GCC Printing and Graphics

Loyal customers are extremely valuable. A 2% increase in customer retention has the same effect profit-wise as cutting costs by 10% , according to the book Leading on the Edge of Chaos .  Below are 10 ways print marketing can help you earn repeat customers.   1. Print builds trust; trust builds loyalty. Print is one of the most trusted advertising methods out there.  82% of consumers trust print ads the most when making a purchase decision. Customers who trust a business are more loyal to it, leading to greater revenue and business growth.  2. Loyalty programs … create loyalty.  Loyalty programs do just as they’re intended: they build loyalty!  Start a loyalty program by printing loyalty cards. This helps both your customers and your business keep track of points. Loyalty programs will turn the buying experience into a positive one for customers. They will feel like they are doing something good because each purchase gets the...

Myths can sidetrack your marketing efforts and keep you spinning your wheels. Be on the lookout for these common misconceptions regarding direct mail. Direct Mail Myths Debunked 1. Direct Mail is Dead. Direct mail is still a driving force behind a successful business. As more companies look to online communication, you have a better chance of standing out in the mailbox. In addition, direct mail paves the way for the recipient to fully engage with your content on their schedule instead of being a quick (and annoying) interruption to their day. 2. Online Ads Are Better than Direct Mail. Online ads indeed help businesses succeed, but what is also true is that direct mail helps drive traffic to your online site. Without direct mail, people tend to click away. Direct mail is permanent and begs for attention in the palm of your hand. 3. You Can’t Target the Right People with Direct Mail. It is even easier to target the right customers with the new lists and technology. ...

If you have worked with a printing firm, you have probably heard the words “bleeds” and “crop marks” come up before. But what does that actually mean to you, the print buyer? What are Crop Marks? Crop marks tell the printer where to cut the paper, especially if it’s a finished product, such as a business card or postcard. But there are crop marks on pages for a booklet as well sometimes. If you look at a proof of your project, you will probably see these tiny lines that go horizontally and vertically, giving the margins for your project to be cut down. All crop marks in the USA should be either one-eighth or one-quarter inch. Since projects are printed on oversized paper with bleeds, these tick marks help guide printers when trimming the print job down to the final size. What is a Bleed? A bleed is when the color or text goes off of the page, and the cut will trim excess color off of it. A bleed makes for a complete look as the artwork typically...

According to a recent global study by Logitech, more than 43% of employees are expected to work from home part or full time . Certainly, hybrid work environments are here to stay. And with the increase in remote workers, a smart balance of collaboration is critical. So, what does that look like? 7 Tips for Creating Successful Remote Teams 1. Space Remote workers will need a comfortable space at home to work in, so you may need to budget for a new desk and chair for their homes and/or be clear in your expectations of what you provide and what the employee will be responsible for. 2. Workflow You will need to make sure you are using efficient workflow and task management tools so that everyone is on the same page. For example, you could use Workzone, Trello, Jira, or others just as effective. Then everyone will know when things are due and when someone is done with a project. 3. Daily Communication Include remote workers in your daily communication. They might feel isol...

Direct mail is king in advertising. It’s direct, in your hands, and grabs attention right away. There’s no cold calling, knocking on doors, or guessing if your direct mail made into your customers’ hands. In a 2020 consumer survey, 71% of people reported reading the ads that come in the mail. And 54% say that direct mail ads motivated them to try a new business. The Direct Mail Comeback Postcards are an excellent example of direct mail that has made a comeback in the last few years due to the pandemic leaving people at home more. Not leaving their homes meant people weren’t out searching for a better deal. Instead, they were at home, opening their mail and seeing great offers sent directly to them. Consumers learned that direct mail is a great starting point for their shopping. The Personal Touch of Direct Mail Direct mail has the advantage of personalization by putting the recipient’s name on it. This connection is better than a TV commerci...

A mentor can genuinely help another person achieve success. If you have been in the business world for a while and are a trusted leader, you might be a great candidate for being a mentor.  What is a Mentor? First of all, let’s start by talking about what a mentor is. A mentor offers insight into business, as they have gleaned information through experience and education. You could mentor a recent graduate or someone who may be new to your particular business. Whatever you aspire to help a person with, here are a few tips to get you headed in the right direction. Time You will want to determine what the mentee wants to get out of the mentorship. Do they need a one-time talk, or do they want an ongoing, weekly, or monthly meeting? Will you meet for coffee or in your office, and for how long? Decisions Remember that even though you provide advice and direction based on your expertise, the mentee needs to be free to make their own decisions. Don’t be o...

Ever feel overwhelmed by your to-do list? The Kanban method might help. Kanban comes from the Japanese word that translates into ‘visual signal,’ to convert work tasks into a visual format and limit the number of tasks concurrently being worked on while increasing transparency and speed. Kanban takes a group-focused approach and encourages everyone on the team to be a leader. Here’s how it works. Kanban Boards Kanban boards are the format of which kanban is worked off. These boards can be virtual or physical, and they consist of columns that break the workload up into sections. For example, you can have to-do, in-progress, and done columns.  Within the columns, there are cards. The cards represent each work item. They move from column to column, left to right, beginning from the backlog (a queue of work to be done) to the finished stage.   Kanban boards are designed to help limit work in progress, which helps decrease lead time. Kanban ...

Taking time off can be difficult, especially if you fear things might stall or fall apart without you there. But rest, and the time to unplug and recharge, are necessary indulgences. Here are six reasons why vacations are necessary for being healthy and successful. 1. Production There are many reasons to take time off. It makes you more productive to have time away from the grind. When you return, you feel refreshed and can spend those fresh eyes on sprucing up your marketing efforts or other things that need updating. 2. Physical Health “People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals,” according to Allina Health. It’s a great way to stay healthy and vibrant. Just check out these statistics: The New York Times reported that taking a vacation every two years instead of every five will lessen the risk of coronary heart disease or heart attacks for both men and women ....

A banner is a large piece of fabric or flag used to advertise a business by displaying a slogan, logo, symbol, or promotional offer. It is one of the oldest forms of advertising, and it is still around today because it is low cost and effective. Benefits of Banners Banners have a wide array of benefits . Below is just the tip of the iceberg. Visibility . Banners are highly noticeable. Pair it with an eye-catching design, and it’ll be hard to miss. Positive response. Unlike t.v. or radio commercials where the audience can become quickly tired of the advertisement and eventually irritated, banners don’t have that problem. The audience can choose to look at the banner or not. Therefore, the chances of them becoming annoyed by it are lower than alternative forms of advertising. Cost-effective. Compared to t.v. commercials or media advertising, banners are much more cost-effective. In advertising, you’re going to want to spend as little as possible to generate t...

A unique selling proposition, or USP, differentiates your business from your competitors. It helps you stand out and is why customers decide to buy from you over competitors. In online markets, where there are many competitors, it’s essential to stand out. USPs identify your target market, why your business exists, and how you want to impact the world uniquely.  The USP is the intersection between what your customers want and what your business does well. What you sell doesn’t always have to be unique, but the message you focus on does.  Finding Your Unique Selling Proposition  Finding your USP can be challenging. The following tips should help:  List your differentiations. Make a list of what differentiates you from your competitors. Be as specific as possible. Brainstorm as many options as possible. Research competition. Research your competitors. Find out who they are and their USPs. Find the gaps to see your niche. Identify the target ma...

Both direct mail—the printed word—and websites are essential in promoting your business. So, how does it work? What’s the secret to using direct mail to promote your online presence? Let’s take a look. Don’t rely on Google to sell your site to anyone. Just because you have a website doesn’t mean you will become an overnight success. There are so many websites and businesses competing for consumers’ attention that you will need a little more help than just having a site. As Barry Fieg, author of “Streetwise Low-Cost Web Site Promotion” says, “Google doesn’t care about your sales. Nor does Google help you target your market.” Fieg says two things have to happen: First, you need to get people to your site. Second, you need to convert them from surfers to buyers. And, according to studies, you have about seven seconds to grab peoples’ attention. And this is where direct mail comes in. Direct mail can l...

Both direct mail—the printed word—and websites are essential in promoting your business. So, how does it work? What’s the secret to using direct mail to promote your online presence? Let’s take a look. Don’t rely on Google to sell your site to anyone. Just because you have a website doesn’t mean you will become an overnight success. There are so many websites and businesses competing for consumers’ attention that you will need a little more help than just having a site. As Barry Fieg, author of “Streetwise Low-Cost Web Site Promotion” says, “Google doesn’t care about your sales. Nor does Google help you target your market.” Fieg says two things have to happen: First, you need to get people to your site. Second, you need to convert them from surfers to buyers. And, according to studies, you have about seven seconds to grab peoples’ attention. And this is where direct mail comes in. Direct mail can l...

Clutter can be detrimental to your success. A messy desk and office may seem normal, but it is a problem that can make you less successful. According to the National Association of Professional Organizations, paper clutter is the number 1 problem for most businesses . Studies show the average person wastes 4.3 hours per week searching for papers, which not only adds stress and frustration, but it also deters concentration and creative thinking. Studies also show that 75% or more of all physician visits are stress-related, so when you unclutter your office, you will not only increase productivity, security, and profits but reduce overall stress and medical care costs. Stop the Clutter Here are a few ideas on stopping the clutter and getting organized practically. Make a commitment to getting clutter under control. Make an appointment with yourself daily and weekly. Every night before you go home, unclutter your desk so that 80% of your desk shows. Every week, pick a day to ...

Marketing takes time and money to execute well, which means it needs to hit the mark and provide a good return on investment. Here are ten ways to ensure your marketing efforts get the response you’re looking for.  1. Find your target market. It’s great to think that your business is for everyone, but it’s also unrealistic. Marketers need to focus on the correct gender, age, profession, and so forth. That way, you know how to “talk” to them. Keep it real, and focus on who actually walks in your doors. 2. Point out the advantage of doing business with you. Do your clients get freebies or a discount? Or maybe they get a free consultation? Focus on the items that will get your prospects and clients to your door quicker. Offer them something unique that other people can’t get. If you target your market with direct mail, you can send specific offers to people you want to reach. 3. Find your niche and focus on it. What makes your comp...

Burnout is extreme fatigue often caused by work-life imbalance and a lack of social support. According to Ohio State University, burnout can cause extreme physical and mental exhaustion and has been connected with many health risks, including early mortality, depression, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.  Certain personality traits, such as pessimism, perfectionism, and type A tendencies, may be more at risk for burnout. According to Forbes, in a survey of 1,500 U.S. workers in 2021, 52% of respondents said they were experiencing burnout.  Luckily, both employees and employers can take actions to reduce work-related burnout.  Actions Employees Can Take to Reduce Burnout  1. Be Honest with Your Employer Be transparent with your boss to figure something out. Find positives within your job and practice gratitude by daily finding something about your job for which you’re grateful. Sometimes you just need to take a break and return with a re...

It’s an exciting time. You have a new product or service, and you want to let the world know. Here are some tips to help you succeed. Do Your Market Research The best way to start is to do some market research. A great way to do this is to call 10 or 15 of your current customers and ask them what types of issues they have had regarding what you offer. Ask specifics so you know how you could potentially solve the problem. Your research should show you what motivates your customers, which should help you address that issue. Define Your Positioning Statement What’s your positioning statement? Writing this should help you figure out just what you’re planning on offering customers. It will tell why you are the best place for them to receive help and why your product is the best. Flush it out so you know exactly why people should go to you over the competition. After creating your positioning statement, it’s time to present it to stakeholders. Take ti...

The 40-40-20 rule of direct mail marketing breaks up marketing into three parts to help you predict and evaluate the success of your direct marketing campaign.  According to Investopedia , direct marketing is any marketing that uses direct communication or distribution to customers through mediums such as mail, email, social media, and texting. The success of your direct mail marketing is: 40% dependent on your audience, 40% dependent on your offer, and 20% on everything else. Let’s break it down and look at each one individually. Direct Mail Marketing: Audience You’re not going to get very far in your direct mail marketing campaign if you’re reaching the wrong people. Money spent on advertising to the wrong audience is wasted money. This is why reaching the right audience constitutes 40% of your direct mail marketing success.  The right audience must be within your target market. The more precise you can make your target audience, the more ...

It is nice to have an endless budget for marketing; however, most of us don’t have that luxury. But a business needs to have at least eight printed marketing pieces to be successful and leave its mark. Whether you are new to business or have tired marketing materials, now’s the chance to freshen up. Here are eight must-haves when it comes to representing your business well. 1. Business Cards Create a unique business card that not only contains all your necessary information but that represents the unique business you are. Try using unusual shapes, foil, bold colors, and images. Don’t let it get too busy so that there’s no white space. It needs to be well balanced. Ask us for tips if you’re unsure or have it professionally designed. 2. Brochures Your business card is the teaser for what you offer, but your brochure is where you can shine. You can add more detailed information as to what type of business you are and what you offer. Here’...

Great leaders motivate employees to be productive to reach personal and shared goals. They increase employee happiness, engagement, and retention. Great leaders lead to company success by growing sales and profits. Leaders are not born but made through hard work and experience. Find out how you can become a better leader.  Focus on your strengths  Not all leaders look the same. That's why it's essential to focus on the strengths that make you unique. Be yourself. After all, you are the best version of yourself, but you can only be the second-best version of someone else. If you're not sure what your strengths are, do some reflection. Seek feedback from your employees. When finding your strengths, also pinpoint your weaknesses. Doing so will allow you to improve and ask for help when needed.  Develop your emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage the emotions of yourself and others effectively. This is a valuable skill, especiall...

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...