Promote Your Company’s “EST” Factor

In today's competitive marketplace, it's important that you determine your company's "est" -- the differentiating factor that gives you a competitive edge. Whether your business strives to be the biggest, fastest, strongest, lowest, or oldest at something, the "est" factor will help you push to be the best and become the go-to business for that area of expertise.

Here are a few ways to find your "est": Ask your customers. The customer voice is a great way to pinpoint areas where your business truly shines. Encourage customer feedback through comment cards, surveys, testimonials, or simply by asking customers their opinions when you meet with them. Identify and enhance your strengths to add greater value to your business. For example, if your business is known for the fastest delivery services in town, you may consider opening a second location, adding additional delivery drivers, or upgrading your computer system to ensure you continue providing the fastest services possible. Accept your weaknesses, and don't become discouraged by areas where your business falls a little short. For example, if your prices aren't the lowest, you might say, "We may not have the lowest prices in town, but we offer the longest warranty in the industry to provide greater value for your dollar." If you'd like help spreading the word about your "est" factor, we'd love to help. Our professional team can help create some of the greatEST marketing materials with the fastEST service you've ever seen!

We Want Your Vote!

With Election Day fast approaching, why not take advantage of the voting spirit by creating a few fun polls for your business? Here are some clever ways to gather opinions and reward your loyal customers in the process: Ask customers to vote for their favorite products or services. Send a postcard campaign or statement stuffer with a web link to an online ballot. Distribute campaign flyers. Post information on your Facebook page, website, or other social media channels. And have a ballot box at the main desk of your business, where customers can vote by paper ballot if they prefer. Encourage customers to learn more about your products by creating a game-like quest. Provide clues through various communication channels (email, direct mail, social media), and reward those who complete the quest. Inspire participation by offering a grand prize drawing, as well as a guaranteed coupon or smaller thank-you to all who vote. Create an "Election Day" sale to encourage extra traffic, and consider offering an additional discount to any customers who come from the polls wearing an "I voted" sticker. If you're creating an in-house promotion, remember that food is always a crowd pleaser. Consider offering cookies, cake, donuts, or simply coffee, hot chocolate, or cider. Provide a follow-up marketing campaign to announce the winner, and consider running an exclusive special on that particular product or service following the election. Maximize your promotions by offering combo specials that include your most popular products with lesser-known or newer products. Our creative experts are here anytime you need help spreading the word about an upcoming sale or promotion. Give us a call today!

Printing Is a Responsible Choice

In lieu of a "Think before you print" email tagline, we encourage you to consider adding something like this to your emails:

"It's OK to print responsibly. Not using paper in order to save trees is comparable to not eating salad in order to 'save' vegetables. Managed timberlands are similar to agricultural crops which provide clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat, as well as millions of jobs nationwide." While there are many misconceptions about the paper and printing industries, we proudly stand behind them both, and we encourage you to check out these resources to learn more about why printing is a responsible choice: www.paperbecause.com -- Domtar's Paper Because campaign highlights the key role paper plays in our lives and the reasons why it's environmentally friendly. www.chooseprint.org -- Choose Print is an educational campaign designed to promote the effectiveness of print as a sustainable choice. www.rediscoverprint.com -- Rediscover Print is committed to searching out credible information, case studies, and statistics on how print makes a positive impact in our daily lives. www.twosides.info -- Two Sides promotes the responsible production and use of print and paper. The site provides information on why print and paper remain a versatile, sustainable communications medium

Is Direct Mail Really Dead?

Is Direct Mail Really Dead?

You may have heard the hype that direct mail has died and gone to junk mail heaven. Don't believe it. That talk comes from people who have never learned how to use direct mail correctly and effectively or who have a vested interest in spreading false and misleading information.

Why use direct mail? Because it works.

• It works in getting clients.
  
• It works to get your foot in the door.
  
• It works for lead generation.
  
• It works for growing traffic at brick-and-mortar (and even online) businesses.
  
• It works at differentiating your company from those who rely strictly on online communication.

Direct mail marketing is extremely reliable and extremely precise. It can be inexpensive and personalized. In fact, direct mail arrives more personally than any other medium and can deliver a message with 100% exposure.

In addition to all of this, direct mail...

• Requires virtually no tech skills
  
• Can be leveraged using shared advertising space
  
• Is what nearly all recipients prefer for unsolicited advertisement
  
• Can bring in business without someone actively searching for it
  
• Can be scaled infinitely
  
• Has worked for over a century without fail
  
• Has always been the king of all advertising
  
• Can take almost any business to any level of success desired
  
• Can be felt and not just seen
  
• Has an infinite shelf life

To be clear, "junk mail" is NOT what we are referring to as effective direct mail. Some companies with large marketing budgets can afford this type of "spray and pray" mailing.

Effective direct mail marketing takes some thought, planning, and strategy. It needs to be memorable, and it needs to stand out. Businesses of all size that are utilizing this powerful tool are still reaping the rewards.

No, direct mail isn't dead. It's alive and kicking. If you haven't tried it in a while, try it again. You won't be disappointed by the results.