turn those leads into clients.

So, let’s go over 3 common questions that we get asked. More importantly, let’s also review the answers to those questions so your 2024 marketing gets you to your revenue goal.

Question 1 - How Can I Effectively Target My Local Market?

To effectively target your local market, it’s important to employ a multi-prong approach that combines both online and offline strategies.

Start with your foundation, your website.

Be sure to use onsite search engine optimization techniques, such as:

Page titles
Alt-text for images
H1, H2, and H3 tags
Website schema where appropriate

Make sure that the website is optimized for local keywords.

Need keyword ideas? You can use tools like:

These tools can tell you what people are searching for and how often it’s being searched in your area.

Next, utilize online platforms like Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing to enhance your local visibility. Be sure to fill out your profile completely and post regularly.

After you have a solid foundation, you can move to the next level, which is social media. Engage with your followers and your community through social platforms that your prospects are using. Share before and after images, customer testimonials and relevant content to the work that you do.

You can also leverage online advertising through these platforms, as they allow you to target using specific geographic areas as well as demographics and psychographics.

After you have your online efforts started, use the power of traditional marketing methods as well to 2X your efforts.

You can:

Distribute well-designed flyers or signs in local neighborhoods
Participate in or sponsor community events
Partner with local businesses
Partner with a local charity

Don’t forget about the local database you already have – your client list! Ask satisfied clients for referrals (or if they have anything else that they need to have done).

All of these methods can contribute to a robust local marketing strategy.

Bonus Tip - Be sure to monitor and analyze the performance of your marketing efforts.

Make adjustments as needed based on feedback that you receive from your clients and the effectiveness of different channels.

By combining online and offline strategies, you will create a comprehensive approach to effectively reach and connect with your local market.

Question 2 - How Can I Differentiate My Painting Business From My Competitors?

Some people believe that all painting businesses are the same and they just look at the price.

Well, it is your job to make yourself different from everyone else and change that person’s mind.

So, how do you do that?

First, you need to focus on your hook to “reel” people in. Your hook is your unique and compelling identity.

What are your strengths?

What sets your company apart?

Some examples:

A commitment to craftsmanship
Innovative painting techniques
The speed at which you can get to a client’s house
A guarantee that you offer all clients
Any other distinguishing factor that sets you apart

Next, craft a strong and memorable brand message that communicates your hook to your target audience. You may want to create an accompanying image that illustrates your hook as well.

Once you have your messaging finalized, it’s time to start advertising it!

Showcase your brand message through content marketing. Create informative blog posts, videos or social media posts that revolve around your messaging and targets your exact audience that you want to reach.

Some additional points to highlight in your content marketing:

Your painting skills
Your industry knowledge
Your commitment to customer service

This will position your business as an authority in the field as well as building trust with future customers.

Another way to set yourself apart from your competition is to encourage and actively collect positive customer reviews and testimonials.

Be sure to display these on your website as well as your marketing materials. This can help build credibility and reinforce the quality of your services.

Question 3 - What Online Platforms Should I Use For Marketing?

Choosing the right marketing platform really comes down to a few things. You will need to look at:

Your target audience (where do they hang out?)
Your business goals (how much do I want to make and how much can I spend?)
The nature of your painting services (what value do I provide?)

Here are some effective online marketing platforms to consider:

Google Business Profile (GBP): Make sure that your business profile is optimized and completely filled in. This platform enhances your local visibility, provides essential information to potential customers, and encourages reviews.
Your Website: As we mentioned above, your website is the foundation of all marketing. It serves as your online storefront, providing information about your services, your work photo gallery, customer testimonials, hours of operation and contact details. Optimize it for SEO to increase your overall online visibility.
Facebook/Instagram: Share high-quality photos or videos of before and afters, completed projects, your team at work, engaging content and more! Let prospects put a face to the name of the business and get to know, like and trust you before they hire you.
Google Ads: You can find people with a buying intent here. They allow you to target specific demographics, locations and interests to reach potential customers effectively.
Email Marketing: Create and maintain an email list that has both clients and prospects. You can send them newsletters, promotions and updates to keep yourself top of mind and them fully engaged.
Content Marketing: Create valuable content, like blogs, videos or articles that are related to house painting and home improvement. This positions your business as the authority in your area and improves your SEO at the same time.
Review Sites: Be active on all of the review sites that you can, such as Google, Yelp, Home Advisor and more. Encourage your satisfied customers to leave you reviews. You will also want to address any negative feedback that you receive on these platforms as well.
Local Directories: List your painting company on local directories and industry-specific platforms. One tool that you can use to automate this process is Yext. This helps with SEO, enhances your online presence and helps potential clients find you more easily because you are in more places that they may search.
YouTube: Did you know that Google owns YouTube and that YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world? YouTube can be powerful for reaching an even broader audience than before. Create engaging videos that show off your painting projects, client testimonials or DIY tips.
Community Engagement: Take part in local online forums and community groups. Be sure to engage with the local residents and offer valuable insights. This will help establish you as THE local house painting expert that they should call when they have a paint job.

Elevate Your House Painting Business with Strategic Marketing in 2024

In the dynamic world of house painting, mastering the art of marketing is essential for business growth. As we’ve explored in this article, the key to success lies in a well-rounded approach that blends both traditional and digital strategies. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your local visibility, differentiate your business from competitors, or choose the right online platforms, a strategic and multifaceted plan is paramount.

Effectively targeting your local market involves optimizing your website with SEO techniques, leveraging online platforms like Google Business Profile, and engaging with your community through social media. Traditional methods, such as distributing flyers and partnering with local businesses, complement these efforts to create a robust local marketing strategy.

Setting your painting business apart from competitors requires a strong and memorable brand identity. Identify your unique strengths, craft a compelling brand message, and showcase it through content marketing and positive customer testimonials.

When it comes to choosing the right online platforms, consider your target audience, business goals, and the nature of your painting services. From Google Business Profile and social media to email marketing and community engagement, each platform plays a role in enhancing your online presence and reaching potential customers.

As you embark on your marketing journey in 2024, remember to continuously monitor and analyze your efforts. Adaptation is key, and by combining online and offline strategies, you’ll create a comprehensive approach that effectively reaches and connects with your local market. Here’s to a successful year of growing your house painting business through strategic and impactful marketing!

Want help accomplishing your goals this year?

Check out our Painter Marketing 365 program!

Santa’s Little Helpers Unleashed: Creating Cheerful Company Christmas Cards with Canva

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to sprinkle some holiday cheer into the workplace than by creating company Christmas cards that are not only festive but also pretty fun?

In this blog post, we’re diving into the whimsical world of Canva, sharing some little nuggets of inspiration and tips on how to craft the most memorable Christmas cards for your colleagues and clients.

Whether you’re aiming for a classic or a more modern approach, Canva’s wide range of templates and design tools will surely help you unleash your creativity and spread some laughter this holiday season. So grab a cup of hot cocoa, put on your Santa hat, and let’s get started on making the most unforgettable company Christmas cards yet!

Step 1: Rally the Team’s Christmas Spirit

Call upon your crew to unleash their inner holiday spirit! Whether they’re donning ugly sweaters, tinsel tiaras, or even elf ears, encourage them to embrace the festive madness and capture it all in a group photo.

But what If your team isn’t local, or maybe everyone is too busy to gather for a group photo, don’t worry! You can create a virtual group photo! Simply upload individual photos of your team members–we’ll show you in the next steps how to arrange and edit them in a festive layout to capture the spirit of togetherness, even from afar. This is a great way for busy teams to still feel connected and celebrate the holiday season together!

Step 2: Canva Wonderland

Enter the magical world of Canva, where the Christmas design possibilities are as vast as Santa’s toy workshop. Before we can get to the actual editing, you’ll need to choose a template, or background, that really —whether it’s a classic design or a more modern twist—and get ready to sprinkle some digital fairy dust. Consider your audience and your company’s style when selecting the backdrop for your creation.

Step 3: Elfie Upload Extravaganza

Now, it’s time to really showcase your team’s holiday spirit! Upload that group photo or the individual elfies—I mean, selfies—right into Canva and start arranging them like the cast of a Hallmark holiday rom-com. Canva’s drag-and-drop feature makes this as easy as sliding down a snow-covered hill.

But wait, how do we make the images really pop? Let’s get rid of the office background with Canva’s photo editing tools. Use the background remover and add some fun filters or overlays to give the images that extra touch of holiday magic. With Canva’s editing tools, you can transform your boring photos into a digital masterpiece that will make your card recipients really feel the holiday cheer!

Step 4: Jingle All the Way with Festive Elements

With Canva’s extensive collection of festive elements, you can take your holiday card to the next level. Whether it’s adding a touch of sparkle with twinkling lights or bringing in a line of some playful snowmen, the possibilities are endless. And of course, don’t forget to include Santa hats and elf ears for that extra dose of holiday cheer! Get ready to spread joy to all with your personalized masterpiece.

Simply select an element, drag and drop it onto your card, and resize or rotate it to fit your desired look. You can also customize the color, opacity, and position of each element to create a truly unique design. With Canva’s easy-to-use interface, you’ll have a blast experimenting with different combinations and creating a holiday card that stands out from the rest. So go ahead, have fun, and let your imagination run wild as you bring your holiday greetings to life!

Step 5: Jolly Jokes and Yuletidy Text

What’s a Christmas card without a dash of humor? Whether you’re aiming for a laugh-out-loud moment or a subtle chuckle, Canva’s text tools offer endless possibilities for adding humor to your holiday card. From playful fonts to creative text effects, you can easily transform your words into comedic masterpieces that will leave your recipients in stitches. So go ahead and craft a message that really sleighs—I mean, slays!

Not your style, or do you need something more professional? Canva’s text tools also offer a wide range of elegant and sophisticated fonts, allowing you to create a more professional and polished holiday card. You can find the perfect typography to convey your warm wishes in a classy and refined manner.

It really is a gingersnap to get your company’s holiday greeting cards customized quickly. So go ahead and let your creativity shine, whether it’s through humor or professionalism; Canva has got you covered!