5 Ways To Reinvent Postcard Usage

Many of your customers have probably not explored the Print Cafe's full lineup of wholesale postcards. People tend to think of postcards as a flat piece of cardstock with a few words and a singular image—often on display racks or in gift shops. They’re typically sent to keep in touch with friends and family—but when it comes to business, postcards are so much more! Postcards are a durable, versatile tool for attracting new business, promoting new deals, and keeping in touch with clients. 

5 Ways To Reinvent Postcard Usage

• Appointment reminders: Postcards are commonly used by businesses that require appointments. Medical/dental offices, hair salons, and spas will commonly mail postcards to their clients/patients to remind them that it’s time to make an appointment.
  
  
• Mini catalogs: Remember when businesses used to mail large, thick catalogs? Postcards offer a simpler, more cost-effective way to share the same information at a fraction of the cost while easily keeping the information up to date. Simply include a QR code for easy access to the broader online product selection. 
  
• Mini-Menus: Restaurants can easily promote their top specials, dessert menus, drink menus, or even add a QR code to access the larger menu. Restaurants with to-go ordering will love this postcard option! Their small size makes it easy to staple or slip them into takeout bags.
  
  
• Flyers: Whether your customers are promoting an event, a cause, or new products or services, handing out postcards is a great alternative to traditional flyers. With more options in paper stock, finishes, and print upgrades, postcards are more attractive, more durable, and make a lasting impression.
  
• Election Year Bonus: Postcards are the perfect running mate for politicians in every national, state, city, and local race! Whether you use them as part of a mailing campaign, door-to-door canvassing, or as handouts at a rally, they are the perfect way for candidates to stay top-of-mind.

Postcards aren’t just versatile when it comes to their uses. There is also an incredible range of options when it comes to paper stock, finishes, and mailing choices. The Print Cafe offers both standard and premium options on postcards—not to mention full-service mailing.

The Most Popular Postcard Format

Our most popular sizes, stocks, and coatings that really make a statement: 

• 14pt: common sizes and finishes with 14pt uncoated stock
• 100lb gloss cover: common sizes and finishes with 100LB gloss cover stock
• 18pt: common sizes and finishes with 18pt stock

Premium Postcards

Deliver extra impact and brand recognition with these upgraded options that allow your customers to attract new business and stand out from the competition.

• Magnetic: a perfect promotional reminder
• Plastic: strong, versatile, and durable
• Linen-coated: traditional, elegant, and affordable
• See even more at www.printcafeli.com!

Majestic Postcards, exclusively with Print Cafe

Our signature line of luxury premium stocks, finishes, and embellishments gives you affordable, unique upsells with astounding impact!

• Akuafoil: Metallic vibrance under 4-color process
• Foil Worx: Hot stamped foil accents
• Pearl: Subtle shimmer of pearl fibers
• See them all at www.printcafeli.com!

Mailing Options for Postcards

Help your customers get those great postcards into the hands of their prospects with easy, efficient mailing services from the Print Cafe. We offer mailing options to match every budget from direct mail to Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). You can get the full details about our mailing options for postcards at www.printcafeli.com, but here are the basics:

• EDDM —We offer a popular selection of sizes, stocks, and finishes that meet all requirements of USPS. With full-service EDDM from the Print Cafe, you select your product, choose the routes and upload your artwork. That’s it, we’ll take care of the printing, addressing, bundling, and delivery to the local USPS post office for distribution. It’s that easy!
  
• Direct Mail — Send direct mail postcards from the Print Cafe through the USPS to targeted geographic areas, with or without a mailing list, and saturate local markets with messages that people can feel, use, and remember. Sizes, stocks, and finishes are specially selected to meet USPS requirements for mailing.

Postcards have come a long way! Gone are the days when they simply served as quick greetings or small keepsake souvenirs from a fun vacation. These versatile marketing tools have proven themselves to be small but mighty with personalization, design, and mailing options to complement your customers’ overall marketing campaigns. 

Ready to get started? Head over to https://www.printcafeli.com/store/product-view.html/74-Postcards to place your order!

5 Tips To Make Business Card More Relatable in a Digital Age

It can be hard to make business cards feel personal in the digital age. We are so used to communicating through emails and social media that it's easy to forget the importance of a physical card. Research has shown that more than half of people (55%) can develop a negative opinion of a company if their business card design is not up to par. So, how can you make sure that your business cards are as relatable as possible? 4over has all the resources you need to update your own business cards and show your customers why they need to update theirs. 

Consider these important factors when marketing business cards to your customers:

Why do business cards matter in the digital age?

Despite the rise of digital communication, business cards still have a lot of value. Firstly, it's an easy way to exchange contact information. You don't have to write out your email, phone number, and mailing address every time you meet someone new. Just hand them your card, and they have all the information they need.

Business cards can help make a good first impression. In a world where most people judge you within the first few minutes of meeting you, good first impressions are key! A well-designed business card can help do just that. Business cards are more than just a piece of paper with a name and contact information. They are a physical representation of a representative and the company, and they can make a lasting impression. From basic business cards that can be customized to fit a company’s brand to  4over's signature line of Majestic business cards that make a statement, there are many options to make a business card stand out. 

 Finally, business cards can serve another critical purpose: they're a tangible reminder of a potential lead or contact. In a world where we can easily lose track of an email address or phone number, having a physical business card to reference is incredibly valuable. If you're a print reseller, business cards should be a staple in your product offerings. Your customers will appreciate the ability to personalize their cards, and you should be able to offer a wide range of options to fit any budget. 

 How to make business cards more relatable in the digital age?

There is no doubt a fine line between useful and relatable. The challenge lies in helping your customers understand how a useful business card with all the necessary information can also be relatable, easy to understand, and most of all, memorable! 

 1) Suggest fun, creative designs for business cards: Advise your customers to be creative and come up with a design that reflects their personality or company's branding. If they’re not sure where to start, check out some online templates or hire a professional designer to help them create something unique. Great design is key to making a good first impression. Think about it—would you be more likely to remember a bland, generic business card or a fun, eye-catching one? In today's world, we're bombarded with so much information that it's hard to remember anything. But if you can make somebody's jaw drop with your business card, you're already ahead of the game.

 2) Offer high-quality materials: The quality of a company’s business card says a lot about its representatives and the company itself. Using high-quality materials shows an increased level of professionalism and focus on quality. Clients and customers will appreciate receiving a well-made card, and it will help you stand out from the competition.

There are a few things for your customers to keep in mind when choosing materials for their business cards. First, the message they want to communicate. If they’re selling luxury goods or services, using a heavy, luxurious paper stock—like 4over’s signature line of stocks and finishes—will help convey that message. If they’re trying to be eco-friendly, they may want to consider using a natural, eco-friendly option or 4over’s brown kraft paper stock—which features an organic look with natural fibers. And if they’re on a budget, there are many high-quality options available.

 3) Suggest photos or illustrations instead of text: The adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" definitely applies to business cards. Using photos or illustrations instead of text can make business cards more memorable and visually appealing. If your customer is a photographer, suggest they use one of their images on their cards. Or, if you have artists looking for business cards, show them how a small illustration that reflects their style is an easy way to show off their work and make a lasting impression. Photos are also a great way to personalize business cards and show off your customers’ personalities or company culture. When choosing photos or illustrations for business cards, it’s important that they are high quality and relevant to the company industry or niche.

 4) Use QR codes: QR codes are small, square barcodes that can be scanned with a phone or tablet. When scanned, they open up a web page or contact information. QR codes are a great way to include more details on business cards without taking up too much space. They can be used to direct people to company websites, social media pages, or even online portfolios. If your customer is a freelancer or creative professional, consider suggesting a QR code to showcase their work. It's an easy way for people to see what they do and how to get in touch with them.

 5) Incorporate interesting fonts and colors: A well-chosen font can make a business card stand out from the crowd. There are thousands of fonts to choose from, so when your customers take the time and find one that reflects their personality or company branding—it shows! Color is their friend! A splash of color can brighten up any design and help your customers stand out in a sea of black-and-white cards. When using color, advise that it is used sparingly and chosen within a color scheme that reflects their brand.

In short, business cards are essential when it comes to business marketing. Urge your customers to use high-quality materials, interesting fonts, colors, and photos or illustrations to make their cards stand out. And don't forget about QR codes—they're a great way to include more information on a business card without taking up too much space. Business cards from the Print Cafe of LI will equip you with all the options your customers need to make a memorable first impression. Call Today 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

 

        Large Format Substrates Every Print Buyer            Should Know

By  Haidan Dong

The large format industry is a large part of the printing industry (no pun intended) and sometimes goes by the name of wide format printing. It’s a competitive market with plenty of small sign shops vying to become their clients’ go-to printer.

One of the ways to get ahead is to become a one-stop sign shop that offers all the products that they need. We recommend that all printers get familiar with these common large format substrates so that they can offer them to their clients before their competitors can.

Coroplast

Coroplast is corrugated plastic. A good way to describe it to clients is to let them visualize a piece of cardboard made entirely out of plastic. Coroplast is available in different thicknesses. The most common ones are 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm.

Coroplast is generally used for signage such as yard signs, A-frame signs, and real estate hanging signs. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use because it’s sturdy, lightweight, and waterproof. The surface is also easy to clean.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a tough, flexible material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and mesh. There are many different types of vinyl that you can use to print anything from banners to wall decals. The weight, texture, denier (thickness of the threads), and weave density are different depending on the type of vinyl.

Some of the most common types of vinyl for banner printing are:

13oz Vinyl

This type of vinyl is often used for standard indoor or outdoor vinyl banners. It can have a matte or glossy finish. The matte finish is particularly good for reducing glare.

Adhesive Vinyl

The adhesive can be permanent or removable. Always test its adhesive/removable properties first before applying it to a large area.

Perforated Vinyl

This type of vinyl has tiny holes in it that allow light to pass through. It’s perfect for window graphics because it allows passerbys to see your message without considerably impacting the lighting of your store.

Mesh Scrim Vinyl

This type of vinyl allows for air to pass through, which makes this material ideal for windier outdoor areas. It’s usually printed with a backer that is peeled off before use.

Foam Board

Form Boards are amazingly lightweight for their bulky size. They work great indoors as trade show signage or displays, but we don’t recommend them for outdoor use as they can also be damaged easily. A common foam board stock that large format printers print on is 4mm foam core (approximately 0.16”).

Styrene

Styrene is a light but durable plastic material. Some of the most common styrene materials are thin enough to be flexible (such as the popular 20pt styrene), so they can be rolled for storage or transportation, but don’t fold them or they’ll crack. They are waterproof and has strong scratch-resistance.

Sintra

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Sintra is made from PVC and is waterproof just like styrene, but the surface of sintra boards are a little easier to scratch. It is, however, still a popular choice for smaller outdoor signage. You can also cut and scored Sintra easily.

3mm is one of the most common thicknesses of printed sintra. At this thickness it cannot be rolled but its lightness still makes it easy to transport.

Magnet

Large format printing produces car magnets that turn an unbranded vehicle into a moving advertisement. Magnets are measured in mils (1 mil = 0.001”), with 30 mil as one of the most common thicknesses.

Make sure a magnet stays safely on a vehicle by adding rounded corners. This helps it cling to the car better. You should never use car magnets with bent corners as this increases their chances of falling off.

Canvas

Canvas is a strong, coarse cloth often associated with art. Storage and transportation for canvas is easy because you can roll it or fold it lightly. It comes in different weights, thicknesses, and textures depending on the materials in the weave.

Some clients may want to wrap their canvas around a frame. In this case, you should leave approximately 1 inch for the wrap. Call Today 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

Reduce Work-Related Burnout with These Action Steps 

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 rejuvenated mindset.

2. Find Activities that Fill You with Energy 

“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you,” inspirational speaker Alexander Den Heijer said. 

It’s not always possible to avoid doing things that suck the energy out of you. But you must find something that you genuinely enjoy, something that leaves you feeling energized. 

It’s okay if you don’t know of any activities right now. Think back to activities you enjoyed in the past. Be adventurous and try out some new activities. Make these activities that ‘spark a light in you’ a priority in your life by planning them into your schedule. 

3. Find a Support Group 

Eventually, everyone struggles.

These moments don’t feel quite as debilitating when you’re surrounded by supportive people. Perhaps you already have a support group through friends, family, and/or activities. If so, work on being more comfortable reaching out for help when needed. 

If you don’t have a support group, try your best to find or create one. Go to events. Connect with people through mutually shared interests. Be a little bit vulnerable and adventurous. 

Employees can only do so much to reduce work-related burnout. Employers should also be aware of burnout and actions to help their employees. 

Actions Employers Can Take to Alleviate Employee Burnout 

1. Hire Great Managers 

Managers are a key piece in reducing burnout.

They can make or break the work experience. Great managers should treat all employees fairly and not discriminate based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. They should give employees a manageable workload. This helps the employees and helps ensure the company is producing high-quality work. 

Great managers should communicate clearly and effectively by addressing employee expectations and responsibilities. Managers should also be supportive and, if possible, provide flexibility to employees. 

2. Prioritize Employee Wellbeing

Support your employees by helping them achieve the five elements of wellbeing: a fulfilling career, good physical health, supportive and loving social networks, a safe community, and a secure financial situation.

For example, foster positive social networks within the workplace through team projects and team-building activities. 

Burnout within the workplace is an increasingly serious problem. Luckily, there are actions you can take to alleviate workplace-induced burnout. www.printcafeli.com

Launch Your New Product or Service Easily With These Tips 

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 time to explain your statement to managers, product developers, and others who might be able to offer some criticism. If they like what you have to say, you’re more likely to receive a warm welcome from customers. And if they have suggestions, welcome them and take them to heart to hone your marketing efforts.

Get Your Message Out

Think about how you will use the media to get your message out.

Create a buzz about your product or service. Include different media types, including press releases, ads, advertorials, and other media-related promotions.

Make sure you know how to write a press release, and don’t be afraid to reach out to journalists to tell them your story. Just remember it needs to be a story, not an advertisement.

Remember, you only get one chance to start the buzz and create something for people to talk about. So, get as much attention as possible.

Get Your Team Up to Speed

Be sure to assign roles to your staff, so they know what they are responsible for during the launch.

This will ensure a smooth transition into the new product or service and make sure no one is doubling up on a job, which can slow progress.

Consider Your Timing

Choose the right day for the launch.

Is your product or service weather-oriented or seasonal? Make sure you launch it at the opportune time so that people can welcome it immediately. During this time, make sure that stakeholders know what you are doing. Keep them in the loop so they can support you.

Reflect and Learn

After the launch, be sure to evaluate it.

Did you get the results you were hoping for? Did you increase awareness? Were there things you should have done differently? If so, be sure to note it for the next product launch.

Being organized in your product launch is vital, as is communication. We are here for you to update letterhead, create a new logo or direct mail campaigns, and more. Reach out to us today! Call Today 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com

How to Use the 40-40-20 Rule of Direct Marketing 

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 effective your direct mail marketing campaign will be because the marketing will be more personalized. For greater personalization and success, go beyond surface-level characteristics. 

Build up a well-defined mailing list. Include people on the list who have bought similar products through similar methods. Keep records of who has bought from you in the past and how they did it. Target those who have bought similar products because of a previous direct mail marketing campaign. These people have a proven desire to buy your products. 

Direct Mail Marketing: Offer

The offer includes the product itself and incentives to get the customer to buy it now. It constitutes 40% of your direct mail marketing campaign success. 

First and foremost, the product must be something your audience actually wants. It’s going to be challenging to sell an unwanted product. Before releasing products, test them out with customers to see if there’s interest. 

Next, the offer within your direct mail marketing campaign must be good enough to incentivize your audience to buy now. Try out the following tips: 

• Create FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out): if you can get the customer to feel as if by not buying your product, they’re missing out, you have effectively created tension and pressure within your customer to purchase the product.
• Create urgency. If the customer doesn’t feel the need to buy now, they might never get around to it. But, letting the customer know that the offer is only for a limited time or until supplies last creates a sense of urgency to buy now, which translates into more sales.
• Provide safety. People, in general, are incredibly risk-averse. Don’t let people’s fear of loss hurt your marketing campaign. For example, offer a 100% money-back guarantee offers. 

Direct Mail Marketing: Everything Else

20% of the success of your direct mail marketing campaign relies on everything else. This includes the copy (written material), design, and format. Advertisers often put most of their time and energy here when creating an ad campaign. But, usually, when an ad falls through, it is because of the audience or the offer. However, that’s not to say this step is not important.

Copywriters should connect with and compel the reader by identifying the customer’s pain points, frustrations, and hopes. They should effectively convince the reader why this product will work for them. The copywriters should work with the designers, whose primary goal is to get the material read. 

The 40-40-20 rule of direct marketing will help you create more effective direct mail marketing campaigns.Call Today 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com

8 Print Marketing Pieces Every Business Needs 

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’s where you lay it out. Include detailed pictures of your products or services, along with an excellent description of what your company provides.

3. Flyers

Create some excitement for your offerings.

Include a large graphic or picture to draw people in and create some questions. Then you can hand them a brochure to explain it more in detail, and you can go through it with them for added impact.

4. Folders

You will want a way to package your marketing materials, and a custom folder is where it’s at.

Have your logo printed on it, along with some die cuts for you to include your business card tucked inside. This is like your shiny new suit; it represents who you are as a business person. That’s why you want quality and up-to-date design.

5. Letterhead

Every business needs high-quality letterhead to include quotes, correspondence, and business details.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but an inkjet printer won’t do. It needs to be professionally printed to show off your commitment to quality.

6. Logo

A logo is so important, and many people don’t give it enough credit.

A well-designed logo will look good on just about anything. Use it on merchandise give-aways, such as tote bags, mugs, koozies, and more.

Your logo ties your marketing together. You can use it on your letterhead, folders, flyers, brochures, business cards, and your website. Don’t skimp here. Have a professional design it for you, along with your input.

7. Banners

How will people get excited about your business if they don’t know you are open or that you have something exciting going on?

A beautifully designed and printed banner will announce that you have new items or that you are having a sale or even a grand opening.

8. Postcards

One more step to getting the word out and creating repeat business is to use gorgeous postcards that have been custom printed.

A postcard is easy to read and hard to ignore in a pile of mail. Use them to thank your customers for coming in, or send out an announcement of a new product or service you offer.

Every business deserves to be celebrated with high-quality printed products. This is not where you want to cut corners.

These eight items are important in getting a business off the ground or re-inventing your business. It’s never too late to do this and announce that you’re the one to do business with because of your commitment to quality. We offer all these items and more to help you get ahead of the competition. Visit our product list to learn more!

Call Today 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com