The good, old trifold. These pamphlets slip as comfortably into an acrylic brochure holder as it does into a business-size envelope or a handbag. There are many reasons to return to this perennial favorite beyond easy distribution; trifolds are budget-conscious choices that impart information in an easy-to-read manner.
One of our favorite solutions for complex programs that target several different audiences is to create a trifold series. The Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, for instance, offered different sets of services to three distinct audiences: musicians and performing artists, adults with COPD and heart disease, and kids and teens with asthma. A single capabilities brochure would be expensive and not appeal to two-thirds of the audience at any given time. A single trifold would not be big enough to cover all its programs. Instead, we produced three stunning trifolds, one for each patient group, distinct, but clearly of the same family.
Strong employee communication and recognition programs increase productivity and help to create a corporate culture of pride and, in turn, promote customer/patient satisfaction. Beyond the obvious employee newsletter, there are other cost-effective ways to positively reach out and applaud your staff. For instance, we designed birthday cards for one client where employees’ children and grandchildren provided the art. The cards were snail-mailed to employee homes in the appropriate months. In the clutter of digital communication, a real birthday card was an appreciated surprise.
There are ways, too, to freshen the old standbys. We have enlivened employee newsletters with regular, well-received features, such as one that acknowledges personal accomplishments or a wellness corner that addresses employee concerns. For a remarkably diverse community hospital, we initiated a “Where We’re From” column, which focused every month on a different ethnic group’s culture, holidays and food. For an extended-care facility, the employee newsletter spotlighted two employees every month with engaging profiles and portrait shots.
We have also worked with Human Resources to generate excitement around existing employee-of-the-month programs. Among our successful recommendations: Giving a prime/free parking spot during the month the winner is acknowledged, a pizza party in the winner’s department when the employee is announced, and, of course, a mention in the newsletter.
> If you need help with employee outreach, give Lazzaro Designs a call or shoot us an email.
“I absolutely love working with Maryellen Lazzaro. She is extremely creative and understands intuitively what needs to be done visually to make a great ad or brochure. There are times when I’m not 100% sure what I want from a design point of view and Maryellen is willing to brainstorm ideas with me. Best thing about Maryellen is that she really over-delivers in terms of client service and responsiveness. She is also very personable and it is a pleasure to work with her.”
—Patricia Philippe
Independent Marketing Consultant and Writing Workshop Facilitator and former Assistant Director, Marketing, Mount Sinai Health System
Many busy physicians don’t have time to read much, but they do check their email. An e-blast, illustrated by a striking and appropriate medical image, conveyed in 15 seconds the important message that Continuum NeuroSciences provided cutting-edge neurosurgical solutions.
Hyperlinked throughout (to relevant web pages and the hospital’s YouTube channel), the e-blast was provided in html format to the client’s marketing department, who, in turn, immediately distributed it to all their referring physicians via their Constant Contact account.
The e-blast was well received by the client and the physicians alike. Considered an eye-catching, but powerful marketing tool, the e-blast triggered an increase in referrals…and more patients received the important care they needed for relief.
> If you need help creating effective e-blasts, give Lazzaro Designs a call or shoot us an email.
