Informative Blog

The classic tri-fold brochure.

These documents with information, images, contact info, and a flashy slogan are commonly seen in clinic waiting rooms, on tourist boards, or inside your local paper.

You may wonder, “In this digital age of social media, emails, and streaming services, do brochures still have a place in marketing?” 

Absolutely! 

Because of their portability, unique designs, tangible quality, and simplicity (no pop-ads interrupting your future customer), brochures offer a creative and effective marketing option to boost your exposure to current and prospective customers.

The Role of Brochures in Modern Marketing

Here are three reasons why brochures still have a role to play in modern marketing.

1. Slow Down Your Customer

Allow your potential customer the time to read about your company on their own terms, without notifications or emails interrupting them.

In our fast-paced world, sometimes a simple brochure is just the right amount of reading a person wants in an ad.

According to a recent study, over 95% of recipients of brochures read at least the main points. This study encourages brochures because it found that once individuals have a brochure, they almost always read at least the most critical information.

2. Break the Ice

Brochures are also an excellent ice breaker between you and your future client, giving you some common ground to discuss when you first meet.

When potential customers pick up and read your brochure, they begin cultivating an understanding of your company.

As you meet with these clients and begin a relationship, this inaugural impression springs into action. 

3. Share More Info

With five separate sections spread out over a traditional trifold and room for an engaging front page, there is ample room to share your business’s information, values, mission, success, and contact info on a brochure. 

What to Include in an Effective Brochure

Engaging Graphics

Vivid colors, clarity, and boldness in your visual aids are essential to grab and hold your audience’s attention effectively. 

Consider every detail to entice your reader or potential customer,
making the experience more engaging and compelling.

Fonts and layout, often overlooked, are key elements that play a pivotal role in delivering your message and enhancing the effectiveness of your content.

Informative Images

Using graphs or charts is a helpful method to explain the impact of your business, give an overview of results, or highlight other positive aspects of your company. 

These visual aids are effective and straightforward to comprehend, offering a clear and concise representation of complex data or achievements.

Include Promotions or Coupons

Incorporating promotions or coupons into your brochure can significantly enhance its effectiveness.

By offering your customers actionable items, like encouraging a phone call or inviting them for a physical visit, you create a direct pathway for engagement.

Create bridges between you and future clients today with the power of a brochure. 

Contact one of our professional and personable marketing experts today to create a brochure that boosts your business! 

Step into the spotlight and discover the captivating world of foil stamping. 

Embellishments, like foil stamping, add a wow factor to your printed pieces. This extraordinary printing technique, originating in ancient China, has stood the test of time when artisans first adorned their creations with dazzling gold leaf. 

Today, foil stamping still reigns supreme, infusing a touch of luxury and sophistication into business cards, invitations, packaging, and promotional materials.

How it Works: The Artistry Unveiled

Get ready to be amazed as we reveal the magic of foil stamping.

A heated metal die meets a delicate foil sheet, and the magical transformation begins with just a touch of pressure.

The adhesive layer on the foil comes alive, gently transferring onto your chosen canvas.

The result?

A stunning raised metallic design that captures attention and radiates pure brilliance.

Types of Foil: A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities

Let your imagination run wild with an array of foil options, each possessing its charm and allure:

Metallic Foil

Embrace timeless elegance with classic gold, silver, or copper tones that exude prestige and sophistication.

Holographic Foil

Unleash a mesmerizing display of color with holographic foil, creating an enchanting rainbow effect that captivates the eye.

Matte Foil

For those seeking a subtle and refined aesthetic, matte foil offers a velvety finish that whispers of understated elegance.

Pigment Foil

Dive into a world of vibrant possibilities with pigmented foils, perfect for creating vivid designs on dark-colored materials.

Specialty Foil

Prepare to be spellbound by a menagerie of enchanting options, from dazzling glitter to captivating marble, woodgrain, and snakeskin. 

Advantages of Foil Stamping: Elevate Your Print Marketing Materials

Unlock the hidden potential of foil stamping and witness your print marketing designs come to life with these remarkable advantages.

Unparalleled Visual Allure

Infuse your creations with an irresistible allure, as the luminous metallic finish of foil stamping sets them apart from the ordinary, leaving a lasting impression.

Enduring Brilliance

Withstanding the test of time, foil-stamped prints retain their lustrous shine, undeterred by the rigors of handling and environmental conditions.

Boundless Versatility

Whether paper, cardstock, leather, or plastic, foil stamping effortlessly transforms any surface into a canvas for your imagination, making it the ultimate choice for diverse projects.

Infinite Customization

Embrace boundless creativity as you explore various foil colors and types.

Tailor each print to your heart’s desire, shaping your brand or design with unmatched personalization.

Value for Investment

Witness the magic unfold as foil stamping delivers exceptional results in a single production step.

It’s the perfect solution for high-end prints, a cost-effective choice that doesn’t compromise quality.

Foil stamping is where brilliance meets craftsmanship, and every print becomes a work of art. 

Ready to elevate your designs and captivate your audience? Contact us today to discuss how foil stamping can play a role in your next print marketing initiative.

Winter is a season of crisp weather and festive joy. It’s a time of year that presents your business with a prime occasion to initiate captivating, themed print marketing campaigns. 

From New Year to Valentine’s Day, you can leverage plenty of holidays and events during this season to attract customers and boost sales.

From Cozy to Cool: 9 Print Marketing Strategies to Beat the Winter Blues

Here are 9 special day-themed print marketing campaign ideas for winter.

New Year, New You

Tap into the popular New Year’s resolution trend by promoting your products or services to start the new year off right.

For example, a gym could offer eye-catching posters featuring special membership deals for those looking to get healthy.

Winter Wonderland Photo Contest

Encourage customers to take photos of themselves enjoying your products in a winter wonderland setting.

For participants or winners, print customized coupons or discount codes as prizes.

Valentine’s Day Love Notes

Create creative love notes that can be given out with purchases leading up to Valentine’s Day.

These can also be shared on social media using a branded hashtag. 

Groundhog Day Predictions

Have fun with the quirky holiday of Groundhog Day by creating a postcard campaign around predicting what products or services will be popular in the coming months.

President’s Day Sale

Celebrate President’s Day with special discounts and promotions offered to your customers via direct mail.

This approach can help you attract new prospects looking for holiday sales.

National Soup Month Recipes

If you sell food products, take advantage of January being National Soup Month by featuring recipes using your products in print materials.

Mardi Gras Mask Design Contest

Tap into the party spirit of Mardi Gras by hosting a mask design contest.

Create eye-catching posters and flyers promoting the contest and encourage customers to submit their designs to win prizes.

Super Bowl Party Supplies

Print flyers or catalogs featuring all the necessary supplies for throwing the ultimate Super Bowl party, including food, decorations, and even team-themed merchandise.

Winter Olympics-Inspired Campaign

During the Winter Olympics, create a campaign centered around your products or services being “gold medal worthy.”

You could include unique discounts or promotions for customers who mention a specific athlete’s name at checkout. 

Take advantage of these special day-themed print marketing campaign ideas. Start planning now to implement them this winter to attract new customers and boost sales. 

Looking for help with your next winter print marketing campaign? Contact us today!

The holiday season can be a busy and stressful time, especially for businesses trying to get their print materials ready before the end of the year.

With tight deadlines and high demand, it’s crucial to have a well-planned approach when placing last-minute print orders during the holidays. 

Here are some tips for successful last-minute holiday printing orders, whether promoting a winter sale, sending holiday cards, or creating a personalized gift.

Last-Minute Print Orders for a Stress-Free Holiday? We’ve Got You Covered!

Plan Ahead

Plan your holiday print orders well in advance to avoid any last-minute rush.

Communicate your requirements early so there is sufficient time to prepare and allocate resources for your project.

Clearly Communicate Deadlines

Clearly communicate your desired delivery date and time.

Provide all the necessary details, including any specific requirements or expectations. This will help manage the workflow effectively and ensure timely delivery.

Utilize Expedited Services

If you have urgent print orders, inquire about expedited services.

There may be an option for faster turnaround times, such as same-day or next-day printing. While these services may come at an additional cost, they can be a lifesaver when time is of the essence.

Provide Print-Ready Files

To streamline printing and avoid delays, ensure your artwork files are print-ready.

Double-check the file format, resolution, color mode, and bleed or trim requirements. 

Opt for Digital Printing

Digital printing offers faster turnaround times than traditional printing methods.

Consider choosing digital printing for your holiday print orders, especially if you have a tight deadline. This technology allows for quick production without compromising on print quality.

Stay in Communication

Maintain open lines of communication throughout the process.

Regularly check in for updates on the progress of your print order. This will help build trust, manage expectations, and promptly address concerns.

Review Proofs Carefully

Before giving the final approval for printing, carefully review the proofs.

Pay attention to details such as colors, fonts, and overall layout. By ensuring everything is accurate, you can avoid costly reprints or delays caused by errors.

Stay Organized

Keep a record of all your print orders, deadlines, and communication.

This will help you stay organized and easily track the progress of your projects. Use project management tools or spreadsheets to keep up with your holiday print orders.

Following these tips can minimize stress and ensure a seamless experience when placing last-minute print orders during the holiday season. 

Effective communication and proper planning are vital to achieving stress-free holiday print orders. Get in touch today to discuss your holiday printing needs and enjoy a hassle-free printing experience.

Marketing is the process of getting potential clients interested in your products or services.

The keyword phrase here is the process. Goals aren’t just about scoring a touchdown; they encompass every move leading up to that defining movement. In marketing, that includes researching, promoting, and sharing your brand and its offerings. 

When (and Why!) Print Marketing is Important

Did you know . . . 

• Print ads require 21% less cognitive effort to process
• Print advertising drives higher levels of brand recall than digital (77% vs. 46%)
• 82% of consumers trust print ads the most when making a purchase decision

How does print drive consumer response? 

• The response rate for direct-mail marketing is 37% higher than the email rate.
• Nearly 80% of consumers act on direct printed mail advertisements compared to 45% on electronic advertisements.
• Print and direct mail marketing bring a 9% customer response rate compared to other digital marketing channels, which hover around 1% or less. 

Even more exciting, brands that combine print and digital ads make online campaigns 400% more effective!

Now is the Time to Craft a Print Marketing Plan

When it’s time to plan your print marketing, start with the ideal outcome.

Define how many first-time customers you hope to gain or how many product units you want to sell. Quantify the goal, then work backward like this:

The Crooked Spoon Café noticed that about 20% of recipients visited a “BOGO” URL link created as an online landing page in response to a direct mail teaser. 10% of BOGO link visitors used this time-bound coupon in the restaurant. From this information, the café worked backward to craft a direct mail strategy.

The Crooked Spoon wanted to draw 200 visitors for a fall harvest gala. If around 10% of URL visitors use online coupons, the café needs about 2,000 visitors for the landing page. If only 20% of direct mail recipients would hop online, the café should send mail teasers to 10,000 households.

How might this work for your business? Define your “win,” then zoom out to plan where, when, and how you’ll use specific print products (brochures, catalogs, direct mail postcards, trade show flyers, or presentation folders) to get there. Tie measurable outcomes to the amount of print pieces you’ll prep, and make this print advertising as compelling and timely as possible.

Like a perfectly executed pass, print marketing can move the ball from mid-field to the endzone in a flash! Need help? Our team of experts is happy to share estimates, samples, or ideas. Contact us today for details.

Supporting small businesses is a vital part of thriving communities, and it’s something that should be celebrated and practiced year-round.

In a post-COVID economy, consumers are eager to support small businesses. One Consumer Pulse study showed that 93% of Americans believe supporting small businesses they value is important, and 9 out of 10 shoppers said this is even more essential after the pandemic.

As further proof, Small Business Saturday has emerged as a significant retail event during the busiest shopping season for small businesses. In 2022, projected spending reached an estimated $17.9 billion, as the 2022 SBS Consumer Insights Survey reported.

4 Fun Ideas for Getting More Shoppers in the Door of Your Small Business

Consumers’ goodwill and awareness of the importance of small businesses create a massive opportunity. Here are four ideas to kickstart your creativity.

1. Capitalize on Curb Appeal

Part of the charm of shopping at small businesses is the experience, so make it fun for people to step through your doors!

Try sidewalk A-frame banners or a freebies table with magnets, custom notepads, or samples. Advertise in advance and reward people who participate in your highlighted theme (like a 15% discount to anyone wearing plaid or area sports team merchandise). Or collaborate with area merchants on a “Deals Near-BUY” flyer to build momentum in your neighborhood.

2. Reward Referrals

While your brand may serve customers beyond your region, an enormous 85% of business owners depend on word-of-mouth referrals, so actively influencing friends and neighbors is vital!

Bump up referrals by mailing a Buy One/Get One coupon. Or pump up a “Bring a Buddy” event with food tasting, demonstrations, free drawings, or a fun in-store activity.

3. Personalize Advertisements

When promoting your small business, highlight testimonies or quotes from real local customers.

Try before and after pictures, photos of your customers in well-loved parks, or advertisements featuring your content in front of an area mascot. If your city has special events during the season, tie these into your promos.

4. Offer Bonus Merchandise

When balancing price reduction and profit margin gets tricky, consider adding rewards instead.

Could you ask suppliers for samples to be used as “gift with purchase” items? Or pair your own smaller freebies with the full-price items—like s’more sticks with a tent purchase, socks with a pair of shoes, or a free dessert or spice packet with a cookbook purchase.

Print Local

Local purchasing has tangible benefits for shoppers and merchants: for every dollar spent shopping small, estimates show an average of 68 cents stays in that business’s local community.

So, choose to shop and print locally and contact us for all your printing needs, including posters, mailers, business cards, and more. 

Thanksgiving brings around the start of the holiday season, and it brings with it a season of thankfulness! Gratitude is important for all of us individually because expressing gratitude positively affects our health, mood, and relationships. 

Embracing gratefulness helps in the workplace, too. Research has proven that employees who have had gratitude expressed to them put more effort into helping others, are more generous and willing to share profits, and show more loyalty to their company. 

Whether you incorporate them in seasonal print marketing materials or share them with your friends, colleagues, or employees, these quotes are sure to inspire and encourage.

25 Gratitude-Filled Quotes to Express Thankfulness

1. “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire

2. “Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

3. “When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” – Anthony Robbins 

4. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward 

5. “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton 

6. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle 

7. “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson 

8. “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” – Maya Angelou 

9. “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” – Aesop 

10. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault 

11. “I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” – Will Arnett 

12. “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” – Harry A. Ironside 

13. “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” – W. T. Purkiser

14. “The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.” – Hannah Whitall Smith

15. “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth

16. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

17. “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, And thanks, and ever thanks.” – William Shakespeare

18. “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” – Randy Pausch 

19. “In your darkest hour, give thanks, for in due time, the morning will come. And it will come with a ray of sunshine.” – M Johnson

20. “The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” – Norman Vincent Peale

21. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

22. “Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us.” – Lauryn Hill

23. “Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” – Doris Day

24. “Gratitude is the sweetest thing in a seeker’s life — in all human life. If there is gratitude in your heart, then there will be tremendous sweetness in your eyes.” – Sri Chinmoy 

25. “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” – Kristin Armstrong

As we move into the holiday season, know that our company is thankful for you! Visit our website to learn about the products and services we would gladly offer you. 

Despite the more modern online alternatives in advertising today, direct mail will always be a classic and effective strategy for customer engagement.

Direct mail boasts a strong overall response rate of 3.7%, outperforming mobile ads (2%) and email and social media marketing (1%). 

A personalized URL (PURL) is a unique and helpful tool that can supercharge your direct mail marketing efforts! One of its standout features is the ability to digitally track the response rate for direct mail pieces, giving you data to ensure that your marketing dollars are being put to the best use possible. 

3 Benefits of Using PURLs for Direct Mail

1. Make Your Customers Feel Special 

Customers love to see marketing items that feel unique to them!

Each recipient’s name can be incorporated into the PURL, giving you the perfect opportunity to add that touch of personalization to your direct mail. 

For example, John Doe’s PURL might look like johndoe.trymail.com or john-doe.trymail.com. This will make your customers feel special and increase the likelihood of them following the link and engaging with your mail. 

2. Gather Valuable Data

With PURLs, you can precisely track responses to your mailings and gain deeper insights into your audience’s preferences.

This information is essential because it means your team can ditch designs that don’t yield response rates while improving upon the designs that demonstrate the most success. 

3. Integrate with Your Overall Marketing Strategy

PURLs can be integrated into your marketing strategy through various channels to enhance customer engagement and track responses effectively.

For example, incorporate PURLs as clickable links that lead to personalized landing pages in marketing emails or share them on social media. This not only enhances engagement but also allows you to collect valuable data to refine your marketing strategies.

Ready to supercharge your marketing campaigns with effective direct mail strategies and PURLs? Contact us today to explore how our printing services can transform your marketing efforts into success. Let’s bring your vision to life! 

Don’t leave attracting customers up to chance; be proactive with direct mail!

Employing the ability to reach scores of potential customers in specific regions, direct mail is an excellent vehicle for growing your customer base and publicizing your business creatively and methodically.

Direct Mail for Local Businesses: Unique Advantages and Strategies

Direct mail marketing is the method of sending out print materials to potential customers. Materials mailed could include postcards, flyers, or catalogs.

Scholars have found the earliest versions of direct mailings from ancient Egypt, around 1,000 B.C. Direct mail has come a long way since then, but it still has tremendous benefits for businesses today.

Direct Mail Can Physically Bring in Customers

A unique advantage to direct mail is that you can mail out a coupon or another promotional item to have customers physically visit your store and redeem it.

By bringing customers into your store, sales and business growth can grow exponentially. 

Get Customers Excited and Stand Out

Do you think young adults aren’t excited about direct mail? Think again!

Generation Z, or people born between 1997 – 2012, is 63% more excited about direct mail today than in 2022. Younger generations find direct mail more interesting and unique than digital marketing.

According to the World Advertising Research Center (WARC), this generation is particularly impressed with direct mail because they have grown up in such a digital age. 

By diversifying your marketing campaign to include direct mail, the generation bombarded with digital content will resonate more with your mailings and feel that the physical marketing stands out.

Direct Mail: A Tangible Approach in the Digital Age

Direct mail has strategic benefits for businesses, especially in today’s tech-savvy world.

Reap the rewards and return on investment by choosing direct mail to diversify your marketing campaign. Don’t just communicate with potential customers; encourage them to physically visit your business by mailing promotional materials such as coupons for customers to bring into your business.

Stand out from competitors’ marketing by sending physical mailers versus simply having digital marketing. Younger generations are hungry for printed materials they can touch and hang on to versus oversaturated online platforms.

Contact us today to begin your journey of creating creative and engaging direct mail!

Science rules, not only in the natural world but also in the marketing world.

Neuroscience, the study of the brain and nervous system, and marketing go hand in hand, especially in today’s competitive world. Utilizing science to gain consumer attention and interest can be incredibly impactful for your products and your business. 

Did you know that 90% of buying decisions are made in the unconscious mind? Now imagine harnessing neuroscience, or a better understanding of how the brain works, to create the most impactful customer posters possible. 

5 Ways to Use Neuroscience for Impactful Posters

Ensure your business’s printed posters are seen in the most thoughtful, most efficient way by applying these neuroscience tips:

1) Location Matters

Where your posters are located matters.

Surroundings, or location, create 60% of the sensory sensations associated with a product, a Nestle research study indicated. Think critically and creatively about what is in your poster and where you decide to place it.

Be strategic and be connected with a positive and alluring location for your potential consumer.

2) Ditch Percentages

People don’t listen to percentages; they listen to absolute numbers.

When communicating an offer on your poster, present the number like “You save $300” versus saying “You save 30%.”  

Absolute numbers have a more substantial impact on customers and are retained better than percentages.

3) Keep It Simple

Using fancy or exotic fonts on your poster may be tempting, or your first idea to engage customers, but research has shown simple fonts are best.

According to experiments conducted by the University of Michigan, utilizing a straightforward font is the best way to convince or teach customers about your product.

Complex fonts help with memory recall, but simple fonts are best for sharing information.

4) Living Color 

The Harvard Business Review has found that nearly 90% of purchasing decisions are influenced by color.

Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow create feelings of excitement and energy. Conversely, cool colors like blue, green, and purple are linked with calmness and relaxation.

Color choices are critical in the mood and emotions you want your customers to feel and associate with your business or product. 

5) Engage FOMO

The Fear Of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a strong motivator for consumers that can be translated into marketing.

A study from University College London in 2021 revealed that urgent language increases sales. Words such as “Only a Few Left!” or “The Sale Ends Soon!” evoke strong FOMO responses that trigger customers to expedite their shopping or purchasing so they don’t miss a good deal. 

Paint a marketing picture of urgency and saving money now, and sales have been found to increase due to the FOMO principle.

Work smarter, not harder, by utilizing neuroscience in your posters. The human brain is attracted to specific sensory elements; knowing these and how the brain interprets them can positively impact your print marketing campaigns. 

Head to our website to collaborate with our creative and professional print marketing experts on your engaging posters today!