presentation folder

presentation folder

The Importance of a Presentation Folder

1. Introduction

They are used in the marketing of one company or another, from small to large, ranging from a funeral service to a baseball trading card. Presentation folders are a universal tool! The range of use on a presentation folder is subjective to the purpose of its use; it may be a simple design with a logo and tagline to an intricate design with custom die-cuts, embossing, etc.

Though the idea of a presentation folder seems simple, the range of their use is extensive. They are commonly used in the education sector and can be customized for each individual student, with their individual subjects, etc. They are also used at conferences, corporate meetings, workshops, and are often used as press kits.

Have you ever thought about how much more effective your company’s presentations would be in a conference if the information was in a single, efficient, convenient package? Well, that is why presentation folders are important! The two main purposes of a presentation folder are to organize a stack of papers and to present the papers.

2. Benefits of Using a Presentation Folder

It not only reinforces company branding with its professional appearance, it makes a priceless impression on potential clients, earning their long-term business and loyalty. Folders can offer a great design layout including vibrant colors, catchy phrase, company logo and much more. This cost-effective tool presents possible growth in future business deals, partnerships, and other agencies seeking investment. With organized and well-kept presentation folder, it contains information that provides a quick reminder of companies’ products or service that the client is looking for. This could be anything from a questionnaire or survey filled by the client, pricing information on a product discussed, or future service to be applied and etc. This gives client no reason to forget the company, and providing answers above with positive marks possible brings a new deal for the company. Step-by-step it is an easy way to project success in any business model. A professional appearance and being well-organized are elements of success, and the presentation folder delivers both. The convenience to store all needed information to gain business in one package is as efficient as it gets.

3. Designing an Effective Presentation Folder

Content should ideally be designed around the use of other promotional material, with the intent that it will steer the reader onto investigating your services further. For example, if a brochure contains maps and information on local attractions, a tourist may be more inclined to book a holiday. And a simple product may begin to look more attractive with potential customers provided information on cost/product comparisons.

Once a customer or client has been attracted by the folder’s appearance, the next key element to a great folder is information. The layout of information should be clear and easy to read, but should also be designed as a tool to help sell your services or product. It would be good to consider your folder as an alternative salesman. With this in mind, one should plan out an order in which they wish information to be read. An introduction to your business, leading onto services which can be provided, and ending with some manner of contact information is a basic structure for most folders.

The design of a presentation folder has essentially two elements: form and substance. The visual impact of a folder can often form the basis of its success or failure in attracting the potential client. It would be encouraged for most businesses to invest in a good graphic designer to create an eye-catching folder. Logos or branding symbols can also add a level of professionalism and create an image of corporate identity.

4. Tips for Organizing Content in a Presentation Folder

If you are promoting a highly complex product or idea, you may need to educate the customer before you can attempt a sale/attitude change. It will likely be too much to introduce at once, so it will be necessary to break it down into smaller, more manageable units. In this case, it will be for you to identify those units and organize them in a way that the reader will be able to understand. A folder can be an effective educational tool and the reader will be more likely to be receptive to your product or idea after having read and understood it.

The most common and effective organization pattern is the problem/solution format. This will work for you if you have a good understanding of your audience’s beliefs about the problem and can convincingly argue that there is a problem. The reader is then ready to consider solutions, one of which will be your product or idea. An effective problem/solution folder has a problem section on the left-hand inside page and a corresponding solution section on the right. Each spread should address only one problem and the problem should be clearly identifiable with a headline or graphic. The more problems that you can identify and persuasively argue the existence of, the more convincing your folder will be. Make sure to present problems which can be solved by your product or idea. If you do not have solutions for the problems, it is not a good idea to bring them up. This will only serve to draw attention to an area where your product is lacking. You can also use the folder as a tool to advance an idea. In this case, each spread will function like a proof or a step in a mathematical theorem. On the left is a self-contained unit of information and on the right is a concluding statement or implication of that information.

Use the inside front cover of the folder as a billboard for the product or idea you are promoting. This is the first thing the reader will see so it has to create interest and deliver a strong, positive message. Use a simple headline or graphic and restrict it to one page. The goal is an appealing, clutter-free look.

Remember to analyze your audience and determine the best way to present the information to them. The goal is to make the material easy to understand and quickly accessible. Also, consider the folder as a form of visual communication and the folder format as a recipe, which guides the reader through a series of logical steps. The way in which you organize the information will greatly impact its persuasiveness.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the presentation folder plays a large and integral part in the daily business of knowledge workers. It helps in preparing for a sales presentation, organizing materials for a conference, or producing a media kit for law. A presentation folder is a type of folder that holds loose papers or documents together for organization and protection. Presentation folders usually consist of a sheet of heavy paper stock or other thin, but stiff, material which is folded in half with pockets to keep paper documents. Presentation folders function much like that of a file folder for organizational purposes. They can be found in many different materials with a multitude of designs and styles. A pocket folder is usually used for storage and presentation of loose paper with a die-cut for a business card. A presentation folder is an extremely overlooked tool, but its importance cannot be denied. Researching the importance of a presentation folder has really opened my eyes to see how much I have taken them for granted. By being unorganized and using paper clips, I have really stunted my growth as a knowledge worker and left a bad impression on my peers when presenting them with my messy assembly of paper. Now I understand that in order to be efficient and effective as a knowledge worker, using a presentation folder is a necessity. Showing up to a job interview with a resume and other documents placed neatly into an eye-catching branded presentation folder says a lot about one’s professionalism and will leave a lasting impression on the employer.