Rachel Nies Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Marketing, content, & technology to help printers sell more printing

Getting out of your comfort zone is never easy, particularly in business and especially if you’re not a natural risk-taker. Personally, I like my comfort zone. (Really, who doesn’t?) Comfort zones mean everything sits neatly in its expected spot. There are no unsightly bumps in the road, no unexpected waves to rock the boat, just the sweet solace of a beautifully executed, predictable routine. My husband, Jeremy, on the other hand, embraces risk way more quickly than I do. In fact, he told me when we got married that his last words would probably be “Watch this!” (Here he is in his kayak.) But as much as I might think he’s crazy at times, I get it. He understands what author and professor John A. Shedd meant when he wrote, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for.” While that predictable comfort zone might give the illusion that things will always remain the same, the truth is that even if we’re not changing, the world around us still is. I mean, think for a minute at how different printing looks today. Can you imagine how shocked Gutenberg would be if he saw what he

websites for printers, website layout, content for printers

As the Marketing Director here at Marketing Ideas For Printers (MI4P), there’s one question I get asked a lot: How do I get more traffic to my website? It’s a valid question. With numbers like 1,630,322,579 websites created in 2018 alone, it makes sense that printers would be asking how to make their website unique. Sometimes that question is followed up with an additional question similar to, “Rachel, could you take a look at my website and see what could be improved upon?” Recently, a prospect asked me that very thing, and I agreed to offer any insight I may have on their website. While the geeks at MI4P can look at a website and tell you how everything’s working from a technical perspective, I tend to look at websites from a human perspective (like your prospects and customers!) What I found when reviewing their website was a key component was missing. A key piece so critical that I had to write about it here to make you all aware of it. The Good First, let’s start with the good things I found. This printer’s website was well-designed, informative, and for the most part, easy to navigate. You could tell

print owner, success, traits, Marketing Ideas For Printers, Leadership

The print industry has some of the hardest working and committed individuals on the planet. So much so, that I am continually inspired to be a part of it as the Marketing Director at Marketing Ideas For Printers. But as with any industry, I’ve also witnessed the flipside of that coin with printers who are stuck in their ways, who seem content to let the world pass them by, and would rather wait things out until retirement or they’re bought out. As time wages on and I continue to work with printers more directly, I’ve come to recognize that printers who are most successful share some common traits. Here are five of those traits that are pretty consistent: 1. An Undaunted Passion Across the board, the number one thing that stands out to me among these successful printers is passion. Apathy and complacency? These words aren’t even in their vocabulary. These are the guys and gals that wake up and hit the floor running. They don’t stand for good enough, and they’re in constant pursuit of refining, of growth, and of being better today than they were yesterday. This passion seems to keep all discouragement at bay, and it ignites

Your branding and marketing are the lifeblood of your business, and they are worth your time and energy to learn to do right. If this is new territory for you, sometimes the best way to make sure you’re on the right path means simply learning to recognize the wrong one. Check out these top ten mistakes printers make with their branding and marketing below. 1. Not Selling Your Differentiator If the message of your brand is “We’re the best print company ever!”, you’re not going to sound much different than your competition or make it very far. I mean, have you ever seen a company advertise, “We’re not the best, but we try really hard!”? Probably not. This is why it’s so important to focus on what makes you unique. Voice your differences and learn to think outside the box of mediocrity. Build your message around what makes your customers keep coming back to you. Is it your customer service? Your referral program? Aim narrow and hit hard. 2. Thinking Locally Instead of Globally Remember, you’re reaching an online audience now, not just your local customers. Thinking you’re unique by using CMYK colors in your branding or trying to be

Today, almost all of us start our shopping experiences online, so it makes sense that businesses are concerned about SEO, ranking well, and being found by their prospects and customers. But, for all the talk about what SEO is, it’s even more important to take a look at what SEO is not. Good SEO is not an excuse for lousy websites and design. Being found online is only one part of a much larger whole. After all, SEO means nothing if your visitor gets to your website and is completely underwhelmed. If Google sends someone your way, Google wants to be sure that your visitors will find want they want on your site. Good SEO comes from a quality website with exceptional design and exceptionally crafted content. So, don’t get lazy. Step back and look at your website from your buyer’s perspective. Do they see a solution to their problem, or a print company with poor web design and irrelevant content? Good SEO is not a quick fix where you can cheat your way to the top. Like weight loss and get-rich-quick schemes, there is no magic pill or secret sauce that will make you instantly…well, anything. In the SEO world, that

Email marketing isn’t easy. After all the time you’ve invested carefully crafting the perfect email, it’s important to make sure your message bypasses the digital black hole (a.k.a. the junk folder) and lands safely in the inbox of your customers and prospects. Here are some easy tips to get your email message on its way to spam-free status. It’s All About the List 1. Get permission first. Good email marketing starts with permission. Create a sign-up form and put it on your website to build your list in an honest, straightforward manner. After all, no one likes unsolicited anything, right? 2. Give the option to (easily!) unsubscribe or to update their preferences at any time. Along with permission, comes options. Remember, even though they allow you to send them email, that might not mean they want ten emails a week from you. 3. Be careful when buying lists. Buying lists can sometimes mean acquiring addresses without consent, which is more likely to lead to complaints and more importantly, not buying. If you don’t have the time to work on building your own list, make sure to do your due diligence when buying lists to ensure you’re getting a quality list. 4. Practice

« Previous Page