Attractive magnetic buttons bearing your company's sales message are an excellent way to get what you have to offer out in front of customers---and make it stick. Magnets might be trinkets, but most people like them. If they are easy on the eye and/or fun to look at, they will be kept and used.
Target Your Market
First, decide on the target market for your product or service. This will help you figure out how many magnets to make. Unless you have plenty of helping hands around, it's probably a good idea to limit yourself to a small first-time run of perhaps 50 to 100 magnets.
Assemble Your Supplies
A short trip to a shopping mall and/or a bit of online shopping and you'll have all the materials you'll need. Purchase the actual magnets required and craft glue from a craft shop. Depending on the quantity of buttons you are making, you'll need 50 to 100 wooden discs 1 1/2 inches in diameter. You can get these from a scrapbooking store. Next, make a stop at a photography shop to pick up a can of lacquer-based protective art spray. Finally, you can purchase 1 1/2-inch sticky-backed round labels at an office supply shop. Avery® brand's 1 1/2-inch circles come with an online template to make printing your message and artwork a breeze. The template is available at http://www.avery.com---just enter 8293 in the search box.
Create Your Magnetic Buttons
Use your label template to create your button design. Include the vitals: the name of your business, what you offer and your contact information. The amount of space you have is very limited, so simplicity is key. Make the magnets as attractive as possible.
Now glam it up a little. Include a small graphic--your company logo would be ideal. If you don't have one yet, use a simple clip art squiggle or other design illustrating your type of business.
Now print up your labels on your home printer and then assemble your magnets. Spray the labels with a lacquer-based protective art spray. Allow to dry. Then peel the backings off the printed labels and attach them to the wooden discs. Use the craft glue to attach the magnets to the backs of your discs.
Tips:
* Get creative. You can glue appropriate small items to the surface of your advertising magnets--buttons or yarn tied in a tiny bow for a handmade crafts business, a couple of pasta shells spray painted gold for an Italian restaurant, or nuts (as in bolts) for a handyman service.
* If you don't have time to create your own magnetic buttons, a "quick fix" is to buy a pack of 100 sticky-backed business card-sized blank magnets. Almost all office supply stores carry these. Attach your business card and you have an almost instant advertising giveaway.
