Recently, I was having a conversation with a fellow print shop owner, and the topic of customer service came up. I mentioned that I thought customer service was more important than it ever has been in my 30-year career in the printing industry. He disagreed. “As long as I deliver a quality product in a timely manner everything works out great for me,” he said. I’m not so sure about that. Allow me to share my opinion on my friend’s opinion. There was a time in our industry that quality and speed would allow a printing business to charge a hefty price, rake in the dough, and control market share in their market. In our new digital world, though, expectations are already high. Quality is not expected, it’s required. And speed? Ever since the microwave was introduced, society has been trying to figure out how to make the world spin faster on its axis! To make matters worse, now that anyone can get into the digital printing business, there have been a bunch of newbies enter the print industry that have no clue how to price their products appropriately. That means it’s even more challenging to compete for the same margins


In an age of email, social media, and big data, marketers have many choices for engaging their customers and prospects. By leveraging multiple channels and consistent messaging across all of your marketing touchpoints, you’ll quickly be able to see why direct mail is one of the most impactful channels you have at your disposal. Although many might say they believe in the power of direct mail, a common question that often arises is, “How can I make my direct mail marketing piece effective?” The answer to that is simple: you need good data and a great message. Build a Solid Foundation Your approach to any direct mail campaign should always focus on data first. Like other marketing channels, the need for accurate and pertinent data is what builds the foundation of your campaign. If your data isn’t accurate and relevant to your target audience, your return on investment (ROI) results will be inadequate. Remember, the quality of your data is crucial to not only engaging your current clients but in prospecting for more of them. Here are two key factors to keep in mind about your data: 1. Data is a Matter of Trust: Trusted Facts and Trusted Relationships. Making


Ever been rejected? I have. When it happened, it stung. I used to write for a large publisher who eventually told me that one of my articles wasn’t good enough to be published. I had written roughly 200 pieces for this publisher when suddenly, they said ‘no.’ As a part of their declining my articles, they offered no discussion, no re-write, no conversation. Just a ‘declined.’ I’m not sure if it’s because of my ego, my busy schedule, or because I’ve lost my way, but I haven’t written much since, despite my love for writing good content. Either way, I have no excuse. Can you relate? Have you ever wanted to do something that you love, but didn’t pursue it out of fear, timing, or any other number of reasons? But, why wouldn’t you go after what you love to do? “There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela To Boldly Go or To Go Boldly? Writing is Hard. I often hear people say ‘I’m a good listener.’ Usually, this means they’re not. Let’s be honest. When someone has to announce they’re


« Previous Page