Welcome back to another edition of  Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month, we dive into a surprising lesson from the world of baking—yes, baking!—to uncover how making things easy for your print buyers can sometimes be too easy and what you can do to strike the perfect balance.  The Cake Mix Conundrum: When Convenience Backfires  Let’s take a trip back to the 1940s when the introduction of cake mixes revolutionized the baking world. Initially, these mixes were designed to be incredibly simple—just add water, and you’d have a cake ready to bake. But to everyone’s surprise, sales were disappointing. It turns out that people felt a sense of embarrassment when they realized how little effort it took to “bake” the cake. They wanted to feel like they had played a real part in the process.  Enter the genius tweak: manufacturers altered the formula, so bakers needed to add an egg and some oil. Suddenly, sales soared. Why? Because this small bit of involvement allowed people to feel like they were truly baking rather than just using a shortcut.  This same principle can apply to


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. Today, we’re drawing inspiration from a historic athletic achievement to explore how embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize your printing business.   Breaking the 4-Minute Mile  Before 1954, medical experts and athletic professionals deemed the idea of running a mile in under four minutes impossible. It wasn’t until May 6, 1954, when Roger Bannister accomplished this feat, that the barrier was broken. This achievement not only proved the experts wrong but also inspired many others to follow suit. Within a few years, over 50 athletes had broken the 4-minute mile, demonstrating the power of breaking mental and perceived physical barriers.  Similarly, the adoption of AI in business has faced skepticism. For years, many have seen AI as a futuristic, impractical technology. However, continuing advancements and successful implementations across various industries have shown that AI can indeed drive significant improvements in efficiency, customer engagement, and cost savings.   Training for AI Excellence Roger Bannister did not achieve his record-breaking 4-minute mile by chance; it was the result of strategic preparation. In the same way, to achieve true AI productivity,


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month, we’re going deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to consider how it can do real work that’s better, faster, and less expensive.  The AI Journey: From Doubter to Believer  My exploration into AI began with a sense of curiosity and a touch of skepticism. As someone who has always been interested in innovative solutions to enhance our marketing services at Marketing Ideas For Printers, I couldn’t ignore the growing buzz around AI. Initially, I focused on understanding how AI could help improve our marketing strategies, but what I discovered was far more profound.  The challenge that set me on this path was to create an AI tool capable of delivering improvements in the order of 1,000 times better when measuring the time and money required to complete an existing task or process. The goal seemed ambitious, if not impossible. However, I embraced it because achieving a 1000x improvement would allow me to share this knowledge with you, helping you discover your 1000x improvements.  The 1000x AI-powered Budgeted Hourly


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month, we dive into the powerful role of creating a welcoming environment in your shop, inspired by a modern banking experience and a cherished memory from my early days in the printing industry at Express Press in Fargo, North Dakota.  The allure of complimentary cookies and coffee might be why some customers, myself included, prefer visiting their bank in person rather than speeding through the drive-through. This simple yet effective approach to customer care can transform a routine errand into a pleasurable visit, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Now, imagine applying a similar strategy to your print shop.  How This Helps You Sell More Printing  Reflecting on the early ’90s, I recall the innovative spirit of Mike Stevens at Express Press. Mike often credited his father, Jerry, as his “secret weapon.” Jerry was known for his humor and friendliness, and he introduced a unique way to welcome customers—by baking bread right in the lobby using an automated bread-making machine, a cutting-edge technology at the time. The delightful aroma of fresh bread


Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and the printing industry is no exception. While many printers have dabbled in AI, few have harnessed its full potential. The missing ingredient? Training. As printers, we are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better service to our customers, and AI offers solutions to all these challenges and more. By leveraging AI, you can streamline your operations, automate routine tasks, and gain insights that were previously unattainable. The Power of AI Training AI training isn’t about becoming an expert overnight; it’s really about understanding how to leverage AI effectively for your print business. Earlier this year, I joined a community of AI experts and was transformed from a novice to a proficient user in just weeks. The AI Foundations course I took was the catalyst for this transformation, providing an intensive, hands-on experience that took me from a beginner (white belt) AI user to an advanced user (black belt). Hiya! Real-World Success with AI For Printers Let me translate this training into what it quickly became. As part of my AI training, I created an AI tool to help printers conduct a budgeted hourly rate (BHR) study. Typically,


Welcome back to another edition of “Sell More Printing,” where we consider sales and marketing strategies that can significantly boost your printing business. In this issue, we’re spotlighting how your Management Information System (MIS) can be so much more than just a management tool; your MIS can also be a key element of your sales and marketing framework. Keep reading below, but also watch the replay of the Your Marketing-First Blueprint for Website & MIS Success webinar to discover how this strategy unfolds in more detail. This all-in-one solution, with its one-of-a-kind approach, specifically addresses the challenges of running a print business.  In today’s competitive market, integrating your MIS with your marketing strategies is not just innovative; it’s essential. If your marketing strategy is designed to lead your prospects and customers to your website’s order forms, why can’t your website ask for the sale when they arrive, “Ready to make a purchase?” Why can’t your MIS tell your website to say to your customer, “Thanks for your order!” and then turn to your production team and say, “I’ve got a new order for you to print!”  Odyssey Connects Marketing to MIS  That’s exactly what happens with Odyssey, the Print MIS that lives


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month, we’re diving into a topic sparked by a conversation with my daughter, Tessa, about an unusual traffic marvel – England’s 7-circle Magic Roundabout – and how its principles can revolutionize your marketing approach.  The Magic Roundabout: A Complex Dance of Traffic  Imagine navigating a roundabout. Now, multiply that by seven interconnected circles! That’s the Magic Roundabout in Swindon, England. Click here to see a short video of this unique system in action. Initially confusing, this roundabout efficiently manages heavy traffic from multiple directions. Each mini-roundabout within the larger system requires drivers to adapt, observe, and react quickly – much like the multifaceted world of marketing.   How This Helps You Sell More Printing  The Magic Roundabout’s complexity mirrors the challenges you face in marketing your printing business. Just as drivers must choose the right path through the roundabout to reach their destination, you must navigate various marketing strategies to reach your target audience effectively.  Steering Through the Marketing Maze: Practical Steps  To adapt this analogy to your printing business, consider these key


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. Today, we’re venturing into the mystical world of video games – yes, you read that right – with a spotlight on Zelda. Our journey begins by exploring how Kathy, our fearless Director of Client Relations at Marketing Ideas For Printers, found business wisdom in this pixelated world, all while gaming with her grandson, who absolutely loves that his grandma is a gamer!  Leveling Up Client Engagement with a Zelda Twist  Get a picture in your mind of Kathy, controller in hand, navigating the landscapes of Zelda; her brow furrowed in concentration. In between helping her grandson find the Master Sword and rescuing Princess Zelda, she had an ‘aha!’ moment. Kathy thought, “If Link can save a kingdom with a little strategy and a lot of heart, why can’t printers use similar tactics in their day-to-day business?” Just as Link journeys through Hyrule, facing dragons and solving puzzles, you, too, can embark on an adventure with each client, armed with your mighty print solutions!  How This Helps You Sell More Printing  In Zelda,


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month, let’s dive into the world of car washes and discover how their clever subscription model can be a game-changer for your print shop.  Sparkling Success – The Car Wash Subscription Strategy  Recently, a new car wash opened in my neighborhood, with signage enticing all drivers with free car washes for a week. Count me in! As I lined up for a complimentary wash, they presented me with an irresistible offer – $5 for 30 days of unlimited, premium car washes. Thirty days later, I was no longer a one-time customer; I had become a regular subscriber. This clever marketing strategy is not just about cleaning cars – it’s about building a loyal customer base.  How This Helps You Sell More Printing  What makes this car wash strategy so effective for your printing business? It’s simple: the transition from a one-time free service to a low-cost, high-value subscription. By offering an incredible initial deal, you draw customers in. As they experience your service’s quality and convenience, transitioning to a regular subscription


Welcome back to another edition of Sell More Printing, where we explore real-world sales and marketing strategies that you, as a printer, can adapt to boost your business. This month we’ll explore how to sell more printing by owning a category that’s unique to you. Create Your Unique Category  Creating a unique category can be as simple as combining two common items in a way that no one ever thought of before. Last month, I shared how Just Add Ice brilliantly combined ice cubes with the task of watering plants, establishing themselves as the go-to source for easy-to-maintain plants. When I’m ready to ship a Money Tree as a gift, you can bet there’s only one place I’ll go!  Here’s another example that’s a little more unusual. Ladies, please accept my apologies in advance: I’d like to think that all men wash their hands after going to the bathroom. What would happen, though, if someone combined a urinal and a sink? Hygiene improves, and a new category is created with the urinal sink!    How This Helps You Sell More Printing  You can sell more printing when you create your very own category. Owning a unique category means you not only


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