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

It’s no secret that the printing industry has been feeling the increasing effects of the paper shortage crisis. This pain point has been popping up in conversations on online forums, phone calls and email connections with our printers, and even social media. Just this past week, we posted the following meme on our LinkedIn channel, and the comments that followed quickly turned to paper and the lack of it. So, what’s the deal? What do you think is causing this unprecedented paper supply issue? How is it affecting your business, and what are you doing to alleviate the issue for both your business and your clients? We asked a handful of our subscribers these questions to get their take on things. Check out the helpful information and tips they provided in their responses below. What is Causing the Paper Shortage Issues? Some quick research will show you that the paper crisis didn’t just suddenly appear; it’s been a long time coming. In Lou Caron’s article, “Paper Shortages: What’s Behind the Problem and What Can We Do?”, Caron attributes several factors that have led to the current state of the paper supply, including: The closure of North American paper mills and

There’s a wealth of new content headed your way this month! How will you connect with your audience? 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. For only $9.99 a month, you can grow your business with compelling writing and impossible-to-ignore design all neatly packed and delivered to your inbox. Check out some of the upcoming Download of the Month Club downloads and learn more below. Tell Me More! 5 Direct Mail Package Options for Printers FastStart Straightforward marketing that makes doing business with your company a no-brainer is one of the many reasons to love FastStart. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find in this month’s product-of-the-month postcard and mailer: When you want to make a great impression at your next presentation, consider a custom folder to hold all of your marketing collateral. With

While some people might dream of one day trying their hand at owning a business, others seem to simply fall into it because of their natural giftings. Jeramiah Townsend of Basin Printing is one of those born-to-be entrepreneurs. With a heart for innovation, a passion for helping others succeed, and business organization skills that could rival the famous Marie Kondo, Jeramiah uses his more-than-a-printer mindset to capture the heart of not only his print buyers but other entrepreneurs as well. Curious to hear how he does it? Introducing Basin Printing: A Unique Beginning; A Promising Future Basin Printing’s story starts before Jeramiah with a rich and unique history. In 1957, Basin Printing was founded in the beautiful town of Durango, located in the southwestern corner of Colorado. With a focus on serving the oil and gas industry, this forward-thinking print shop was the first to offer offset printing within their region. Several decades later, in 1990, a unique transition of ownership occurred when a press operator named Mike Hammond won a Heidelberg award for the best press operator in the western part of the United States. Mike later purchased Basin Printing from its owners using the prize money he won

“Hey, you, look at me! Can’t you see how great I am? I am the best there is. You’d be a fool to work with anyone but me and my business, for we are THE BEST.” Ugh. Insert eye-roll here. Most people actively avoid those who exude an attitude like this. But, have you ever noticed that many business owners think it’s ok to market their business this way? They seem to miss the truth that messages like these, with their know-it-all attitudes, are cringe-worthy whether they come from the neighbor down the street or a business trying to market itself. Owning a business doesn’t give anyone an excuse to be an all-about-me marketer. No one likes a glory hog, and this includes your print buyers. Many companies fail to recognize that marketing actually works best as a supporting role. If you want your marketing to be effective, it needs to play the background, not take center stage. Every Story Has a Hero. Who’s Yours? In every story, there’s a hero and there’s a guide. Think about this: in The Lord of the Rings, Frodo had Gandalf. In The Hunger Games, Katniss had Haymitch. And, of course, in Star Wars,

Growing sales requires the right combination of high-quality marketing, solid products and services, and attentive customer care. You can count on us to provide you with marketing materials that are sure to impress your customers, so you can focus on all the other things that make your company great. FastStart When you’re looking to send a simple marketing message that gives your customers just the right amount of information about what your company can do for them, FastStart is the right choice. Professional copies, whether color or black-and-white, show pride to your customers. It represents your level of quality, and we take that seriously. That’s why we make sure your copies are crisp, clear, and look as good as the original. It’s your image, and we know you work hard for it. Local Edge Encouraging your customers to partner with your local company is easy to do with Local Edge. Simply mailing the oversized postcard each month keeps your company front of mind and positions it as the solutions expert. Refresh the details of your designs and cultivate confidence with an identity that’s all your own. Local printing allows you to collaborate each step of the way, avoiding the cookie

Print owners are some of the toughest people on the planet. Get to know a few, and you’ll quickly find undaunted passion, unwavering integrity, time-tested grit, and a deep love for small business and their families. But as any entrepreneur knows, owning a business isn’t all sunshine and roses. There are times when the high highs are met with low lows, discontentment creeps in, and the motivation to keep going starts to dry up. Here are a handful of motivation killers you have most likely or will most likely face and what you can do to overcome them. 1. An Unhealthy Mindset First things first, your mindset is everything because your motivation battle begins and ends here. How you think about the world affects everything you do in it. Think about this: When your goal is to go on a diet, but you pass by that display case of donuts, your mind does two things. It sends you both a list of justifications as to why you deserve a donut and how one little donut won’t hurt you, and it reminds you of your diet goals. The fastest way to kill your motivation is to let that voice of justifications become

Check out the winning direct-mail marketing content we have on deck this month, available for download now. Is there a piece you could add to your marketing lineup that will remind your customers you’re on their team? A win for them is a win for you, so make sure they know you’re there for them, cheering on their success! Coffee Break If humor is one of the best ways to connect with people then the monthly Coffee Break newsletter is a sure-fire way to make a positive impression on your customers. A healthy dose of laughs: What do you call a pig with laryngitis? Disgruntled. I am not short … I’m just more down to earth than other people. coupled with straight-forward advertising: Our team knows what it takes to draw and keep your customer’s attention! makes Coffee Break a mailing your customers will anticipate every month. FastStart Simple and creative, FastStart’s appeal lies in its call-to-action marketing style. Your customers will be inspired by this month’s encouragement to put rack cards to work for their businesses. When you’re looking to get the most for your business buck, give rack cards a try! These deluxe marketing pieces are made with