PrintRoundTable

Simple Ways To Make Plain Flyers More Appealing!

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , General , Marketing Collaterals

Flyers are a great way to get your message to the public.  Sometimes it can be a challenge to get the results you want.  Here is a simple set of tips to help add visual impact to your flyer printing.   One Simple Message is all you need to draw attention to your flyer. When you try to create a flyer with a ton of information, the message you want to convey almost always gets overlooked. Flyers should have just one main message that is to the point and grabs attention.  For best flyer printing results, make your main message font 2 to 3 times larger than the body copy font. Add Information That Draws the Eye to the Message to provide details. A great way to do this is by adding 3 to 6 bullet points. Bullet points help add short, descriptive details including dates, times, locations, entry fees, or any information that supports the main message.   Colored Text and Images can change boring flyers into more interesting ones. It is important to not overdo on color, but add just enough to grab attention and make it relevant to the main theme.  For example, if you are promoting a sale, you may want to add photos of your sale items on the back of your flyer.  If you are doing a church fundraiser, a beautiful bible verse or spiritual image may help draw people’s attention.   Material optionsare vast; however, a glossy material tends to help color stand out more. Whether you need text or cover material, choose a gloss material, or add a laminate for extra shine so your flyers get noticed!   It is very easy to go from a simple, basic flyer to ones that pop.  Just follow the guidelines above and see what results you can get!  

Start Marketing Off On The Right Foot For 2013

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , Full Color Envelope Printing , General , Marketing Collaterals , OnlinePrinting - Marketing Tips For Small Business

Every year brings new business challenges.  Whether it is budgeting tasks, creating goals and traveling schedules, the one thing that should be at the top of your business to-do list is creating marketing collaterals that will bring interest in your company.  A consistent corporate identity will give your business brand recognition, build trust and bring in current and new customers in the door.  The best way to get the word out is to create flyers, brochures, rack cards, letterhead, business cards, and envelopes that are tailored to your exact needs.  And do all of this on a budget!   Out of all marketing collaterals, business cards, letterhead and envelopes are a must.  Business cards get handed out everywhere.  From trade shows, conventions, sales calls, and just casual run-ins, you need a way for customers to contact you.  If you have a business where there are many products and services, adding an informational brochure, flyer or rack card will give customers valuable information to take with them and have on hand.  Depending on your offering, you may just need a simple rack card, or single sheet flyer, but regardless, giving customers with the information they need that is easily accessible is a must for growing your business.   Another key element is creating marketing collaterals that show a solid corporate image.  Basically, you want everything to match.  A solid corporate identity does many things that businesses sometimes take for granted.  For example, having many different logos may make your business come off as indecisive.  If your brochures have one design and your business card is vastly different, a customer may mistakenly throw one of the collaterals away, not realizing it is the same company. Building trust is one of the hardest things any business does, and customers can be very unforgiving when it is broken.  Keeping all collaterals consistent is key to building a solid, trusting relationship with your customers.   Finally, price shop with caution.  Sometimes cheaper isn’t better.  Having one printer print all of your marketing collaterals may help ensure that your design colors stay consistent.  You may also get discounts for ordering many collaterals at one time.  Turn time is also important. You do not want to waste valuable sales time waiting on your print.  Keeping these points in mind will start your 2013 marketing year off running!  

Were you Prepared for Black Friday? What About the Next Few Weeks?

Filed under Distribution Label Solutions , General , Plastic Products

Black Friday is always the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and also when many businesses get a taste of what is to come over the next few weeks. Many are seeing a shift in the way consumers are purchasing.  Instead of fighting in-store sales, customers are going online to purchase their sale items.  And now businesses are choosing to start their sales on Thanksgiving Day, as opposed to the traditional Friday.  And many people are just waiting until closer to Christmas to shop.  Regardless of how customers or businesses choose to purchase, being prepared for the holiday season is a must to keep your business running smoothly and staying profitable.   Retail businesses that use plastic cards and holders also need to keep a healthy supply in stock over the holidays; even more than normal.  Plastic gift cards are the easiest product to push, and they provide a high ROI for most companies, so letting them run out could put a huge strain on a business.  Not to mention they are ongoing marketing pieces that can be recharged and reused. During the holiday season, getting plastic cards printed can be a challenge, so the farther away from Christmas you order your cards, the better your turn times and pricing will be.  In fact, there are times when a business can place orders at the beginning of December, and not get their cards until January.  The demand is that high this time of the year, so ordering early is imperative. Gift card holders are more easily accessible and sometimes even have stock, or off-the-shelf, options to cut down on turn times and cost.   Another way to stay prepared is to stay stocked with every day, general supplies.  Online companies need to keep shipping labels, packing slips, and any other items needed to fulfill orders.  Nothing will shut down your business, and lose repeat business, faster than running out of shipping supplies.  Customers will not purchase again if they cannot get their orders on time.  Also having plenty of business cards, letterhead and envelopes on hand also helps with sales and office functions, keeping things running smoothly.   Marketing is very important to drive in business; however, the best marketing will not help if you do not prepare for the business coming in.  With just a few short weeks left in the holiday season, making sure you have the supplies you need will keep you up and running for a successful holiday season.

Get The Word Out About Your Business With Postcards!

Filed under General , Mailers , Marketing Collaterals

The holiday season is right around the corner and with that many things are going on. Churches are holding special services for their congregations. Retail stores are arranging their promotions. Even hospitals and clinics are holding flu shot clinics.  This time of year is extremely busy and hectic, and with all of these amazing events going on, many forget to market. What good is an event without anyone showing up? Paper and Plastic Postcard mailers may be the cheapest, most fun mail item a person gets in the mail.  Letting your target audience know to visit you will make your project successful, and in some cases very profitable.  Depending on your budget, and goals, will help you determine whether to go with a paper postcard or the plastic version.  Paper postcards are the most economical, fast way to get the word out. Many paper postcards come in very thick materials with a coating, making them withstand the mail environment and arrive as beautifully as they were coming off the printing press.  Choosing a glossy coating also enhances the likelihood of the postcard getting read and not simply tossed in the trash.  Paper postcards generally have very fast production times, so you can rely on a mailing to reach your customers within a few short days.      If you have the budget, a plastic postcard is the best choice for many reasons.  First, they are made of plastic, so they are have a higher chance of being read.  Also, they can have a plastic card built right into the postcard, making them interactive and fun; not to mention a lasting souvenir of your business.  There are also some postcard mailers that allow you to put a magnetic strip on the back, making them a functional card for promotions and discounts. The downside is cost and time.  Plastic postcards do cost more than their paper counterpart; however, because they produce a higher read rate, you may get more sales or response making the cost worth it.  Production times are much higher with plastic postcards, and can run as high as 7 to 10 days, so that is something to consider when planning your event.     Businesses cannot go wrong with either postcard version.  Knowing your budget, timeframe and what you want to convey to your audience, will ensure your project will be a success.  

Medical Wristbands are Quickly Becoming a“Not So Medical” Product Anymore

Filed under General , Medical Products

If you ever had to go to the hopital because you were hurt, had an outpatient surgery or procedure, or even gone to an oral surgeon or dentist, then you are probably not a stranger to medical wristbands.  Hospital wristbands, sometimes called Laserband®, are a great way to ensure the safety and billing accuracy of patients.      Medical wristbands have always been around in some form.  Many remember the plastic bands where a piece of paper was slid into the band for identification and secured with a metal snap.  Babies used to wear little beaded bracelets with their last names on them in the nursery after they were born.  Now, with advancements in technology, hospital bands are printed through a laser printer, complete with charging labels to make sure everything is billed appropriately. What most never anticipated was how these little wristbands could be used in many other industries.    With security a major concern, especially when children are involved, some facilities have used Laserband® to tag both parent and child to avoid possible abduction.  Other facilities use laser wristbands to tag the child, and in turn, use the labels to assist in billing for items, such as food and supplies. Veterinary Clinics and Grooming Businesses are tagging animals to assist with identification and billing. Concerts, amusement parks, and special events are taking advantage of medical wristbands to keep track of those who enter.     In addition, Laserband® wristbands have nice features such as they are moisture and wear resistant, customizable, easily applied, self-laminating and can be tamper-evident. Because these wristbands are laser compatible, you can even print a person’s picture, or any other image of choice, which further aids in security.  Just because your company is not medically based doesn’t mean you cannot take full advantage of the benefits medical wristbands can offer.  With many sizes, shapes and options available, they can help many businesses enhance their processes and bottom line.    LASERBAND® is a federally registered trademark of LaserBand, LLC. Sales limited to the US only.  

5 Ways to Promote your Business Gift Cards

Filed under Full Color Plastic Card Printing , General

Consumer budgets are tighter this year than ever, and many businesses may need a little extra help bringing in business and getting customers to purchase.  For those who offer plastic gift cards to their customers, below are some extra tips to help increase your gift card sales. 1.      Make your plastic gift cards stand out!  This can be done by creating a design that commands attention, or simply creating an inviting display for your cards. 2.      Make sure you offer the complete package. Offer a complimentary holder, envelope or sleeve to complete the look.  Most customers don’t just hand their card over to the recipient.  They put it in a pretty package. 3.      Offer a variety of choices. Customize your cards based on the occasion.  A birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Congratulations, and Thank You are popular options. 4.      Create a promotion or incentive. For example, for every $100 you put on a gift card, the store will at $10.  Another would be by $50 worth of gift cards and get 10% off your purchase.  There is nothing more enticing when a customer is shopping to get a little something for themselves. 5.      Join forces with a nearby business. Sometimes two offers are better than one.  For example, you can teaming up with a nearby store, restaurant or spa and share the responsibility of promoting each other.  Buy a gift card with Store A and get something From Store B.  A little co-op marketing can help increase sales and even possibly decrease costs. 

Using Integrated Labels to Improve Your Shipping Process

Filed under Custom Labels , Distribution Label Solutions , General

More companies are discovering the secret to simplifying their shipping process with integrated labels. Integrated labels have been around for a while and businesses large and small are utilizing their great ability to save cost, time and costly quality assurance issues. To determine if it is worth switching to an integrated labeling solution, a business needs to evaluate how much it costs to ship out a package with their current method.  Calculating the time it takes to apply the label and packing slip is very important as well.  Paying an employee to handle the shipping label and packing list is a time involved process.  Even if you save 15-20 seconds per carton, you have just improved productivity getting more cartons out the door.  This alone will save you money over time. Quality assurance is an area that deserves attention.  When a line worker has to match a packing slip with a box with a shipping label, it is easy to see how errors can occur.  And unfortunately, these errors cost both time and money.  The sheer number of staff to figure out an error, after it occurs, can stretch over several shipments. This means unhappy employees and, more importantly, unhappy customers. The integrated label is great as the shipping label and packing list can be on one form, reducing errors and reducing the time it takes just to match everything up.  Many businesses have decided to stop adding the packing list to the outside of the carton, and put it inside instead.  This makes an integrated label that much better!  Just peel off the shipping label, drop the packing list in the box, and then apply the shipping label.  That easy! There are many different styles of integrated shipping forms that are available right off the shelf, giving you the ability to customize your form from start to finish.  This is perfect for the companies who change things up often on their packing slips.  For some businesses, the cost of toner alone is enough to go with pre-printed forms. Basic information such as company logo, and fields that show on all forms, are printed right on the form and then ran through their printer saving on overall toner costs.  And even with all of the options out there, maybe a company has a special application and the label structure does not work for them.  This is another instance where going with a custom printed integrated label may be worth the cost. However, regardless of stock or custom, integrated labels can be a great addition to your shipping process. It is definitely worth the time to see if they fit into your business model.

Choosing Invoice and Payment Mailers that Work for Your Business

Filed under General , Marketing Collaterals , Mailers

 Businesses strive every day to find ways to be more cost effective and increase their profitability. Mailing costs is the one area that seems so simple, but yet can swallow up a large amount of a company’s money.  In order to be profitable, and keep costs low, researching the best options and processes is the key to successfully managing those internal costs.  Whether you company mails invoices, payment vouchers, or just regular correspondence, ensuring you are getting what you pay for, while maintaining your corporate image is very important.    If you are a company who sends out invoices and remittance slips, a product that may help you save money is the Form-N-Envelope.  Available in two standard sizes, the Form-N-Envelope mailer runs through a laser printer, and once printed, you can fold, tab and mail.  This one form can take the place of 3 different pieces on information including #9 and #10 envelope and letterhead or invoice. You can also choose to have them pre-printed with the information of your choosing to cut down on toner expense as well. Another great option, although it does require some upfront cost, is Pressure Seal mailers.  Pressure seal comes in two standard sizes, and the functionality and savings you get long term is substantial.  The one drawback is you need to purchase a folder-sealer in order to use the forms. This machine allows you to put a stack of pressure seal forms in the tray, push the button, and they automatically fold and seal.  There are even some machines that will print the form and then fold and seal, making the process even easier.  So the process is very simple.  Print the form, run through the folder sealer and mail.  No need for extra envelopes.  Once the customer receives the mail piece, they simply tear off the perimeter to open what is inside. There is even a version that comes with an envelope built into the form so your customers can return any payments to you! U-Seal ™ is a great mailer option that is very similar to a pressure seal form. They come in flat sheets, but instead of using a folder-sealer to seal the U-Seal ™ form, you can do it by hand.  In fact, you only need 10 lbs of pressure to seal this form (the equivalent of pressing down with your fingers). They form a great seal; however, if the information needs to be very secure, then you still might want to stick with Pressure Seal.  In fact, you only need 10 lbs of pressure to seal this form (the equivalent of pressing down with your fingers). There are many mailer options to customize for your specific business needs.  It may even be possible to use one specific mailer for many different projects around the office and not just invoices or statements. Some companies have been very successful using the above mentioned mailers as marketing piece to drive business.  No matter which mailer you choose, they are all great in their own way to help your business rein in costs and continue to be profitable.  

Bookmark Printing for Businesses and Tradeshows

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , General , Marketing Collaterals

  Bookmark printing has been around for ages.  And they are for so much more than just marking your page in a book.  Bookmarks are a little reminder to anyone who uses them of your business, or any other message, that you want to convey. You can go very fancy to simple and elegant, but the message is always there no matter which way your budget turns.   Bookmarks come in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, colors and options. You can add a hole punch and tassel for added pizazz, or keep them simple for ease of use.  To make them an effective marketing tool is all about the message you put on them.  For bookmarks in particular, businesses walk a fine line between overselling themselves on a piece and making it functional. When a person picks up a bookmark to use, it needs to be appealing to the eye, basically something they would want to look at, and still have enough of the company message for marketing purposes.   The best way to achieve this is to devote one side to your company, and one side to the consumer.  Choose the company side to put your contact information, maybe a brief company statement and a product or service list.  Even a price list could be used on the company side. However, on the consumer side, choose something that will grab attention.  Use a beautiful scenic background, maybe a motivational message, or print multiple versions to cater to different audiences. Perhaps an image of a high end sports car for the men, and a neat recipe on the front for women.  Or with recent movie and book crazes, put an image of a character or actor on the front with your information on the back.  A business doesn’t necessarily have to choose an image that matches their field, although many do which is fine as well.  The point is to have a functional, customer driven piece that just happens to have your information on it.   Pricing can be a major factor in what style of bookmark a business goes with.  If your budget allows a full color bookmark on both sides of the piece, by all means utilize the space.  However, if you can only afford a one sided bookmark, you can still make it fun, appealing and functional. It is just a matter of integrating your information with the image on the front.    Regardless of budgeting or style, every business can benefit from this very small piece of marketing collateral.  Try different things until you find one that benefits your business the best; add a promo code, do something totally off the norm.  Have fun with these little marketing pieces because they are designed to be a fun piece, engaging the customer!  Not many marketing collaterals are actually kept buy a customer; however, a fun bookmark is the exception to that rule if done correctly!  

Poster Printing –Design Tips

Filed under Custom Printing Tips and Guidelines , OnlinePrinting - Marketing Tips For Small Business , General , Poster Printing

Helpful poster printing tips to advertise your message! [More]