7 Direct Mail Strategies Based on Social Media

Direct mail has been around for as long as businesses have been around. Still, social media is relatively new in our world.

With that said, there are some things to learn from social media when producing direct mail. Take a look.

7 Direct Mail Strategies Based on Social Media

1. Test Direct Mail with Social Media.

You can use social media as a trial for your direct mail.

Before you print out a postcard, try using the graphics and text online on a social media post. Then see how the public responds to it.

2. Introduce Direct Mail Pieces.

Use social media to announce your upcoming direct mail. Try telling customers to look in their mailbox for special offers, catalogs, coupons, post cards and deals. https://www.printcafeli.com/store/product-view.html/74-Postcards

3. Do It Often.

Social media has taught us that people like to see your information several times before responding, and this is true of direct mail as well. So, send out regular postcards, flyers, or mailers.

4. Ask For the Sale.

Social media is excellent for offering deals and coupons and asking for a call to action. When creating direct mail, we need to have a call to action to follow up with customers.

5. Find Your Target Customer.

When you use social media, you can see who responds.

There are lists available for direct mail that will do the same thing. Find your perfect customer and send them regular mail to boost sales.

6. Build Credibility.

Direct mail has more credibility than online ads.

Digital has come a long way in building trust, but consumers still cite credibility as a significant stumbling block.7. Announce New Products to Customers.

Digital media regularly promotes new items, but it’s also not as in-depth as direct mail.

According to USPS, 54% of people surveyed tried a new product or business in six months in 2020 because they received a mail piece.

There are great ways to market your business online, but direct mail is still essential, and it makes people feel more confident in making buying decisions.

And if you are up for some new printed pieces, we’re here for you. Reach out today!

Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

 Print Marketing Vs Digital Marketing:

The Pros and Cons

Since the early to mid-'90s, the town crier has bellowed, "print is dead, print is dead!" Yet we find rigor mortis has not set in. Though not wholly accurate, these prophecies have ushered in a new age as print was pushed to the side and web pages bounded onto the internet. Digital marketing and media had the Midas touch–but did everything turn to gold?

The most successful companies that developed before the digital age relied heavily on print. Those companies are still in business. Print marketing techniques converted prospective customers to buyers through dynamic catalogs and persuasive lifestyle billboards. Print marketing is still everywhere. However, digital marketing is giving print a run, that or proving why print isn't going anywhere. Let's dive into these channels to discover the pros and cons of print marketing vs digital marketing.

What is Print Marketing?

Print marketing is any print media used to reach a business's ideal customer base. Print marketing uses tools such as:

● Every Door Direct Mail

● Catalogs

● Banners

● Brochures

● Take-out menus

● Single-use menus

● Posters

● Flyers

● Banners

● Newspapers

● Magazines

● Books

● Booklets

● Billboards

● Coupons

● and More Print Marketing Pros

User Friendly

A Print marketing vs digital marketing pro is print's user-friendly nature. The business owner and the customer can both handle the material with ease. For instance, the print vs online advertising barrier to entry is much lower and thereby less intimidating–digital marketing tools can be overwhelming. Print materials are uncomplicated and relatively straightforward to produce. Additionally, several print companies exist with highly skilled graphic designers to assist in creating print marketing materials from scratch.

Impressions are Long-Lasting and Direct

The most long-lasting connections are formed through print marketing as it takes physical space in the consumer's life. Print marketing's forte is hitting many senses and engaging the consumer's psyche for an extended period. Consumers can pour over an Ikea catalog for hours redecorating their entire homes in their minds. Imagination is mighty as you flip the pages and can nearly smell the store's aroma. Ikea uses the catalogs because the catalogs lead to sales, are accessible, and wake up multiple senses. Furthermore, print marketing is a direct means of advertising to your customers, especially when you're a local business.

Ties Perfectly Into Digital Marketing

Consider realtors and the debacle of digital vs print marketing in real estate. Direct mail marketing with postcards can introduce your agency to prospective buyers, sellers, or investors. Adding the property up for sale, its open house date and time, and a high-resolution photograph of the real estate agent they'll meet is a powerful statement of credibility and professionalism. Real Estate Magazine also makes it a point to include digital interactive components in your print marketing. The included QR code can lead customers to 3D property tours or your contact information. Remember to entice with a short copy to keep your audience wanting more. Digital vs print marketing in real estate doesn't have to be at odds. These two forces are more powerful together.

Print Marketing Cons

Expense

Print marketing can be expensive when you're on a limited budget. Especially when you only need a limited run of catalogs. Looking for print marketing companies that offer both short-run and bulk-run options helps alleviate the cost burden.

Less Targeted Campaigns

Print advertising vs social media has accomplished targeted campaigns that aren't as "needle in a haystack" as some print marketing campaigns can be. Although print marketing aims at a target demographic, it's not always as fine-tuned. You can't break every demographic down to gender, age, hobbies, family connections, and employment the way you can with social media.

Not Environmentally Friendly

Another print advertising vs social media con is that it may be viewed as less sustainable or environmentally friendly. Businesses commonly opt for digital marketing to avoid these, such as digital business cards or recycled materials.

What is Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a channel of marketing that relies on the use of the internet to market products and services to customers. The advertisements are usually sent via:

● Email

● Content

● Social Media

● Cell Phones

● Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

● Influencer Marketing (Tik Tok and Instagram influencers)

● Viral Marketing

● Affiliate Marketing

● and More

The Journal of Marketing found that we spend $300 million globally on digital marketing. The first digital banner went live in 1994.

Digital Marketing Pros

Attention-Grabbing

The use of video ads, especially when entertaining, can garner attention and keep it for all of 2 seconds. It's still enough to do enough marketing when you know your audience. It can also be inexpensive when utilizing appropriate social media apps.

Use of Augmented Reality

AR view in your space, 3D tours of homes, museums, and other real objects and spaces are advantageous. When the pandemic shut the world down, these and other tools helped the world pivot into a reality that kept people connected. Digital marketing lends itself to tools that help the world feel much smaller than it is. Community

The ability of digital marketing to build community can't be overstated. In niche and subcultures, massive communities have evolved from Facebook, Discord, Telegram, and Youtube. When you've created this authentic community around a brand or cause, it makes marketing to that same community almost effortless. When your community can communicate regularly, encourage one another, and exchange ideas and experiences, credibility and relationships are invigorated.

Digital Marketing Cons

Inefficient, Ad Waste, Fraud

Marc Pritchard commented on the dark side of print marketing vs digital marketing. Though digital is revolutionary, it's inefficient, leading to media waste, fraud, brand safety issues, and nontransparent fraudulent digital media supply chains. Digital waste happens when ad viewability metrics across platforms differ. This means ads aren't getting viewed, or companies are being billed for ads that were never seen. Viewability metrics lend themselves to other types of ad fraud which is the use of advertisements for bot consumption, not human. Pritchard found that around 20% of digital ads are viewed by bots, causing payouts to be fraudulent.

Aggressive

Digital marketing can feel like harassment. One-click follows you around the internet. Now the sunglasses you added to your shopping cart track you on unrelated blogs, into your email through abandoned cart software, and in youtube ads. Such aggressive tactics can cause consumers to run in the opposite direction. A Global Web Index found that about 50% of the 39,500 participants in an ad-blocking survey blocked ads for being annoying and intrusive.

Less Memorable

With so many companies chasing consumer attention, staying relevant is challenging. To do so, these aggressive ads and email tactics, as mentioned above, often come into play. To beat your competitors, though this can be cheaper than print material in some cases, still takes money, relevance, and creativity.

Print and Digital Join Forces

In an interview with the Forbes Communications Council, this one trend recurred again and again. Print and digital must join forces. For there is one thing print vs online advertising accomplishes that digital marketing just can't– "[the] literal weight [of your brand] presence."

High gloss or foiled stamped magazines and catalogs bring a traditional yet bespoke testimony to your brand's legitimate presence. Tangible materials also connect more fully with the senses. You can't hold a website in your hands like you can a catalog of dynamically detailed product photos. Print and digital marketing lean on one another to support their customer base's physical and digital needs. Print leads to digital interactions, and digital interactions lead back to print. Print marketing vs. digital marketing isn't a competition. It's a partner dance.

Creating this positive feedback loop is essential to maintaining success. This is why counselors and coaches don't just offer one-hour sessions online or in-person, 30-minute podcast episodes, and YouTube shorts, but often write books their whole audience can purchase. To get started with your print marketing materials, give us a call.Call 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com 

How to Prevent Entrepreneurial Burnout

Tait Shanafelt, MD, was a senior resident at the University of Washington in 2000, and he witnessed incredible burnout among interns.

He did a study to examine burnout trends among medical residents.

Their fatigue affected the quality of care and patients' health. How similar this is to entrepreneurial burnout. But what can be done?

7 Ways to Ensure You Don't Lose Your Edge

1. Burnout isn't a rite of passage.

Recognize you don't need to go through burnout.

It's not a rite of passage, and it's something to be avoided. However, if you are getting burned out, you need to stop the cycle and do something about it.

2. Spend your energy frugally.

Prioritize where to spend your energy.

You don't need to do everything yourself, and not everything requires your energy. Decide what you truly need to spend your energy on.

3. Document your procedures.

Document your standard operating procedures.

Then, if you need to hire some help, you can ensure that they know how you run your business and can carry on with your standards in place.

With documented processes in place, you won't have to think about everything when you start working or need to delegate a task, leaving more time for the important things, according to Marquiste Boyce, author and CEO of Side Hustle Mentor.

4. Anxiety doesn't have to be the norm.

"Running a startup is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss," said Elon Musk. "After a while, you stop staring, but the glass chewing never ends."

So get a handle on it as soon as it shows up by talking to a professional if needed.

Learn to identify the stressors in your business and plan how best to deal with them.

5. Exercise can help avoid burnout.

Carving out 30 minutes a day for fitness can help you avoid burnout, according to Kumar Arora of Forbes Magazine.

In addition, taking a walk around the block and doing yoga or other aerobic exercises can help.

6. Meditation is helpful.

Meditation is associated with decreased blood pressure, lower heart rate, less anxiety, and reduced stress.

Not only that, but you don't need gym shoes, a membership, or fancy equipment to meditate.

Take a break, focus on your breathing and relax for a few minutes.

7. No comparison.

Don't compare yourself to others, and don't judge.

It creates negative self-talk, typically making negative talk about the other company. Either way, it's not a good road to go down.

Nearly half of U.S. employees report feeling burnt out, and 1 in 4 said they're feeling burnout due to the pandemic. With this said, we need to be sure to do all we can to avoid it.

We sometimes need to lean on others, and that's why we support you.Brought To You By The Print Cafe of LI,Inc www.printcafeli.com

 

Brand Your Business with Consistency

We all want to be remembered, and those who succeed know one thing: Consistency is the key.

“A report from Forrester says that 95% of customers use three or more channels to connect with a company in a single service interaction,” according to Grammarly Business.

To get people’s attention, you need several routes and types of interaction.

Businesses that brand consistently are 3.5x more likely to get strong brand visibility than inconsistent brands.

How do you brand more consistently?

7 Top Tips to Stay Branded

1. Brand Consistency.

There needs to be a similar message and experience for your brand.

Brand consistency is important for every business because it directly and immediately impacts the perception of your brand and company, both internally and externally.

If it’s not consistent, it causes mistrust among your customers, which causes them not to want to do business with you.

2. Remember the Rule of 7.

Marketers need an average of seven contacts (or touches, impressions, or interactions) to turn a prospective buyer into an actual buyer, according to Eyal Katz of Oktopost.com.

Of course, you don’t need to take it literally but remember it takes several contacts to reach a potential customer.

3. Use Paid and Organic Material.

Engage customers with ads, but make sure you add your own worthwhile content. Start a conversation about business or strategies with your potential customers to keep yourself in the front of their minds.

4. Create a Great Website and Keep it Updated.

Make sure your website represents your business well and that it goes well with the printed marketing you do. It takes about 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for people to form an opinion about your website, according to IWD Magazine.

5. Build Your Brand With Every Effort.

No matter what avenues you use to promote your business, you will need to be consistent. Make sure the images are similar, the logo is sharp, and the message is the same.

6. Keep the Same Tone and Voice.

When you create your copy for social media, print, or even the spoken word, ensure the tone is the same. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure the style is professional. If you are a fun, dynamic business, use those words. Just make it consistent.

7. Send Direct Mail.

Direct mail has a more believable delivery. Therefore, people are apt to read it and believe it, which leads to more sales for you.

Whatever you do to be consistent, know that we are consistently here for your printed marketing efforts. We are on time, reliable, and produce high-quality pieces.

Reach out today!  Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com

Top Offline Marketing Tips in 2022

The digital marketing age has become an essential component of any company’s marketing strategy.

Since much of the world has moved online, search ads, blog content, email newsletters, and social media posts are relatively inexpensive and practical tools to increase a marketing plan’s reach.

Although we find many of our clients and customers online, we must not forget the importance of having a non-digital marketing strategy and getting out face-to-face with our potential clients and customers. 

What Is Offline Marketing? 

Essentially, offline marketing is any advertising, marketing, or promotional practice using channels that are not online or accessible via cell phones, computers, or tablets.

Though many do not always consider offline marketing because they feel it is an outdated practice, it can be somewhat effective. Using both online and offline marketing strategies, businesses can expand their reach and capture the attention of many more clients and customers.

Offline Marketing Tips for 2022

There are many things you can do offline to help market your business.

It may seem primitive to some to get out and meet others face-to-face, but in the long run, doing so, along with a solid digital marketing plan, can take your business to the next level. 

Some of the best offline marketing tips for 2022 include:

• Join your local chamber of commerce and attend meetings and events.
• Business cards work well, especially when wanting to set your business apart using a unique design reflecting your brand values.
• Printed pamphlets and flyers offer an informational marketing tool that you can hand out at exports, events, and during networking meetings.
• If you own a business, you are an expert in your field. Write and publish a book sharing your expertise with a larger audience.
• Offer existing customers loyalty rewards and coupons and send unique coupons to attract new customers.
• Send seasonal cards and gifts to your loyal customers and members of your mailing list.
• Find another business that shares your values and business model to work together to co-develop products, cross-promote each other’s company, and co-sponsor events.
• Get involved with the community by setting up a booth at local events, sponsoring local nonprofits, volunteering, attending government meetings, networking events, etc.
• Host your community events and workshops, inviting other local businesses to join in for cross-promotion and providing entertainment for residents.
• Send out press releases to local media outlets, including radio stations, new stations, and newspapers.
• Try a local billboard to reach a new market and help your business stand out. 

There is a lot of untapped marketing potential in offline advertising. So take your business marketing efforts offline and get more involved in your local community. If done correctly, both digital and offline marketing can be very beneficial for businesses. Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

5 Tips for Effective Product Packaging

Product packaging can be just as important as your product.

The packaging is what the potential consumer sees, influencing their purchasing decision. In fact, 72% of Americans say the product packaging influences their purchasing decision. Check out these five tips for effective product packaging. 

1. On-brand product packaging 

Your packaging should be a consistent extension of your brand. 

Your brand is how your company looks and feels. Follow your brand style guide when designing the packaging. If you don’t already have a brand style guide created, now would be a great time to get started. 

Your brand style guide is used throughout your business to create general guidelines for the look and style of your brand. It establishes colors, fonts, and much more to ensure the consistency of the brand. It should portray your brand’s personality and values. 

Just as important as staying on brand is functionality. 

2. Functional product packaging 

Your product packaging should fulfill its function before all else. 

Consider the product packaging’s use within the life of your product. 

First, it must adequately protect the product. You should be prepared for both gentle and hard handling. Make sure you account for any special care of the product, including light, ventilation, water, and heat concerns. 

Second, it must include all important information to abide by rules and regulations to avoid a potential lawsuit. 

Third, the packaging must fit within the size, weight, and volume constraints. Consider making it stackable so it can be easily stocked. 

Fourth, the packaging must be easy to open. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to open a package that makes you think the company doesn’t want you to get to the product. 

Fifth, if the packaging will be used throughout the product’s life, then make sure the packaging is adequately made for this purpose. For example, make it resealable and durable. 

Over-the-top packaging which does not serve a functional purpose can be a waste of money due to environmentally conscious consumers. 

3. Environmentally friendly product packaging

Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. 

Many are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact on the earth, including reducing their waste. Therefore, they’ll want to look for companies that align with their goals. Environmentally friendly product packaging can have many different faces. 

• Use recycled materials.
• Use recyclable and/or reusable materials.
• Reduce the weight and size of your product packaging.

Environmentally conscious product packaging can help it stand out, among other methods. 

4. Product packaging made to stand out 

Your packaging is the face of your product. 

Little things can make a big difference in customer purchasing decisions. Effective product packaging can trigger impulse buying from customers. If you can find ways to differentiate your product packaging from your competitors, you’ll be better able to stand out, increasing sales.

Research your competitors to see what they are doing. Brainstorm ways your product packaging can stand out. Consider: 

• Shape
• Presentation
• Color
• Design
• Layout 

However, there are some things you don’t want to change. 

• Keep your packaging within your industry parameters.
• Include your product, brand name, and one to two main selling points.
• Be honest. You’re going to want to present your product in the best light, but there’s a line between positive framing and lying. With great products, there’s no need to stretch the truth. And in the end, it’s counterproductive because you’ll anger customers who don’t get what they thought they bought after they’ve unboxed the product. 

5. Product packaging for unboxing

Lately, unboxing videos have risen in popularity. 

Unboxing videos include customers buying products and then filming themselves unboxing them. They rose in popularity because the viewer could receive second-hand satisfaction from unboxing new products. It also highlighted the importance of the unboxing experience for customers.

From a business’s point of view, unboxing videos provided authentic, customer-produced marketing. Products with unique packaging provide material for great unboxing videos. Get creative and try to generate ways you can enhance the unboxing experience. For example, include a thank you card or stickers.

Unique product packaging examples

Guidelines and tips can be vague, which is why examples are useful. 

Check out a few examples of creative product packaging. 

• NYC Spaghetti. The designer created product packaging so the spaghetti resembled the Chrysler Building. This catches customers’ attention.
• Butter! Better! Here, the butter container comes with a knife so the user can easily use the butter. This will fix the frustration of lacking utensils. The design expertly combines function and form.
• Görtz 17 Shoelace Box. Here, the company developed more environmentally friendly bags while also keeping things creative. Being a shoe store, it perhaps wasn’t innovative to put a shoe on the box. But it was innovative for them to incorporate real shoelaces that extend from the box’s design. 

Hopefully, these examples can spark some product packaging creativity. 

Consult your printer about product packaging 

Product packaging can get overwhelming. 

There are so many details involved. But, we can help the printing be the least of your worries. We can point you in the right direction to avoid printing challenges resulting from your design not quite matching your material. We can also discuss costs and lend our general expertise. Happy product packaging printing! For More Information on Custom Packaging go to:https://www.printcafeli.com/store/product-view.html/70-Packaging

 

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