Get Your Print Right! Have a Checklist

When we've done something often, it's easy to think, "I've got this," but familiarity can breed mistakes. Preparing your next print project is no different. While the details may change from job to job, much of the essential prep work does not. Using a checklist can be a vital tool for keeping things running smoothly.

Here are seven things every print checklist should contain:

1. Talk to us before getting started. Even if you've done this type of job before, it's always good to ask: "Is there anything special I should know?" You've heard the phrase, "The only dumb question is the one you didn't ask." It's true!

2. File Format Check. Ensure the file is in the correct format. In most cases, this will be a print-ready PDF.

3. Resolution Verification. Confirm that images are at the appropriate resolution (typically 300 dpi for print). Exceptions will be for extremely high-resolution artwork, such as high-end catalogs or coffee table books. The resolution will vary for wide format based on the display size and viewing distance. Talk to us about an appropriate resolution based on your application.

4. Color Mode Confirmation. No RGB images, please! Also, check that the color mode is set to CMYK for print jobs. Jobs submitted in RGB will go through an RGB-to-CMYK color conversion before going on press. It's best to design in CMYK in the first place so you have control over your colors, and there are no surprises.

5. Bleed and Margins. Unless the job is a bleed (in which the design goes to the very edge of the page), most jobs will have "trim" or margins set off by crop marks. The page is then trimmed down to the exact size after printing. Ensure the proper trim is set so you don't cut off important content.

6. Fonts. Ensure all fonts are embedded or converted to outlines to prevent font substitution issues.

7. Layer Management. Flatten layers if working with design software to avoid unintended edits or transparency issues.

This doesn't exhaust all the items on your checklist, but it should be a good start. Review our submission guidelines to make sure you've done your part. Then we can get busy doing ours!

Three Key Lessons for Effective Messaging

When it comes to selling something, messaging is crucial. It's not just about what you say but how you say it. Subtle adjustments can make a significant difference, whether it's the headline of a direct mail piece or the subject line of an email blast.

MECLABS, a research institute focused on understanding factors influencing human choice, helps companies refine their marketing campaigns through testing and experience. Three examples from their research demonstrate how minor tweaks led to substantial results.

1. Creating Urgency

Urgency isn't just about using phrases like "buy now before it's too late." MECLABS highlights that urgency can be conveyed in various ways. Consider a men's style retailer that wanted to gather email addresses for its newsletter. By changing its subject line from "Out-Dress the Other Guys" to "Don't Let the Other Guys Out-Dress You," the retailer created a sense of tension and fear of showing up second best. The result was a 17% increase in sign-ups.

2. Building Mystique

A blog teaching people to speak French experimented with a new headline. Instead of "Do you want to speak French fluently?" it used "Voulez-vous parler français?" This phrase is widely understood, even by those who don't speak French, adding an element of surprise and mystique. This change deepened interest in learning the language and increased the conversion rate from 2.6% to 3.1%.

3. Focusing on the Right Message

A private school aiming to boost enrollment initially believed parents prioritized college prep and career readiness. However, further research revealed that parents were more interested in developing personal qualities in their children, such as resilience, boldness, and creativity. The school revised its campaign slogan from "It's a girl's world" to "See yourself like never before," along with changes in the body copy. This adjustment led the school to complete enrollment for the first time in a decade.

These examples illustrate that subtle details in your messaging can have a significant impact. Conduct split tests with different wordings, images, and headlines in your direct mail and email campaigns to discover what works best. These small changes could yield significant results.

*Source: Case studies and metrics derived from the original article "6 Mini Marketing Case Studies of Effective Copywriting," published in Marketing Sherpa, a subsidiary of MECLABS.*

5 Tips for Budget-Conscious Marketers

Nowadays, everyone wants to stretch their marketing dollars, but we all want the best results, too. The good news is, you can do both! Here are five tips for budget-conscious marketers that will save you money and boost your results simultaneously!

1. Use targeted mailing lists.

Instead of mailing to your entire marketing list, select the segments most likely to respond to your offer. For example, you might mail only to people who purchased from you within the past three months or who live within a specific geographic area. By targeting, you save money by printing and mailing fewer pieces and get better results by more tightly focusing your message to your chosen audience.

2. Send an email first.

Send your first communication to people by email. If they respond to your email, great! Only send direct mail pieces to those who did not. (Note that we said "respond," which is different from simply opening an email. If they opened it but didn't convert, you should still send them the mail piece!)

3. Take advantage of postal discounts.

Did you know you can save 1% or more on postage by including certain design elements in your mail pieces? The U.S. Postal Service offers discounts for tactile, sensory, and interactive pieces, mobile shopping promotions, and Informed Delivery promotions. Talk to us about which promotions are available now and save on postage.

4. Clean up your mailing list.

Conducting essential maintenance on your mailing list can lower costs as you cull out outdated and invalid addresses. With a clean list, you print only what you need and avoid extra postage costs.

5. Consider different formats.

Just because you have always done a brochure for a particular promotion doesn't mean it's the only option. For example, experiment with a postcard instead of a brochure (or vice versa) and see whether you get better results. Testing is the key to effective design and messaging. A little creativity can go a long way!

In a world in which so many aspects of marketing can be uncertain, it's nice to have a little certainty. Each one of these ideas is proven to reduce costs and boost results at the same time. Let us help you give one of them a try.

Want Better Results? Include Direct Mail

Marketers intuitively understand what surveys have told us for years: Direct mail ROI rises dramatically when direct mail is part of an integrated, multichannel marketing strategy.

According to NAPCO Research, response rates from direct mail campaigns increase by 41% when used as part of an integrated marketing campaign compared to mailings not integrated with other channels. ROI rise nearly 63%.

Sound good? There's more. The research found that when direct mail is personalized and tightly integrated into the channel mix, it results in the following:

·       62% increase in mailers reporting "good" or "very good" response rates.

·       80% increase in those reporting "good" or "very good" ROI.

How many channels should you integrate? Research by Demand Metric looked to see what marketers were doing. Half of the respondents reported using between three and four channels. Just over half (56%) include direct mail. 

When channels were compared, direct mail was considered one of the most effective. Next to events, "integrated, branded, personalized direct mail" was cited as the "most effective channel, with 78% of respondents citing it as "effective" or "very effective." Non-branded, non-personalized direct mail was cited as "effective" or "very effective" by 61% of respondents.

Which direct mail formats were most commonly used?

·       Postcards — 53%

·       Letters — 52%

·       Dimensional mail — 42%

·       Oversized postcards — 29%

·       Oversized letters — 9%

Regardless of format, 52% of respondents reported that adding direct mail to their multichannel mix delivered "moderate to major" improvement to their overall campaign performance. That number jumps to 89% when direct mail is personalized and tightly integrated into the channel mix.

Direct mail's effectiveness does vary by market segment. While it is effective in the technical markets, for example, it is highly effective in reaching the financial and C-Suite markets.

Multichannel marketing campaigns are highly effective tools, but just as Popeye grew even stronger when he ate spinach, these campaigns grow stronger when you add direct mail. Try it and find out for yourself.

Is Your Mailing List Stale? (And What to Do About It)

Direct mail marketing remains a powerful tool in the marketer’s arsenal, boasting high engagement rates and a tangible connection with consumers. However, the effectiveness of direct mail campaigns largely depends on the quality of your mailing list. A stale or outdated list can lead to wasted resources, low response rates, and missed opportunities. Let’s look at how you can freshen up your direct mail list and keep it generating the best results for you.

 

1. Purchase a New List

One of the most straightforward ways to update your mailing list is to purchase a new one from a reputable provider. Many providers offer targeted lists based on demographics, geographic location, buying behavior, and other criteria. This allows you to reach a specific audience that is more likely to be interested in your products or services.

Use a reputable list provider that regularly updates its databases to ensure accuracy.

2. Add to an Existing List

Expanding your current list with new contacts can breathe new life into your direct mail campaigns. Here are three places you can start:

·       Run online and offline lead-generation campaigns to capture new contacts. This could include offering free resources, webinars, or exclusive discounts in exchange for contact information.

·       Collect contact information at events, trade shows, and industry conferences. Networking events are an excellent opportunity to connect with potential customers and expand your mailing list.

·       Encourage your existing customers to refer friends and family by offering incentives.

3. Conduct Your Surveys

Surveys are valuable for gathering fresh data and updating your mailing list. Here are three approaches you can use:

·       Regularly survey your customers to gather feedback and update their contact information. This helps you maintain accurate data and understand your customers’ changing needs and preferences.

·       Conduct market research surveys to identify new target segments and gather insights into consumer behavior.

·       Offer incentives such as discounts, freebies, or entry into prize drawings to encourage survey participation. Higher participation rates lead to more comprehensive data and a more robust mailing list.

Maintaining a fresh and updated direct mail marketing list is crucial for success. Investing time and resources in keeping your mailing list current will ultimately lead to higher engagement rates, better ROI, and more effective campaigns. Interested in what a new list, data append, or customer survey can do for you? Just ask!

What's in YOUR Recycled Paper?

The demand for recycled paper products continues to grow, but not all recycled paper is the same. For example, when you spec paper with 40% recycled content, it might be 30% post-consumer waste and 10% pre-consumer waste. What's the difference? Does it even matter?

Most people are familiar with recycled paper made from post-consumer waste. Examples include direct mail, newspapers, and paper packaging that we throw into the recycling bin. But what is pre-consumer waste? Pre-consumer waste is derived from paper scraps and trimmings discarded during manufacturing.

Defining Pre-consumer Waste

Say you are producing a brochure. During production, adjustments may need to be made to the press for color accuracy and alignment. This leads to test prints and setup waste. After printing, the job goes through finishing processes such as cutting, folding, and binding. Trimmings and offcuts, such as excess paper edges or misaligned folds, are also recycled.

All of this is pre-consumer waste, which occurs as part of the production process before the final printed brochure reaches the consumer. Pre-consumer paper waste is also produced in book and magazine publishing, packaging, and wide format.

One of the benefits of including pre-consumer waste as part of the recycled paper stream is that it does not get contaminated by other consumer waste (such as food or drink that gets spilled on paper products at someone's home). This makes it clean and highly efficient to recycle. However, not all manufacturers have efficient systems for pre-consumer waste, so the recycling rates tend to be lower.

Is One Better Than Another?

When spec'ing recycled paper, is one better than another? It's a matter of preference. Post-consumer waste is what most people see. This creates the widespread perception that post-consumer waste is "better" for a sustainability strategy.

The reality is, however, that both types of waste end up in the landfill if not recycled. So, both are equally valuable from a sustainability perspective. Furthermore, you have a more comprehensive array of recycled paper options by not focusing on post-consumer waste alone.

So, don't sweat it when considering the ratio of pre-consumer to post-consumer waste in your recycled paper! If you are spec'ing recycled paper, any mix of the two is a big "thumbs up" for the planet.

The Importance of Staying Top of Mind: Five Effective Strategies

In today's saturated market, consumers are bombarded with countless options, making it easy for your brand to get lost in the noise. However, implementing the right strategies ensures that your brand remains at the forefront of your customers' minds.

1. Promote Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

Your USP is what sets you apart from the competition. It's the unique benefit that your product or service offers, making it the best choice for your customers. Ensure your USP is communicated across all marketing channels, from your website to social media and advertising.

2. Create a Consistent Visual Identity

A consistent visual identity makes your brand easily recognizable and memorable. This includes your logo, color scheme, typography, and overall design style. To do this, ensure that you are following consistent brand guidelines. Use the same essential design elements in your communications, including brand colors, design themes, and brand images.

3. Be Consistently Visible

Regular visibility keeps your brand in front of your audience. Whether through postcards, email, or regular blog updates, staying visible helps maintain a connection with your customers. Create a content calendar to ensure a steady flow of content across all relevant channels.

4. Use Multiple Touchpoints

Engaging with customers through multiple touchpoints increases the chances of your brand being remembered. This includes emails, social media, direct mail, events, etc. Understand the different touchpoints in your customer's journeys and ensure you're present at each stage.

5. Get the Timing Right

Don't let your audience get sick of you. Reach out consistently, but don't get annoying. Use marketing automation tools to schedule communications based on customer behavior and preferences. Leverage seasonal trends and events to make timely and relevant offers.

In a marketplace filled with choices, staying top of mind is your "golden ticket" to maintaining customer loyalty and increasing engagement. By utilizing these simple strategies, you can stay top of mind and foster stronger relationships with your customers, ultimately leading to higher retention and response rates.