Who will win Round 1? Do you want to take the Officejet Pro Challenge -- Laser Edition?
As you can see from the leaderboard, the first round of the Officejet Pro Challenge is too close to call in this final fourth week of feedback from our five small businesses. Who do you think has delivered the most useful insight into how the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless can help small businesses get professional quality color printing with significant cost and energy savings?
If you haven't voted, be sure to head on over and check out this week's collection of blog posts. We asked the five companies to test-drive the HP Creative Studio for Business and use the free customizable templates to make some simple marketing materials for their own business. From business cards and flyers to trifold brochures, I think you may be pleasantly surprised by what these business owners were able to create within a short amount of time using the HP Creative Studio -- and by their feedback on the quality of the printouts.
So make your opinion count and vote for your favorite posts. The winning small business will receive a prize package that includes keeping the printer, 1 year's worth of Original HP ink and paper, and a professional design package from Logoworks by HP.
Wish you could take the HP OfficejetPro Challenge? The call for entries for Round 2: The Laser Edition is now open. Go here to learn more and enter.
Take the HP Officejet Pro Challenge for Small Business
As a small business owner, odds are good you keep a keen eye on expenses. You think technology has its place: It should work for you and improve your bottom line. If this sounds like you, then read on...
HP is inviting all U.S. small businesses with 20 or fewer employees to check out the HP Officejet Pro Challenge. We want five small business owners to swap out their current non-HP printer and test drive the award-winning HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One for 4 weeks. We want you to learn firsthand how you can get professional quality color printing while saving up to 50% cost per page and up to 50% less energy than comparably priced laser printers.
Simply share your experience online with other small business owners via HP's Small Business Community. Members of the community will review and rate your feedback. The participant who receives the most votes for "useful" feedback will be the grand prize winner.
The grand prize winner will keep the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One and will also receive a year's worth of free HP ink cartridges and paper plus a design package from Logoworks by HP.
Interested? Then hurry: You need to enter by Friday, July 10, 2009 to be considered for the challenge.
See the details here.
Angela LoSasso manages HP's Small Business Wiki and writes for the Small Business Marketing Guide. You can also find her on Twitter.
DIY Marketing in 3 Easy Steps and 15 minutes or less (plus, get a 20% off coupon)
but I'll say it again: Whether your business is just launching or has been in
the black for years, your brand is -- or should be -- as unique as you are. Your
"story" is often the reason customers decide to spend money with you.
The expertise,
strategy
and tips
shared in the Small Business Marketing Guide (brought to you by HP) will help you develop the compelling and unique story
of your business -- whether that brand story is a logo, a brochure, your company
letterhead, a website, or all of these
and more. I want to help you start
sharing that story -- without breaking the bank. And it starts with three easy
steps.
- Visit the HP
Creative Studio and select a free template. - Download the
template and customize it with your information. - Print it,
share it, and start building your business.
It's really that easy. But I'm
betting you'll be more likely to give it a try -- and succeed -- if I show you
how.
Follow these steps to get
customized, professionally designed letterhead and envelopes for your business in 15
minutes or less.
Step 1: Visit the HP
Creative Studio and select a free template.
I selected the "Stationery
and Envelopes" category.
Then I selected the FREE "Circles" Letterhead
Template. (You can choose from more than 25 FREE
professionally designed letterhead templates by using the arrows to scroll
through the thumbnail menu.)
Then I downloaded the matching
"Circles" envelope
template.
Step 2: Customize and Save your new Marketing Materials
Tip: In Microsoft Word, I first do a "Save As" to rename the files and save
them to my notebook. (I find it's better to have a locally stored copy to edit,
tweak, and have available for future use and printing.)
Get started by selecting the text
and replacing it with your company name. I'll show you what it looks like
before and after I change the text.
Here's what it looks like after inserting my own text:
Be sure to customize the contact and address information in the footer of the page, too:
Then do the same for matching envelope by editing the placeholder text to insert your company name and address. The before and after...
Step 3: Print it, share it, and start growing your
business. (And get a 20% off coupon!)
You now have professionally
designed, customized letterhead you can print yourself. But I'd be remiss if I
didn't share one more piece of advice: If you want professional quality color
marketing materials that you can print yourself (at up to 50% less cost per
page and energy costs than laser), I highly recommend the HP
Officejet Pro 8500 and Original HP
Officejet Ink and Supplies. 
Through May 5, 2009, you can save
20% ($80) on the new HP
Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One. Get the
coupon and terms here and see
the All-in-One (print, scan, copy, fax).
Related articles from the Small Business Marketing Guide,
brought to you by HP:
From John Jantsch: Incredible,
Credible Marketing Materials
From Anita Campbell: What
Google Can Teach Us about Printed Marketing Materials
From Guy Kawasaki: The Art of Branding
From Dane Carlson: Make
your marketing market you
5 reasons Small Business Can Hit Print Affordably
Got a question or comment? I invite you to send it my way.
