Decrease Clutter for a Happier, 

Healthier, More-Productive You

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 organize your desk a little longer.
• Get rid of anything on your desk that you don’t use regularly. This is the first step to uncluttering your office area.
• Limit the number of personal items, such as photographs and knick-knacks. Try to stick with one or two items so you don’t get distracted and to free up more space.
• Instead of dumping papers in piles on the desk, use a desktop organizer and color-coded files. Be diligent about filing when new papers come into your office. If you get behind a little, try to end the day by organizing them into the appropriate folders.
• Try to handle emails and papers only once. Decide how to respond right away, so you don’t have to rethink it and stash it somewhere on your desk.
• Have permanent places to store ink cartridges and other office supplies so you can easily see what you need and what you already have. When things get messy, it’s easy to re-purchase items because you aren’t aware you already have them.
• Shred old papers that are no longer needed. This is a great way to stay on top of the clutter.
• Try to eliminate sticky notes, as they make things messy and cluttered. Make files on the computer if you need to recall something. Or have a notebook with passwords and other important information you may need.

No matter if your desk and office are slightly messy or are disaster areas, learning to unclutter will help ease your mind and make you more efficient. At our printing firm, we get things done efficiently and professionally. We are here to help you stay on top of your latest projects. Reach out today! Call 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

 Using Public Relations to Your Advantage

Public relations help your company look good in the eyes of the public and create more sales.

PR can be a powerful marketing tool because it is regarded more highly by consumers, given that it is a third party advertising your business.

Even better, it can sometimes be possible to use unpaid tools, such as media, the internet, and business networks. 

Marketing vs. Public Relations

On the surface, PR and marketing may appear to be the same; however, there are key differences.

• Marketing promotes your businesses’ products and/or services.
• Public Relations focuses on promoting a positive reputation for your company.

The goal of marketing is to increase sales, while PR’s goal is to generate a positive reputation. Marketing generally targets the consumers, while PR aims to reach the public, especially stakeholders and media. 

3 Tips for Developing a PR strategy

A good PR campaign will cause the public to think more highly of your business, increasing their likelihood of doing business with you. Here are some tips to help you create a PR campaign of your own.

1. Develop your goals.

Make sure your goals are SMART goals.

SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. According to Chron, some beneficial PR goals include “raising awareness; generating interest; promoting goodwill; reinforcing/burnishing brand image; providing information; and creating demand.”

2. Create a budget.

PR campaigns can be costly.

Start with a budget and then research various PR strategies. Choose the ones that will accomplish your goals and within your budget.

3. Cement your key messages.

Key messages are the main points you want your audience to remember.

These messages consist of five to six sentences clarifying your goals while answering the who, what, where, when, and why. Be sure to mention these message points in all press releases and keep them concise, memorable, and relevant. 

Where to Get Your Message Out

There are several places you can get your message. Check out these public relations outlets.

Media.

The media loves to report on interesting happenings.

If your business is doing something newsworthy, the media is going to want to report on it. You want the media to report because this equates to free advertising that customers will likely trust more than marketing campaigns.

Get the attention of journalists by releasing media statements and fact sheets. Even better, offer on-site media tours.

Newsletter, brochures, and catalogs.https://www.printcafeli.com/store/product-view.html/38-Catalogs

These are all useful ways to utilize the power of print.

Inform current customers and draw in new ones by disseminating these tangible printed works. Customers will enjoy looking through these. Plus, customers will leave these around their house for quite some time.

Sponsorships or partnerships.

People love it when businesses support non-profits.

It elevates the business’s image in their minds as they’re happy to see a company caring about its community. It’s a win-win because you get the chance to help others, while goodwill and loyalty towards your business are elevated.

People will begin to associate your business with selflessness and good ethics. It will give them a greater motive to do buy from you. 

PR strategies can be an extremely effective way to increase sales in the long run by positively influencing the public’s view of your business. We’re here to help you get there. Check us out today! Call 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

7 Facts About Offline Marketing 

You Probably Didn't Know

1. It’s not online versus offline

It’s not a competition between online and offline marketing as both have their pros and cons.

Plus, your marketing strategy is usually more effective when utilizing multiple platforms, leading to greater brand exposure and returns on investment. Offline marketing effectively brings people to your business’s online website and social media platforms. This is why 58% of offline retailers use offline marketing to build online customer engagement without being too invasive. 

2. Offline marketing is not invasive 

As the market becomes more competitive, marketing strategies are becoming more intense. 

However, this can lead some consumers to find marketing to be invasive. 91% of survey respondents agreed that ads are more intrusive today than two to three years ago.

A potential client who finds your advertising invasive may not want to purchase from you. A helpful way around this problem is through offline marketing strategies such as direct mail, which tends to have a more positive reception. In a study conducted by Epsilon, 59% of U.S. respondents agreed with the statement: “I enjoy getting postal mail from brands about new products.” This positive reception is partly because offline marketing is less common.

3. Offline marketing stands out

As some companies move away from offline marketing strategies, a space reopens for your company to stand out. 

People naturally remember less common things. Think of all the ads you see and hear on social media, email, and your internet searches. You may struggle to remember them all. Now think of the advertisements you’ve received in your mail. They’re probably easier to remember because they’re less prevalent and because people remember print better than digital. But, just because it’s less common doesn’t mean it’s a dying business. 

4. Offline marketing is a growing business

Going off the language used around offline marketing, it may come as a surprise that it’s a growing business. 

In 2020, the spending on offline media in the U.S. was 182.2 billion. In 2021 it was 196 billion. In 2022, it’s projected to reach 207.6 billion. Thanks to its persuasive attributes, offline marketing has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

5. It is possible to track offline marketing 

Although offline marketing can be challenging to track, it’s not impossible, thanks to some creative solutions. 

The success of any marketing campaign is primarily measured through analytics and data and then using that data to inform your future decisions. Check out the following methods to better track your offline marketing. 

• Custom landing pages. Insert a custom URL in your offline marketing campaigns. This will take the potential customer to a custom landing page, allowing you to track your offline marketing.
• Discount codes. Distribute unique discount codes depending on the means of advertisement. For example, a direct mail discount code could be “DIRMAIL201,” while an online code from Instagram could be “INSTA202.” When the consumer uses that code, you can track the sale back to the advertisement method. 

However, it is important to remember that customer journeys are becoming more complex. Usually, a customer will see your company through many channels before looking the business up and buying. Allow room for this ambiguity by asking customers how they found the business and allowing them to select more than one option. 

Gaining new customers through offline marketing is wonderful, but those that stay are even better. 

6. Offline marketing boosts brand loyalty 

Various marketing methods are useful for specific purposes. 

Offline marketing is especially beneficial for building trust, brand loyalty, and customer engagement. This is why 60% of primarily online retailers use direct mail to build brand loyalty and awareness. 

7. Offline marketing is more versatile.

The non-online world isn’t constrained to a screen, allowing for greater opportunities.

Offline marketing allows you to get more involved in your communities by attending local events. It also allows you to play with the texture, size, and smell. 

The majority of people’s lives are spent in the offline world. Therefore, what better way to reach them? We can help you with your offline marketing campaigns by providing for your print needs. Reach out today! Call Us today at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 

Tips for More Cost-Effective Direct Mail

You know direct mail works and has worked for decades. But now the question is: How can you save money on mailing your next project?

Here are some tips to make it more cost-effective to mail.

First, make sure you don’t have duplicate or wrong addresses. Scrub lists on import for invalid addresses, zip codes, and state codes. Next, run every mailing through the CASS™ program and NCOALink database from the United States Postal Service.

Mail advertising boasts a much higher response rate than social media, email marketing, and other digital channels. It’s also more memorable and, in some cases, beautiful enough to make people keep it for decades. Think of an old holiday postcard that was saved.

Direct mail might seem expensive, but it’s worth it.

Here are some things to consider when creating a direct mail piece. You can do some of these things in-house, while others will need professionals to care for them.

• Design services
• Copywriting cost
• Size and volume of a mail piece
• Mailing list volume
• List selection (purchased from third parties or custom-built)
• Printing quality (paper, ink, equipment, etc.)
• Personalization
• Chosen mail postage rate (standard and first-class mailing costs significantly differ.)
• Before you buy or rent a list, consider using free lists. Then, if you have a digital platform, use the lists from this to start your direct mail campaign.

Finally, try tracking your success by using specific URLs or coupons.

5 Ways to Make Your Direct Mail Lists Deliver

1. Determine demographics.

Lists determined by geography and demographics are typically less expensive than those that break it down to interests and hobbies.

2. Plan ahead.

Give yourself time to edit. For example, mistakes might mean you have to send out two copies to customers instead of just one. This, of course, raises your cost to mail.

3. Clear messaging.

Reduce brand confusion by keeping your marketing message clear and consistent. For example, suppose you have two different looks and statements online and offline. In that case, people get frustrated, and you could lose business, which wastes money.

4. Choose your paper wisely.

By using thinner paper and smaller sizes, you can save money. But make sure you aren’t sacrificing your standard. For example, if people have a particular image of your company, keep it consistent.

Maybe you need a thicker postcard or larger envelope to make a statement about the quality.  

5. Allow people to unsubscribe.

Even though you want people to receive your mail, cutting out those who don’t want your marketing will save you time and money.

There are several ways to save money on direct mail. Reach out today to learn more!

Hone your advertising today with high-quality printing! Call the Print Cafe of LI, Inc at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

7 Steps to Great Packaging 

For Your Business 

Imagine you were looking for a product, and you saw two boxes side by side…one that was plain and one that contained exciting graphics.

Which one would you try? Of course, you’d pick the exciting one. So why not carefully consider what your packaging looks like?

Think about promoting your business with your packaging. It’s possible and doable.

7 Steps to Great Packaging for Your Business 

1. Establish your goals.

Determine your brand values, mission, and purpose. Then work to build your graphics and design elements around those.

2. Reach the right customers.

Identify the ideal customer so you can reach your target market with your design. Is your target market young? Teens? Adults? Elderly? How about style? Quirky or professional? Modern or whimsical?

Think about what colors would attract and what graphics appeal to your target audience.

3. Determine your budget.

Spend your budget wisely but consider that elegant items need elegant packaging.

If you are a high-end product producer, you will need high-end printing on your packaging. You want elegance and sophistication to shine through the packaging.

4. Keep branding on point.

Keep your logo colors and style to incorporate those things into your packaging. You will want to use the same colors and complementary colors.

5. Don’t just ship; advertise.

Use your packaging to attract customers so that it serves as an actual ad. Make it fun and exciting. Let people know what you offer.

6. Packaging represents your business.

Remember that packaging is part of the product, and keep your focus on this, so it doesn’t become an afterthought. Plan your packaging right away to tie in with the other items you are using to promote your business.

7. Think outside the box.

Update your packaging so that people will know you have a cutting-edge product. Even if you have packaging already, update it regularly to keep customers interested. You don’t want tired, old printing on a box. You want something clean, fun, and eye-catching in today’s world.

Upscale printing on your packaging is essential to growing your brand, no matter what business you have.

We are here to help you grow, too.   

Hone your advertising today with high-quality printing! Call the Print Cafe of LI, Inc at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

7 Ideas for Combining Offline 

and Online Marketing

In today’s world, it’s all about teamwork—people working for the exact cause to make the most significant impact.

And it’s also about teamwork in marketing—using online and offline tools to promote your business.

When the two hold hands, nothing can stop that well-oiled machine.

7 Ideas on Using Offline and Online Marketing

1. Cross-Promote.

Use digital media to promote offline media outreaches. If you send postcards, use a teaser to direct them to your website. Use QR codes or other ways to make it easy to go online to your site.

2. Combine Efforts.

Synergy across your online and offline branding is crucial for successful integration.

Use the exact wording and images online as offline, so the message is the same. Then, when people check out the other type of marketing, they will know they are on the right page.

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between offline and online marketing strategies. Using both is more powerful.

3. Join Forces.

Integrating your online and offline marketing efforts creates a much smoother experience for consumers, allowing them to move through the customer journey much more easily.

It also brings about familiarity, which will cause your business to grow.

4. Produce In-Person Meetings.

When making the promotions in your online and offline efforts, try to get in front of your customer.

Allow yourself to be the expert on what you offer and try to get speaking gigs and in-person tradeshows. This also helps boost your business as an overall combined effort.

5. Search Intent.

You have to create relevant content that isn’t “salesy” to naturally resonate with people who need the information.

Make it easy to look at your site and get accurate information, not just a sales pitch.

So, when your brochure or postcard points them online, make sure you have legitimately helpful information for the consumer.

6. Collect Contact Information.

To connect your offline marketing to your online marketing, collect email address information in-store. This will tie the marketing together so that you can reach them through email or a phone call later.

7. Custom URLs.

An easy way to connect online and offline campaigns is through custom tracking URLs. Use unique URLs in all of your offline marketing efforts. When customers visit these pages, you’ll know they came from offline marketing.

No matter which marketing the customer sees first, the important thing is that the two marketing efforts point to each other and help each other.

We are here to help you as well. We are only a click or a phone call away when you need high-quality printing.www.printcafeli.com or Call: 516-561-1468

Why Direct Mail is Irreplaceable

Direct mail is not a new marketing topic, but it shouldn’t be forgotten. It is tried and true and will be here for the long haul.

Recent studies show that direct mail’s average response rate of 9% is higher than the 1% average rate for email.

9 Reasons Direct Mail is Irreplaceable

1. Direct mail is long-term.

It’s something you touch and feel and need to think about before moving on to the next step of your day.

2. Direct mail is easy to understand.

There is limited space if you use postcards, brochures, or even letters, making your appeal quicker and easier to understand than online websites filled with endless copy.

3.  Direct mail entices customers.

Using a quick, direct mail campaign lets you send teasers to get your customers excited and curious about what you are up to.

4. Direct mail is customizable.

You can use unusual die cuts, folds, tear sheets, or other fun printing options to make your customers interact with your marketing.

5. Direct mail is more official.

Direct mail is a more permanent and trusted form of communication. People know that anyone can go online and get noticed, but serious businesses send out printed communication.

According to Marketing Sherpa, 76% of people trust ads they receive in the mail.

6. Direct mail is memorable and sentimental.

We all remember getting letters in the mail…right? Well, sending mail to your customers brings back that sentimental feeling.

Add a handwritten note or signature, making it even more personal.

7. Direct mail is inclusive.

Direct mail is more inclusive for older adults who don’t go online.

If you want to appeal to people who don’t even use websites or Google, direct mail is the best way to reach this target market.

8. Direct mail pairs with other media.

You can pair social media and digital content marketing with direct mail for a seamless customer journey.

Cross-promotion works wonders.

By incorporating your message online with the printed word, you will reach a broader audience and answer more of their questions.

9. Direct mail is dependable.

People like to check their mailboxes. On average, people get 122 emails per day. Compare that to the fact that 4 out of 10 people like checking their actual mailbox for items in the mail.

Oversized envelopes have the highest response rate (5%), followed by postcards (4.25%), dimensional mail, or anything more than 0.75 inches thick (4%), and catalogs (3.9%).

With this in mind, be creative and have fun with your direct mail so your customers will enjoy getting mail from you.

If you need further ideas on creating great direct mail pieces, we are here to help. 

Hone your advertising today with high-quality printing! Call the Print Cafe of LI, Inc at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com