When people receive portfolio folders, they know they're receiving important documents.
Full portfolio folders stand out – they're larger than most folders, often much deeper as well, and can even be made out of plastics to increase their durability. As packaging, they immediately tell someone that what's inside should be taken seriously. As such, they're an excellent choice for recruitment packages for virtually any industry.
Whether you're sending out acceptance packages to college hopefuls, trying to bring an established player onto your team, or just hiring new talent from an exclusive pool, the right portfolio folder will put them in the perfect frame of mind for your pitch.
Well-designed portfolio folders put your best foot forward, accompanying and enhancing the materials inside.
The Right Portfolio Folders Hit All Your Targets
Great document folders are designed to complement the materials within, so consider what the recipient is supposed to be doing with those documents.
Organizational Recruitment
If you need to get someone excited about you, that excitement can begin to build even on the outside. Swoopy or arrow-like graphics with motion towards the flap encourage people to open it up. Plus, in the meantime, you can quickly establish your logo, motto, and colors with bold branding front-and-center.
The back of the folder is great for a few quick facts about your organization, if your lead needs more encouragement. Look for tidbits about your history or ideals that will make them want to see the details. When you have that perfect recruit in-hand, you'll immediately start making a connection with them.
Documents That Need To Be Retained
In many cases, customers may need to hang onto materials for a long time, or refer to them repeatedly as time goes on. This could be anything from warranty information, to property titles, to loan repayment documentation. The packaging challenge here is to encourage them to keep the folder and paperwork together, to reduce lossage.
Look for ways to make your portfolio folders part of the process. Put the instructions on the packaging, or at least part of them. Include important reminders that address common problems. Stress the importance of keeping the document folder and documents together.
Aside from other warnings and suggestions, the back is a good place to establish a few of your credentials. It helps remind people why they're hanging onto the paperwork.
Documents To Be Returned
Another common use for portfolio folders is to hold a stack of documents that will need to be filled out and returned. Although they may bring to mind health and legal organizations, any firm's HR department will use them from time to time.
Besides stressing the importance of bringing them back fully filled out, include plenty of suggestions or 
frequently asked questions. Anything you can put on the folder that prevents errors will quickly pay off in reduced customer service costs.
Try putting a map to your location on the back, with a big reminder of your location. Not everyone has GPS, and that map then makes the packaging itself useful. If people are keeping their paperwork in its original folder, the materials are much more likely to return intact. It also provides a direct visual reminder that the folder has to be returned.
Create Document Packaging That Meets The Recipients Needs
A well-designed portfolio folder works as packaging that works with the documents inside to make them as appealing and usable as possible. Great document folders create a great first impression, but that's just the start. They keep making impression after impression, every time it's seen.
Your clients, customers, and prospects have an easier time with what are usually difficult processes, and that means you'll see lowered administrative and service costs as a result.