Hammermill^® Tips

Color-coded bills and invoices can alert the recipient to their importance, and help you organize your filing system at the same time.

Start White, End Bright A color-coded system enhances paper file organization while alerting clients to delinquent accounts. Send out a first notice on regular paper. Each subsequent bill should be a different color. Pastels, which are easy to read, serve as gentle reminders. But for final notifications, send an attention-getting color such as bright yellow (Hammermill Goldenrod) to emphasize the urgency of the request.

Try Hammermill Fore® MP Colors in eye catching colors to get your requests noticed. 
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Image counts. So use compelling text and sharp graphics on posters, and always make sure to:

• Place elements wisely. Posters should command attention without jarring the reader.
• Add extra impact through graphics and photography, letting the images convey the message.
• Reinforce that statement with short body copy and a headline that stresses your most important point.
• Edit and manipulate images and text. Experiment with original images to create new images. For example, colorize multiple pictures and create a collage. Use color. It will make your poster stand out, and can really emphasize graphics. To improvise with the images's shape, add subheadings for clarity. Remember that commonplace images might be copyrighted — so check whether permission is required to use them.

For sturdy posters, try Hammermill Color Copy Cover or Color Copy Gloss Cover**.

**Note, Color Copy Gloss Paper and Cover stocks are not suitable for ink jet printing.

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Since potential customers retain information up to 50% longer if they see and hear it, use visual aids to add extra impact. Strengthen your presentations with the following suggestions:

Seeing Is Believing
Graphics keep your audience's attention while conveying your point. Photographs and illustrations are quick, effective ways to improve your proposal or presentation. Always keep images simple by communicating one idea for each visual.

Hand Them A Message
Handouts illustrate your point as you speak and allow others to take your message with them — literally. Printed, color handouts look professional and attract attention. Since brand image is one of the most powerful tools in the marketplace, make sure your logo is featured on every document you distribute. Impressions work cumulatively, so show clients your logo repeatedly.

For perfect proposals and presentations, try Hammermill Color Copy paper.

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Your business card is one of your best advertisers — and one of the easiest to use. Consider these suggestions:

Never Leave Home Without It
Keep a supply of cards with you at all times, even in your carry-on luggage when you travel (you never know who's in the next seat). Include a card in all correspondence from press releases to sales letters.

Ask For Referrals
Repeat customers can pass your cards on to colleagues and friends, if you make the request. Give them an extra incentive by offering a discount or a free gift for each referral.

Try Hammermill Color Copy Cover for your business card needs.

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Even in this age of digital technology, it is important to keep hard copies of important documents. Paper, when properly cared for, can last hundreds of years.

How To Save Documents
Give older documents longevity by photocopying them onto paper that's fabricated to last. Acid-free paper keeps images pristine and minimizes deterioration. Remove corroding fasteners such as paper clips and staples and replace old filing folders with acid-free ones.

How To Store Documents
Handling and exposure to light, air and humidity are the main causes of paper deterioration. So store important papers in boxes made from acid-free cardboard. Keep them safe from all hazards by placing that carton in a fireproof box.

All Hammermill products are acid free for added archival quality, to extend the life of your documents.

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Your message won't be heard if the customer never opens the envelope. Persuade them to read your material by:

Enclosing Something in the Envelope
This gives the envelope dimension and makes it almost impossible for recipients to leave it unopened — they will be too curious to see what's inside.

Personalizing Your Offer
Although a mass mailing may be easier, a personalized letter makes the reader feel special. So pay attention to detail — make sure you have the correct spelling of the individual's name and title (even if you have to call to check). Remember, everyone wants to feel important, so consider addressing each envelope by hand.

If you want a response, include a self addressed stamped envelope in your mailing. The easier you make it for the consumer, the more likely you are to receive an answer.

See your local merchant for assistance choosing suitable envelopes.

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Simplicity is the hallmark of impressive brochures. With the right fonts, an easy-to-read format works best. Remember to:

• Choose fonts carefully. Although hundreds of fonts exist, use only two in each document–one serif font and one sans serif font. Serif fonts, such as Bodoni, have a small line or curl at the tops or ends of letters and are easier to read in long lines of type. They work perfectly for text copy. Generally, sans serif fonts, such as Helvetica, don't have lines or curls and are more legible and easy to read in a quick glance. Sans serif fonts work best for headlines.
• Keep type fonts consistent. After choosing fonts, use them in all your printed materials, from brochures to price sheets. This consistency gives your business an easily recognizable identity.

For paper that folds easy into brochures, try Hammermill Color Copy.  Ideal for color copies.

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Seventy-five percent of people learn from visual perceptions, so using graphs can really emphasize your point:

Word Chart
This best expresses an idea or group of ideas. Word charts often use bulleted lists and phrases for clarity rather than complete sentences.

Pie Chart
This shows the parts of a whole. It instantly shows the biggest (or smallest) piece of the pie.

Line Graph
This tracks trends over time, or trends based on two coordinates by using a line to indicate progression — for example, how a particular product has sold over the last 12 months.

Bar Chart
This shows the relative growth of various items over time — for example, the sales of Product A and Product B over a 12-month period.

Tables
This allows you to show numbers without trend analysis.

Hammermill Laser Print is perfect for reports, wit its ability to show sharp, strong numbers that help avoid eye strain for the reader.

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Colorful, eye-catching headlines make for stunning signs and notices that stand out even on a crowded bulletin board.

The Perfect Palette
Color calls out your message — use it to maximize impact without overshadowing content. Bright and attractive colored paper creates the best effect. Also, colors should make sense for your product or service — for example, cherry is more appropriate for the fashion industry than for a dental practice.

Engage Readers with Titles
Headlines and subheads draw the viewer's eye to your notice. Make headlines big and bold while briefly summing up your message. Use subheadings to highlight points in the text and to break up images.

Hammermill Fore® Colors are durable and the perfect choice for signs and notices.

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