GCC Printing and Graphics

Developing a comprehensive style guide for your print projects can be a game-changer, saving you precious time and avoiding unnecessary stress in the long haul.  Applying consistency and professionalism across all designs streamlines the process for you and your team, effortlessly facilitating the creation of top-notch materials. Create an Effective Style Guide for Your Print Projects with Our 11 Tips for Success! Creating a style guide can feel overwhelming, particularly when unsure where to begin.  Thankfully, with a few simple tips, you can craft an effective and efficient style guide to elevate your print projects to the next level. 1. Start with Your Brand Guidelines Your brand guidelines are the foundation of your style guide. They define your brand identity, including logos, colors, fonts, and messaging. Refer to your brand guidelines when creating your print project style guide. 2. Choose a Primary Font Your primary font is the font that will be used for the

Print marketing is a popular choice for businesses of all shapes and sizes, mainly because it's more effective than ever. An estimated 92% of people between the ages of 18-23 say that they find it easier to read print content versus its digital alternative . This is even though smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices are ever-present.  But, of course, simply leveraging print marketing alone isn't necessarily enough to get the job done. If you genuinely want to take the format's natural benefits and elevate them to the next level, you'll want to lean into the power that personalization in print marketing brings with it. The Major Benefits of Personalization Keep in mind that personalization is about so much more than just using someone's name as opposed to "Dear Sir or Madame" in a greeting. It's about tailoring every element of your content - from your language to the overall design - towards a specific audience segment. In a larger

A striking, professional image flows from your primary point of contact – that classic, irresistible, one-of-a-kind business card. Like a handshake or a personal introduction, your business card leaves a lasting first impression. It's more than contact information; it reflects your brand's personality. Your brand is unique, and your business card should be too. Perhaps it's time to go big and bold – or simple and sharp – as you refresh your business card. Four Fresh Business Card Examples Check out these four innovative business card concepts that break free from convention, leaving a lasting impact on those who receive them. 1. Unexpected Contrasts While many traditional cards are flat and formal, modern cards keep bending the rules. Like a dry joke with a witty punchline, some business cards use stark contrast to surprise and entice: Examples: Handwritten script alongside bold fonts Playful quotes next to minimalist contact details Lively neon stripe

In the world of marketing, it's essential to capture your audience's attention and convey your message effectively. These books serve as valuable resources, helping to craft compelling narratives, integrate powerful strategies, and create remarkable content that resonates with your customers. Essential Marketing Books for Small Business Owners Want to recharge creativity or get an inexpensive education from some of the best marketers around? Here are three resources to consider. "Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message so Customers Will Listen" by Donald Miller Everyone loves a story . . . but what is a Storybrand? The framework in "Building a StoryBrand" applies the universal elements of storytelling to brand messaging. While prospective buyers think primarily about themselves, marketers often start by blasting people with unhelpful or (seemingly) irrelevant information. Here's one example from Miller's book: “Imagine your custome

Along with the cooler weather and changing leaves of Autumn comes the beginning of the holiday season. In the business world, Thanksgiving also means the arrival of Black Friday.  According to Capital One Shopping research, the average shopper spends $430 on Black Friday. This is a massive opportunity for companies within any industry to make sales!  Although often, large, well-known corporations are the first to come to mind for Black Friday sales events, in reality, Black Friday can be an extremely lucrative time for your small business, too. Planning your marketing right will become the perfect time to spread the word about your company. 3 Creative Ideas for Small Business Marketing on Black Friday 1. Create a Holiday Gift Guide 50% of surveyed consumers responded that they would spend the most significant amount of money while Black Friday shopping on gifts for others .  Since Black Friday falls right at the beginning of the holiday season, most customers will use it t

When it comes to catching customers' attention and keeping them loyal to your brand, the look of your product can be powerful! 72% of Americans say a product's packaging often influences purchases.  Creating brand-consistent packaging for your products is a simple way to increase brand recall, develop a recognizable aesthetic for your company, and increase customer loyalty. 5 Strategies for Engaging Customer Packaging Read on to learn different ways to bring fresh creativity to your packaging and use it as a tool for customer engagement!  1. Keep Packaging Consistent  Maintaining a uniform brand presentation can lead to a revenue increase of up to 33% . So, when designing your product packaging and labels, stay consistent with your branding. Use the same font style on all your print materials and packaging, lean into your signature brand colors, and include your company logo. The more often consumers see that color, font, and logo, the more recognition they'l

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” - Pablo Picasso Using color is as important as the words in your print marketing, if not more important. Color can not only attract customers to read and engage with your marketing, but it can also enhance or connect a certain mood or emotion to your business. There have been many studies throughout the years about the power of color choice and the psychology behind it all. Stand out with your printed marketing and make a splash with thoughtful color choices that promote your business in its best light.  The Psychology of Colors Choosing the right color for the emotion or mood you want to convey is essential to every business. Consider the following colors and moods or emotions they enhance and whether or not they would compliment your business or detract from its core. Red: Excitement, Passion, Anger Did you know that hunger is enhanced at the sight of red?   Many popular restaurants capitalize on branding and

Reaching your ideal audience while remaining mindful of the bottom line seems like the dream in marketing. By fusing print and digital marketing to promote your offers, customers will benefit from better communication and accessibility to your business. Working together with online platforms can be instrumental in publicizing your content in a relatable and current way. Today’s marketplace is increasingly online, which means businesses need to think outside the box when it comes to marketing and promoting their business to potential customers. 3 Creative Ways to Showcase Your Business Utilizing Print and Digital Branding your company to a broader audience on multiple platforms can be intimidating, but with a few simple and energizing ideas, you will surely gain traction with today’s customers. 1) Use a QR code on your posters and flyers A QR code is a type of barcode that smartphone cameras can read easily. Once scanned, the camera will open up the designated website. Thi

As the retail landscape evolves, a well-conceived offline marketing strategy remains critical for attracting and retaining customers in brick-and-mortar stores. To achieve this goal, a well-crafted offline marketing strategy is essential.  Harness the Power of Offline Marketing to Improve Foot Traffic to Your Business Here are ten strategies to help you drive foot traffic into your store. Have a Clear Brand Voice Your brand voice sets you apart from other businesses. Establishing and maintaining a consistent tone of voice will help customers recognize your store. Host Events Promote events within your store to get people in the door. Try hosting workshops, classes, or community-oriented activities like movie nights or local artists' exhibitions. Join Local Organizations Get involved in your local community by joining organizations and networking with other businesses. This will help you drive foot traffic to your store and increase your visibility within th