PrintRoundTable

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.  

Finding the Right Mailer that Will Grab Attention and Bring in Customers

Filed under Mailers

Businesses struggle every day trying to find the right marketing strategy to bring customers in the door and not cost a fortune.  Mailings have been a tried and true method; however, with the online marketing and email coming into play, several businesses have gone online as opposed to using traditional methods, such as mailings to increase business.  Now that this shift has occurred, most consumers need something that will really grab attention in order to look twice at a mail piece.  One product that gets seriously overlooked is Pressure Seal and U-Seal™. Pressure Seal  mailings are traditionally used for more official functions such as pin numbers, grade card reports, bill statements or confidential results.  U-Seal™ is used the same way as Pressure Seal only they are primarily for items that do not require strict confidentiality; such as utility bills. This is why using pressure seal/u-seal for marketing is a stroke of marketing genius.  The less you put on the front of the sealed piece, the more inclined a consumer is to open just because they do not want to miss an important piece of mail. Right from the start you have their attention.  Although Z-Fold is the most common choice of fold, many businesses are using a C-Fold version of these forms because you can design the form in such a way that when the customer perfs off the edges, it will actually leave a coupon that slips out.  The other nice thing about Pressure Seal or U-Seal™ is you can run them through your laser printer, so printing is very easy and affordable.  U-Seal™ only needs 10 lbs of pressure to seal.  That means all you need to do is hand-seal the form.  This is cheaper than going the pressure seal route.  Press Seal does require a machine to fold and seal the mailer before you can send them out.  This makes Pressure Seal a much more secure document and can withstand the beating it may get in the mail system. Unless you are already using pressure seal, or plan on moving other forms over to pressure seal, a U-Seal™ mailing is the one to choose. Regardless which form you choose, when marketing with mailers, any way to get customers to look twice and not throw the piece in the trash is a good thing.  The more interactive a piece, the more attention it gets.  It is worth a try if you have never marketed this way before, and you may be surprised on the ROI of this unique mailer.

Get the Best Envelopes for your Business

Filed under Full Color Envelope Printing , Mailers , Marketing Collaterals

Selecting business envelopes seems like a easy thing to do. Put a logo on an envelopes template and you are ready. Unfortunately, it isn't always that simple. Putting together a good corporate image takes thought, vision and consistency. Your stationary is a direct reflection of your business. It should function as you need it, giving your customers the feeling of security and still be within your budget. Envelope printing seems like a pretty easy thing to understand; however, there are many different features  that a business needs to consider when choosing the perfect envelopes for their business. First variable to consider is the size, or sizes, your company  will need. A #10 envelope is pretty standard for most businesses. However, some would rather have a #10 with a window. And even one step further, many businesses that need payments or correspondence mailed back, need a #9 envelope with or without an envelope. From very large to extremely small, there is a huge variety to choose from. The key it to choose envelope sizes that you actually need with having a stockroom full of extra inventory. Another factor to consider is color. Color can really affect pricing on your envelope printing project. Businesses can go very simple with a one or two color option, or a full color envelope. Full color envelopes can be quite pricey and if it isn't necessary for your corporate image, then it is more cost effective to go simple. However, if you have photo images, or a very complex colored logo, then definitely stay with full color. Trying to change your corporate image on a few marketing pieces to save money will hurt you in the long run, not to mention making your business look disjointed. There are also a large number of materials in the envelope printing world. 24# Linens, Bonds, and Classic Laid materials are just a few. Normally choosing your color helps determine what material to go with. If you choose a full color envelope, the number of materials usually is limited to one or two options. Going with a black only, or one and two spot colors, gives you the most options. Laid materials have a slight handmade finish, whereas Linen has a woven pattern. Bond material is normally smooth. There really is a material to match any look a business is going for. The best way to help determine which envelope options are best for your business is to request envelope samples from your printing company. Testing different colors and materials is the best way to see which one works for your business image. Sometimes it is best to order a small quantity with your logo and information to make sure they are how you envisioned, and then order a larger quantity when you are sure they are exactly what you want. It is better to be out a little money than a lot.  

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.