GCC Printing and Graphics

There’s a common misconception in marketing the more elements on the page, the better the marketing. But, that’s not the case. White space, or the negative space that separates text and graphics, plays an enormous part in the success of your marketing. Take a look at this handful of reasons why you need to utilize white space in your design. White space is the framework of your design. Not only does white space frame your essential information, but it also creates balance and allows the eyes to focus on what is truly important. White space creates more interaction. White space is resting space for the eyes, allowing people to take their time when reading your content. This makes for better interaction between the reader and the writer. White space creates elegance and sophistication to your marketing. If used correctly, white space doesn’t make your marketing look sparse. It makes it look professional, helping your images and text stand out perfectly wh...

It’s no secret that we all like to be appreciated. So, why do we often forget to appreciate our employees? According to Harvard Business Review , “Managers incorrectly assumed employees knew how they felt about them.” The study went on to find that only a few of the employees were being recognized. “If managers could make a far broader group of employees feel appreciated, the benefits would be considerable,” the study concluded. The best way to keep good employees is to regularly show your appreciation to all employees. Here are ten ways to show your staff how much you like having them around. Show Your Employee’s Appreciation With These 10 Ideas 1. Make birthdays special. Order food or a cake for them on their birthdays. Some companies also give people a day off to use at their leisure since paid time off is what many people value. 2. Ask for employee feedback. Ask employees to fill out a poll as to what they like and don’t like i...

You know you need to do direct mail. After all, it’s been proven to be effective in getting the word out about your business, and it’s economical. Not only that, but it’s trackable to some extent. In fact, 71% of people say they read their direct mail, and 54% say it leads them to try a new business or product. However, you only have about 3 seconds to get people to entertain your direct mail. So what do you need to know when getting these little treasures ready to mail? There are some common mistakes people make when creating their direct mail. Here are some pitfalls to avoid. 8 Direct Mail Pitfalls to Avoid Wrong Audience When creating your direct mail, one mistake many people make is not writing it for the right audience. You need to know who will be reading your direct mail and what they are looking for. Don’t write the copy as generic, meant for just anyone. Think about who you actually want to talk to through your letter, postcard, brochure, o...

One of the most common misconceptions about modern-day marketing is that everything has to be digital to break through the virtual "noise" that we all experience on a daily basis. In reality, the reverse is true. According to experts , about 66% of direct mail collateral gets opened whereas about 82% of online ads and similar techniques get ignored entirely. In fact, there are a plethora of different reasons why you would want to increase your marketing efforts with print-based materials, all of which are more than worth exploring.  The Power of Print: Breaking Things Down By far, one of the biggest benefits of print marketing simply comes down to the fact that it's far more effective than most people realize - even in the fast-paced digital era that we're now living in. According to one recent study , it's effective with 18 to 23-year-olds in particular - they say that it's easier to read print than digital content. This makes a great amount of sens...

A target audience is the people who are most likely to buy your product or service and should therefore be the ones you target in your marketing campaigns. Identifying and utilizing your target audience is extremely important because advertising to the wrong people is a waste of time and money. After all, a little bit of advertising to the right people is often as productive as a lot of advertising to the wrong people.  Finding Your Target Audience Trying to pin down your target audience can be deceptively tricky and overwhelming. However, breaking it up into small categories can help ease the load.  Consider useful demographics. This includes age, gender, location, hobbies, interests, income, education level, profession, marital status, who they trust, what they read/watch, purchase intentions, subcultures, etc. Consider each of these aspects to determine where your ideal customer resides—the more specific, the better. Try creating 3-5 buyer personas with ext...

It’s not ideal, and we don’t necessarily like to talk about it, but conflict does happen in the workplace. So, as a leader, how do you handle it? Do you sweep it under the rug, or do you deal with it head-on? Here are some tips on how to handle disagreements and conflicts at work. Pay Attention to Your Tone of Voice Experts say that only 10% of an argument is about the issue, and 90% is the tone of voice. So, it is safe to say that how we react and talk about the conflict is critical to resolving it. Whether you’re mediating the conversation or you’re in the middle of the argument, remember that your tone of voice will impact the other person more than just your words.   Don’t Ignore the Issue According to experts, ignoring a problem is not the best way to handle the situation as it will only build more tension. This can severely impact the productivity and energy of the group. In fact, we should embrace the difference of opinions in ho...

Promotional calendars are an ingenious marketing tool to target loyal and prospective customers.  The Benefits of Promotional Calendars Promotional calendars utilize continuous, year-round advertising. Even in today’s digital age, printed calendars are still widely used. According to PPAI, 78% of consumers still use a printed calendar at home or work. Therefore, if you give a calendar, the customer will most likely use it. After all, it can’t get much better than a free calendar. This calendar will hang in the customer’s home or office where they and their coworkers and family members will also see it. The recipient is bound to refer to it at least once a day. This equals at least 365 views per calendar. That’s a lot of advertising power! Promotional calendars are cost-effective. Depending on where you go and what specific calendar you buy, a printed calendar will cost you roughly $2.00. That one calendar is likely to receive at least 365 views p...

Engagement marketing places the customer at the center of the picture. According to Adobe , “Your most valuable asset isn’t your product – it’s your customers.” Engagement marketing incorporates personalization, one-on-one interactions, and a two-way relationship to create a marketing strategy the customer responds to positively. According to Adobe , “Engagement marketing is the use of strategic, resourceful content to engage people and create meaningful interactions over time.” The end goal is to create a long-term, reciprocal relationship with the customer.  Benefits of Engagement Marketing Engagement marketing more effectively reaches the customer. Customers are bombarded by marketing campaigns daily when, in general, people don’t like being sold to. Yet, customers still consume. Engagement marketing attempts to solve this problem by creating a strategy that customers appreciate and lean on.  Engagement marketing...

Time for a new brochure for your business? When was the last time you updated it? Maybe you need to tweak a few things or need a complete overhaul. Either way, here are some fresh ideas to make sure your brochure shines in the face of the competition. Let’s focus on a few items to make sure your brochure isn’t just standing around; it needs to be picked up and read. Ditch the Building First of all, remove that picture of your building from the front of the brochure. Although you’re proud of it, your building doesn’t draw people in as you think it might. Pick photographs that are more eye-catching and appealing to the reader. Photos with people in them or the new product you offer make the best choices. You can reveal the newest, greatest product, or you can use a photo that shows the emotion of how they will feel when they use the product or your business. Turn Heads with Headlines Your headlines need to compel readers and make them open the brochure....

After the Pandemic, more people are evaluating their lives, which includes their work environment. As an employer, how do you keep your people engaged and rewarded, so they want to stay? Here are a few ideas on how to decrease turnover so you don’t waste money training people who won’t stay. Hire the Right People If your impressions of prospects tell you they won’t fit in, then don’t offer them the job or you will end up with issues. When interviewing potential employees, ask them situational questions to know how they would react in particular instances. Give them a tour of the business, being sure to mention cultural items at the business. This way, if they don’t feel they fit in, they will eliminate themselves.   Offer Flexibility Let new hires (and all team members) come in at a flexible time or leave at a flexible time as long as they get the work done. This flexibility allows them to attend their children’s school functions, w...

People might think paper isn’t a big choice when starting a project. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Choosing paper is one of the first things you should decide on when starting your new project. No one sheet fits every project. Paper is three-dimensional and makes all the difference in how your project turns out. When your rough graphic design is done, the next step should be to talk to your printer about choosing the right papers. Ask them for their paper suggestions so you can decide what would be best.    Turnaround Times for Paper Getting your quote early will help you know the turnaround time to expect and when you will need to provide the design to your printing firm to get it on time. Durability of Paper When choosing the right paper, evaluate whether it needs to be something that will last or if it’s something meant for a shorter lifespan. If meant for direct mail, you might choose something less sturdy. But if you are w...

In today’s society, it’s common to try to one-up people, whether it’s with material things or with accomplishments. And to do this, we often compare ourselves to others. But this can do more damage than good. Let’s take a look. Thomas Mussweiler, a professor of organizational behavior, says, “We’re wired for connection and belonging, but if we constantly compare ourselves to others, we’re putting our happiness, confidence, and mental health at risk.” Our minds are conditioned to compare ourselves to others, so we know where we stand—if we are good at certain things or not. But when this act of comparing becomes the norm in every area of our lives, our mental health can suffer. Are you guilty of the comparison game? If so, here are five things you can do to help. 5 Ways to Beat Comparison 1. Embrace Gratitude Be thankful for what you have. Write a list or meditate on why you are happy in life. This helps us shift our thi...

Remaining positive when negative tension surrounds you is a skill worth mastering and sharing with others. If you need a few ideas on how to create a positive outlook or cheer others up, here are some you’ll’ find helpful.  Breathe. Practice the 4-7-8 technique from Dr. Andrew Wile. Try this breathing pattern: empty the lungs of air. Breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds. Hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds. Exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound for 8 seconds. Repeat the cycle up to 4 times. Focus on positive things in your life. “Living in gratitude” is known to support our physical, psychological, and social health. It can produce stronger immune systems, better sleep, feeling more joy, and help you be less lonely. Take a few minutes each day to write down what you are thankful for: a job, family, pet, warm house, nice clothes, friends, etc. Happy chemicals (dopamine a...

In a busy world filled with lists and to-dos, how do you put out content that will rise to the top and be read by others? Here are some great writing tips to help your newsletter get the attention it deserves. 1. Figure out who your audience it first. Are you sending the newsletter to prospective customers? Or are you sending it internally to your staff? This will determine the tone of the language you use, be it formal or informal. 2. Determine the voice you want to use. Most of the time, it’s best to write as if you are writing to a friend. Use a more casual tone so that everyone feels welcome to read it. 3. Keep it short. Don’t over-write. Figure out your message, then tell it in as few of words as necessary to get the point across. 4. Organize your articles. Put the most important article first, on the front side of the newsletter. Then add the following essential articles. 5. Use pictures and graphics. Insert some visual aids in your newsletter. No...

Competitive advantages are the factors that allow your company to produce goods or services better or more cheaply than your rivals and are the key factors in what makes your business better than others. If your competitive advantage can be easily copied or imitated, it is not considered a competitive advantage. Your competitive advantage is the essence of your strategy, messaging, and marketing. According to Jack Welch, “If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete.” Comparative Advantage vs. Differential Advantage  Comparative advantages and differential advantages are the two different forms of competitive advantages. A comparative advantage is your company’s ability to produce something more efficiently, leading to greater profit margins. One way to achieve a comparative advantage is to increase your economies of scale. An economy of scale is the savings in costs your company generates when it increases levels of productio...

Happy New Year! How crazy it’s already 2022! How was your 2021 marketing strategy? Whether splendid or slightly lacking, any marketing strategy has room for improvement. In the new year, try incorporating (or reincorporating) direct mail marketing strategies. This long-standing proven method, with added new technology, is a perfect way to hit the ground running in 2022. And the best part? It can start with a simple postcard. The Many Benefits of Postcards Postcards are highly effective. Did you know that 86% of customers take the time to read through their mail? Due to postcards’ higher visibility, you can expect a higher response rate than any other marketing medium, along with a 70% higher brand recall. This translates into a high return on investment. Every $167 spent translates into about $2000 in goods sold. That’s a great investment! Increase your benefits by incorporating a fantastic postcard design.  The Postcard Design The postcard desi...

Storytelling has been around for ages. To this day, people love stories. It unites people while stimulating imagination and passion. Although often seen as a fun pastime, stories usually have a purpose, such as sharing a message, conveying a moral, or telling history.  Humanize the business One sometimes overlooked use of stories is within business marketing campaigns. Stories can be especially moving in the marketing world. Storytelling humanizes the brand, which is beneficial because people like buying from other people. The more you can humanize the brand, the better.  Stories to remember  Storytelling is also useful for remembrance. People tend to remember stories better than they do statistics. Sometimes, being remembered is half the battle. After all, the marketing world is saturated with numerous businesses vying for attention. “Brands that tell more sell more.” Storytelling is a unique way to stand out. Stories take on different formats ...

The new year is a terrific time to focus on your health. One of the greatest overall benefits to your health is eliminating or reducing your stress. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy when you’re stressed out. 1. Get regular exercise. This sounds simple enough, yet most of us struggle with it. Exercise can include parking farther away so you have a longer walk to work or the mall. It can involve swimming, playing basketball with a friend, and even window shopping at the mall. Just find ways to move around more and things you enjoy. 2. Keep a sense of humor. Try to relax enough to laugh. Read a joke book. Read a funny book or watch a funny TV show or movie. Have lunch with a friend who lightens the mood. 3. Try some relaxation techniques. Meditation, deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, or even getting a massage are great makes to stop awhile and take care of yourself. This is the best way to stay on top of your game. 4. Take time for hobbies. Think about wha...

Do you marvel at beautiful artwork? Are you dazzled by the use of exquisite colors? And are you perplexed as to how images are chosen for certain marketing efforts? That’s the job of a graphic designer. Designers have training in choosing colors and images; they make the ordinary a work of art.  Why You Need a Graphic Designer Even if you have ideas of what you want, a graphic designer can bring that vision to life. That’s why it’s best to leave the execution to the experts. Graphic designers know the rules and how to break them to create a compelling message. They are trained in color, form, line, shape, size, space, and texture. And the principles they must learn have to do with: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, proportion, and rhythm. Graphic designers adhere to the principles of design. These basic principles achieve effective composition in creating balance and stability for the work. Most of us haven’t been trained this extensivel...

You know how a new haircut can change the way people see you? It can make all the difference in your level of professionalism. And die-cutting can do the same for your marketing materials. With die-cutting, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. With fresh, new die-cut marketing materials, the public will definitely take notice. What is Die-Cutting? It is a cut using a sharp steel blade that is formed into any specific shape you want. It is then used to cut through the paper. It’s a lot like a cookie-cutter, except you cut paper instead of dough. Just think what you could do for your dull, old marketing materials. It’s not just circles and squares. Die-cutting allows you to make stair steps, holes, rounded corners, sharp points, and much more. Make any point you want with fresh, new die-cut materials. Creative Uses with Die-Cutting You have probably thought about using die-cutting on your business cards to make them stand out in the pile of rec...

Knowing how the human brain works and what drives people to make decisions is immensely beneficial in marketing. Luckily, there’s much research and information regarding various psychological tips and tricks to drive sales and expand your business. Here are a few. Cut down on the options Sometimes too many decisions can cause a customer to shut down, resulting in no sales.  To avoid this, research your prospective client beforehand to determine what products or services would best suit their needs. When doing the sales pitch, focus on only these to cut down on the options. Even better, you can lump products into packages, so your prospect needs only to make one big purchasing decision instead of multiple small ones.  No matter what you ultimately pitch to your client, it’s imperative you do so with the correct framing techniques.  Utilize positive framing Framing is how the information is presented.  Positive framing increases sales. Ther...

You’re at a new business or a social event. You look around in the sea of business people and wonder how to make the best first impression. Then you look down at your hand, holding your business card. What do you feel next? Are you excited to show off your business card and how it represents you? Or do you fear they will underestimate you based on your card? Here are ten tips on creating a memorable business card that shouts, “Work with me!” 10 Tips for a Memorable Business Card 1. Make sure your design represents your business. If you are a fun, quirky business that dabbles in creativity, make sure your business card reflects that mood. On the other hand, if you are a serious, no-nonsense business, make sure your business card is sleek, simple, and uncluttered. 2. Choose the right font and size. Do not go smaller than 8 point type on your card.  Try to enlarge the name of your business, so it is clear who you represent. If you have a website, ...

Communication is the key to running a business, and writing emails is one major way we communicate. So it is worth saying that writing a good email is key to getting your initiatives out and in keeping customers happy. Here are some tips to consider when writing an email. Think of Your Audience Who are you writing to? Is it your coworker? Your boss? Your friend? These all deserve a well-written email, but the tone of your letter will vary depending on whom you are writing to. Keep the tone similar throughout the email. For example, if it’s for a friend, it’s okay to be light-hearted and funny. But if it’s your boss, and you’re inquiring about something for work, you probably want to keep the tone professional and more serious. What do you want your audience to do? Make sure you keep your goal in mind while writing your email. This will help you not to wander and get off track. Proofread Your Email Don’t just send your email right after t...