4 Must-Know Strategies for Hosting Virtual Events

4 Must-Know Strategies for Hosting Virtual Events

How you choose to promote an event can have a direct impact on how successful that event is.

For brands that have established a rhythm for online events, promotion efforts don’t need to be particularly intense. But if you’re new to hosting online events, it can be difficult to build engagement.

The Milken Institute, a financial think tank that thrives on bringing people and ideas together through large events, had to postpone their live flagship annual event, the Global Conference, which convenes more than 4,000 executives and thought leaders from around the world. In its place, the Institute has started hosting regular virtual summits, including smaller local webinar gatherings called “The COVID-19 Conference Call Series.”

Here’s what Milken’s new business development director Ira Rosen said about this change:

“People have gotten creative with what they can now do online, but people are discovering that hosting events online isn’t necessarily easier than in-person events. If you’ve never held a digital event before, there are a few things you have to consider.”

Here are a few starter steps:

 
1. Create an Attention-Grabbing Event Page

This is the place where everyone goes to learn about your event.

Use a simple tool like Cvent Flex to make it stand out, and entice people to sign up by including eye-catching graphics, professional pictures, and engaging clips of keynote speakers, workshop leaders, and performers. Keep people from wandering away from your page by embedding all relevant videos, pictures, and other media, so they don’t have to find it elsewhere.

Finally, include all of the essential details so your event page is a one-stop-shop for information and attendee actions. This includes: 

• Time and date(s) of the event
• An agenda 
• Speaker bios 
• Sponsor information
• Registration links
• Secure payment options  

2. Ask Partners or Sponsors to Spread the Word

When your sponsors and partners promote your virtual event, it markets your program exponentially—this benefits all stakeholders.

Put yourself out there by directly asking others to promote your virtual event. Provide the affiliate link, printed publicity, and any hashtags or online videos that might make it easier to build momentum.

3. Keep Participants Engaged

Being confined behind a screen can make it harder for speakers to engage with the audience during the event, but there are ways to encourage interaction.

Research shows that 47% of people are more likely to ask a question at a virtual event, and 37% are more likely to speak to a person in a virtual booth than a real one. View virtual events as an opportunity to engage with your audience rather than an obstacle. Take time to conduct a poll, ask questions, or play a video in the middle of your presentation.”

Other ways to engage viewers include trivia segments, participant voting options for upcoming segments, or even “virtual booths” (like breakout rooms) participants can visit after the event’s conclusion.

4. Build Content that Promotes Your Event

No matter what kind of event you promote, planning it in a vacuum is never a good idea.

If regular content production is part of your marketing mix, these efforts should overlap with the event you’re promoting. From a weekly podcast or newsletter to printed inserts or your website, any platform you control can be used to build interest. 

Need an extra publicity boost? Contact us today to spread the word through print!

www.printcafeli.com or Call 516-561-1468

Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better.

How Fantastic Managers Bring Out the Best in Each Person

Have you ever had a “bad” boss?

If you’ve ever led a team, you’ve probably encountered a life-sucking person, problem, or habit that’s restricting your potential. But a challenging situation doesn’t guarantee a poor outcome, especially if there’s a good manager in the mix!

Managers have the power to make or break their organization. Strong managers can lead teams, help them grow, and bring out the best in each person. These leaders don’t just produce great work; they inspire it. Why is that?

While effective managers are goal-oriented, they also have an innate ability to bring out the best in people.  And while these people come in many flavors, there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about each person and then capitalize on it.

Marcus Buckingham, head of people and performance research at the ADP Research Institute, characterized it this way:

“Great managers know and value the unique abilities and even the eccentricities of their employees, and they learn how best to integrate them into a coordinated plan of attack. This is the exact opposite of what great leaders do. Great leaders discover what is universal and capitalize on it. Their job is to rally people toward a better future. Leaders can succeed in this only when they can cut through differences of race, sex, age, nationality, and personality and, using stories and celebrating heroes, tap into those very few needs we all share. The job of a manager, meanwhile, is to turn one person’s particular talent into performance. Managers will succeed only when they can identify and deploy the differences among people, challenging each employee to excel in his or her own way.”

Positioning People for Success

When you want to bring out the best in your team, here are some specific steps to consider:

1. Ask the Right Questions

To assess your team’s strengths and skills, try using questions like these:

• What do you like best about your work?
• What skills do you have that are being underused?
• What was the best day you had at work in the last three months? Why?
• What was the worst day you had at work in the last three months? What drains you?

2. Find Optimal Triggers

Everyone works for a purpose.

Some work for money. Some for the personal challenge. And still others for relational equity they build through personal and professional friendships.

Managers can bring out the best in people by finding unique ways to motivate people. One company that does this exceptionally well is HBSC, a London-based bank. Each year it presents its top individual consumer-lending performers with “Dream Awards.” Each winner receives a unique prize, precisely tailored to something especially motivational to each employee (though capped at $10,000 and redeemable in prize form only). At the end of the year, HBSC hosts a Dream Awards gala and shows a video about the winning employee and why this person selected a particular prize. From college tuition funds to dream vacation airline tickets, the celebration of individual dreams is a win for the entire company.

Beyond individual awards, other performance triggers may include financial incentives, ownership shares, public recognition, increased autonomy over key projects, workday perks, or even quality time with key leaders.

When you tailor perks to your team’s unique strengths, they will feel more motivated to give their best effort.

3. Invest in Training Opportunities

People are more likely to excel when they feel valued.

One simple way to invest in people is through training. Did you know an astonishing 87% of Millennials say that career development opportunities are very important to them? When you want to motivate and shape your people, look beyond daily tasks, and encourage people to grow their skills. And as you’re evaluating training opportunities, look for those that fit each person’s unique learning style, like analyzing, watching, or doing.

Great managers look to build and mobilize people. By investing in individual people, you will work with them, not above them. And that’s a win for everybody!

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6 Ways to Add Bleed (and How to Choose the Best One)

Missing bleed is one of the most common problems on print files. Bleed is the extension of the artwork on each side to allow for cutter variance, so it’s an essential part of a good print file. Bleed requirements differ among printers but a commonly minimum is 0.125” on each side.

Many of your clients may not know how to add bleed, leaving the task in your hands. There are several different ways to add bleed. Naturally, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

We’ll cover them in this article so that you can easily choose the best way to add bleed to your clients’ files.

Adding Bleeding to Your Print Files

1. Release or Remove Masks

Sometimes the bleed is just hidden by a mask that’s set around the edge of the trim area. When you release or remove the mask, it appears, so you’re therefore not truly adding bleed; you’re just unmasking it.

Pros

• It won’t distort the artwork or change image resolution.
• The client may have provided the bleed that they wanted underneath.
• It can be quick and easy if the file is built simply.

Cons

• There may not be any bleed hidden after all.
• You risk unmasking other elements that were intentionally hidden.
• Time consuming if the file is complex with multiple masks.

2. Increase Artwork Size

Another way to add bleed is to increase the size of the entire artwork, or part of it (e.g. the background). This method is most suitable when there are no important elements close to the trim edge.

Pros

• When enlarging the entire artwork, the ratio won’t get distorted.
• It’s a fast and easy fix.
• Most clients won’t be able to tell if their artwork was increased by 1-2%.

Cons

• Elements close to the edge may get cut off (e.g. thin borders).
• Enlarging raster images will slightly affect their resolution.
• The client may be able to tell that their artwork was enlarged.

3. Decrease Artwork Size

Similarly, you can shrink the artwork. This leaves a white border. You’re not actually adding bleed, just eliminating the need for one. Alternatively, you may choose to add a color to this border and add bleed to that.

Pros

• It’s a fast and easy fix.
• It actually slightly improves the resolution.
• None of the artwork will get cut off.

Cons

• There is a very obvious change in the artwork, which may not be wanted.
• You risk having uneven borders due to both resizing and cutter movement.
• Small type may become harder to read.

4. Stretch Elements

This technique is most suitable when objects that are missing bleed are rectangular vector elements with no curves, as you can easily stretch them out without distortion or pulling parts too close to the edge.

Pros

• It will only impact the element that is getting stretched.
• It can be quick and easy on certain types of artwork.
• Most clients won’t be able to tell if you stretch an unimportant part of the artwork.

Cons

• Distortion will occur on non-rectangular vector elements and raster images.
• Parts of the stretched element may get cut off if they’re close to the trim edge.
• You may also have to delete masks.

5. Add Objects

Adding shapes to the bleed area works best when the artwork at the trim edge is a solid color. It’s still possible if it isn’t, but takes much more time. Ideally, you are purely adding bleed and not touching anything else.

Pros

• You are not changing any artwork within the trim area.
• It can be done using even simple image editing software.
• If done well on the right type of artwork, clients won’t be able to tell the difference.

Cons

• The added bleed may not perfectly match the edge of the original artwork.
• It can be time consuming.
• The difficulty level can be high depending on the artwork.

6. Flip the Artwork

Flipping the artwork at the trim edge to create a reflected mirror image for the bleed is a function available in some programs and plugins. This produces a symmetrical image with the line of symmetry at the trim. There is no hard rule for what works best here, so you may have to test it out to see whether the result visually “makes sense.”

Pros

• With the right plugin/program tool it can be fast and easy.
• It won’t distort or change the artwork within the trim area.
• It matches the same colors and shapes in the artwork.

Cons

• It requires a higher level image editing software/plugin.
• The results may appear nonsensical and not what the client intended.
• It won’t work if there’s a thin border or if the artwork doesn’t fully touch the trim edge.

Conclusion: Using Good Judgement

A good bleed makes a big difference, but not all bleed is good bleed. The methods that we shared here produce different results depending on the nature of the artwork, so always exercise your own good judgement in addition to the tips we’ve provided. Sometimes you may even choose not to add bleed.

For More Information on this Topic or any other Technical Questions Go to:https://www.printcafeli.com/help/index.html

Five Things Every Graphic Designer Should Be Doing to Promote Themselves

Five Things Every Graphic Designer Should Be Doing to Promote Themselves      

1. Create a Brand for Yourself

Before you do anything else, you need to brand yourself. This includes identifying your style, specifying the types of designer you are (e.g. print designer, web designer, etc.), creating a logo and more. Think about what makes your designs special, and why you design at all. Then translate that into your branding, whether it’s in your slogan, design portfolio,business cards, or anything else.

An established brand helps potential clients (and current clients) identify your business and understand why they should choose your services. Perhaps they identify with your values or find your style a perfect match for their business.

2. Create a Website

This is your “real estate” where you can get creative. We recommend creating your website on a platform that gives you traffic insights (e.g. WordPress). Your website is where you can take your branding to its highest level. Tell your story, show your designs, and make contacting you easy. Ensure that it is user-friendly and that it includes a quote form.

3. Promote on Social Media

Social media is also a great place to showcase your brand and drive traffic to your website. Many designers already use it, but make sure that you’re one step ahead by maximizing social media’s potential. First, separate your personal account from your business account to keep it professional. Many social media platforms also allow special features for business accounts, so be sure to take advantage of them.

Second, join groups—not just groups for designers but also groups related to potential clients and business partners. For example, if you specialize in designing for print, considering joining a print-related group. Not only will you get valuable information that could help your designing process, but these groups could also hook you up with some good deals in the future.

4. Network at Social Events

Networking online is important, but so is networking in person at social events. These include not just traditional networking events but also job fairs, trade shows, conventions, and more. Attending in person helps build trust between you and your potential customers or business partners.

Networking events are especially important for graphic designers because your clients will often be people who are a little less tech savvy. That’s why they need your help. So instead of interacting with you on social media, they may feel a lot more comfortable talking to you face to face.

Tip: If you design for print, social networking events are a great opportunity for handing out printed samples of your designs.

5. Start a Blog

When you create a blog packed with informative content, appealing designs and unique branding, you demonstrate that you’re a knowledgeable professional who is consistently producing high quality designs. Don’t forget to use SEO to increase your online presence, so that those searching online can find you.

Having a blog also gives you more things to post on social media. Link back to your blog when you repost the content on social media. And finally, interact with other design blogs to expand your professional network. 

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Promoting your graphic design business is a step that every freelancer needs to take, from branding yourself to updating your blog frequently. Make sure your promotional strategy includes at least these 5 tactics so that you can expand your client base and grow your business.

FOW #532: Roll Mailer with Integrated Response Card and Envelope

Getting Your Design Work in Front of the Right People

Getting Your Design Work in Front of the Right People

Share Your Expertise

Whether you’re targeting individual businesses or agencies that will provide steady work, it’s important to show that you are an expert in your field. Here are a couple of easy ways to get the word out:

Blogging

The simplest way to show that you’ve got the goods is through your blog. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert writer in order to share what you know. Just writing short, simple posts about topics your target audience cares about will do the trick. If you’re targeting small business, then write about the things you can do to help make their website a success. If you’re looking for a long-term relationship with an agency, focus on the technical and design aspects of your work.
Of course, you’ll want to share your writing through social media channels. If your site was built on WordPress, you can even automate the process of sharing your new posts. Your content doesn’t necessarily have to go viral in order to be of great help. The random person who finds your site may be the one who really needs to hear what you have to say.

Meetups

While web design is a global industry, you’ll often find great opportunities right in your own backyard. A local meetup is a great place to meet people who share an interest in web design or related topics. But it’s not just professionals who attend these events. From my own experience, I’ve met several business owners who want to learn about how things work or what makes for a great site.
These events are usually pretty informal and are really about getting together to share knowledge. Once you’ve been to a few meetings, you might consider volunteering to make a presentation yourself. Again, it’s a low-pressure atmosphere. Just be yourself and share what you know.

Build Your Reputation

This one has absolutely no shortcuts. But it is perhaps the best way to get your name out there. A great reputation will get you everywhere in this business.
The key to building one is really about doing great work and providing clients with a great overall experience. Beyond building beautiful, functional websites, it’s often the little details that make a big difference.
Really, it’s all about the basics of customer service. Responding to requests in a timely manner, for example, affirms that you care about the needs of your clients. Even a simple reply stating that you’ll get back to them shortly projects a positive image.
Being honest and realistic about pricing and deadlines are also traits that clients value. Nobody wants to be told that their project costs much more than the original estimate, nor do they want to wait for days/weeks/months past a promised deadline.
There have been talented designers who have failed because they weren’t responsive to their clients’ needs. Don’t be one of them. Clients who value you and your work will gladly tell others about how great you are. This is how you build your reputation, one project at a time. It’s a process that may take some time, but can really pay off in the long run.

 

 

Show Them Who You Are  

Here’s a little secret: The “right person” is the one looking at your portfolio, reading your tweets or latest blog post at this very moment. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll become a top client – they may never become a client at all. But they’re the right person in that moment because they’re looking at what you have to offer.
Your goal is to let them know who you are and how you can help them. Accomplish that and you will find the success you’re after.
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      Why Promotional Products Are

     Crucial For Any Business

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Low-Cost Effective Marketing

Many small enterprises can only dream of an overwhelming advertising campaign of a large scale, spreading all over the divergent media. But they can still achieve their marketing goals with low-cost promotional products campaign. There are many low cost promotional items for startups.

Most of the manufacturers of promotional products keep the prices very low for mass distribution. Prices of the gift items are low but the impact is high on the recipients.

According to Sageworld.com, Personalized Coffee Mugs, in particular, are effective advertising as 57% of people were able to recall the advertiser on a mug. The products thus deliver a great value for your investment. You will win your customers with a simple giveaway.

Instant Brand Recognition

Brand recognition implies that the consumers can identify your company and its products or services immediately when they spot your logo. For example, people can immediately recognize McDonald’s fast food business on seeing its yellow arch logo.

Your gift of promotional items to the customers helps them in remembering and recognizing your business. This is one of the key reasons to distribute promotional items. An article published in technomarketinginc.com states that 89% of consumers can recall the advertiser of a promotional product they’d received in the last two years. The gift remains in their homes and offices or cars etc. for a long time, reminding them of your business and company. In fact, consumers hang on to promotional products for an average of 6.6 months. Next time, when they see your logo they instantly remember the gift and your business. The customers will remember your business even more if you gift them a branded item. They will reward your business by recognizing your products when they go shopping.

Greater Exposure Of Your Business

An advertisement on TV, announcement on promotional sites such as Joy of Android or billboard passes through your eyes immediately in a few seconds. But, gift items are in use for most of the time and are in front of eyes. For example, the consumers will wear your gift of a trendy t-shirt design for many days. Or, they will sip from your tea or coffee mug more often. Such freebies are an excellent way for increasing your business exposure on daily basis. According to Ppai.org, 76.1% of participants could recall the name of the advertiser on the promotional product that they received in the past 12 months. In comparison, only 53.5% of participants could recall the name of an advertiser they had seen in a magazine or newspaper in the previous week. Businesses also take the help of marketing service providers like WebtrendSites to promote products or services online. 

Works As Your Business Card

Business cards introduce your company and its products to the consumers. Your promotional products also function more or less in the same way but with better results. When distributing your gift items related to your business and industry, you are actually introducing your business to the potential consumers. According to Marketingsherpa.com, 71.6% of attendees who received a promotional product remembered the name of the company that gave them the product.

Remember the promotional giveaways also have your contact information just as business cards have. The gift items have your company logo, images and a slogan depicting your business message. The tangible branded product thus works as a useful business card that the consumers can use daily.

Promotional products also work as part of your social media campaign. You can use promotional products as part of your social media campaign. For example, you should print your QR codes on a promotional bottle. You can also put your hashtags on t shirts and other promotional items.

Customer Loyalty

Your customers’ should be purchasing your company’s products frequently when needed. Marketers spend more additional resources to build a solid base of loyal customers. They use promotional products to drive customer loyalty in a short period.

However, make sure that your promotional merchandise is of high-quality standards and preferably branded. People will associate premium quality of the gift items with your quality of business. This will help a lot in keeping the first time buyers of your products forever. An article published in Risinghillmarketing.com reveals customers who received a promotional product scored 52% higher than a letter only. 

For A Wide Selection of Promotional Products Go To: https://printcafe.dcpromosite.com/