MI4P, Author at Marketing, content, & technology to help printers sell more printing

Every print business has its strengths and its weaknesses. To ensure you’re meeting your print buyers’ needs, it’s a great idea to take stock of the areas where your company is performing well and other areas where improvements can be made. This careful attention to your printshop’s performance not only benefits your existing clientele, but it also attracts new print buyers. Since some of those print buyers can’t put into words what they are looking for, and others simply won’t tell you, it’s up to you to figure out the little extras you can offer to ensure the ultimate customer satisfaction. Here is our list of 15 things your print buyers want but can’t (or won’t) tell you: 1. To receive good value Print buyers are like customers of any business. They’re willing to spend their hard-earned money, but they want to know they’re getting excellent value for every dollar they spend. 2. To be kept informed When an order is placed with your company, your print buyer appreciates being kept informed of the status of their order. Simple website-generated emails that keep them in the loop regarding production schedules, deadline adherence, problems encountered, and shipping dates all help promote

New content is now available, and we’re thinking fall! No matter where you live, this time of year means change. Routines and weather are some of the biggest ways life is different as fall rolls around; perhaps you also find yourself starting to think about how you can make a big impact through your business in the coming year. Is your current marketing plan doing all it can to help you succeed? We have a variety of options that will help your marketing choices match your goals for success. ALL-NEW DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH CLUB If you struggle with knowing you should be promoting your print business more, but you don’t have the time to put it all together, the Download of the Month Club is your self-promotion shortcut. With new, ready-to-print files provided to you monthly, each download is thoughtfully and precisely created to meet the marketing pain points of your business and give you a well-rounded collection of marketing collateral. In July, you’ll enjoy a sell sheet that highlights your print business and that matches the company brochure download from June! For only $9.99 a month, you can grow your business with compelling writing and impossible-to-ignore design all

Pioneer [payh-uh-neer] n., One who goes before to prepare or open the way for others to follow. Have you ever stopped to think how much courage it takes to be the first at something? Sure, it’s easy to spout off words like “pioneer” and “trailblazer,” but consider how challenging it is to go your own way and go there first. How do the pioneers, the trailblazers, know where to go and when? How do they find the strength within themselves to beat back the questions of self-doubt or the weariness and simply go for it? What’s more, some pioneers don’t even recognize that’s what they are. Cyndy Harkins of Pioneer Printing in Lincoln, Nebraska, is one such pioneer. Introducing Pioneer Printing Semi-retired, and having moved from Illinois, Cyndy’s parents, Bud and Genni Rettke, thought they needed something to do and wanted to give the world of printing a try. So, in 1980, they opened the very first Sir Speedy in all of Nebraska and Lincoln. Shortly thereafter, in 1981, Cyndy moved to Lincoln and began to help her parents in the print business as a press operator. “I wanted to help my parents out, so I moved to Lincoln and

What’s the big secret to getting print buyers to open your emails? Attention-grabbing headlines. Because your print buyers are busier than ever before, a lot of business emails end up going straight into the trash. But this doesn’t have to happen to you with strategic subject lines that can get your emails noticed and read. Emails that have a high success rate begin with a subject line that immediately grabs your print buyers’ attention and pulls them into the body of the email. The most effective subject lines have a personal appeal, piquing your audience’s curiosity and encouraging them to dive into the additional email content. With the all-new Email Marketing For Printers solution available now, here are some of top tips for writing subject lines that get your emails opened: 1. Keep it personal Personalization using merge tags can help you customize email subject lines to include the print buyer’s name, company, or specific geographical location. Personalized subject lines yield an excellent response when it comes to open rates. These types of customized subject lines are particularly effective if used alongside marketing initiatives such as birthday offers, post-purchase feedback requests, or even your monthly direct mail newsletter. 2. Use

Your marketing materials are one of the ways to give your customers a peek behind the curtain. Well-designed, consistently mailed pieces let your print buyers see your attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to their success. Be sure your customers receive this reassurance that you can handle their needs and solve their problems with regular, direct-mail marketing. We offer some unique and impactful options you can add to your marketing lineup! Coffee Break Sometimes a look behind the curtain can also reveal the lighter side of your company. A professionally produced humor newsletter like Coffee Break is crisp in its presentation but filled with puns, quips, and wit that let your customers see you have a sense of humor. Here are a few jokes from this month’s newsletter: Me: What does “competitive salary” mean? Boss: It means your salary will be competing with your bills. If I’m counting right … It’s been ‘one of those days’ for three years now. The exciting calendar and intriguing marketing messages round out this effective monthly newsletter and make it something your customers are sure to look forward to! FastStart With a fresh design and message each month, the FastStart mailer or postcard is

A sustainable marketing strategy is all about balance. Yes, we love (and are partial to) print, but it’s not the end-all, be-all if you’re genuinely focused on meeting your print buyers where they’re at. And where are they? Everywhere: print, online, social media, in-person, and in your email inbox. Did you know that 73% of businesses use email as their primary source of communication? You need to be a part of those conversations, and email drip campaigns are the perfect place to start. What Are Email Drip Campaigns? Email drip campaigns (also known as “drip marketing campaigns,” “automated marketing campaigns,” “drip campaigns,” and “drip mailings’) are a series of marketing communications sent in sequence to lead your print buyers to the point of purchase. Drip campaigns get their name for the ongoing value they provide to your subscribers, gradually providing them with helpful information, updates, products, and notifications. These emails can be more education-based (as you’re used to receiving from us) or more focused, personalized, and timely, like a welcome campaign. In drip marketing, you send emails in response to your print buyer’s actions (or inactions) based on certain triggers. Triggers can be specific timelines, time frames, or other things,

Print owners are a one-of-a-kind, stellar group of people. Speak with any number of them, and you’ll quickly find incredible, talented, and hardworking people who simply want to serve others well and make a living in the process. It is a true joy and pleasure to work within the printing industry and meet these incredible men and women stretching themselves and their companies to meet the needs of an ever-expanding industry. Sam Pulice of Mojave Printing Solutions is no exception. Learn how he’s taken their printing business to new heights and the inner workings that make it possible. Introducing Mojave Printing Solutions Nestled in the High Desert region of Southern California between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave Printing Solutions has made its mark in Victorville and surrounding areas. In 1987, when big copiers were just coming on the scene, Mojave Copy was founded by Howard Kack. In addition to copying, this quick print shop found its niche in one- and two-color printing. But all that began to change in 2007 when Sam purchased the business and renamed it Mojave Printing Solutions. Sam’s history in printing began as a press operator at a company called Anderson Lithograph. “One day, while

There is something carefree about summer that should translate to your marketing materials. No matter the climate, there’s just something different about summer days that’s more mental than the weather. So tap into that relaxed feeling and present your company as a reliable solutions provider that understands the pace of summer and is ready to send the right message to your customers. Coffee Break The laidback summer atmosphere provides the ideal landing place for the humor, direct marketing message, and informative calendar found in the Coffee Break newsletter. Each aspect of this one-page powerhouse is sure to bring a smile to your customers’ faces. Jokes like… It was my wife’s birthday and she rang me to see what time I would be home. “Can’t talk,” I said, “I’m driving.” “Where are you?” she asked. She wasn’t happy when I said the seventh tee. And Why did the hipster burn his mouth on pizza? Because he ate it before it was cool. …are sure to give readers something to look forward to each month. Coffee Break is a simple, no-nonsense way to make a positive impression. FastStart Getting straight to the point with your marketing is the idea behind the FastStart

Cleveland, Ohio, is a city known for innovation. From the first indoor shopping mall in 1890 to the first automobile sale in the United States in 1898 to the first blood transfusion in 1905, Cleveland has made its mark as a city of firsts and welcomed others to do the same. Nearly a century later, Gary and Patricia Chmielewski, along with two partners, decided to stake their claim in this historically rich city by founding Northern Ohio Printing. Introducing Northern Ohio Printing: The Print Heartbeat of Cleveland Centrally located outside of downtown Cleveland, Northern Ohio Printing has become a staple in the minds of print buyers throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states. “My wife, Patricia, and I purchased Northern Ohio Printing in 1994 along with two other partners. In 1997, we bought out those partners and have since grown from two to 21 employees. While lots of printers in our area have gone out of business or been acquired, we’ve been able to take a lot of that market share and service over 950 clients.” To meet those client needs, Northern Ohio Printing offers a 50/50 mix of digital and offset printing. “We have a Heidelberg six-color press we bought

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