Looks like Facebook has a print shop and they use print for their internal brand.

You’d think a firm with as many resources as Facebook wouldn’t need to rely on the passion of a renegade screenprinter to spread its internal messaging, but corporate cultures, especially those in the Silicon Valley, live and die on the passions of their people. For Barry, having an in-house print shop, fancy name or not, also had practical advantages. “It’s a lot more work, but being able to have an idea, design it, and then print it in a matter of hours is just amazing. You’re able to do things quicker and you have more control than if you had to send it out.”

Also, they are looking at different ways to tie print to Facebook.  You can even make Facebook business cards from your profile from Moo.

Some people are already sharing hard copies of their Facebook content in a very old-fashioned way. “We recently launched Timeline business cards,” he says. “With Timeline, you’re able to have a profile picture, your name, and other information. Through MOO Cards, you can now pull in your cover photo and stuff, and they will print a set of Facebook business cards for you. It doesn’t say Facebook on it or anything like that—it’s just your information, your content. To me, that’s a really interesting translation, taking this online content and giving it a physical form.”

1) Provide instructions near the QR Code

Yes, awareness of QR Codes has increased dramatically over the past few months. But there are still plenty of people out there that don’t know what they are or how to use them.To assist those folks, provide instructions near the QR Code on your printed materials. This could be done by simply including text (i.e. “Scan the QR Code with your smartphone”) or by incorporating an image that displays a smartphone pointing to the QR Code, or an image that depicts how the QR Code could point to a smartphone that is displaying a website.

2) Give people an incentive

As marketers first become familiar with QR Codes, they often rush too quickly to incorporate them. Thus, they’ll skip over fundamentals such as “Why would my audience want to scan this?”. Rather than just slapping a QR Code on your printed materials, develop a reason why you should have one. Will it make it easier for your audience to access a map or directions? Will it make easier for people to contact your company or to make a purchase? Include that reason somewhere on your printed materials to let people know what benefits they’ll receive by scanning the code.

3) Allow your designer to have input

In some cases, graphic designers have developed well-crafted print advertisements or direct mail pieces that they are very proud of. But at the last minute, someone may request that a QR Code is included. This may not only cause some grief for the designer (because they are being asked to make a last-minute change, one that does not necessarily fit it into their vision), but it could also negatively impact your audience. If a QR Code appears to have been carelessly slapped onto printed material, the chances of it being scanned may be reduced. Thus, try to allow your designers to offer creative input during the development process. They may be able to utilize the error-correction rate that is built into QR Codes, or to simply find a creative way to include it that will tempt your audience to scan it.

4) Educate your audience ahead of time

Yes, QR Codes exist primarily to make print interactive. But you can use other medias to increase awareness about them. Create blog posts on your website that talk about them. Produce a video that demonstrates how someone could successfully use their smartphone to scan them. Put on one your social media pages or in your email signature for a little while. Talk about them in your eNewsletter. By taking those steps, you may not only create curiosity, but you may increase the chances that your audience will know what to do with them when they see one in on your printed pieces.

5) Shorten the destination URL

This one is very important! Yes, QR Codes can hold a lot of data. But the more data that you have in a QR Code, the harder it may be for someone to scan it quickly. Make sure to use a service that shortens your URLs before generating the QR Code.

In this article, from InterlinkONE,  VP of Sales Karen DeWolfe shares three practical tips to help you succeed with your direct mail efforts. 

One of my favorite people in the print industry, Margie Dana, wrote a fantastic piece this week that was titled “How Direct Mail Packs a Punch in 7 Ways“.

For companies that run direct mail campaigns, the ability to effectively measure the highs and lows of those campaigns is vital to the success of their advertising as a whole. The following tips will have you well on your way toward making the most out of your company’s direct mail marketing:

1. Utilize a tracking software system that will measure the statistics of your campaign easily and efficiently:

Yes, there is no denying that it may cost less money to send emails than it does to send direct mail. However, if the act of sending direct mail to your audience could bring you better results, wouldn’t you want to do that? Of course! However, we must put forth the effort to prove that is true.This may primarily mean that we set up our campaigns and landing pages in a way so that direct mail responses are measured differently than responses to your emails, social media posts, or activities on another channel. Response mechanisms such as QR Codes and personalized URLs can help us measure direct mail effectiveness as well!

2. Select a focused audience versus conducting a blind mailing effort, thus increasing the potential for successful contacts:

The days of spray-and-pray must be a thing of the past. This is certainly true from a budgetary perspective. But it also should be true from the fact that technology makes it easier than ever to create targeted, personalized materials and by doing so, we can increase our response rates.By segmenting our audiences, we can deliver direct mail pieces that may have text, images, and offers that are relevant to each individual.

3. Ensure that your direct mail pieces are both informative and aesthetically pleasing:

We must never forget marketing fundamentals. Sure, it can be fun to get excited about new marketing channels (i.e. I’m so excited that I can add a PURL to my mailers!) However, we must not neglect putting forth an effort to ensure our direct mail pieces look good and tell a compelling story.

Frost is a digital spot varnish that is the first of it’s kind in Western North Carolina. Our new press will take your projects to the next level with all the coolness of a spot varnish combined with the speed and cost effectiveness you have come to expect from a digital press.

Where should marketers allot their budget dollars in 2012? Chief Marketer recently talked to several marketing professionals to get their opinions in several key areas of spending:

•    Jim Wheaton, cofounder/principal, Wheaton Group/B2BMarketing.com
•    Grant Johnson, president/CMO, Johnson Direct
•    Barry Kirk, solution vice president, consumer loyalty, Maritz Loyalty & Motivation
•    Michael Kahn, senior vice president, client services, Performics
•    Ian Wolfman, CMO, imc2
•    Jill LeMaire, senior director, Aspen Marketing Services, a division of Epsilon
•    Alex Campbell, co-founder and CEO, Vibes Media

DIRECT MAIL:

WHEATON: Many database marketing professionals think direct mail is an obsolete communication channel. But we have seen direct marketing companies that were significantly damaged—and in one case, destroyed—by a sudden and dramatic shift of dollars from print to electronic media. Often, we find that such unfortunate decisions are driven by a failure to properly measure campaign effectiveness in today’s complex world of overlapping promotional channels.

It is important to be channel-agnostic. Properly analyze the data, and let your findings help guide you to the best ways to invest your promotional dollars across the various channels. We have seen examples in which rigorous analysis indicated that the investment in print should not be shifted to e-commerce. With one company, the data showed that increased expenditures were warranted in both print and e-commerce. With another company, which began as in Internet pure-play, investment in e-commerce turned out to be close to ideal. However, the data indicated that significant incremental investment in print would be cost-effective.

JOHNSON: Mail continues to be the best way for marketers to identify and reach out to prospects. As mail volume is down, the chances of being noticed are even better. Mail will be used by smart marketers to build their customer base; it will also be used after a contact by a prospect was made. It works wonders in taking the engagement started by social media to a marriage by closing the sale, and the amount of personalization that can done based upon that data at hand is remarkable. It’s also more cost effective to uber-personalize than ever before, which makes mail a wise spend. Don’t forget to test mail on the back-end, especially for two-step programs where a prospect has requested additional information. You should also test a letter and other direct mail components in an initial order that has shipped. Test different messaging and offers here, as that’s a trend you will see more and more of in the coming months.

Read whole article:

Let’s face it – The economy is not down, it has changed! If you want to be successful in this economy the first thing you need to realize is just how incredibly changed it is. 

I don’t care what economists, experts and business gurus are saying or predicting, the truth is no matter what the economy does – whether it goes up or goes down – your customer has forever changed and that change impacts you and your business.

Economists, reporters and our politicians keep talking about the state of the economy and the lack of consumer confidence; as if they are promising once the economy bounces back so will the consumer. Well, in my opinion nothing could be further than the truth.  The biggest shift to have happened in the last three years has not been in the consumers wallets but rather in their minds.
When the economy started to struggle in late 2008 so did the consumer. Unlike other down swings  in the economy, this one was different. At first, consumers slowly waited for the economy to bounce back, when that first bounce took longer than expected the first change in the consumer mindset took hold. When that bounce was far less impressive than expected, consumers got more cautious, and the more uncertain things got with the economy the more consumers started taking matters into their own hands.

Realizing they could not control the economy, they focused on what they could control, their approach to managing and spending their money.  Consumers may have been impacted differently by this economy; some lost  jobs, experienced lower salaries or wages, some were not financially impacted at all;  but no matter their experience they all shared one thing in common; how they begun to think about and how they begun to spend money.

Research study after research study shows that young or old consumers and their spending habits have greatly changed.  This economy is uncertain, and the constant fluctuations have created a more cautious type of consumer. In addition, globalization, advancements in technology and increased competition have put the consumer in control of the buying cycle.

They are calling the shots; they can buy what they want, whenever  they want it, and from whomever they want it. This makes the products and services we as business owners offer mere commodities, but how we offer them our competitive edge. This is what I like to refer to as a Trust & Value Economy.
Consumers in this new, uncertain economy are willing to spend money, but trust and value are the true return on investment they are looking for and return on investment they want. The commodity is your product, the competitive advantage is the trust you build, the value you convey and the relationship you build. That is what is hard to find in this economy and that is what consumers are willing to pay for.

Gone are the days of overspending and abundance. Our society has changed and frugal is in. We’re still spending money but we’re choosy about where and with whom we will spend it. Given the opportunity, many consumers will opt for quality and value over quantity and price.

There is success to be found in the” Trust & Value Economy” for business owners, professionals, sales leaders and organizations that are passionate about service, passionate about their customers  and passionate about the product or service they offer. Stay tuned in 2012 as each month we reveal tips, strategies, techniques and idea for how to navigate these waters, and understand the shifts to give you just what you need to master success in “The Trust & Value Economy.”

“High energy, high impact and highly motivating,” that is Meridith Elliott Powell, founder and owner of MotionFirst. A certified coach, speaker, and business development expert, Meridith is known in the industry as a catalyst and someone who makes things happen!

Please Join us at Daniels Graphics for the next installment of “The Learning Project” where Jeff Pennypacker from 360 Business Inc. will take you through the process of how to “Develop an Inner Circle for Success.”

Would you perform at a higher level if you were training with an Olympic Team? Yes, you would naturally perform at a higher level just because of the people surrounding you. Its the same right here in your business, are you running with the average Joe’s or with the Business Olympians?

The people closest to you will be the deciding factor whether you rise to the level of your potential or fall to the depth of failure. Nobody wants failure but few people take the strategic approach to Developing an Inner Circle for Success. Relationships are powerful because they have emotional affects as well as educational opportunities. Are you surrounded with people you have hand picked to push your talents to their limits?

This workshop provides a road map that will help to evaluate your current inner circle and build a strategy to develop an inner circle to help you reach maximum success in your life and business. Walk away with a plan that you can implement now!

As always, The Learning Project is free, but the info is priceless!

Where: 131 Sweeten Creek Road

November 30,2011

8:30 – 10:00

RSVP via Facebook or email Tim Bryant at tbryan@danielsgraphics.com or call 277-8250

So I did and lo and behold about a year later I get a letter saying there’s a Class Action and they will refund those visors.

So I filled out my paperwork and a long enough time passes for me to pretty much forget about it, and I get a check in the mail from Honda.  So none of this leaves me unhappy in anyway of course, but it came in a plain envelope and nothing inside except the check.

Honda missed a great opportunity to make some hay with me instead of coldly delivering a court-ordered check.  They could have at the very least included a letter that explained what had happened, or a brief apology or anything would have been better than nothing.

It’s good to keep in mind that even though you have many mundane communications with your customers, it’s always a good idea to leave them feeling like they were communicated with in a way that they appreciate, rather than being a nuisance to your organization.

Please Join us at Daniels Graphics for the next installment of “The Learning Project” where Jeff Pennypacker from 360 Business Inc. will take you through the process of how to “Develop an Inner Circle for Success.”

Would you perform at a higher level if you were training with an Olympic Team? Yes, you would naturally perform at a higher level just because of the people surrounding you. Its the same right here in your business, are you running with the average Joe’s or with the Business Olympians?

The people closest to you will be the deciding factor whether you rise to the level of your potential or fall to the depth of failure. Nobody wants failure but few people take the strategic approach to Developing an Inner Circle for Success. Relationships are powerful because they have emotional affects as well as educational opportunities. Are you surrounded with people you have hand picked to push your talents to their limits?

This workshop provides a road map that will help to evaluate your current inner circle and build a strategy to develop an inner circle to help you reach maximum success in your life and business. Walk away with a plan that you can implement now!

As always, The Learning Project is free, but the info is priceless!

Where: 131 Sweeten Creek Road

November 30,2011

8:30 – 10:00

RSVP via Facebook or email Tim Bryant at tbryan@danielsgraphics.com or call 277-8250

Your printing projects are designed to boost your business and to give it a personal flavor that customers will remember. Most online services confine you to a template and a limited range of options to mix and match. A locally based printer can give you a customized experience and work with you to explore every option to design an effective and unique product to promote your business.

A local printing service means a more personal experience. When using an online service or a printer located somewhere else, it can be difficult to get the interaction you need to resolve your requests or questions. Phone trees waste time and email-only technical help leaves you wondering if you are getting through to the right person.

With an Asheville printing service, you know you have the attention of a real person if you should have a last-minute change or a problem with your order. There are no questions about whether your order went through or if you were billed correctly. There is no substitute for one-on-one interaction with someone who cares about your business.

Local business is a two way street. Asheville’s printers know that their business relies on your positive word of mouth. Online services rely on snaring as much business as the internet can provide. Local printing companies know that their quality of service determines how they are perceived by prospective customers.

Asheville has a great legacy of locally-owned businesses, a legacy that will likely define our future as well. Customers in Asheville take note of those businesses that use locally based services for their needs. And with good reason: keeping your dollars local is good for the community as a whole. It is a philosophy that is catching on all over the U.S., to the extent that internet search engines now have tools to help customers find businesses near them.

With our long history as an Asheville printing company, we help foster that local business legacy and provide easy and customer friendly service so you know you are getting the best print product you can.