GCC Printing and Graphics

Paper comes in all kinds of forms. Knowing the different variations of paper and when to use each will help you choose the right type for your print projects.  One major decision is choosing between coated or uncoated paper.  Coated Coated paper typically receives a fine clay or polymer coating, which seals the paper, restricting ink absorption and reducing dot gain. Dot gain makes the printed material look darker than intended because of ink absorption. All this gives your finished printed products a crisp, clean look.   Coated paper tends to be great for projects that include images and color, which means it's great for photographs, magazines, and catalogs. One thing to note, however, is that coated paper tends to be harder to write on. Below are a few of the subcategories of coated paper. Gloss A gloss coating is going to have a higher sheen and is lightweight. It also tends to be cheaper than other finishes while having vibrant colors.  Satin...

You want the word out…the good word! But how does that happen organically? Sometimes it takes some help to brand your business and get word-of-mouth advertising. There are so many things you can do to help it along. Let’s take a look. 6 Top Ways to Promote Your Brand Via Word of Mouth 1. Hire an influencer Sometimes using an influencer helps spur word-of-mouth advertising. This method creates an image in people’s minds and gets people talking about what you offer. A recent study by Sideqik found that 7 out of 10 consumers trust influencers’ recommendations just as much as the opinion of real-world friends . If you can’t get a significant influencer, try contacting a micro-influencer. Reach out to bloggers, video bloggers, or DIYers with a smaller following whose goal is to share subject matter expertise by producing tutorials, shout-outs, how-to guides, day-in-the-life videos, and so on .  2. Create a unique experience Get people to tal...

Using print marketing is a great way to get your company’s name out there and let customers know what services you offer. But what if there was a way to increase the effectiveness of your printed ads, creating a better experience for your existing customers and drawing in new ones? According to a study by Accenture, 91% of customers are more likely to purchase from companies who recognize and remember them, providing them with relevant offers or recommendations.  Here are five easy ways to add personalization to your print marketing plan! 5 Ways to Personalize Your Company’s Print Marketing 1. Use Variable Data Printing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) databases are an easy way for your company to accumulate and sort information about your customers. Then, to use the data that your CRM has gathered and incorporate it into your print marketing, use Variable Data Printing (VDP) to create a variety of personalized print ads that will better suit the cu...

Research shows customers are more likely to buy when you get creative with ‘special’ day-themed promotions . Winter and spring are full of international and national holidays, like the seven detailed below, providing plenty of room and creativity for direct mail campaigns.  7 Special Day-Themed Direct Mail Campaign Ideas for Winter and Spring 1. Black History Month : February  Black History Month is intended to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in the history of the United States.  Do some research to find influential Black figures who shaped your business. Share their hard work and contributions in a flier or brochure.  2. Valentine’s Day : February 14 A day meant for romance, with romantic partners sharing their appreciation for each other with gifts. Many also use this day to share their love and appreciation for their friends.  Remind your customers about the upcoming holiday and suggest gifts to make a partn...

What does your marketing plan look like? Does it include print marketing? What about email marketing? An approach that combines print and digital marketing, like email, is best to get optimal results for any marketing campaign.  Don't forget to include these critical elements in your marketing lineup! Here are six ways to utilize this multi-channel approach to make your marketing dollars go further.  6 Ways to Combine Print and Email Marketing 1. Reiterate Your Message Use email to reiterate what you say in your printed pieces. That way, you will catch their attention no matter their preferred medium. 2. Try Teasers Send teasers through email, promoting your direct mail that is coming. Use this technique to announce a big sale or event. Then when your direct mail is delivered, they can get more information about what you are offering them. Provide a digital coupon on your direct mailer or give direct mail recipients a unique promo code to redeem an online...

Business cards are a convenient 3.5" x 2" way to share your business with prospective clients.  However, with about  10 billion business cards being printed annually, finding ways to make your business card stand out is essential. The texture of your business card can add character, convey meaning, and make you memorable.  Everything You Need to Know About Textured Business Cards Finishes That Add Texture The finish you choose for your business card not only makes it look more polished but also adds texture, creating another dimension to your business card. Two of our favorite finishes are:  Matte . A matte finish is smooth, giving it an expensive appearance. It enables you to write on the card, making it helpful if someone has a personal inquiry that requires more information than can be found on the business card. However, if you want a colorful card, matte can make colors seem duller.  Glossy . A glossy finish gives the card a shiny l...

Regardless of how you look at it, direct mail marketing isn't just successful - it's positively thriving.    According to a recent study, approximately 73% of consumers say they prefer to be contacted by brands using direct mail rather than by alternative means like email. This preference is because they can read physical mail at their convenience. Not only that, but about 40% of direct mail recipients either fully read or, at the very least, scan what they receive - as opposed to something like an email that is far too easy to ignore.   But as effective as direct mail is by its very nature, there are still ways to increase the engagement you can generate between you and the members of your target audience. Behavioral science is a great way to accomplish that, but it is a concept that will require you to keep a few critical things in mind.  3 Tips for Using Behavioral Science to Increase Direct Mail Response  Don't Neglect "Magnet" Words One ...

In today’s tech-savvy world, it might be easy to assume that the best way to catch the attention of your potential customers is through digital ads. In reality, according to Marketing Sherpa , 76% of consumers said they would trust printed ads they received in the mail when making a purchase, while only 25% said they would trust online pop-ups.    The advertisements you’re sending out through the mail can significantly impact customers. Here are seven ways to design direct mail to make your company stand out!  7 Tips to Refresh Your Direct Mail Strategy 1. For direct mail, BIGGER IS BETTER! Research has found that using a larger envelope increases the response rate from customers by 53% when compared with the same content being sent in a standard-sized envelope.    Try something new by sending out your mail in larger, oversized envelopes to intrigue your recipients to read what’s inside!  2. Use POSTCARDS instead of letters for yo...

It's that time of year again: Time to re-evaluate your life, business, and goals. Setting intentions for this year will help you fulfill them and be more successful than setting a resolution. Both practices require looking at yourself and making changes. But an intention isn't as harsh as a resolution. Rather than setting goals for where you want to go, creating intentions shifts your attitude and mindset toward how you want to be. It allows you to take steps and be proud of them. How does one do this? Take a look at these four steps to setting intentions. 4 Simple Steps to Set Intentions  1. Evaluate Yourself If you want more knowledge, energy, and creativity, you have to start by taking a step back and looking inward.  This is true even for leaders who don't have time, perhaps, especially for them! "Spending time casting our thoughts back over the past day, week, or month and sitting down to regularly set goals for the future feels like a luxury of tim...

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Metallic, matte, recycled. If you want to create direct mail marketing that stands out from the crowd, these three types of paper are the ones you want to know about.  While it might sound simple, there are implications to using each type. So let's take a closer look. 3 Top Specialty Papers for Your Print Marketing 1. Memorable Metallic This paper is shiny, durable, and oh, so sophisticated. The metallic finish almost creates a 3D effect and gives your designs a warmth and depth that no other paper can. Metallic tones add a bold and elegant touch to your designs, from projects as simple as homemade cards to more sophisticated endeavors like business cards, stationery, or even your wedding paper suite. Use metallic papers to create a line of business marketing materials that pop. Try pairing metallic envelopes with non-metallic paper printed with metallic ink for a subtler look. 2. Earthy Matte Why choose matte? It's chic and earthy. Matte can make your mat...

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude," writer G.K. Chesterton said. It's that time of year: The perfect opportunity to show appreciation to those who have helped you this year and those you don't know. It will do your heart and head well to increase your gratitude this holiday season. So here are some practical ideas. 7 Great Ways to Show Gratitude During the Holidays 1. Volunteer Help at local hospitals, libraries, homeless centers, nursing homes, animal shelters, churches, or parks. You can also go much more personal, helping friends in need by babysitting, doing their yard work, or taking them a meal. Whatever you do, you'll help the community and improve your sense of thankfulness. 2. Count Your Blessings Make a list of things for which you're grateful. For example, instead of making a list of items you want for the holidays, make a list of what you have. Count y...

2023 is just around the corner, and a new year comes with new graphic design trends.  Graphic design matters because it captures the attention of your audience, aids in memory, and influences the consumer's first impressions. This is why the global graphic design industry was worth $45.8 billion in 2021. Make sure your business stays up-to-date with the latest graphic design trends.  5 Graphic Design Trends to Look Out for in 2023 1. Science Fiction-Inspired Designs  Many businesses are aiming to look futuristic with science fiction-inspired graphic designs.  Certain elements are common within science fiction designs. Color . Shades of blue- like cyan- and neon colors are prevalent. There's often a contrast between light and dark. Shapes . Sharp lines, circles, and geometric shapes give off science-fiction vibes. Fonts . Science fiction fonts are an entire genre, often showing distorted letters that look stretched, chopped, or duplicated with incons...

An abundance mindset is when you believe there are enough resources in the world for everyone and are grateful for what you have.  This is in opposition to the scarcity mindset, which believes the earth contains limited resources. This mindset creates an overly competitive lifestyle and envy for others because the person tends to focus on what they don’t have. This mindset is damaging because it promotes unhappiness and less fulfilling relationships.  Why You Should Develop an Abundance Mindset Having an abundance mindset helps you create a happier, more fulfilling life for yourself.  It comes with many benefits . An abundance mindset …  Promotes personal and professional success by letting you focus on the many opportunities. Helps you feel confident and capable. Generates creativity and motivation through a more proactive approach to life. Makes you feel better about yourself. Deepens your relationships.  If you’ve been s...

Direct mail is naturally advantageous when getting people to notice your business.  85% of consumers open their direct mail, and 62% act after receiving direct mail, according to a recent report. However, your business can take action to increase further the number of people opening your direct mail.  1. Use a Call to Action in Your Direct Mail  The best call to action, or CTA, follows the format “Do something simple, get something great.”  In this scenario:  Do something simple = open the envelope. Get something great = receive a credit card, special discount, or a gift or sample. Creating a sense of scarcity works exceptionally well when prompting people to act. For example, try advertising a limited-time offer or a special discount while supplies last. Fear of missing out or not being enough gets the customer to act soon. However, don’t create a false sense of scarcity.   2. Send Your Direct Mail in a Unique Envelop...

The holidays are a busy time of year for you and your customers, but print marketing has the power to get you noticed and boost sales. How do you accomplish this? Here are seven ways to use print marketing to boost your sales this holiday season! 7 Print Marketing Ideas to Boost Holiday Sales 1. Creative Packaging  Use beautiful boxes, papers, and images when you send out items to customers. They are more likely to hang onto them and remember you in the future. Plus, it creates a warm fuzzy feeling when customers receive such packages. 2. Door Hangers Create fun, whimsical door hangers to put on customers’ doors. These will receive a lot of attention and will solicit a response.  3. Coupons Send coupons to customers on fun, holiday-centered postcards. Include fun images, pictures, and sayings that will grab their attention during the holiday hustle and bustle. 4. Holiday Newsletter Time and attention span may be limited this time of year, but a ...

When you advertise, you need to know your target audience. And the same is true in print marketing. A target market is the set of consumers that a company plans to sell to or reach with marketing activities. A target audience is a group or segment within that target market that is being served in advertisements. The target audience, therefore, is a more specific subset of a target market. Your target audience is united by common characteristics like demographics, e.g., men, women, teenagers, or children, and interests, like reading, running, or soccer. To get your marketing message to reach this specific group of people, you need to know the decision maker and who supports them. Therefore, it's vital to examine your target audience, so messages are exciting to the reader.  This exercise will help define who to target in your marketing efforts.  6 Steps to Find Your Print Marketing Target Audience  1. Determine who already buys your product.  Look at t...

It's time to decide if you're sending holiday cards to your clients! Sending cards in the mail to your clients and customers does a lot more for your company than you might think. Take a look at five reasons you should extend the extra effort to send out holiday cards. 5 Reasons Every Small Business Should Send Holiday Cards 1. Elicit Joy Emotions play an integral part in the buying decision, and sending a holiday card will boost those feelings. It makes people happy to receive fun mail in their mailboxes. And a card is a lovely, elegant touch. 2. Send Thanks Thank your customers for their continued support throughout the year. The wording should express your thanks or seasonal greetings in a way that highlights your relationship with your client.  3. Stand Out Raise above the competition. Many businesses digitally wish people holiday greetings, but those get lost in the junk email category. By sending an actual card, people will notice and be more appreci...

How do you maximize your investment in marketing?  Utilize unique offline marketing techniques to get people's attention! There are countless ideas for getting inspired with offline marketing, from traditional to off-the-wall. Take what you can and let it spur some creativity in your minds.  7 Top Tips to Get Creative With Offline Marketing 1. Get Creative With Your Business Card  A business card is often the first impression, and you want to make it last. Try printing it vertically, adding rounded corners, or creating a die-cut image. Use bold colors that stand out against the competition. 2. Hold In-Person Events  According to the Event Marketing 2018 Report, 95% of marketers agree that live events give attendees a valuable opportunity to form in-person connections in an increasingly digital world . Give people a chance to talk to you and others from your company, and create bonds that will last a lifetime.  Don't forget to have flyers, rac...

Gratitude is a great skill to possess. "I think gratitude is a big thing. It puts you in a place where you're humble," said Andra Day.  And humility is a wonderful attribute, primarily when serving the public. When you meet up with prospective clients, gratitude is vital. We receive a much better welcome when people see how thankful we are to meet with them and to have their continued support.  Research has proven that returning customers spend 67% more than new customers, and 82% of customers are brand loyal. So, what else can you do to show appreciation besides saying thank you?   Here are some ideas to show your gratitude.  7 Top Ways to Show Appreciation to Customers 1. Send a Thank-You Note Send a thank-you note in a letter, hand-written and signed by you. Sure, it takes a little time, but keeping current customers happy is worth it—especially the ones you genuinely want to maintain a relationship with. 2. Make a Donation...

Contrary to popular opinion, print is not dead, and it remains an integral part of marketing and advertising.  Today, you can't rely solely on digital ads to increase customer traffic. Likewise, you can't just rely on old-school advertising to do the job. Writing words on paper is tactile and fun to hold. It also creates a feeling of value that a pop-up ad can't do. Paper is something that has to be reckoned with. You can't just turn a blind eye. You have to physically throw it away--after reading it.  Once it's your customers' hands, you have the advantage of grasping their attention. Be forthcoming about what you are selling or trying to call their attention to. Using high-quality paper and fine print can give the impression of prestige and quality, and with the physical item in your hands, it is way more engaging for readers than an email or a pop-up. Digital helps expand on the conversation you started with the customer. It allows for more informat...

When you think of the holidays, what colors come to mind? Red, green, white, or maybe even blue and gold. These festive colors can evoke emotions from consumers by drawing them to colors they might not naturally be drawn to outside of the holiday season.  Using color theory, the study of how color impacts perceptions and behaviors, we can help get customers in the mood for the holidays and, hopefully, buy your products. Here's what the experts say about the holiday colors we love. How to Use Color to Impact Holiday Campaigns Red We know red as a warning: fire, stop signs, danger, and so forth. But it is also a powerful color representing love, passion, importance, and hunger.  Red can raise blood pressure and respiration rates and enhance human metabolism. We think of things like red berries, Santa, and more. Use this color as an accent, and you'll be doing well. However, if used in abundance, it tends to get overwhelming.  Green Green has both the calmi...

Automation has helped many small businesses become much more fluid and, in turn, succeed. Automation has become one of the keys to success: nearly 80% of top-performing companies have used marketing automation for more than two years. Although they might not have the resources of their counterparts, small companies can and should incorporate automation in every aspect of business: From capturing leads to closing sales and serving customers to checking routine office tasks off the to-do list. Research has shown that while small businesses are less likely to invest in automation than large ones, they have more success when they do. Here are a few common areas of automation where small businesses can get big results. 6 Automation Tips for Your Small Business 1. Lead and Contact Management Dealing with leads and contacts manually can be a hassle. Consider replacing that complicated spreadsheet with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) automation. A CRM platform can auto...

In its simplest form, a call to action tells the recipient to buy now.  However, sometimes saying, "buy now!" won't be quite as effective as an alternative, more creative strategy.  Below are some tips for crafting a call to action for your print marketing campaign so you can have a better response rate than the average of 4.23%.   1. Be straightforward  Tell the reader what they can expect if they complete the advertised action.  No games, no tricks. If you say this is what will happen, then advertise it accurately. If the deal only holds if they buy $X in merchandise, then clearly communicate that. You're not doing yourself any favors by making a misleading call to action. It'll just frustrate the client.  Avoid misleading calls to action by including relevant numbers, such as pricing and discounts.  2. Use strong command verbs Begin your call to action with a strong command verb.  Strong command verbs can help people...