5 Valuable Ways to Make 

Customers for Life

Customers make or break your business.

And while companies focus their budgets and time on attracting new customers, they often lose sight of their most important asset: Current customers.

Companies across the U.S. are losing $62 billion per year due to poor customer service. Don't let that happen to your business.

5 Valuable Ways to Make Customers for Life

1. Start a Loyalty Program

Did you know that about 68% of loyal customers will join a loyalty program if offered?

Customer loyalty programs, sometimes called customer retention programs, effectively increase purchase frequency because they spur customers to buy your product or service more often.

2. Offer a Discount for Returning Customers

Everybody likes to save money.

So, tuck a coupon into the bag when you're ringing up a sale, and tell the buyer about it, so they don't miss it. Not only will these offer help improve your sales, but they'll help improve loyalty among customers.

According to Statista, 92% of consumers in the U.S. used coupons when making purchases last year.

3. Celebrate Your Customers

Recognizing your core and loyal customers goes a long way.

It might take a little more time than sending a quick email or phone call, but when you thank your customers from day one, you build momentum to help your business succeed.

Simple signs of gratitude include a handwritten note, a birthday card, giving back to causes close to your customers, noticing customers who go above and beyond, or offering a free service or product during a challenging time. 

4. Invite Customers to a Special Event

While online events seem to get the most fanfare, there is no replacement for face-to-face customer interaction.

That's why customer events drive loyalty. Everyone likes to be part of an exclusive group! 

Organize round tables with your company's executives or yourself if your business is small. Give them a sneak peek of what's coming next, or ask them for feedback on a new product or service. Another option is an after-hours client reception focusing more on guest entertainment than business goals.

5. Keep a Customer Communication Calendar

Whether you run a small or large business, initiative-taking communication should be a top priority.

Manage customer engagements and create opportunities to build brand loyalty. 

There are so many ways to reward and retain your loyal customers, and we can help! Contact us today to learn how we can help you, from loyalty cards and invitations to coupons and more! 

Call Now! 516-561-1468

 

Paper Shortage: 

What You Need to Know

Paper is a critical resource and an essential part of our daily lives.

If you didn't know, a paper shortage started last year and will likely continue in the coming year. In times of uncertainty, it helps to have all the information, so let's talk about it! 

Understanding and Planning for the Paper Shortage

The Paper Shortage Issue

In recent years, a few North American paper mills closed their doors as aging infrastructure and rising labor costs, combined with strict environmental regulations, made it increasingly difficult to keep up with the competition.
 
Many mills have switched from paper production to packaging to replace this lost capacity. This shift to a focus on packaging resulted in nearly 20% less paper production from 2019's supply. Many companies are stockpiling more paper in anticipation of a continued shortage expected in the coming year.

In the past few years, we also experienced a pandemic-induced shortfall in supply. This has led to reliance on overseas sources, which comes with its own set of obstacles. Recently, there have not been enough containers or ships to transfer materials made and acquired by US markets in the Pacific. 

The shortage has highlighted the need for increased global collaboration to ensure that international trade and supply chains are as resilient as possible.

Paper Shortage Implications

We will do everything we can to keep you on time and budget throughout the shortage.

But we do want to acknowledge that it is possible, at some point, you could experience an increase in price as we, too, are experiencing an overall marginal rise in prices across the industry.

It is also possible that some print materials, such as specialty paper stock, will be harder to obtain. So, if you have a particular project in mind that requires a specialty paper, the sooner you can let us know, the more time we have to obtain the materials.

If you are working on a project with a tight timeline, we will happily offer you suggestions based on what we already have in stock to speed up the process. 

Paper Shortage Solutions

These excellent opportunities can help you stay on track with your business objectives during this time of paper shortage:

• Proactive planning with lead times
• Maintaining an open line of communication throughout the entire printing process
• Considering sustainable sources of paper, such as recycled paper and alternative materials

And here's what we are doing as a business and an industry: 

• Advocating for increased reforestation efforts to help replenish the world's forests
• Staying informed about changes in the supply chain that could impact our business operations
• Monitoring pricing trends to anticipate potential cost increases due to shortages and advise you in the process

While this is a real challenge, it doesn't mean that print materials have lost their place in marketing and advertising strategies!

In fact, with many businesses relying on digital media, a well-designed printed item can stand out from the crowd and make a big impression. 
 
Print advertising has never been more valuable than it is today!

Whatever your print needs, we've got you covered. Contact our team today to get started on your next print project. Call: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website: www.printcafeli.com

 

4 Top Reasons to Use 

Direct Mail to Help Build 

Your Brand

It would be best to build brand awareness when you start a business or revamp its image. So what's the best way to do this?

Direct mail!

Not only is it what your customers want, but it's also incredibly effective. Research shows that 73% of customers prefer direct mail over other marketing channels! And according to the Data & Marketing Association, in 2019, the average response rate for direct mail campaigns was 9%, and consumers engaged with 96% of direct mail.

So, why not take the plunge into direct mail?

4 Top Reasons to Use Direct Mail to Help Build Your Brand

Direct Mail is Terrifically Tangible

Unlike digital marketing and social media, direct mail requires you to touch it.

You may think digital is the way to go because people are always online. But the reality is that they are bombarded with online ads that they tend to ignore.

Direct mail, on the other hand, requires the viewer to pick it up and read it to take action, whether it's throwing it away or hanging it on the fridge. 

Furthermore, this tangible experience is significant in trust-building. It acts as social proof of your brand authenticity, which is excellent for your awareness-building marketing efforts.

Displays Your Expertise

Delivering whitepapers, reports, guides, newsletters, etc., to customers, without a call to action can help you grow awareness and develop trust.

Sending this type of content to customers sets you up as the expert. They will create an image of your business that causes customers to turn to you when they need your expertise.

Shows Your Audience You Know Them

Direct mail can pinpoint the right people at the right time.

Brand awareness means you know your target audience and get suitable marketing materials in front of them at the right time.

Direct mail is perfect for this as you can mail it out at the right time and send it to a targeted audience.

Improves Recall and Builds Trust

A growing body of evidence suggests that consumers trust direct mail because of the unique way that paper-based advertising connects with the parts of the brain that control how we feel and remember things.

A 2015 study by Canada Post showed that direct mail marketing "requires 21% less cognitive effort to process and elicits a much higher brand recall" than digital media. This helps build trust and recall.

Direct mail also involves more emotional processing than other channels, which is essential for memory and brand associations. As a result, your customers will remember your efforts more when you send direct mail.

When you use direct mail, you boost your image and build brand awareness. And when it's time to create something new, you know where to go. Contact us today! Call: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

 

The 60-30-10 Color Rule: 

How to Use It in Print Marketing 

(and When to Break It)

Designing eye-catching postcards, brochures, and business cards for your company might seem daunting- especially if you don’t have a background in graphic design.

But don’t fear! It’s easier than you think to bring visual appeal to your print marketing.

Follow this simple principle for how to use color, and you’ll be on your way!

5 Steps to Use the 60-30-10 Color Rule in Print Marketing

1. Choose Three Colors for Your Print Product

To begin, choose three colors that represent your company well.

If you have a signature color, use it as one of your three! And keep in mind that different colors communicate different emotions and meanings to your customers.

You should also make sure to select colors that fit together. If your colors clash, it will decrease the visual appeal of your design. 

A foolproof way to choose three colors that look well together is by choosing either analogous or complementary trios. Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel (ex. orange, red, and yellow), while, to determine one color’s complementary matches, you should draw a line straight across from it and then choose the two (ex. blue, red, and orange). 

2. The 60%

Next, you’ll need to designate which color will be the base of your design.

Following the rule, this first color should occupy 60% of your print marketing piece. 

This color will fill the most space, so it shouldn’t be the most vibrant of the three you’ve chosen. You can use this color for your primary background or large text blocks. 

3. The 30%

This will be your secondary color, which will take up 30% of the space in your printed piece.

It’s intended to draw attention to the more critical parts of your design. 

It’s wise to use this color for any headlines, sub-section titles, bolded words, or statistics within the text of your ad.

4. The 10%

Your final color is your accent color, which will only take up 10% of the space in your design.

This should also be the most vibrant and bold of the three you’ve chosen. 

This third color is best used to make your call-to-action stand out from the rest of your design. It draws your customer’s eye toward the piece you want them to interact with: a QR code, contact information, link to a social media account, or coupon code. 

5. Breaking the Rule

Maybe your company has a design idea, and it will take more than three colors to bring that idea to life. Don’t stress!

The 60-30-10 rule is a helpful way to get started with your use of color, but going outside the box is perfectly fine!

If you want to emphasize more than just one part of your print design, consider choosing two accent colors for your 10%- 5% of one and 5% of the other.

Another impactful idea is to go monochromatic. Rather than choosing three complementary colors for your design, you could use different shades of the same color.

Don’t be afraid to create your own formula if it feels right! Use the principles in the 60-30-10 rule to get started, but once you’ve got an idea of how different colors and shades work together, you can break the rules and find a balance that works for you.

Contact us today for expert advice on the best colors, paper, and print for your next campaign! 

Call: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

 Spring Flings: Rebranding Ideas

The start of Spring, with flowers starting to bloom and trees beginning to show their leaves, is a great time to look at branding. This is true for you as a business owner, and for the clients you serve. Branding sometimes seems so abstract. Once you settle on a logo and color scheme, you may be tempted to keep it forever, but just as some of our favorite brands, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have a history of logo updates, every business can benefit from a spring refresh. 

The Forbes Agency Council noted in a blog post on branding that it helps you stand out from your competition, but a later post from the same group hits home. They say that as purchasing power is undergoing a generational change, taking the time to redefine your messaging and update your look can make you more attractive to these new buyers. In this article, you’ll find tips on branding and marketing ideas for business owner's.

Assess the Brand Look

Whether you are looking for an update for your business, or want to reach out to your clients, start by assessing the current look of your brand across your printed materials. Think about what you hand them, what they see when they walk into your business, and what you mail to them. Gather a selection of the work you have done for customers and promote that to future customer's. 

Look at the Business Cards

These are still one of the most important pieces of marketing collateral, but how they are used has shifted. Ask yourself: Are they inviting? Do they communicate the best information? Does the design represent the company? And then ask: Can they be scanned easily? Many people use business card scanning apps or physical scanners, which means that light-gray type, which used to be very fashionable, is less desirable. Color combinations that require more attention to read are also out of fashion and make it hard for those who are color challenged. 

If you find cards in the jobs you have done for clients that have these characteristics, this is a great time to reach out and talk about updating their look for the new year. 

Look at the Other Marketing Collateral

While branded business cards are the most common piece of business collateral, brochures, notebooks, stickers, labels, window clings, mugs, shirts, and hats are also part of brand visibility. Use the theme of a Spring Refresh to update your marketing products to attract more seasonal customer's. Businesses large and small benefit from a new look, even if it is a minor change. It gives them a reason to offer a new sticker, a new notebook, brochure, or other giveaway using the new color, design, or logo to their clients and prospects. 

Update your catalog or booklet's especially the photos. Take new pictures of your shop or store and some of the work you have been doing. Use it to open the discussions and share the possibilities of a brand refresh with new ideas with your clients.

Look at Branded Signs

Signs can be a secret weapon for businesses. Wayfinding signs, special sale and event signs, and in-shop signs help to tell the business story. Bright colors with easy-to-read text lift the brand and the message. Simple things like changing signs and altering designs regularly make them more visible and noticeable. Adding newly branded signs where they have not been used in the past is another excellent way to keep messaging fresh. 

Look at Branded Packaging

Packaging is one of the best-kept secrets on the road to growing profitability. Every client has a need for a box, a carton, a label, or a hang tag – they just don’t know it!  Promotional items are a great way to keep your company name out in the open, and offering box kits with different promo items is a home run. For restaurant clients, header cards or labels to seal to-go orders. Labels can be a great way to spread the word about new promotions, promote events, and expand branding options. 

Updating Spring Color Ideas 

For decades we have looked toward pastel colors as Spring approached, but today’s fashions often call for bolder, bright colors in a mix of calming and energetic colors. Businesses should keep up with the color trends by keeping an eye on the Pantone Color each season. Ask us to show you the wide selection of Pantone Colors. For Spring and Summer of 2023, they have core color classics and Fashion Week pallets that can help you attract the interest of that new generation of buyers. 

The Print Cafe team is here to help you with ideas for updating your print strategies, branding, and color schemes and those you recommend to clients and prospects. Stay in touch with them for new products to offer and talk tracts to upsell and cross-sell to increase your revenue stream. For More Information Call: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website and Check Out all our Marketing Products at:www.printcafeli.com

5 Key Factors for Planning a 

Profitable Direct Mail Piece

Direct mail can be a fantastic way to spread the word about your company and promote new interest!

Regardless of the size of your budget, there are many cost-effective ways that a company can create engaging direct mail. 

Here are five budget-friendly tips to craft effective direct mail for your company!

5 Key Factors for Planning a Profitable Direct Mail Piece

1. Use Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®)

Purchasing a mailing list can be pricey.

But using EDDM® makes it possible for companies to send their direct mail to one specific mail route or multiple routes without investing in a mailing list.

To save your company money, consider sending your direct mail out through EDDM® rather than a mailing list- it will be far more profitable regarding production costs and postage.

2. Go Bold With Colors

If your company’s printing supplier does their printing digitally, don’t shy away from using lots of colors! 

This won’t increase the cost of printing, but it WILL catch your customers’ attention and boost your reply rates! 85% of consumers share that color and visual appearance are the most critical factor when considering whether or not to buy a product, compared to text, which only has 6% influence. 

3. Try a 2-Way Match Concept

If you design multiple components for your direct mail piece, such as a letter, reply card, and envelope, it will be processed as a 3-way match during manufacturing.

Instead, consider a different concept: create a single component with multiple pieces. You could use a perforated line to create a tear-off reply section, which will then be processed as a 2-way match of the letter and its envelope. 

This will cut down the manufacturing cost of printing your direct mail.

4. Keep it Light 

Keeping your mail’s weight in mind will serve your company’s budget well!

If you were hoping to include a small premium or token for customers with the mail, you don’t have to rule it out completely. 

There are many options for flat items that you can include without raising the cost of postage or requiring unique packaging. Coupon cards and discount codes, decals or stickers, magnets, bookmarks, and other small goodies can provide that engagement for customers without adding extra weight to your mail. 

5. Choose Paper and Envelopes Wisely

Getting creative with your direct mail designs is a great idea and can showcase your company’s personality to potential customers.

However, don’t underestimate the importance of the basics! 

One way to keep paper costs down is using text paper, cover stock, and neutral-colored papers since these are typical types we have on hand. Using these will save you time and money!

When choosing envelopes, consider the same thing. Standard-sized envelopes with standard windows will likely be the most available and, therefore, the most cost-effective option. 

Whatever the size of your budget, we are here to make your next print marketing campaign successful. Contact us today to learn more! Call: 516-561-1468

 

7 Powerful Postcard Direct 

Mail Ideas We Love

Postcards are a practical, versatile medium to send in your direct mail campaign. According to the Data & Marketing Association, postcards get a response rate of up to 4.25%, one of the highest in direct mail marketing.

Take advantage of this marketing method with seven postcard direct mail ideas we love! 

1. Switch up the norm

Although standard postcards are 4.25” by 5.5”, usually in a horizontal position, not all postcards are designed this way. 

Try switching it up with a larger postcard format with dimensions of 5.5” by 8.5” or change the orientation by sending a vertical postcard. These designs that deviate from the norm will stand out from the crowd and make the recipient take a second look. 

2. Make bold designs

With bright colors and attention-grabbing images, your postcard will speak for itself. 

Be bold in your design choices. The design significantly influences how long a piece stays in a home. Of course, adhere to your branding guide so the final design still looks like your company and produces the image you want to share. 

3. Include a compelling Call to Action (CTA)

Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and brainstorm what message would compel you to act. 

Whatever you decide, ensure the action you’re requesting is easy and will yield high rewards. For example, fill out this short questionnaire to receive a $10 gift card. Or perhaps visit our website by following this QR code to receive 50% off your next purchase.

4. Provide testimonials 

Center your postcard design around a couple of happy customers and their testimonials. 

Testimonials are powerful because they can increase overall conversions by 34%. Perhaps this is because 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as recommendations from someone they know. Whatever the reason, providing testimonials boosts sales. 

Make sure to include short but impactful quotes. There’s not much room on a postcard, and you don’t want to oversaturate it. 

5. Send multiple postcards 

Sometimes marketers make the mistake of contacting a prospect once and then leaving it at that.

But clients often need multiple points of contact before the conversion. Therefore, make it part of your strategy to send several postcards to the same person over time. It’ll keep your business on their mind and give them the nudge they need to act. 

6. Personalize the postcard

The more personalized, the better. 

Some 84% of customers say being treated like a person instead of a number is very important to winning their business. Therefore, try to personalize your communications as much as possible. Identify all possible points of personalization and use what you know about the customer, such as demographics and past purchasing history.

Treat your customers as people, not numbers. 

7. Narrow your focus

Postcards don’t have a lot of surface area.

Therefore, narrow your focus on one key message to not overwhelm the client. Tie in this vital message with an attention-grabbing headline that is true to the intent of the postcard. 

We love postcards thanks to their unique benefits and versatility. Send the best postcard by following the above postcard ideas.

Contact us today to craft a compelling post card campaign that gets your customer's attention! Call:516-561-1468