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

While January has a certain fresh-start feeling, August is a close second. There’s a shift that happens as fall approaches. If you’ve felt that and wondered how to capitalize on it, consider the power of new marketing to reach your current and prospective customers. We specialize in fresh looks for your print shop, and we’d love to talk to you about adding one of our well-designed pieces to your marketing lineup. Contact us today! 5 DIRECT MAIL PACKAGE OPTIONS FOR PRINTERS Coffee Break Connecting with your customers is easy with the Coffee Break newsletter. Easy to produce and exciting to receive, this full-color newsletter is a lighthearted way to get your name in front of your customers. Jokes, cartoons, a unique calendar, and the right amount of advertising make Coffee Break a great addition to your marketing plan. Here are a few of the jokes you’ll find in this month’s newsletter: How come fish are so skinny? Cause they only eat fish. “Where’s everyone going?” one chicken asked another as they ran along with the flock. “The farmer said some men are going to lay a sidewalk out front, and we all want to see how they do it.” Make

Effective marketing creates and delivers value-based arguments for why people should buy your products. Successful marketing is the growth engine for your business – it’s what drives profits. To succeed in printing, you must attract prospects who buy from you, find satisfaction in your services, and become committed customers. But prospects won’t come if your message isn’t getting through. Does your printing company struggle to stand out in the competitive print industry? Do you have confidence that your marketing is on track and optimized for success? Are the investments you’re putting into your marketing activities (time, strategy, money) driving maximum impact for your business? If your answer is not a resounding yes, you could benefit from an outside perspective. The Winning Marketing Mindset for Your Print Business Effective marketing begins with one key component: a customer-first mindset. While most of us start by talking about what WE want to sell or what is great about our products, those ideas can seem tone-deaf to potential customers. The first step in optimizing your messaging is to define your target print buyer and the products they use. Embracing a customer-first mentality focuses on truly understanding the needs of these prospects and how you

Your print buyers expect top-quality products, rapid delivery, and personalized services. To stay ahead in the game, you must master the art of customer service. Standing out for exceptional customer service is easier than you might think. Here are some practical tips and strategies to help you excel! Know Your Print Buyers First and foremost, know your customer! Each of your print buyers is unique, bursting with specific needs and preferences. When you discover what makes them tick, you’ll be able to tailor your services to meet and exceed their expectations. Imagine the look on their faces when you deliver just what they wanted—or even better, something they never knew they needed! This approach enhances customer satisfaction and creates long-lasting, meaningful relationships. It’s like turning clients into friends, and who wouldn’t want that? Invest in Training Rome wasn’t built in a day, and top-notch customer service skills take time to develop, too. Investing in training programs for your team is crucial and can make a world of difference! Equip them with excellent communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills. When your team is well-trained and super enthusiastic, your print buyers will receive the best support possible, and any hiccups will get smoothed

Your print shop works hard to produce quality printed materials that your customers are proud to distribute to promote their businesses. It seems only right that you would also produce quality printed marketing materials to promote your own business. The direct-mail pieces we provide allow your print shop to let someone else (us!) handle the marketing while you focus on giving your customers the attention and care they deserve. We’d love to work with you to add a monthly direct-mail package to your marketing plan! 5 DIRECT MAIL PACKAGE OPTIONS FOR PRINTERS Coffee Break Send a smile through the mail with the Coffee Break newsletter. Easy to produce and distribute, this humorous newsletter is marketing your customers will look forward to receiving. Even better, the jokes and monthly calendar make Coffee Break the kind of marketing that gets passed around the office. Here are a few of this month’s jokes: What did the bald man exclaim when he received a comb for a present? “Thanks, I’ll never part with it!” I’m writing a book on all the things I ought to be doing—it’s an oughtobiography. Coffee Break is a newsletter with staying power that keeps your company name and marketing

Birchbox is a beauty subscription service that revolutionized the way consumers discover and experience cosmetic products. Launched in 2010, Birchbox introduced a unique concept of delivering monthly boxes with a selection of sample-sized beauty products to subscribers for a flat rate of $10. This approach eliminated the need for customers to invest in full-sized products, growing customer confidence in the products and loyalty to the company that delivered them. After realizing its colored outer packaging gets damaged in transit to customers, Birchbox added a pristine internal box with the company name featured in foil print. Recipients loved it, and shared unboxing photos and videos widely on social media. This amplified the Birchbox “experience” of unwrapping luxury, value, and convenience each month. The momentum certainly paid off: Birchbox grew to 850,000 subscribers in just three and a half years. The Undeniable Power of Packaging As tempting as it is to think of ourselves as rational, logical individuals, the truth is that human beings make snap judgments, and quite often, this is due to packaging. Printers know this, but print buyers may need some reminding about why investing extra resources into packaging is worthwhile. Why is this avenue of marketing so important?

Diving into the online print market is no walk in the park. Giants like Vistaprint and Shutterfly dominate the scene with their vast offerings and savvy marketing, setting a towering standard for smaller printing companies aiming to establish their spot in the market. Yet, there’s room for the David’s in this Goliath’s world. Smaller print businesses can carve out their niche by crafting a standout brand identity, offering tailor-made services, and mastering digital marketing that offers a human connection with their audience. Let’s unpack some strategies to transform these challenges into golden opportunities for printing businesses of any size to stand out and excel in the bustling online print market. Taking on the Online Print Giants: What Are You Up Against? Price Wars Smaller printing companies find it challenging to compete on price with giants like Vistaprint and Shutterfly. These titans can afford to slash prices and offer irresistible deals, making it tricky for the little guys to do so. But it’s not just about the price; these big names also have a marketing muscle and brand recognition that can be daunting. Building Trust and Recognition Gaining a foothold against well-known online giants is a steep climb. These established brands

Summer can mean a slower pace when it comes to the busyness of life. But don’t let that slowdown trickle into your marketing efforts. Staying front of mind through the summer months requires intentionality. Take a look at the print marketing options we offer, and consider adding one of them to your lineup this summer! DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH CLUB The April download from the Download of the Month Club is a rack card featuring seven reasons print buyers should choose a local printer rather than a big-box store. It is designed to be mailed, displayed at your front counter, or thrown into existing jobs to highlight the benefits of printing locally. If you struggle knowing you should promote your print business more but 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.

While print marketing requires an upfront investment, the rewards are worth it! When you want to convince potential print buyers this is true, consider sharing these five examples of successful print marketing campaigns. Jersey Mike’s: Creative Coupon Promotions Breaking into a new market is tough, and the restaurant industry is no exception. When Gerrit Curran and Emily Wessner opened a Jersey Mike’s Subs in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania in 2019, they used coupons with a twist to attract patrons and build customer loyalty. To gain traction in their township of 20,000, they recognized the power of anchoring their business to a community connection. During the Grand Opening, the Jersey Mike’s staff distributed over 7,000 sandwich coupons in the community, inviting people to enjoy a free sub but also to donate the cost of that sandwich to the Muhlenberg Township Athletic Association. In total, the promotion helped to raise over $15,000 and cemented Jersey Mike’s as a committed community partner. Press: Direct Mail Marketing + Targeted Social Media Ads Press, starting as an Austin-based business, puts a modern spin on laundry and dry cleaning. Its convenient app allows users to schedule direct-to-door laundry pickup and delivery. Now spread across 30+ cities, Press

Today’s customers are looking for more than just a product to be printed. They want a solution to their problem, whether it’s marketing materials that will attract new customers or packaging that will protect their products during shipping. This shift in customer mindset has led to a transformation in the print business model. Harness the Power of Consultative Selling for Your Business Consultative selling is an approach in sales that prioritizes meeting customers’ needs with solutions rather than focusing on products or services. It requires shifting from a transactional mindset to a collaborative one. By actively listening to the customer, asking the right questions, and offering tailored solutions, businesses can build stronger, more trust-based relationships. There are many benefits to adopting a solution-based sales approach in the print industry. Personalized solutions foster enhanced customer loyalty, as clients feel genuinely valued. The strategic shift towards solution-focused offerings provides a competitive edge by comprehensively addressing specific customer needs. Integrating services and products into comprehensive packages improves profitability and enhances perceived value. Actively engaging with customers as collaborative partners in their success stories establishes a strong rapport. This paves the way for enduring relationships built on mutual trust, shared objectives, and a commitment to

You likely have a go-to place for your favorite burger, ice cream cone, or cup of coffee—it’s why you go and keep returning. Much like those establishments, your print shop can cultivate a reputation for excellence, where customers instinctively turn when they need top-notch printing services. Think about what sets your print shop apart and makes your customers say, “When I need (product), I have to go to (your shop). They do it the best!” Consider the impact of quality print marketing on communicating your value proposition and nurturing relationships with existing and potential customers. Our press-ready marketing materials remind your customers why you are the right choice for all their printing needs. DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH CLUB The March download from the Download of the Month Club is a brochure encouraging print buyers who call or email their orders to order online instead. It features the benefits of using your website, like fast and efficient orders, and includes a 15% off coupon. If you struggle with knowing you should promote your print business more but 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

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