Category: General

To be successful, you need dedication, determination, and hard work. You also need some up-to-date skills. Below are the Top 5 skills for professionals.

5 Essential Skills for Professionals

1. Soft skills

According to LinkedIn data analysis, in 2019, companies looked most for these soft skills: creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management.

Soft skills, such as communication and management skills, are the traits that make you good at almost any job. Hard skills, in the meantime, are more teachable and measurable.

In a Linkedin report, 57% of senior leaders today value soft over hard skills.

2. Creativity

So many things have changed—think cell phones instead of pay phones, internet instead of card catalogs.

It takes a creative person to think outside the box. Sure, some things are great, but how much better could life be if we tried a new way?

Businesses are always looking for fresh thinkers to do things in a new way.

3. Communication

Communication ability is another top-rated skill that businesses require. This is key for getting along with coworkers, directing employees, and improving in all areas.

Communication makes a business tick, and if you have this skill naturally, you are ahead of the game. There are books, classes, and self-help resources to help you improve in this area. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve this skill.

Communication includes written, verbal, and nonverbal skills. With everyone using email as an effective form of communication, it pays to have this skill in your back pocket.

4. Public speaking

Public speaking is another skill that professionals need.

This requires poise, confidence, organization, and a clear speaking voice. It’s a skill that many people shy away from, but it is of utmost importance.

Any time you meet with others, you are involved with public speaking; sometimes, it may be to a group.

5. Teamwork

Teamwork is necessary in today’s business world. Even if you are an entrepreneur, you need collaboration, and you will inevitably need others to help you or work for you.

Therefore, you will need to work side by side with others at some time.

For great teamwork, you will need conflict management, conflict resolution, negotiation, relationship building, team building, and team management.

So many skills make one successful, and at our printing firm, you know we strive to work hard to keep you looking good.

Contact us today with your printing and marketing questions, and we will work as a team to keep you successful.

Productivity is a critical factor in being successful.

Although it would be nice to have our goals reached by relaxing at home all day, there is a rewarding feeling of achievement knowing that effort was put in for a great outcome.

This is easier said than done; being productive daily takes self-control and discipline. There are so many factors that go into running a business. Incorporating organization into your day and staying productive can assist and guide you as a busy entrepreneur. Here are a few ways you can do that!

10 Tips To Boost Productivity

1. Prioritize.

Looking over a long to-do list can be stressful.

Instead of becoming overwhelmed, try organizing your to-do list into priorities. Determine which task is the most crucial to complete and stick with that one. Taking it one step at a time changes your perspective and helps you take a realistic approach to overcoming that stubborn list!

2. Communicate.

Communication is essential in all areas of life- especially in the workplace.

Many problems arise from a lack of communication, and this can waste time and resources in many different instances. You can avoid conflict down the road by ensuring you communicate with everybody involved.

3. Delegate.

Going along the lines of communication, being able to delegate is a valuable skill.

Look over what you need to accomplish. Is there anything that you can pass on to someone that is qualified? This may require you to look at your team and detect their strengths and skills.

In the end, this will save you time and help you communicate with your team- keeping everybody involved and connected.

4. Develop a routine.

You may have heard this tip before, but that’s because it’s important!

Structure throughout your day will help you stay on track and accomplish what needs to be done. Forming habits that will improve your overall health, like clean eating, exercise, and sleep, can translate to your work performance and mood.

5. Practice time management.

Your workday hours are limited, so you probably want to take advantage of each second you get.

A study from Stanford University found that productivity per hour declines when a person works over 50 hours a week. At 70 hours per week, the amount of work completed is the same as for someone that worked only 55 hours.

This data shows that the more time you spend working doesn’t always result in more work being accomplished. Managing your time is vital so that the quality of your work can be done in a reasonable amount of time.

6. Reflect.

Looking back on the past can be beneficial to improving your business.

Try recognizing what went well and what needs improvement. You’ll be able to analyze which factors created success and build off those things. By reflecting on past projects, you can learn and take feedback to prepare for the future. Remember to not dwell on the past and let it bring you down. Learn and move on!

7. Plan ahead.

While it’s important to reflect, it’s also great to think ahead.

Organize what you need to accomplish and set goals for yourself and your business. Yes, focusing on what you have in front of you is essential, but make sure you’re working towards something. Planning is convenient and will prepare you for your next steps, whatever they may be.

8. Set your boundaries.

You may be stressed at times and doubt yourself, but remember you’re in control!

You know what you can and can’t handle, so don’t be afraid to listen to yourself. Taking on too many responsibilities can be detrimental to your work performance. Learn to say no when necessary, and don’t burn yourself out.

9. Follow the 80/20 rule.

If you’re unfamiliar with the 80/20 Rule (also known as Pareto’s Principle), it simply states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

In perspective, the most productive 20% of your day produces 80% of your work. This concept shows that you can accomplish more with less effort by concentrating on things that will produce the most significant results.

10. Motivate yourself!

Think back to why you started your business.

What were you hoping to accomplish, and have you done that yet? Sometimes, all you need to get motivated is a little reminder of why you do what you do!

These things will help you combat your struggles as a busy entrepreneur and increase your productivity. Remember to prioritize your time and use your resources to ensure that you can reach all of your goals for your business.

We want to see you succeed and help you with your needs regarding professional printing.

With many advertising options, billboards, websites, direct mail, etc., it can prove challenging to advertise effectively. Still, there are guides to lead you down the right promotional path for small businesses.

Let’s take a look.

7 Advertising Basics for Small Business Owners

1. Budget

When you think about advertising, of course, you need a budget. And most small businesses don’t have large ones.

This is probably best used in ways that maximize your return, rather than throwing it all in on one large ad on TV.

Leave that for the big businesses that have large budgets.

2. Website

A professionally-designed site can cost thousands of dollars, so try online templates. These work well to foster name recognition and promote your products and/or services.

In addition, you can add pictures, logos, and illustrations that look professional for a fraction of the cost.

3. SEO Marketing

Promote your website.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a practice that aligns your business with Google’s ranking algorithm.

Get Google to advertise it with the right tools. For example, add relevant (industry- and location-based) keywords to specific places on your website.

4. Paid search marketing

Google AdWords and Bing Ads can bring in traffic to the website and help your business feature prominently when people search for relevant phrases.

For $20 or $30 a day, you can get your name in front of the right people searching for what you have to offer.

5. Social Media

There’s also Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to get the word out. These are relatively easy to use if you know what to say.

It’s possible to hire a writer on a freelance basis who can write these for you. Or, if you have a marketing team, enlist someone to write these regularly.

This is a great way to get in front of people daily, or at least regularly.

6. Traditional Print Advertising

Use flyers, postcards, and brochures for marketing your business effectively. It’s inexpensive, and it works.

Provide coupons on the handouts to informally track effectiveness.

You can use oversize postcards to get a better reaction since they tend not to get lost in the shuffle.

7. Combine Print and Online Efforts

Print and online advertising complement one another.

For example, on your printed pieces, be sure to have a call to action that involves visiting your website. Then give them a coupon or discount when they visit.

Likewise, when they visit your website, try to capture their physical address so you can send them direct mail. This is very effective.

You can do many things to promote your small business. However, traditional direct marketing is still in high demand.

Check us out today to learn more!

Are you busy unnecessarily? Are there ways to become more productive and skip some small steps? Let’s take a look.

9 Productivity Tips for Business Owners

1. Outsource.

Some things seem important, but when you look at them more closely, you realize that maybe someone else could do that for you.

For example, think about having another company or person write your thank-you notes and do other small tasks. You’ll save time in the long run.

2. Create a Schedule.

Making lists is a great way to ensure you don’t overlook the essential things that need to get done.

But putting that list into an actual schedule will help you get more organized and make sure those tasks get accomplished.

Schedule specific times to do certain projects, rather than just listing them on paper.

3. One Task at a Time.

Take it one thing at a time, rather than jumping from task to task.

You will accomplish more and won’t feel as frazzled. Stick to the schedule of tasks rather than what pops up in your mind.

4. Plan Ahead.

Try scheduling it a week before instead of printing off notes or sheets for a meeting the day before. That will calm your nerves and will make you more efficient.

5. Review Goals Daily.

Every morning, take a few minutes to review your annual goals and weekly and daily goals.

Think about what you’d like to accomplish in the upcoming year and what you would like to get done today.

6. Turn Off Notifications.

When your computer, phone, or watch constantly beeps at you, staying focused is hard.

So, turn those notifications off for a set time each day. That way, you can get more done without getting distracted.

7. Choose to Be Happy.

Make sure you have a good relationship with your staff. Choose to be happy and to get along with everyone.

8. Schedule Social Media.

You want to be sure you are posting regularly, but you also don’t want to get distracted by this thought all day long.

The best way to combat this is to schedule a specific time every day in which you will post your social media.

9. Reward Yourself.

When you have accomplished your goals, reward yourself with a massage, a fancy coffee, or some time with a friend.

There are so many great ways to improve your productivity, and these steps should help you right away.

If you need help with getting your printing done in a timely, effective manner, reach out to us today!

When it comes to marketing, businesses have several resources, including several methods to help them engage with their customers and clients.

Developing an emotional connection with customers and clients helps get them to return for your products and services. Everything from making your customers comfortable when visiting your brick and mortar location to being able to handle the products is meaningful to the consumer experience.

Using state-of-the-art visual and experiential marketing trends can help move your customers from “I’m just looking” to “Let’s buy it now.”

Bring the Outside In

Biophilic design is the practice of connecting with a person’s instinctive desire to be associated with nature.

Bring the outside into your business by incorporating natural elements into your space. Ways to bring the outside in include increasing natural light, adding lush, wild plants and flowers, and using natural wood elements.

Social Media and Influencers

As the world has moved online for searching for businesses and products, it might be time to consider using social media and influencers who already have a significant following.

Social media influencers can offer your company a personalized marketing approach by demonstrating how to use your product and sharing a review. This method also creates a direct link to their followers and your customers, provides interactive activity to your social media platforms, and grabs the attention of new customers who may never have heard about your company without the help of an influencer.

VR Technology

Virtual reality technology is a business-changing tool, allowing your business to create sneak peeks for your customers.

For example, head-mounted VR displays enable businesses, such as landscaping companies, architects, and interior designers, to show clients what their space may look like. Many other companies can utilize this method by offering a view to their customers, unlike any of their competitors.

Experiential marketing involves offering a buying experience with a product or service before buying it. This method helps make consumers feel comfortable knowing they are buying a quality product. They can visualize themselves using the product or benefiting from the results of a service. Help make your customers feel more comfortable by testing new experiential marketing tactics that fit your business or service.

Using both printed pieces and online outreaches is needed to be successful in business.

An effective and efficient social media calendar will make all the difference when adding social media to your marketing lineup. Here’s how to do it well. 

7 Best Tips for Social Media Calendars

1. Set short-term goals.

Determine what you are trying to accomplish with your social media efforts. Be specific, start small, and make it practical.

2. Use a goal-setting worksheet.

Mark down your goals to know why you are doing what you are doing. Set social media goals that lead to real business results.

• Better target your ideal customer.
• Gather intel on the competition so you can stay ahead.
• See what’s already working and what’s not.
• Create or improve your social media profiles.
• Develop a thoughtful content strategy and set a publishing schedule you can stick to.
• Track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.

3. Plan your campaign goals.

According to the Social Media Examiner, the purpose of a social media calendar is to provide a framework for sharing content that resonates with your audience and promotes your business.

4. Focus on goals.

It’s fun to jump on new social media trends, but stay focused on your goal.

It’s okay to add a few fun things, but don’t let it sway you from what you are trying to accomplish. Try to promote your business with your posts.

5. Be sure to post.

Create a plan that isn’t contingent on what’s new and exciting. Instead, use solid topics and business help for your customers.

6. Conduct a social media audit.

A social media audit is reviewing your business’ metrics to assess growth, opportunities, and what can be done to improve your social presence.

First, find out what got the most responses in the past, and use that to fuel your posts. Then, create more posts with similar type information. 

7. Be consistent.

Instead of randomly posting on five sites, pick two (such as Facebook and Instagram) and focus on regular posts.

Then, once you feel confident in your posts, add others as you can consistently do so.

When posting, being consistent will pay off.

When attending events, people coming to your booth enjoy picking up promotional products that remind them of your business and are useful in their homes.

A study by the Advertising Specialty Institute revealed an 85% recall rate on promotional items. In addition, most households have an average of 30 promotional items, including pens, mugs, and travel accessories, which help increase the recall rate for businesses. 

Handing out promotional items has many benefits for businesses, including: 

• Increasing website traffic
• Boosting brand awareness
• Helping increase free customer reviews and referrals
• Finding new social media followers

Below are seven fun promotional products to celebrate your business and hand out to customers and potential customers.

7 Fun Promotional Products to Celebrate Your Business

1. Coffee Cups and Mugs

Branded coffee cups and mugs are a favorite among those who collect promotional products and swag. Clients and customers will be reminded of your business every time they enjoy their morning coffee or cup of tea. 

2. Portable Chargers or Power Banks

Everyone has some portable electronic device, such as phones and tablets, which they carry.

Giving out portable chargers or power banks offers customers a way to charge their wireless devices without finding an outlet. Many people do not spend the money on these devices and will carry the one given to them with your company logo everywhere they go. 

3. Travel Pack and Accessories

Several accessories help travelers make their journeys much more effortless and offer a unique opportunity to create and distribute promotional items.

Create a travel pack and accessories if you have travel customers, such as travel notepads, passport holders, organizers, and bag tags. 

4. Food, Snacks, and Chocolates

Food, snacks, and chocolates make for good prizes or promotional giveaways.

Work with a local food brand to create branded goodies to give away to customers or at an upcoming community event. Promotional food, snacks, and chocolates include fruit baskets, cookies, pastries, boxes of chocolates, and cakes. Include a thoughtful card and personalize the promotional basket for the client or customer you send it to.

5. Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters

Some of the everyday things people grab from event tables and businesses are pens, pencils, and highlighters. These are popular items and very affordable when looking for branded promotional items to give away. 

6. LED Flashlights

LED flashlights can be full-sized flashlights or as small as keychains and are popular giveaways at events. Use branded LED lights as prizes to winners who stop by your booth during a promotional event. 

7. Reusable Water Bottles

Today, everyone has a reusable water bottle they use to go to the gym, go walking, or have with them when out of the house. In addition, branded reusable water bottles are perfect giveaways at events and can be spruced up with built-in diffusers, straws, etc. 

Whether you are looking for some promotional items to send out to clients, use as giveaways, or hand out at an upcoming promotional event, there are many to choose from that people love.

Selecting the best promotional item to hand out ensures people who receive it will keep it in their homes or pass it along to someone else who may be able to use it all while keeping your brand top of mind. 

The buyer’s journey lays out the process the buyer takes when buying a product or service. Understanding this journey allows you to be better prepared to meet your customer’s needs each step of the way. 

Stage 1: Awareness 

In this stage, the customer is made aware of a problem they would like to alleviate. They research this problem so they can better identify it. 

Actions you can take in stage 1.

You can provide the prospective client with information to educate, entertain, or inspire them.

For example, your company could provide information through brochures, blogs, website content, press releases, videos, and social media. Not only will you inform your client base, but you will also grow your clients. According to HubSpot, blogging increases your website traffic by about 55%. 

Stage 2: Consideration

Now, the prospect has identified the problem and begins to research ways to alleviate it. The prospect will start to compile a list of products and brands. 

Actions you can take in stage 2.

You’ll want to effectively communicate to the prospect how your business can solve their problem and why you can better provide what they need over your competitors.

Continue to provide resources to your prospect, this time focusing on what makes your product or service stand out through your unique selling proposition. 

Stage 3: Decision 

Now it’s time for the customer to decide which company and product to go with.

The customer has done their research. Throughout their research, your company has hopefully come up multiple times as a reliable resource for them. This in itself will subtly make your company more attractive. 

Actions you can take in stage 3.

You must be able to respond to potential objections or hesitations the customer may have about buying from your business.

Provide a unique selling proposition to better help your business stand out. This will help your business maximize conversion rates, turning prospects into customers. 

Stage 4: Post-Purchase

The customer has completed a purchase and will eventually consider buying from you again.

Statistically, past customers are much more likely to buy from you compared to prospective customers. According to the book Marketing Metrics, businesses have a 60-70% chance of selling to an existing customer compared to only a 5 to 20% chance of selling to a new one. 

Actions you can take in stage 4.

It’s your job to continue interacting with your client, so they purchase again.

Perhaps send them flyers through a direct mail campaign to accomplish your goal of turning a one-time customer into a loyal one. Thank them for their purchase and provide a call to action. 

Every buyer’s journey is unique. 

Knowing the buyer’s journey framework is helpful, but keep in mind it breaks down an extremely complex process into the simplest form.

The exact buyer’s journey varies depending on the industry and the buyer. Therefore, do your own research into your customers’ unique buyer’s journey. Perhaps try asking for feedback and providing gift cards as an incentive. 

Print marketing is a valuable tool to increase your sales.

It stands out, generating a greater return on investment. 80% of consumers act on direct mail advertisements, and 92% of 18- to 23-year-olds say it’s easier to read print over digital material. Print marketing itself has a wide variety of options. Below are five effective choices and why they work.

Promotional materials increase sales.

Promotional materials are one of the most popular and effective print marketing tools. 

Popular promotional products include stickers, fridge magnets, key chains, t-shirts, and bags. They usually include your company’s name and/or logo. In the U.S, promotional materials is a $17.8 billion industry. Given their efficacy, it’s no wonder the business is so large. 

When deciding which promotional materials to use, bear in mind the best promotional items are the ones customers will keep. 77% of customers said the promotional product’s usefulness was their number one reason to keep it. Customers considered health, safety, technology, and writing products to be the most useful.

A calendar is one example of a useful and, therefore, effective promotional material. 

Promotional material example: calendars

Over its lifetime, a promotional calendar will generate around 850 impressions, making them extremely powerful marketing tools.

Customers love calendars because they are useful. Recipients will hang them up and use them often to remember important dates and events.

You can use the calendar’s space to highlight positive customer stories and include your business’s important dates. 

Brochures increase sales. 

Brochures give you the space to provide detailed information about your business. 

Often, they work best in location-specific spaces, making them perfect for the tourist industry. According to Bentley University, 95% of visitors who pick up a brochure become aware of a business, and 83% of visitors plan to visit a company they see in a brochure. Those are high statistics! 

Posters increase sales.

40% of those who saw a poster visited the business advertised, 24% made a purchase, and 13% recommended the advertiser to others. 

Again, these are very promising numbers. For example, if 100 people see your poster, which is more than likely if you place it in a high-traffic area, then this will translate to about 24 sales and 13 likely sales.

The 13% who recommend the advertiser to others is a positive statistic. After all, word-of-mouth advertising is highly effective, increasing trust and sales. 

Catalogs increase sales.

Catalogs allow you to highlight your most profitable items to prospective clients. 

In a world that’s becoming increasingly advertisement averse, catalogs are a breath of tried and true air. 84% say they enjoy catalogs from brands they’ve purchased from in the past, and 57% say they enjoy receiving catalogs from brands they’ve never heard of. 

Because customers enjoy receiving catalogs, they are more likely to keep them and look at them. On average, consumers spend about 15.5 minutes looking over catalogs and hold onto them for about 20.3 days.

Promotional materials, brochures, posters, and catalogs are a small percentage of the many print materials to increase sales. We’ll help you find the best match to serve your needs. By keeping the cost of printing low, your sales can go high. 

Print marketing is a valuable tool to increase your sales.

It stands out, generating a greater return on investment. 80% of consumers act on direct mail advertisements, and 92% of 18- to 23-year-olds say it’s easier to read print over digital material. Print marketing itself has a wide variety of options. Below are five effective choices and why they work.

Promotional materials increase sales.

Promotional materials are one of the most popular and effective print marketing tools. 

Popular promotional products include stickers, fridge magnets, key chains, t-shirts, and bags. They usually include your company’s name and/or logo. In the U.S, promotional materials is a $17.8 billion industry. Given their efficacy, it’s no wonder the business is so large. 

When deciding which promotional materials to use, bear in mind the best promotional items are the ones customers will keep. 77% of customers said the promotional product’s usefulness was their number one reason to keep it. Customers considered health, safety, technology, and writing products to be the most useful.

A calendar is one example of a useful and, therefore, effective promotional material. 

Promotional material example: calendars

Over its lifetime, a promotional calendar will generate around 850 impressions, making them extremely powerful marketing tools.

Customers love calendars because they are useful. Recipients will hang them up and use them often to remember important dates and events.

You can use the calendar’s space to highlight positive customer stories and include your business’s important dates. 

Brochures increase sales. 

Brochures give you the space to provide detailed information about your business. 

Often, they work best in location-specific spaces, making them perfect for the tourist industry. According to Bentley University, 95% of visitors who pick up a brochure become aware of a business, and 83% of visitors plan to visit a company they see in a brochure. Those are high statistics! 

Posters increase sales.

40% of those who saw a poster visited the business advertised, 24% made a purchase, and 13% recommended the advertiser to others. 

Again, these are very promising numbers. For example, if 100 people see your poster, which is more than likely if you place it in a high-traffic area, then this will translate to about 24 sales and 13 likely sales.

The 13% who recommend the advertiser to others is a positive statistic. After all, word-of-mouth advertising is highly effective, increasing trust and sales. 

Catalogs increase sales.

Catalogs allow you to highlight your most profitable items to prospective clients. 

In a world that’s becoming increasingly advertisement averse, catalogs are a breath of tried and true air. 84% say they enjoy catalogs from brands they’ve purchased from in the past, and 57% say they enjoy receiving catalogs from brands they’ve never heard of. 

Because customers enjoy receiving catalogs, they are more likely to keep them and look at them. On average, consumers spend about 15.5 minutes looking over catalogs and hold onto them for about 20.3 days.

Promotional materials, brochures, posters, and catalogs are a small percentage of the many print materials to increase sales. We’ll help you find the best match to serve your needs. By keeping the cost of printing low, your sales can go high.