Marketing is absolutely essential for getting the word out about your business. But, with consumers that are constantly bombarded with marketing, how do you make your fliers, advertisements (online or otherwise), social media posts and other marketing efforts stand-out from the crowd?

Well, we have asked the CarolRoth.com contributor network of business owners, experts, advisors and entrepreneurs to share their very best tips for amping up small business marketing materials. Their answers are presented below in no particular order.

You may notice some similar ideas listed, but I kept them separate, as something in the way one is framed may resonate differently with you.

1. They Speak Louder Than Words

Looks aren't everything, but they sure do help! To make a great first impression, marketing materials need to look good. The colors, fonts, images, and how they all come together say a lot about your company before anyone reads a single word.

Thanks to: Ana V. Ramirez of Ana Ramirez Photography.

2. Stand-Out Images and Design

While content may still be king, design is getting more and more important. It helps to make your business appear more trustworthy and can help with social media sharing.

To help with design, there are now several great tools - from canva.com for designing fliers and advertisements, to piktochart.com for creating infographics, and powtoon.com for creating slides and videos.

Thanks to: Louise Hendon of Paleo Flourish Magazine.

3. Get to the Point!

When writing for marketing materials, clarity is key. Write a first draft that includes all pertinent information and then, cut any copy that's not necessary. Readers need to know who you are and what you're selling within seconds.

Thanks to: Jodi Everts of Love, Madison Weddings.

4. To Get More, Show Less!

The difficulty in creating graphic advertisements, whether it be a digital ad, physical flyer, or billboard, is realizing the potential failure of death by committee. Everyone wants their idea expressed, but expressing ten different ideas is the surest way to create an ad that isn't effective. Instead of trying to hit every bullet point, think about what is the least you can show to get your message across. A minimalist approach is sometimes the best way to get maximum results!

Thanks to: Flynn Zaiger of Online Optimism Design.

5. Podcast: Visual & Audio

When I do an episode, I shoot in video and then, turn it into an audio format to reach two different audiences through podcasting and YouTube. Podcasting is an affordable way to promote your business and helps with branding, marketing products & establishing yourself as an expert. The start-up costs are inexpensive and if you give great content, people will find you. Finding your niche is important; even in a crowded field you can stand out. Concentrate your efforts where you will be rewarded.

Thanks to: Julie Coraccio of Reawaken Your Brilliance.

6. Don't Bury the Benefits!

In my books and speaking engagements, my first rule is always: "Don't Bury the Benefits." Place them front and center. Don't make people read half way into your message to find them. BENEFIT, BENEFIT, BENEFIT. It's that simple. Tell them what's in it for THEM, right up front.

Thanks to: Barry Cohen of Adlab Media Communications, LLC.

7. Simplicity is the Key

The tip I would suggest to everyone would be to keep the advertisement simple. Don't add too many words because millennials these days don't really want to read; instead, add colorful pictures and a catchy short link that everyone can remember. Custom short links would be even better, but the key to a great campaign is to make it colorful and simple.

Thanks to: AJ Saleem of Suprex Private Tutoring.

8. Be You and Only You

I've met a ton of interesting, fun, inspiring people who use marketing materials that are lame and boring. Good marketing materials need to have your voice -- not the voice of someone unrelated to your company. If you're fun, sound fun. If you're academic, sound academic. You wouldn't put someone else's clothes on for an interview, so don't put someone else's words on your brochures.

Thanks to: Elura Nanos of Lawyer & TV personality.

9. Ask the Right Questions

You want to enter a conversation already going on in your prospect's head (Dean Jackson, Joe Polish, Dan Kennedy). Ask them a direct & simple question. "Would you like to add 190k to your business"; "Do you know what your business is worth?"; "What's the value of your home?"; "Are you still looking for ...?" By asking them a simple, direct question to something they're already thinking about - they almost feel compelled to answer & raise their hands!

Thanks to: Matthew Hudgins of Mosaic Wealth Management, LLC.

10. Can it Pass the Suitcase Test?

To stand out, marketing materials must be different. Think of a trade show, where people gather up a ton of paper and then, throw most of it out in order to lighten the suitcase-load for the flight home. If your marketing material doesn't pass the suitcase test, it's just not stand-out enough.

Thanks to: David Leonhardt of THGM Ghostwriters.

11. It's About THEIR Needs

It's tempting to make it all about what YOU do, what YOU offer, and what YOU want to get out of the marketing piece. But, think about it from their perspective. Speak to them in THEIR language and address THEIR problems that you can solve.

Thanks to: Beth Bridges of J Digital Identity.

12. Words Do Matter

People buy first on emotions. Your words must be emotionally compelling, from your marketing copy to the words you actually speak. This website, http://www.aminstitute.com, helps to identify how to make your words stand out, to differentiate yourself from everyone else using similar words. Remember, a goldfish has a greater attention span (9 seconds) compared to your sales lead (8 seconds). Source: Microsoft

Thanks to: Leanne Hoagland-Smith of ADVANCED SYSTEMS.

Carol Roth is a national media personality, "recovering" investment banker, dealmaker, investor, speaker and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation. To read more of her work, CLICK HERE NOW.