5 Printing Tips to Boost Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is essential for any business. 

A business’s brand is the mix of perceptions and emotional connections people tie to the company. 

Companies should try to manage their brand through advertisements that reinforce the company’s message and image. 

Print can be a powerful tool to boost brand awareness and reinforce your brand’s message. 

1. Direct mail boosts brand awareness

Direct mail is highly effective, with about 79% of households saying they read or scan direct-mail ads.

Follow these steps when sending out direct mail: 

• Apply your brand guide. Include your signature color, font, and logo. Having a signature color can increase brand recognition by 80%. 
• Keep your brand consistent. Customers will learn to associate your business with specific colors and feelings.
• Include a clear call to action in your direct mail initiative. Provide prospective customers with a next step. 

Direct mail is one of many print avenues to boost brand awareness. 

2. Catalogs boost brand awareness 

Catalogs are a relaxing way for customers to look at your business’s products or services. 

Catalogs can be compelling if you use the below tactics.

• Include customized QR codes to drive customers to your website.
• Include social causes. Find something you’re passionate about that aligns with your business to showcase in your catalog. Not only does it feel good to do good, but 64% of consumers would support a company based on its social or political position. 

Brand awareness is about getting your brand out there in as many formats as possible. 

3. Make your brand memorable to boost brand awareness

Print is a powerful tool for memory. 

Studies show that the brain can more easily absorb print. In fact, a study found print ads took people 21% less cognitive effort to process the information compared to digital ads. This same study found that people were a little more than 170% more likely to remember information if it was presented through a print ad rather than a digital ad. 

4. Directly address the audience to boost brand awareness

Print is a great way to provide customers with a more personalized approach. 

Use data and technology to target your print ad campaigns. This personalization can help the audience feel like the communication from your business is more direct. 

5. Provide value to the audience to boost brand awareness

Modern consumers value informed businesses. 

Add value to the consumer by creating informative content through blogs, brochures, and knowledgeable employees. The consumer will stumble upon your business when researching and trust your input. 

You can also add value by providing your customers with merchandise such as tote bags, stickers, shirts, chapstick, etc. Consumers love free stuff, and you’re giving valuable items to the customer while generating loyalty. 

Print can help boost your brand by getting your business out there in as many formats as possible while remaining memorable, personal, and valuable. We can help you increase your brand awareness through print. Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 

Top 7 Effective Offline 

Strategies for Your Business

There are many fantastic ideas for advertising your business. Still, remember you need online and offline advertising for effectiveness.

Don’t discount the original ways of marketing just because they aren’t new and a part of social media.

Top 7 Effective Offline Strategies for Your Business

1. Distribute business cards.

Your business card says a lot about you. Don’t forget that you can change it as much as you like. For example, you can print vertical instead of horizontal.

You can use different types of paper to grab people’s attention. And you can add embossing or debossing to further show your originality and style.

2. Use flyers.

If you have a big event, a grand opening, a new product, or a new employee, show off your news with fun flyers. Use graphics and photos to influence the audience further.

3. Publish a book.

To show your expertise, write a book to share your knowledge. For example, you can create an e-book and offer a free download in exchange for an email.

Your book doesn’t have to be long, just provide some great advice.

4. Offer coupons and sales.

By offering coupons, loyalty programs, special discounts, and more, you’re making clients feel privileged while boosting leads and sales.

You can send a special offer through a flyer, postcard, or brochure.

5. Get involved.

You can get your name out by involving the community through organizations or outreaches.

This is beneficial because other business owners will recognize you, and you can make great connections. Then you can cross-promote with each other.

6. Seek speaking opportunities.

A speaking engagement puts you in front of a highly targeted and interested audience already primed and ready to pay attention to what you have to say.

This gets your name out and promotes your business to other prominent people in town. Then when they have questions, they will remember you and go to you for advice and service.

7. Join trade shows.

This is a great way to get your name out and boost traffic to your store. Make sure you have attractive marketing materials at your booth to lure people in and make them remember you.

This is a perfect opportunity to tell people what your business offers and let them know how professional you are.

If you’re afraid your business can’t spring for a booth, go to those vendor trade shows. Even if you’re nervous that your product won’t shine compared with others, get to the trade show. No matter what sort of excuses spring up: Be. At. Trade. Shows.

These tips should help you reach more people, become more confident at promoting your business, and attract more people to your business.

In addition, when you need items printed, we’re here. We offer a quick turnaround and professional services.Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 

How to Keep Up With Direct Mail Trends

As we march through 2022, many businesses are left wondering if direct mail marketing is still a trend, if it is worth it, and if their business is missing out by not implementing this form of marketing.

Despite the many new marketing avenues available, direct marketing remains a multi-million-dollar industry, with companies spending $38.5 million of total advertising revenue in the United States on direct mail campaigns. 

With an average response rate of 4.9 percent, direct marketing is still alive and is a beneficial marketing tool all businesses should take advantage of.

Continue reading to learn more ways to help you and your business keep up to date with current direct mail trends: 

Watch What Is Coming in the Mail

One way to see what other businesses are doing is to keep an eye on what is coming through your mailbox.

Whether a letter, postcard, magazine, etc., there is much to learn about increasing brand awareness by watching and taking note of which advertisers are trying to get your attention. 

Ask Your Customers

Take time to learn from your customers and what drives them to different businesses.

What types of ads caught their attention? How do they hear about most local companies? What direct mail marketing items, such as ads, coupons, specials, and more, are likely to get them into a store or to hire a local business?

Check With Other Business Owners

Ask other business owners with similar products or services what works for them and which direct mail campaign strategies have proven to drive results.

Most business owners are willing to share their plans, while others might be tougher when sharing information with a competitor. Access to knowledge other business owners possess is vital in developing long-lasting positive relationships with other business owners, so you can share ideas and work together to learn more about direct mail marketing. 

Direct mail marketing campaigns are on the rise as more businesses start implementing various tools to help directly reach consumers. Everything from postcards to catalogs and coupons to letters can target consumers drawing attention to your brand.

Understanding the latest direct mail marketing trends can help keep your business on top of the latest advertising strategies, helping you stay competitive in your target market. For Information on this Product Call:516-561-1468 or go to:https://www.printcafeli.com/services/mailing-services.html 

 

Word-of-Mouth Marketing: 

What is it, and How Does it Benefit Your Business?

 

Since the introduction of social media, word-of-mouth marketing has dramatically increased.

Before the internet, someone would tell a friend or two if they had a good experience. Today, if they have a good experience, they tell thousands with a short post.

Word-of-mouth marketing allows your business’s brand to potentially get noticed by thousands of consumers, which, if done correctly, can spread like wildfire.

Understanding how word-of-mouth marketing works and how it can benefit your business helps increase your chances of attracting new customers.  

Why Word-of-Mouth Marketing Is Important

According to the American Marketing Associated and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, 64 percent of marketing executives believe that word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective form of advertising.

However, only about 6 percent claim to have mastered this marketing technique.

With a majority believing in word-of-mouth marketing and so few learning the skill, understanding this marketing tool can put your business in front of the competition and keep your products and services in the minds of consumers.

Even if a person does not need a product or service, they may be more inclined to tell friends and families about what they know about your business through word-of-mouth marketing. 

Using the Three Es of Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Three tactics can help you increase your word-of-mouth marketing reach, often referred to as the “Three Es.”

1. Engage

The first E is “Engage,” which means you engage with your followers and customers by setting up a presence in their lives.

Some ways to engage include sending birthday cards, offering special discounts and gifts, and consistently responding to social media posts, comments, and messages related to your business. 

2. Equip

The second E is “Equip,” which means giving your customers something to talk about, such as a fantastic product, high-quality customer service, and fun facts about your business.

When consumers like a company and have things to talk about and share with others, it encourages them to let everyone know about their favorite products and services, which could be yours. 

3. Empower

The final E is “Empower,” giving consumers different ways to talk and share their experiences and recommendations.

The more methods you offer for consumers to share your business, the greater the chance they will. Additionally, empower consumers to feel like they are a part of the process, such as asking questions, running contests, etc. 

Word-of-mouth marketing has been around since the first caveman started trading, and with technological advancements, it has become significantly easier to utilize this advertising method.

Additionally, it has become more crucial for businesses to understand how word-of-mouth marketing works to use this tool best and achieve optimal advertising results. 

Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

Augmented Reality and the Evolution of Print

In a world full of new technology, augmented reality is used frequently. As a result, it’s now a great way to market your business.

Augmented Reality Explained

Augmented Reality (AR) is the layering of digital content like video, 3D, or 3D animation over real-world environments to create an engaging and interactive consumer experience.

It makes your print more interactive by encouraging people to download apps, use QR codes, and more. As a result, print has grown and is used in a new way.

Bringing People Closer to Products

WebAR, which they call AR and print, is now being used to bring people closer to their products and allow them to interact with them.

It will enable people to access the best of both worlds: Engaging and immersive experiences that are easy to access. WebAR is popular now and is an excellent accompaniment to tried-and-true print.

Both are needed in today’s market. Traditional print is tactile and is a great way to interact with customers because they are taking more time to look at their mail these days.

However, WebAR is a great way to further interact with customers because it is online and provides a more effortless and cost-effective way to promote your business.

As of February 2017, Pokémon Go became the first AR-centric app to reach 650 million downloads and can be credited with starting the mobile AR app movement.

We all remember people going crazy for this new game, which introduced us to a new type of reality.

Promote Effectively and Professionally

AR solves the dilemma of whether to invest in print or digital by providing marketers the ability to make the most of both worlds by seamlessly integrating their print and digital together, working in unison on the same marketing goal.

You no longer have to choose the best way to market your business. Instead, WebAR and print work closely together to promote effectively and professionally.

You can easily add immersive, interactive content to your magazine ads, postcards, brochures, and more.

Enhance Direct Mail

Now people can take your marketing product and scan it with their phones to find more information. Again, it’s a no-brainer, and it furthers your marketing efforts.

This allows them to answer their questions, make a purchase, and even promote it on social media.

You can even use tracking tags to see how far your marketing has gone. In fact, direct mail campaigns that were enhanced by AR delivered an increase in response rates from 2-3% to a massive 35%, so it makes sense to use AR.

In addition, AR solutions have finally become cost-effective and executable without intensive training or complex design software, allowing savvy marketers to take advantage of this unique advertising enhancement right now.

Whether you use a postcard, a brochure, a catalog, or other direct mail options, we can help you get the most out of your marketing efforts.

Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 

 Advanced Leadership Skills for Managers

Managers can make or break the workplace atmosphere, seeping into a company’s outputs. 

Unfortunately, good management can sometimes be hard to find. Poor management costs $7 trillion globally, or  9-10% of the world’s GDP. This staggering number can decrease if companies hire and train better-equipped managers.  

Below are the top 4 skills required for advanced leadership in the workplace. 

Advanced Leadership Skill 1: Communication

Clear communication prevents workplace hiccups. 

Communication requires the ability to properly convey sometimes complex ideas to a wide range of people. Age, background, skill level, and personality can prevent clear communication. 

Sometimes the most difficult skills in life must be mastered through trial and error. However, you can keep a couple of critical aspects in mind when communicating. 

• Actively listen. If you catch your mind thinking about your extensive to-do list, stop and bring your focus back to the conversation.
• Positive body language. This includes smiling, making eye contact, and not crossing one’s arms.
• Connect. Connect with others through shared experiences by telling stories and being vulnerable. Also, try making time in your day to talk with your coworkers casually.
• Kindness. People are more likely to openly listen and talk to those who seem kind. So be kind throughout your life, and it’ll show.

Proper communication is necessary for any leader because it’s needed throughout the office, especially when explaining projects and tasks when delegating. 

Advanced Leadership Skill 2: Delegation 

The higher up you go, the more important it is to rely on others. 

However, it seems many people want to do everything themselves. This attitude ends up harming the entire team and company. 

Delegation is about first realizing you can’t do everything and pulling yourself away from micro-managing tendencies. 

The next step is being able to see your team without judgment. Knowing your team members’ strengths and weaknesses will help you delegate tasks in a way that benefits everyone. 

Proper delegation helps the workplace run smoothly and more efficiently. It leads to higher growth rates, revenue, and job creation. But you can’t delegate if you aren’t confident in yourself and your decisions. 

Advanced Leadership Skill 3: Confidence

All the intelligence and leadership capability in the world would be worth nothing without the confidence to execute it. 

Confidence is like the glue that holds everything together. Leaders must be confident in themselves, the company, and their own ideas to pursue greatness and fulfill their visions. 

A confident leader… 

• doesn’t let fear deter them from opportunity.
• executes ideas into action.
• doesn’t overanalyze.
• shares the confidence bug.

Confident leaders help build a successful business. Therefore, be confident in yourself so you can pursue excellence. 

Advanced Leadership Skill 4: Pursue Excellence 

The inner drive to be your best self isn’t taught but comes from within.

This trait is what makes some managers stand out. Managers who pursue excellence genuinely want the company and the employees to succeed, and they’re willing to put in the extra time and effort to achieve excellence. 

These managers have high self-expectations and are willing to continually learn and grow through experts and daily experiences. Managers who pursue excellence are valuable assets to the company. 

Outstanding leadership brings the company together to pursue common goals. While you’re out leading, we’re here behind the scenes making sure all your print marketing initiatives go smoothly.Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

Top 3 Reasons Small Businesses

Should Consider Offline Marketing

Jingles used to incorporate business phone numbers quite frequently.

But now, we direct people to our websites or a physical address. Sure, things have changed, but it’s still advertising. We still need to reach people and ask them to visit our location.

And now that more people are working from home, they have more time to read their mail.

You can send flyers, postcards, and brochures in the mail, and they’ll get noticed. So here are three reasons you should consider offline marketing in addition to your online marketing efforts.

Top 3 Reasons Small Businesses Should Consider Offline Marketing

1. Offline Is Still Relevant

Offline marketing tools reach many more people than just online. This is because people do much more than just spending time online looking at websites.

In 2018, Nielsen found that Americans spend half the day (11 hours) interacting with media. Out of those 11 hours, over four hours are live TV, 36 minutes are “time-shifted TV” (DVR), and almost two hours are radio.  

This means that seven hours has nothing to do with online. Radio, newsprint, and direct mail marketing are good reasons to shift your advertising offline. People want information more tangibly.

2. Solidify Your Message

The more you get your name out in front of people, the better. And using different methods, such as offline, helps solidify the message and make your budget stretch farther.

Repeated brand exposure not only keeps a brand’s messaging and products top-of-mind for consumers, but Entrepreneur reports that it can also instill a sense of familiarity and trust.

Not everyone wants to spend time online looking for answers to their issues. And direct mail, for example, allows you to target specific people ideal to your market.

In addition, people perceive direct mail as more reliable and trustworthy.

3. Offline Marketing Is For All Ages

We tend to think offline advertising is for the older people who typically don’t use online to gather information. However, this is simply not true.

All ages love to get mail, listen to the radio, and watch TV.

The USPS Household Survey found that response rates from 18- to 21-years-olds doubled in 2016.

That’s good news because offline marketing is affordable.

Using both online and offline marketing is best to get optimal results, and we’d love to help you with it.  Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 5 Essential Skills for Professionals

To be successful, you need dedication, determination, and hard work. You also need some up-to-date skills. Below are the Top 5 skills for professionals.

5 Essential Skills for Professionals

1. Soft skills

According to LinkedIn data analysis, in 2019, companies looked most for these soft skills: creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management.

Soft skills, such as communication and management skills, are the traits that make you good at almost any job. Hard skills, in the meantime, are more teachable and measurable.

In a Linkedin report, 57% of senior leaders today value soft over hard skills.

2. Creativity

So many things have changed—think cell phones instead of pay phones, internet instead of card catalogs.

It takes a creative person to think outside the box. Sure, some things are great, but how much better could life be if we tried a new way?

Businesses are always looking for fresh thinkers to do things in a new way.

3. Communication

Communication ability is another top-rated skill that businesses require. This is key for getting along with coworkers, directing employees, and improving in all areas.

Communication makes a business tick, and if you have this skill naturally, you are ahead of the game. There are books, classes, and self-help resources to help you improve in this area. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve this skill.

Communication includes written, verbal, and nonverbal skills. With everyone using email as an effective form of communication, it pays to have this skill in your back pocket.

4. Public speaking

Public speaking is another skill that professionals need.

This requires poise, confidence, organization, and a clear speaking voice. It’s a skill that many people shy away from, but it is of utmost importance.

Any time you meet with others, you are involved with public speaking; sometimes, it may be to a group.

5. Teamwork

Teamwork is necessary in today’s business world. Even if you are an entrepreneur, you need collaboration, and you will inevitably need others to help you or work for you.

Therefore, you will need to work side by side with others at some time.

For great teamwork, you will need conflict management, conflict resolution, negotiation, relationship building, team building, and team management.

So many skills make one successful, and at our printing firm, you know we strive to work hard to keep you looking good.

Contact us today with your printing and marketing questions, and we will work as a team to keep you successful.Check us out Today to Learn More Information on all of our Marketing Products Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com