MI4P Content – Your Blog Content (#981)
07 Feb 2020 Leave a Comment
this is a fun one, our blog, I told micheal that it has 15 years of stuff on it (or so not exactly)
and you can post it by doing email let me show you but here is the info,
PCF WordPress Blog <bexu198jemo>
Becky Raney, COO
Print & Copy Factory | Your Marketing Resource Center
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6 Ways to Speed Up Your Next Print Project
31 Jan 2020 1 Comment
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6 Ways to Speed Up Your Next Print Project
Do you have a print deadline that needs the fastest possible turn-around time?
If speed is of utmost importance, here are several ways you can improve efficiency as you take your project to print:
1. Plot Your Course and Communicate Early
Early planning and communication are vital when starting a print project.
When possible, get your printer’s input early regarding design, project checkpoints, and final editing. Setting a schedule with your printer regarding design, estimated turnaround, and print presets can directly impact the speed with which your project is finished.
As soon as you coordinate these details, you’ll establish a timely framework that both parties can stick to.
2. Ask Questions Upfront
When partnering with a design professional, be sure to clarify the contract at the get-go.
Will you be paying a project fee or an hourly rate? What services are included in this fee? Clarify how long the project will take, how often you’ll review the work, and how many revisions are allowed in this agreement.
3. Allow for More Margin on Larger Projects
Professional printers are very efficient, but big projects still take time.
Designing one piece can be quick, but re-branding or crafting large-scale exhibit pieces can take a significant amount of time, especially if there is confusion about the parameters or design presets for a particular project. One costly mistake can disrupt an entire campaign, so allow extra time for big projects, and both parties will have leeway to handle hiccups in the most efficient, cost-effective way.
4. Assemble All the Elements
Attend to the precise details of copy, timeline, and photography at the get-go, and be sure those in authority have given these elements the green light before the task proceeds.
Your project will involve many pieces, and when they are aligned from the start, it will allow your design dollars to be maximized with fewer delays. While you may not have precise details ironed out, clarifying project parameters is key to finishing on time and on budget!
5. Err on the Side of Simplicity
Creativity is cool, but if swiftness is your goal, you should keep designs simple.
Don’t go overboard. If you’re short on time, design something that is easy on the eyes and uses very basic graphics, fonts, and materials. If you have templates on hand (from previous projects), consider whether you can adapt or edit these for the fastest possible output.
If you are pressed for time, consider using an online design tool. Or your professional print specialist may be willing to combine a pre-ordered template with the custom design you want. This may be the simplest (and cheapest!) way for everyone to get a project across the finish line.
6. Avoid Alterations Once a Design Has Been Sent
Check your design before sending it to the printer.
Proof everything with multiple editors before it leaves your office. Every alteration or edit can cost you valuable time. Once the design has already been received by the printing company, there should be no need to make changes unless it is vital to do so.
Better Together
Want to save on time, labor, or unnecessary stress?
Whether you need high-level graphic design or full-service printing, our capable team is dedicated to providing you with prompt, knowledgeable, one-on-one service, and bringing you carefully printed materials you can be proud of.
We’re here to make things flow as smoothly as possible!
4 Small Adjustments that Bring 5-Star Customer Service
17 Jan 2020 Leave a Comment
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4 Small Adjustments that Bring 5-Star Customer Service
Did you know it only takes seven seconds to make a lasting impression on new people that you meet?
If this is true in personal relationships, how significant are the impressions your business makes with customers? Great entrepreneurs know that if you want long-lasting, loyal clients (who spend AND who voluntarily advertise your excellent service by word of mouth), then you must prioritize customer relationships and consistently offer superior service.
Going From Good to Great
What does five-star service look like from a patron’s perspective?
Here is a snapshot of where a business moves from average to above-average:
3 — Service is average, fair, "the usual" satisfactory, expected, etc.
4 — Customer is very satisfied. Service is average, above average, exceeded expectations, etc.
5 — The client is delighted and amazed. Service is extraordinary because employees "walk on water" for customers.
To elevate your customer experience, you have to be proactive, not reactive. Five-star customer service gives extra attention to the smallest of details and does this with an authentic care for each individual you serve.
Here are four areas of focus to grow a culture of excellent service in your team:
1. Be Visible
Whether you respond to clients through e-mail, phone, or live service, be accessible and prompt in every response.
Let clients know they can always reach out to you and where you can be reached if they need anything. Never break communication – whether clients are pleased, waiting, or upset, don’t leave any attempt to communicate unanswered. Acknowledge the feelings behind the communication, and – in difficult situations – offer creative customer reparations (refunds, replacements, bonus items, etc.) if possible.
2. Anticipate Unexpressed Needs
Five-star service providers seek to surprise and delight their clients.
Here employees deliver not only “at” the level expected, but above and beyond what is promised. When you check in with a client, what do you expect they MIGHT need (i.e., help to navigate your new software)? Can you have the solution ready before they ask (i.e., a tutorial video attached to your check-in e-mail)? Seek to bring solutions, even if the client is at fault, and your business will be more memorable and responsive.
Anticipating needs is a way you tangibly care for people, and when you do this, it touches emotions. One general manager with five-star hotel experience put it perfectly:
“It is the small, simple, special moments that we create through personal engagement with each guest that they will recall when they return home. To accomplish this type of sustainability, we carefully and methodically select our employees, and then continuously train. It’s not about the tactical as much as it is about speaking the language of the guest.”
3. Train Your Team to Employ Creative Problem-Solving Skills
Five-star service includes the ability to think outside the box and create unique solutions to problems.
Customer service is primarily about problem-solving, so train your team to embrace problems rather than dreading them, and you will shift the culture in your business. A great team member isn’t afraid to come up with creative solutions. Give them the authority to do this and see what happens!
Publicly commend employees who do, and you’ll reinforce this attitude for everyone.
4. Use the Feedback You Receive
Five-star teams are never satisfied with the status quo.
Teams that excel in service are ruthless about gathering feedback and doing something with it. Do you collect customer comments? If so, how do you review it and identify areas for improvement? Companies that make specific changes in response to feedback are strategic, dynamic, and are genuinely customer-focused.
Build “Every Day” Excellence
Excellent service is something that happens consistently, so challenge your team to create memorable experiences that are repeatable every day.
Be visible, creative, and proactive, and challenge everyone on your team to take ownership as they follow through on guest requests every time.
How Successful Entrepreneurs Overcome Self-Doubt Each Day
10 Jan 2020 Leave a Comment
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How Successful Entrepreneurs Overcome Self-Doubt Each Day
Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian fashion designer who has built her namesake company into one of the most recognizable in the world.
Furstenberg has been listed as the world’s 68th most powerful, received an honorary doctorate, and been president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America for years.
Confidence should come easily to someone like this, wouldn’t you think?
But Furstenberg does not see herself this simply. She believes she’s a constant work in progress and says successful people (like herself) probably feel like losers at least once a week.
Furstenberg said she feels self-doubt continually. What does that look like in her life?
“Oh, just, you know. You feel like a loser, you wake up and you doubt. So my trick is, I look in the mirror and say, “If you doubt your power, then you give power to your doubts.”
Squash Doubt to Bring Your Best Work to Life
Can you relate to Furstenberg?
You’re not alone. Even successful business owners grapple with self-doubt. Sometimes this can be a good thing, keeping you humble and helping you soberly evaluate limitations.
But for the most part, self-doubt is a form of sabotage that keeps you from fulfilling your potential. Successful people aren’t immune to uncertainty, but they refuse to let it derail their goals. Want to overcome doubt and achieve what you’ve set out to accomplish?
Here are several ways to combat that accusing voice:
1. Stop and Reset
When inner doubts creep in, deal with them immediately.
Don’t let paranoia spin out of control or imagine worst-case scenarios. Talk back to that doubtful voice with phrases like these:
“No. Stop. I’m not listening to this.”
“I know where this train of thought leads, and I’m not getting on!”
“I’ve been successful in the past, and I will be again.”
As Steven Pressfield says in Do The Work! Overcome Resistance And Get Out Of Your Own Way,
"The enemy is our chattering brain, which, if we give it so much as a nanosecond, will start producing excuses, alibis, transparent self-justifications, and a million reasons why we can’t/shouldn’t/won’t do what we know we need to do."
2. Deal with Anxiety Triggers
One way to squash doubt is to deal with it straight on.
What personal deficits or situations trigger your insecurity? If it’s a lack of skill, seek specific training. If it’s uncertainty about a decision, get counsel from other experts in your field. If it’s fear of the unknown, find coaches or mentors to walk you through this stage of uncertainty.
3. Avoid Comparisons
If you compare yourself to others, you will usually lose.
In today’s connected generation, usually your perspective of others is only the highlight reel, and certainly not the struggle or discipline it took to build success. Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to YOU. Look at how far you’ve come, the progress you’ve made toward current goals, or how you’ve overcome obstacles in spite of hardship.
4. Don’t Depend on Validation
While the input of others can be helpful, confident leaders trust their own instincts.
We all like a pat on the back, but in seeking continual validation, you erode vision and weaken faith in yourself. When tackling a big project, get input initially, then trust your gut and make decisions that feel right to you.
Move Forward With Confidence
Having confidence in yourself is the best way to sharpen your unique voice.
Say no to accusation, confront anxiety triggers, and avoid putting too much weight in others’ opinions. Overpower doubt so you can maximize your potential.
How Innovative Print Partnerships Save You Time and Money
07 Jan 2020 Leave a Comment
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How Innovative Print Partnerships Save You Time and Money
Almost every business needs paper products (like brochures, letterhead, and large-scale marketing) to build and strengthen their brand.
Between graphic design, production presets, and regular re-orders, keeping things organized can be a challenge. Consistently partnering with the same printer can make things much more efficient and convenient.
Creative, Collaborative Marketing
Since each company has its own unique needs, a professional printer can work with you on an individual basis to design and print materials that are just right for your business.
Beyond commercial printing, today’s print professionals can make a huge difference through graphic design services, brand building creative elements (like logo and packaging design options), or through securing “extra” promotional products (like magnets, notebooks, or water bottles). Innovative printers serve as true marketing partners, often costing less than you would pay to individually produce or order these items yourself.
Most businesses don’t have the capacity to produce and develop high-quality marketing on their own, so it is vital to consider a collaborative partnership with a print and design company. A professional printer can easily adapt your designs or logos to work for professional booklets and brochures, banners and flags, letterhead and business cards, presentation folders and flyers, and more.
And craftsmanship is paramount in printing, which ensures your projects receive meticulous attention to detail, seamless color matching, and superior finishes. Collaborative printers stand behind their products as they combine an experienced eye, a skillful touch, and unrivaled personal service.
Questions to Ask When Evaluating a Professional Print Partnership
To be successful with graphic print production you need a close working relationship with a quality provider. How do you find the right printer? Here are six questions to consider:
1. What Level of Competence and Quality is Needed?
Competence and quality are often the most important factors in weighing commercial print options.
Although it can be difficult to evaluate skill levels before you’ve worked with someone, there are several indicators to look for. Request to see samples of jobs done for other customers. Inquire about areas of specialization and if bundled pricing or services are included. Also, ask your printer what work steps they see as critical for obtaining good results. If you know in advance how they prefer to manage projects, it helps ensure good workflow and communication along the way.
2. Does This Printer Have a Large Personnel or Production Capacity?
How large is the printing staff? If you need substantial output in a short time, does the printer have the equipment or workforce to handle this?
3. How Will We Optimize Communication?
Is there a key contact person you will always correspond with? What is the preferred method of communication?
4. Does This Printer Offer Concrete Delivery Times or Guarantees?
How dependable is the printer and how quickly can projects be delivered? Is there a timeframe guarantee?
5. What is the Level of Environmental Consciousness?
Is your printer committed to eco-friendly standards or procedures? Some companies may have special requirements in regard to environmental impact issues, and this may influence the printing practices they are able to approve.
6. Are Proximity and Availability Important to Me?
How geographically close do you want your printer to be? If high-quality service and fast delivery times are important, proximity may be more of an issue.
A Wise Long-Term Investment
Your time is valuable, so making wise choices is of utmost importance. Taking time to enter a print partnership that maximizes your investment is well worth your consideration. Often, choosing the right printer means you are beginning a relationship that will last for years.
3 January, 2020 08:04
03 Jan 2020 Leave a Comment
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How Re-Purposed Malls Can Teach Entrepreneurs a Lesson
Have you been to a dying mall lately?
It can be pretty depressing. Empty storefronts litter the hallways like missing teeth in a hockey player’s mouth. Dim lighting seems to permeate each corner, and mall walkers bring more energy than any hint of retail activity. What was booming 30 years ago now feels like a bust.
With consumers shifting more of their shopping from physical to online spaces, young generations have a different perspective on what a buying experience should bring. This explains why some malls are dying, while others are thriving. What’s the difference?
In Maryland, one mall is renting space to a theater company while, in Michigan, one mall is now home to a cultural association that sponsors Chinese festivals. Some malls have transformed parts of their space to offer thriving art schools for walk-in shoppers. Others have created customer-centric experiences, like combining fashion consultants with on-site purchasing options.
Like most other sales venues, there is still a future for brick-and-mortar businesses. But this requires companies to sell strategically to young generations through methods that resonate.
What lessons can we learn from our friends in the mall?
Engaging, Experiential Shopping
There are numerous definitions of experiential purchasing.
Generally, this idea refers to stores where “extra” things happen in addition to selling, and where shoppers do more than just buying. As an entrepreneur, how can you offer people a chance to buy an experience or a memory rather than just an object or service? This may include massage chairs at the gym, in-store skills classes, or lifestyle opportunities (like art galleries in malls) that can be combined with a shopping experience.
Added Online Convenience
If you want people to visit your business, can you ease their journey by adding online convenience?
Like store pickups for pre-ordered groceries, merchants that simplify the purchasing experience will have more success. One business took orders for online samples then had three options ready and waiting when the customer came to preview them in the store.
Digital Campaigns with On-Site Flash Sales
One benefit of physical stores is strengthening emotional connections between consumers and brands.
While it is nice to order things online, sometimes swooping in to nab a deal brings a huge adrenaline rush (think Black Friday!). Can your business combine timely print or digital ads to promote 24-hour flash sales on the hottest items in your store? This creates the opportunity to lock in a client while potentially up-selling other products when people visit in person.
Lively, Professional Environments
People don’t just crave convenience; they crave connections.
When asked why people choose physical stores over online retailers, the number one response was a “need to see, touch, feel, and try out items.” How can you offer people better opportunities to interact directly with your products? When you do this, the physical shopping experience provides a tactile experience that simply can’t be matched online.
Your displays are a huge part of this. From oversized banners and full-panel window displays to music, lighting, and even scents, the environment you create must be better than ever. And with today’s print and digital technology, everything can be customized to immerse your clients in the most authentic brand experience possible!
The Definition of Success
While online shopping has re-written the rules of purchasing, buyers still crave experiences that can only be delivered in person. Remember, a successful space is one that people want to visit, so give people a reason to be there.
When they’re spending their time somewhere, they’re more likely to spend their money as well.
4 “No Fail” Strategies for Organizing Your Next Big Event
31 Dec 2019 Leave a Comment
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4 "No Fail" Strategies for Organizing Your Next Big Event
Do you have any “nightmare” trade show experiences?
Maybe you worry that an impending disaster is ahead. Everyone who manages a big event knows the feeling.
You know . . . the nagging sense that you’ve forgotten something crucial (but have no idea what).
Or . . . one of several million things is about to go wrong (but there is no way to prevent it).
4 "No-Fail" Strategies for Organizing Your Next Big Event
Large events can be stressful, but most large-scale events can be managed with confidence if you have a plan.
Here are four “no-fail” strategies for navigating your next conference, convention, or trade show.
1. Generate an Event Checklist
Early planning and great organization are the keys to a stress-free event.
Make a master list of marketing and print deadlines, reservation dates, and travel coordination details. Months in advance, nail down every date possible and organize your task list in chronological order. Then you can work from a checklist with physical guidelines that keep your team grounded.
2. Create Beautiful Displays
Your exhibits are often the fulcrum of your entire event.
Don’t skimp! Take the time (or get help) to arrange the backdrops, banners, and lighting so a fabulous display of your brand and personality takes center stage. Depending on your budget, you may have anything from a small pop-up booth to a grand multi-sensory exhibit.
Whatever the scale, your graphics need to be eye-catching, clean, and crisp to make your exhibit as open and welcoming as possible.
3. Empower the Right People
The staff at your exhibits are the face of your company and culture.
As your most visible brand ambassadors, their interaction with potential clients can make or break your big day. Have clearly defined roles for each team member and train them to be friendly, outgoing, and equipped to address diverse audiences.
Pro-tip: Be intentional about including a technically gifted team member to answer in-depth product questions or to handle unexpected display glitches.
4. Prepare Excellent Follow-Up Materials
In some cases, the amount of preparation required for a big event can cause you to overlook the most crucial marketing materials needed for good follow up.
Often the success of an event is not fleshed out for months afterward, so it is essential that you come ready with several printed materials. Your “Big Five” may include:
- Professionally Printed Business Cards – Include a hand-written note at the close of your conversations to add a personal touch.
- Sell Sheets and Rack Cards – Like a walking billboard for your business, these grab-and-go items can keep your prospects considering after the conversation has concluded.
- Eye-catching Notepads or Sticky Notes – Everyone loves a good freebie, and swag items increase the longevity of your name and your impression.
- Loyalty Coupons or Cards – Offer exclusive coupon codes or punch cards for your products or services.
- Best-Quality Brochures – Events typically offer an introduction to a longer conversation. Brochures are a pocket-friendly advertisement that offers vital product details, informative graphics, and a compelling call to action.
One Final Freebie
Think you’re ready?
If you still have that niggling sense of dread, here’s one last tip — pack duct tape. Beyond great team members, displays, and print materials, duct tape can fix about anything that could go wrong on the side.
5 Pro Tips for Spectacular Sell Sheets
30 Dec 2019 Leave a Comment
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5 Pro Tips for Spectacular Sell Sheets
Looking to showcase the benefits of your business or idea in a concise, compelling way?
Use sell sheets to connect and close the sale! Like one-page billboards, these grab-and-go promotions can educate prospects, motivate buyers, and offer a point of reference for further review.
What is a Sell Sheet?
Perhaps you’re new to the concept of sell sheets.
Sell sheets are simple. Like a miniature billboard, they showcase the benefits of your idea in a concise, persuasive way. Typically, these documents are just 1-2 pages, and contain all the information about a product or offer that your decision-maker needs. When you’re ready to multiply your message, sell sheets can be delivered by mail or in person.
5 Tips for Head-Turning Sell Sheets
Ready to get started with your sell sheet design? Here a few helpful guidelines.
1. Use High-Quality Photos
One of the most important features of your sell sheet is an image of the product, concept, or the people engaging with your company.
Typically, this “beauty shot” is the focal point of any sell sheet, so be sure your photos or graphics are top-notch.
2. Highlight the Big Benefit
What can your product or idea do for the customer?
Will it save them time? Eliminate fear or reduce spending? Maybe you just want to make them smile. Whatever your pitch, try to reduce it to one sentence and then again to 2-3 words (think, “Eat Fresh,” or “The Quicker Picker-Upper”). Your unique selling proposition should drive the theme of the sell sheet and also be a visual priority on the page.
3. Offer Testimonials or Video Links
To bring your big benefit to life, feature people who have tried your services and love them.
Use real names, cities, or customer photos, or link them to YouTube videos or website landing pages where people can see your product in action. Social proof is a highly effective sales strategy.
4. Include Pertinent Contact Information
Beyond a strong call to action, sell sheets should clarify how clients can get in touch.
Round out your sell sheet with a next step teaser (i.e., “call today for a free estimate”) and include your website, phone, e-mail, etc.
5. Avoid Information Overload
The goal of a sell sheet is to provide enough information to prompt a second look, but not so much detail that you overwhelm readers.
Organize information so that it is easy to read in a glance and to lead viewers to a clear next step.
Put Sell Sheets to Work for Your Business
Are sell sheets the right fit for you?
These simple tools can be used for trade shows, personal sales visits, mailers, and more. Use sell sheets to build awareness and sales for:
- Presentation folder inserts
- New product promotions
- One-time events
- Take-out menus or special-order items
- Seasonal sales
- Travel packages or subscription services
- VIP or customer-loyalty perks
- Salon, chiropractic, or health services
- Handyman, lawn care, cleaning, or consulting
Perfectly Custom
Whether you’d like an uncoated recycled look or a glossy ultra-thick stock, you can make your sell sheet stand out by going creatively custom.
Upload your own file, consult with our team, or rely on our start-to-finish professional design services to attract attention and put the facts in focus. Contact us today to talk about custom design options.
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label.
26 Dec 2019 Leave a Comment
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label.
On May 27, 2016, the FDA published final rules on the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to reflect new scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The new label will make it easier for consumers to make better-informed food choices. The new label is already appearing on packages even before it is required to be used. Manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual sales must switch to the new label by January 1, 2020; manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until January 1, 2021 to comply. The FDA plans to work cooperatively with manufacturers to meet the new Nutrition Facts label requirements. Manufacturers of most single-ingredient sugars such as honey and maple syrup and certain cranberry products have until July 1, 2021 to make the changes. Manufacturers of certain flavored dried cranberries have until July 1, 2020 to make the changes.
How to Make Performance Reviews More Effective and Enjoyable
26 Dec 2019 Leave a Comment
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How to Make Performance Reviews More Effective and Enjoyable
Performance reviews don’t have to be something to sweat about.
These conversations offer a valuable feedback loop for people to ask questions, identify needs, and drive professional growth.
Building Conversations that Count
Whether you’re conducting or participating in a review, here are a few strategies to make the most of your next review:
Share Facts and Document Goals
Before a review, make sure you are clear about what is expected.
Review job descriptions and jot down ways success has been achieved or where one person is being overloaded. Include measurable data (i.e., project output, sales goals achieved, etc.) that is understood by all participants. Link any examples (like improvement strategies or success stories) to the facts. Then, conclude by recording time-sensitive, measurable goals that are linked to the objectives discussed in the review.
Questions to Consider:
- What’s working?
- What’s not working?
- What has been your greatest accomplishment or challenge this year?
- Where do you feel there is room to improve?
- What’s something you don’t think I see but should know?
Regularly Document Progress
To avoid the “dread” factor, intentionally calendar regular check-ins that are communicated in person or through e-mail.
While many yearly goals end up at the bottom of the drawer, monthly or quarterly updates make space for effective dialogue and regular course corrections. This relieves pressure from the yearly review while keeping everyone on the same page.
Questions to Consider:
- In what areas are you delivering the best results?
- What are the biggest challenges you face in your current position?
- Where has your team been helping or hindering your work?
Build From Personal Strengths
While everyone has particular tasks to accomplish, each person has gifts that can positively impact the company in unique ways.
During reviews, ask this question: “What 20 percent of my contribution generates 80 percent of my impact at work?” Work together to clarify untapped potential and discuss how this could be optimized for greater results. If needed, seek extra support, resources, or alteration of current responsibilities.
Questions to Consider:
- Do you have everything needed to perform your job?
- What are the main drivers for success in your position?
- What skills do you have that could be used more effectively?
A Structure That Builds Success
Want to create a positive environment for good communication?
Structure your reviews around facts, goals, and strengths to make your company as productive as possible.
