Author: info@celestialprintdesign.com

Creativity in marketing campaigns is invaluable. 

Creative campaigns help you stand out, allowing you to reach more people. The more people reached, the more successful your campaign.

But how exactly can you come up with creative marketing campaigns? Below are some ideas to help you out. 

Get inspired for creative marketing campaigns 

Look to places such as social media and local or national news for inspiration. Try to participate in TikTok trends, especially if they connect well to your business. Look to the news. Is anything happening you can find a way to relate to your company? 

Use FOMO for creative marketing campaigns 

FOMO, or fear of missing out, is quite a powerful marketing technique. 

In fact, 60% of people make purchases because of FOMO. Usually, the purchase is within 24 hours. Tap into this through limited-time specials and discounts. Build up the anticipation through emails and direct mail, letting consumers know it’s coming up. Perhaps take it a step further by only making it accessible to people who complete an action, such as visiting your store or following you on social media. 

People will do a lot for limited-time opportunities. 

Be charitable for creative marketing campaigns

Consumers like to support businesses that care about and support good causes. 

82% of consumers prefer companies that support and donate to charities. Look around for causes that you and your employees care about. Find a way your business can support it. Perhaps give it attention within your marketing. Say X% of the proceeds will go to the organization. Or your business will be closed for a day so you and your employees can volunteer. 

Either way, make it known that your business cares about that cause. When consumers support you, they’ll also be supporting others. 

Engage daily for creative marketing campaigns

Not every marketing strategy has to relate to your business directly. 

In fact, sometimes it can be more effective if it doesn’t. Maybe customers don’t want to get an ad from your business daily. But perhaps they do want to get a daily quote, fun fact, cute animal picture, or joke. Allow customers to opt-in or out of this daily content.

Customers will associate your business with something positive while not getting angry for being overly advertised to.

Create interactive content for creative marketing campaigns

Customers enjoy participating actively rather than passively. 

Interactive content includes… 

• A decision tree to help customers make those tough decisions
• A quiz to help a customer discover new things about themselves
• Polls for customers to voice their opinions. 

Giving customers a way to participate in your marketing materials actively makes the experience more memorable and enjoyable. 

Beginner’s guide for creative marketing campaigns

Perhaps your industry has some barriers to entry. 

Help potential customers by creating an easy guide into the industry by defining complicated jargon, providing them with the dos and don’ts, giving insider tips, and everything else they’ll need to get started. 

Provide value for creative marketing campaigns

Stand out from your competitors by adding unique value to your customers. 

Conduct case studies or interview industry experts to get one-of-a-kind information that can only be found through your business. By contributing up-to-date and interesting material to the industry, you’ll draw people in. 

Being creative and coming up with new ideas to reach customers can be daunting. Look around for inspiration and refer to this guide for ideas. 

Every marketing campaign isn’t complete without a diverse method of communication. The more methods you use, the better your chance of reaching people. Limited-time sale notifications can be sent out through direct mail, and a beginner’s guide could be shared through a brochure.

Wherever your creativity takes you, we’ve got you! 

Brand awareness is essential for any business. 

A business’s brand is the mix of perceptions and emotional connections people tie to the company. 

Companies should try to manage their brand through advertisements that reinforce the company’s message and image. 

Print can be a powerful tool to boost brand awareness and reinforce your brand’s message. 

1. Direct mail boosts brand awareness

Direct mail is highly effective, with about 79% of households saying they read or scan direct-mail ads.

Follow these steps when sending out direct mail: 

• Apply your brand guide. Include your signature color, font, and logo. Having a signature color can increase brand recognition by 80%.
• Keep your brand consistent. Customers will learn to associate your business with specific colors and feelings.
• Include a clear call to action in your direct mail initiative. Provide prospective customers with a next step. 

Direct mail is one of many print avenues to boost brand awareness. 

2. Catalogs boost brand awareness 

Catalogs are a relaxing way for customers to look at your business’s products or services. 

Catalogs can be compelling if you use the below tactics.

• Include customized QR codes to drive customers to your website.
• Include social causes. Find something you’re passionate about that aligns with your business to showcase in your catalog. Not only does it feel good to do good, but 64% of consumers would support a company based on its social or political position. 

Brand awareness is about getting your brand out there in as many formats as possible. 

3. Make your brand memorable to boost brand awareness

Print is a powerful tool for memory. 

Studies show that the brain can more easily absorb print. In fact, a study found print ads took people 21% less cognitive effort to process the information compared to digital ads. This same study found that people were a little more than 170% more likely to remember information if it was presented through a print ad rather than a digital ad. 

4. Directly address the audience to boost brand awareness

Print is a great way to provide customers with a more personalized approach. 

Use data and technology to target your print ad campaigns. This personalization can help the audience feel like the communication from your business is more direct. 

5. Provide value to the audience to boost brand awareness

Modern consumers value informed businesses. 

Add value to the consumer by creating informative content through blogs, brochures, and knowledgeable employees. The consumer will stumble upon your business when researching and trust your input. 

You can also add value by providing your customers with merchandise such as tote bags, stickers, shirts, chapstick, etc. Consumers love free stuff, and you’re giving valuable items to the customer while generating loyalty. 

Print can help boost your brand by getting your business out there in as many formats as possible while remaining memorable, personal, and valuable. We can help you increase your brand awareness through print. 

There are many fantastic ideas for advertising your business. Still, remember you need online and offline advertising for effectiveness.

Don’t discount the original ways of marketing just because they aren’t new and a part of social media.

Top 7 Effective Offline Strategies for Your Business

1. Distribute business cards.

Your business card says a lot about you. Don’t forget that you can change it as much as you like. For example, you can print vertical instead of horizontal.

You can use different types of paper to grab people’s attention. And you can add embossing or debossing to further show your originality and style.

2. Use flyers.

If you have a big event, a grand opening, a new product, or a new employee, show off your news with fun flyers. Use graphics and photos to influence the audience further.

3. Publish a book.

To show your expertise, write a book to share your knowledge. For example, you can create an e-book and offer a free download in exchange for an email.

Your book doesn’t have to be long, just provide some great advice.

4. Offer coupons and sales.

By offering coupons, loyalty programs, special discounts, and more, you’re making clients feel privileged while boosting leads and sales.

You can send a special offer through a flyer, postcard, or brochure.

5. Get involved.

You can get your name out by involving the community through organizations or outreaches.

This is beneficial because other business owners will recognize you, and you can make great connections. Then you can cross-promote with each other.

6. Seek speaking opportunities.

A speaking engagement puts you in front of a highly targeted and interested audience already primed and ready to pay attention to what you have to say.

This gets your name out and promotes your business to other prominent people in town. Then when they have questions, they will remember you and go to you for advice and service.

7. Join trade shows.

This is a great way to get your name out and boost traffic to your store. Make sure you have attractive marketing materials at your booth to lure people in and make them remember you.

This is a perfect opportunity to tell people what your business offers and let them know how professional you are.

If you’re afraid your business can’t spring for a booth, go to those vendor trade shows. Even if you’re nervous that your product won’t shine compared with others, get to the trade show. No matter what sort of excuses spring up: Be. At. Trade. Shows.

These tips should help you reach more people, become more confident at promoting your business, and attract more people to your business.

In addition, when you need items printed, we’re here. We offer a quick turnaround and professional services.

It happens to the best of us—burnout.

We dedicate ourselves to our jobs, work long hours and take on extra responsibilities, and sometimes we do too much. As a result, we can get down in the dumps and find it hard to keep going.

Burnout is not an interchangeable word with everyday stress, and it’s not exclusively exhaustion or overload. It’s all three of the above components together.

Of course, it’s best to prevent burnout, but sometimes it’s impossible. So, what are some ways to recover from it?

5 Ways to Recover From Burnout

1. Evaluate Your Feelings

How stressed have you been? Have you been enjoying work? Do you have the resources you need to get the job done? These will help you determine what you need going forward.

Burnout is more likely to happen when you have too many job demands and few resources.

2. Delegate

Take a look at what you are doing. Are there things you can delegate to others? Do you need to be the one to do them? This can help lighten the load by asking others to take on the part of your load.

Sometimes we think we need to do it all. But often, we can delegate.

3. Self-reflection and Empathy

You need to give yourself a break. Don’t keep pushing yourself when you feel the need for a break. Instead, stop for a few minutes each day and reflect on how things are truly going.

Studies indicate that actively cultivating self-compassion and empathy can mitigate the impact of burnout.

4. Use a Gratitude Journal

Use this to record what you are thankful for and what is important to you.

First, get in touch with what is truly important to you, then prioritize it in your daily life. This helps keep things in perspective. Keep this as a daily habit.

If you notice that your values or goals are shifting, that’s okay – you can devise a plan to help you address this shift proactively.

5. Create a plan

Develop a plan on how to prevent burnout in the first place.

• Take time daily to exercise—even a short walk in the morning can help.
• Talk with a friend regularly. This helps keep you grounded and connected to what’s truly important. Try to cut down on screen time at night; try reading a hardcopy book so your eyes have a break.
• Create a relaxation method for winding down at night, rather than just hopping into bed and hoping to go to sleep with all the things running through your mind.

There are a lot of stressors in today’s business life, and at our printing firm, we want to help lighten your marketing load. We offer free consultations to help you come up with great marketing ideas.

We all know how much the internet is used today, but some people forget that print marketing still works wonders.

The Do’s of Print Marketing

1. Do update your logo.

Make sure your logo is updated and reflects your image appropriately. You want to ensure the logo looks up-to-date, attractive, and professional.

Unless you employ a graphic artist, it’s best to hire one to help with this part of your image since it will be used on everything, from online to print.

2. Do communicate your identity.

Have a corporate identity in all you do. This broad term encompasses your brand’s values, purpose, and design elements.

Set your business apart from the competition with a consistent corporate identity in your letterhead, business cards, envelopes, brochures, rack cards, and more.

3. Do use both online and offline marketing together.

This is a tried-and-true strategy. However, when you isolate your marketing to only using one of these, people won’t respond as positively, and you won’t get the desired results.

It’s critical to have digital elements, such as a website and social media accounts, but print collateral is equally essential.

Try adding a technical aspect, such as a QR code or a link to your website. Then, offer a coupon or special deal when they go to that online location.

4. Do write a compelling headline.

No matter what you are writing, the headline gets read most. So make sure it’s an attention-grabber.

5. Do know your target market.

Reach prospective clients through appealing colors, images, and text.

The Don’ts of Print Marketing

1. Don’t use outdated materials to save money.

You will gain more respect from the public if your marketing materials are fresh.

2. Don’t forget to have a call to action.

If you don’t ask your customer to take the next step, they might not. So you need to be diligent in asking them to visit your website, call you, email you, or do whatever you want them to do next.

3. Don’t forget the 4 P’s of marketing. 

Product, price, pace, and promotion are essential to any marketing effort. Make sure your include mention to all four in your marketing efforts. These are considered to be the pillars of a strong marketing program.

These are some simple tips to keep your marketing healthy and robust.

We want to help you when you require the printed word. We work with your marketing team to create up-to-date, attractive marketing materials to keep your customers noticing you.

Excellent customer service is an essential aspect of your most valuable asset: your customers.

Customer service is so vital that it can be a powerful competitive advantage. 70% of Americans have spent more money on better service, according to Forbes. 

Excellent customer service is not solely for the customer service representatives. Instead, everyone on the team should practice exceptional customer service because every job ultimately affects the customer. 

Below is a list of concrete ways your team members can exceed your customer’s expectations. 

Customer Service Excellence: Hire Smart

Certain personalities and strengths are better suited for customer service jobs. Hiring the right people will set the company and employees up for success. 

When hiring, look for people who excel in the following traits. 

• Problem-solving. Give the interviewee a scenario and ask how they would proceed.
• Communication. Ask the interviewee to explain a complex topic.
• Listening. Tell the interviewee a little bit about yourself and the company. Check to see how much they retained.
• Time management. Ask them about a time in their life when they were very busy and how they got through it.
• Empathetic. Ask the interviewee about a time they saw someone hurting and how they reacted.
• Attentive. Gauge how attentive they are at the interview.
• Patient. Ask them to wait a little bit before or during the interview.
• Curious. Ask them if they have any questions for you about the company. Gauge their natural curiosity.

Hiring the right people gets you off on the right foot. After hiring customer service-oriented people, training will further define their natural skills. 

Customer Service Excellence: Training

Training creates more knowledgeable and skilled team members. 

The more trained and knowledgeable your team members are, the happier your customers will be. Happier customers are more likely to create word-of-mouth advertising, which is the most effective form of advertising: 5 times more powerful than paid ads. 

Training and development can take on various forms. 

• Hire a trainer. Find a professional who excels in teaching customer service skills. Pay them to come to talk to your team members.
• Do it yourself. Research ways your company can improve customer service. Ask your customers what they’d like to see. Share your findings with your team members at a meeting.
• Online courses. Direct, or if it’s in the budget, subsidize your employees to take online courses to help them improve their customer service.
• Mentor-mentee programs. Pair a more experienced staff member with a less experienced one. Have them get together to share information and tactics that have helped them.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll see the benefits pay off in higher customer satisfaction and improved customer relationships.  

Customer Service Excellence: Customer Relationships

Encourage employees to develop positive customer relationships. 

Keep it natural. Try asking customers questions about themselves. Some just want to get in and out. But others enjoy talking and will appreciate the opportunity. If you remember the customers’ names and the stories they tell, they’ll be happier and more loyal. 

Further, increase customer relationships by sending customers birthday gifts or cards. Companies that prioritize emotional connections with customers do better in the long run, outperforming their competitors in sales by 85%. 

Customer Service Excellence: Let Customers Help Themselves

71% of consumers reported wanting to solve customer service issues independently. 

Counterintuitively, some of the best customer services you can provide are the gifts of not needing customer service. By providing efficient, straightforward methods for customers to solve their own issues, the customers leave happy. 

There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. 

• Q&A page with answers to the most commonly asked questions.
• Information. By providing relevant information in a convenient place, such as a brochure, you can proactively prevent frustrated customers by providing all the information they need beforehand. 

Customer service is one way your business can stand above the rest. If you do it well, profits will increase. 

We know customer service can be tricky because of the wide range of inquiries and emotions. However, we’re here to help you with our excellent printing services. For example, we’ve got you if you need promotional products for a birthday gift, birthday cards, or informative brochures!

As we march through 2022, many businesses are left wondering if direct mail marketing is still a trend, if it is worth it, and if their business is missing out by not implementing this form of marketing.

Despite the many new marketing avenues available, direct marketing remains a multi-million-dollar industry, with companies spending $38.5 million of total advertising revenue in the United States on direct mail campaigns. 

With an average response rate of 4.9 percent, direct marketing is still alive and is a beneficial marketing tool all businesses should take advantage of.

Continue reading to learn more ways to help you and your business keep up to date with current direct mail trends: 

Watch What Is Coming in the Mail

One way to see what other businesses are doing is to keep an eye on what is coming through your mailbox.

Whether a letter, postcard, magazine, etc., there is much to learn about increasing brand awareness by watching and taking note of which advertisers are trying to get your attention. 

Ask Your Customers

Take time to learn from your customers and what drives them to different businesses.

What types of ads caught their attention? How do they hear about most local companies? What direct mail marketing items, such as ads, coupons, specials, and more, are likely to get them into a store or to hire a local business?

Check With Other Business Owners

Ask other business owners with similar products or services what works for them and which direct mail campaign strategies have proven to drive results.

Most business owners are willing to share their plans, while others might be tougher when sharing information with a competitor. Access to knowledge other business owners possess is vital in developing long-lasting positive relationships with other business owners, so you can share ideas and work together to learn more about direct mail marketing. 

Direct mail marketing campaigns are on the rise as more businesses start implementing various tools to help directly reach consumers. Everything from postcards to catalogs and coupons to letters can target consumers drawing attention to your brand.

Understanding the latest direct mail marketing trends can help keep your business on top of the latest advertising strategies, helping you stay competitive in your target market. 

Since the introduction of social media, word-of-mouth marketing has dramatically increased.

Before the internet, someone would tell a friend or two if they had a good experience. Today, if they have a good experience, they tell thousands with a short post.

Word-of-mouth marketing allows your business’s brand to potentially get noticed by thousands of consumers, which, if done correctly, can spread like wildfire.

Understanding how word-of-mouth marketing works and how it can benefit your business helps increase your chances of attracting new customers.  

Why Word-of-Mouth Marketing Is Important

According to the American Marketing Associated and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, 64 percent of marketing executives believe that word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective form of advertising.

However, only about 6 percent claim to have mastered this marketing technique.

With a majority believing in word-of-mouth marketing and so few learning the skill, understanding this marketing tool can put your business in front of the competition and keep your products and services in the minds of consumers.

Even if a person does not need a product or service, they may be more inclined to tell friends and families about what they know about your business through word-of-mouth marketing. 

Using the Three Es of Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Three tactics can help you increase your word-of-mouth marketing reach, often referred to as the “Three Es.”

1. Engage

The first E is “Engage,” which means you engage with your followers and customers by setting up a presence in their lives.

Some ways to engage include sending birthday cards, offering special discounts and gifts, and consistently responding to social media posts, comments, and messages related to your business. 

2. Equip

The second E is “Equip,” which means giving your customers something to talk about, such as a fantastic product, high-quality customer service, and fun facts about your business.

When consumers like a company and have things to talk about and share with others, it encourages them to let everyone know about their favorite products and services, which could be yours. 

3. Empower

The final E is “Empower,” giving consumers different ways to talk and share their experiences and recommendations.

The more methods you offer for consumers to share your business, the greater the chance they will. Additionally, empower consumers to feel like they are a part of the process, such as asking questions, running contests, etc. 

Word-of-mouth marketing has been around since the first caveman started trading, and with technological advancements, it has become significantly easier to utilize this advertising method.

Additionally, it has become more crucial for businesses to understand how word-of-mouth marketing works to use this tool best and achieve optimal advertising results. 

In a world full of new technology, augmented reality is used frequently. As a result, it’s now a great way to market your business.

Augmented Reality Explained

Augmented Reality (AR) is the layering of digital content like video, 3D, or 3D animation over real-world environments to create an engaging and interactive consumer experience.

It makes your print more interactive by encouraging people to download apps, use QR codes, and more. As a result, print has grown and is used in a new way.

Bringing People Closer to Products

WebAR, which they call AR and print, is now being used to bring people closer to their products and allow them to interact with them.

It will enable people to access the best of both worlds: Engaging and immersive experiences that are easy to access. WebAR is popular now and is an excellent accompaniment to tried-and-true print.

Both are needed in today’s market. Traditional print is tactile and is a great way to interact with customers because they are taking more time to look at their mail these days.

However, WebAR is a great way to further interact with customers because it is online and provides a more effortless and cost-effective way to promote your business.

As of February 2017, Pokémon Go became the first AR-centric app to reach 650 million downloads and can be credited with starting the mobile AR app movement.

We all remember people going crazy for this new game, which introduced us to a new type of reality.

Promote Effectively and Professionally

AR solves the dilemma of whether to invest in print or digital by providing marketers the ability to make the most of both worlds by seamlessly integrating their print and digital together, working in unison on the same marketing goal.

You no longer have to choose the best way to market your business. Instead, WebAR and print work closely together to promote effectively and professionally.

You can easily add immersive, interactive content to your magazine ads, postcards, brochures, and more.

Enhance Direct Mail

Now people can take your marketing product and scan it with their phones to find more information. Again, it’s a no-brainer, and it furthers your marketing efforts.

This allows them to answer their questions, make a purchase, and even promote it on social media.

You can even use tracking tags to see how far your marketing has gone. In fact, direct mail campaigns that were enhanced by AR delivered an increase in response rates from 2-3% to a massive 35%, so it makes sense to use AR.

In addition, AR solutions have finally become cost-effective and executable without intensive training or complex design software, allowing savvy marketers to take advantage of this unique advertising enhancement right now.

Whether you use a postcard, a brochure, a catalog, or other direct mail options, we can help you get the most out of your marketing efforts.

Check us out today!

Everyone is different, which is why various leadership styles exist.

Some of the most common ones include democratic, autocratic, laissez-faire, strategic, transformational, transactional, coach-style, and bureaucratic leadership. However, one often overlooked and quite effective leadership style is the mindful leader. 

Mindfulness is one’s ability to be fully present and observant while also being in control and not overreacting. 

Mindful leaders possess specific beneficial characteristics, making them stand out and be successful. 

Mindful leaders have emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to notice and manage one’s feelings while seeing and responding adequately to the emotions of others. 

Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of The New York Times bestseller book Emotional Intelligence has created a model that divides emotional intelligence into 4 quadrants. 

• Self-awareness is the ability to be aware of one’s mood and thoughts and their impact on others. Some aspects of self-awareness include emotional self-awareness, accurate self-assessment, and self-confidence.
• Self-management is the ability to effectively manage one’s feelings, thoughts, and actions. Some aspects of self-management include emotional self-control, transparency, adaptability, and optimism.
• Social awareness is the ability to accurately gauge others’ emotions and situations, allowing you to make better decisions and actions. Some aspects of social awareness include empathy, organizational awareness, and service.
• Relationship management is using the above skills to manage social situations effectively. Some aspects of relationship management include influence, conflict management, and collaboration. 

According to the Harvard Business School, emotional intelligence accounts for nearly 90% of what makes high performers stand out. Responsible leaders are also sure to stand out. 

Mindful leaders take responsibility. 

When you let go of the desire to insert blame, you can take responsibility for yourself and the business better. 

Blaming people or situations is often a waste of time. Instead, observe to accurately understand the circumstances so you can focus on the decisions you can make while accepting the areas you can’t control. 

By taking responsibility, you open up doors to possibility. Blaming, victim thinking, and fear create limitations and barriers. By taking full responsibility for the aspects you can control, you’re opening yourself and the business up for success. 

Mindful leaders are powerful.

Power isn’t just for the loud and strong, it’s for those who acquire respect. 

Mindful leaders are often respected for their ability to…  

• Give the situation and the people before them 100% of their attention.
• Filter their thoughts before they speak.
• Lead by self-motivation instead of fear or manipulation.
• Stay calm under pressure.

Research has shown people spend 47% of their time thinking about something else and not on what they’re currently doing. Almost half of people’s time is spent not being mindful!

Where do you lie on the mindfulness spectrum? Try taking a quick self-assessment from the Harvard Business Review. If you’re like most people, you have room to grow.

Luckily, there are tactics you can use to become a more mindful person. 

Practice mindfulness to become a mindful leader.

Aim for at least five minutes every day of mindfulness. 

This means finding a quiet place to sit and focus on your breathing. It’s a way to calm down, push away future anxieties, and focus on the present. By practicing in neutral times, when stressful situations arise you’ll be better able to focus on your breath to calm down. 

Many find mornings the best time to practice mindfulness, mainly because we release the most stress hormones within minutes of waking up. Practicing mindfulness can be a great way to counteract this. 

Stop multitasking to become a mindful leader.

Multitasking fragments your focus. 

Multitasking is also ineffective because humans are terrible at it. Research found that only 2.5% of people can effectively multitask. Do yourself and your mind a favor by cutting back on this ineffective work tactic. 

Decrease distractions to become a mindful leader. 

By decreasing distractions that break your focus, you’ll be able to stay in the present. 

One major culprit of distractions is your phone. It’s constantly pinging with notifications from texts, missed calls, emails, and social media apps. Try sectioning off times of the day when you’ll be phone free. Communicate this with coworkers, friends, and family. Then, you can use these phone-free, distraction-free times to get your most challenging work done. 

Emails are another common distraction. They go off throughout your day. Responding to emails feels productive, but in reality, they disrupt your work. If possible, try pausing all email notifications, instead blocking off a time of day to check your email box. 

Mindfulness is both a leadership style and a way of life. By incorporating it into your life, you’ll be better able to calmly tackle day-to-day problems with focus. 

Mindfulness: Paper Versus Digital

Speaking of mindfulness, when it comes to advertising, you want your target audience to be as present and focused as possible.

Although digital advertising does have its advantages, one major problem is focus. It’s often harder for people to focus and be mindful when using screens because of all the distractions. 

However, paper can be a powerful tool to initiate mindfulness in the recipient. It’s much less distracting, allowing the viewer to focus their entire attention on the paper at hand.

We can help you capture your potential client’s attention with print!