Inkwell Printing Company

Advice from the Printer

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Printing For Nonprofits

If your nonprofit is trying to grow engagement or build your brand, these print materials can help you do just that. Consider adding these items to your marketing plan this year.

nonprofit

 

Postcards

Postcards are an excellent way to stay in front of potential supporters. They can be used as a personal thank you for a donation or to encourage contact.  A well-designed postcard is a nonintrusive way of reminding your supporters to think about you.  Remember when it comes to most people, out of sight out of mind.

Brochures

Every nonprofit needs a strong brochure to explain exactly what services they provide.  The brochure should also explain your company’s mission and a little about why it exists.  These brochures make great handouts when you do not have time to give the full story of your nonprofit.

Invitations/Event Tickets

As a nonprofit you probably have many events throughout the year. Events like trivia nights, galas, and golf tournaments can be great fundraisers.  A personal invitation can increase attendance and participation in events.  Then once they have RSVP’d you can get them a ticket or raffle tickets to raise money during the event itself.

Envelopes/Letterhead

Custom envelopes and letterhead can be very important when it comes to building your brand.  You want your logo to stand out and have meaning when it is seen in public.  You must build this strong brand by having professional stationery for any contact with supporters.

Annual Appeal

Annual appeal season can be a stressful time of the year for nonprofits.  But if you work with a printing company that has experience in this area they can design you a highly successful direct mail piece.

 

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Business Stationery Every Company Needs

Whether you are just starting out or are a long-established company.  This list of stationery is important to help you succeed.

Business Stationery

 

Business Cards

Business cards are an obvious but important need for companies. A well designed business card is a crucial piece of stationery to keep in contact with potential customers.  A business owner should always have a few business cards on them where ever they go.

Custom Envelopes

Custom envelopes with a company logo on them are an excellent way to give off a serious and professional image.  If you mail to your customers often you should consider a custom envelope to increase recognizability among prospects.

Notepads/Letterhead

Another important piece of stationery to have around your office is branded notepads and letterhead.  Whether it is simply for writing down interoffice memos or for sending important messages to customers, branded notepads and letterhead are great for building your brand.  Also branded notepads make for great handouts to prospects.  Everyone keeps notepads on their desk and it is great to have your logo in front of them every single day at work.

Brochures

The final piece of stationery every company should have on hand is a well-designed brochure.  A brochure that explains who your company is as well as gives a list of services is crucial to a business.  This brochure can be handed out at conferences or networking events to quickly give a potential customer more information about your business.

 

Hopefully this list of important business stationery can help you on your way to growing your business. For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Designing A Business Card: What Goes On The Back?

 

When designing a business card there are many questions to consider.  But one that often gets overlooked is what to put on the back of the card.  The front is full of important information like company name and your contact info, but what is the back for? There are a few different routes you can take here.

Business Card

Blank

The first and easiest choice is simply to leave the back of the card blank.  If you are an active networker this could be a great choice for you.  It leaves and empty space for you to take small notes when meeting someone.  You will never be without a place to write down a reminder.  But this is not for everyone.

Services

The next option to consider is a list of services.  This can be a great way to give a potential customer a small glimpse of what it is your company specializes in.  Make sure not to flood the back of the card with too much information.  As this will lead to it being completely ignored.  People don’t want to read the fine print on the back of a card.  Keep it to a few services that you feel are important for someone to know.

Promotion

Another route you can take is to put a promotion or coupon on the back of your business card.  This is the strongest way to ensure that someone holds on to the card.  If your company has a retail level, then this is an excellent option for you.

Graphic

The final option to consider is to use an eye-catching graphic.  This is an excellent idea for photographers or graphic designers.  Put a graphic that makes people stop and look at it.  Or a graphic that showcases your work as a photographer.  This is a great personal touch for a business card.

 

Hopefully these tips can help you in your business card designing process. For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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4 Ways To Use Postcards In Marketing

Postcards are an inexpensive and effective way to market your business.  While there are many different ways that postcards can be used, these are just a few ideas to get you started on implementing postcards into your marketing plan.

Postcards

  1. General Info

The first and probably most obvious way to use postcards, is to use them for general info.  Postcards are very inexpensive to mail and can be sent to a large number of prospects.  Do not overload your postcard with too much information as this will deter people from reading.  Use a nice eye-catching graphic to draw a potential customers attention.  Then include a small amount of information about your company or a particular product.  This is a great form of soft selling.

  1. Coupon

Another effective usage of a postcard is for coupons.  Mail these out to past customers to increase the odds of them revisiting your store.  Include a call to action on the coupon with an incentive to use it quickly, or else many will simply be forgotten.

  1. Announcements

Postcards are a great way to make announcements as well.  They are small, eye-catching, and perfect for passing on small amounts of information.  If your company has a grand opening or an anniversary event coming up, a postcard is a great way to get the word out.  Design the postcard to look like an invitation to get people to come check out your event.

  1. Handouts

Another less obvious way to use postcards are as handouts.  Postcards do not have to be used as mailing pieces exclusively.  They are perfect for tradeshows and other marketing events where you would like to give someone more information.  Postcards can fit more information then a business card while still being small and easy to carry.

 

Hopefully you will find these tips useful and can find a way to implement postcards into your marketing plan.  For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Business Card Design Checklist

Whether you are starting a new business or going through a company rebranding, designing a business card is a very important step.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are deciding what direction to go with your cards.

Business Card

Logo/Graphics

First and foremost, make sure you have access to a high res version of your logo and any graphics you want on the card.  You will need a high res version to ensure that your card can be produced at a high quality regardless of size and shape.

Size/Shape

Next, consider the different options in size and shape of cards. The standard size is 2” by 3.5”. Consider your industry and if the standard size is what you would like.  Sometimes designing an eye catching and unusual shaped card is very effective.  But for more professional industries, like finance and law, a more standard card is appropriate.

Cardstock

Now that you have selected the shape you want your business card to be, consider the weight of paper you would like.  A thicker paper adds a very nice and professional feel to a card.  There are also many other options of materials like plastics that can help a card stand out from the competition.

Info

Finally, it is time to decide the information that you want on your business card.  Do not overload the card with too much information.  This is distracting and will often cause the entire card to be overlooked.  Keep the information down to the essentials and encourage interaction with your card.  Encourage a potential customer to enquire more about your company.

 

Hopefully these quick tips will help you when designing a business card.  It may seem like a daunting task at first but with a little help from a professional designer it is a painless step in the process of growing your business.

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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How To: Pick A Printing Company

The printing industry is full of many different companies.  From local mom and pop shops to national internet-based companies, the market has many different options to consider when picking your printing company to work with.  So how can you decide which one is best for you?  Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are selecting your printing company.

Printing Company

Consider your project

Most all printing companies can handle the same types of projects. However, some projects fit some companies better than others.  This can drastically change the price depending on the machinery a printing company has.  Consider if your project includes mailing, is this printing company a certified mailing house or will it have to outsource the work? Think about quantities. Depending on the size of the presses and if they are digital or offset presses some companies can handle larger runs while others specialize in short runs.

Customer Service

Spend some time talking with the potential printing company. How is their customer service? Ask how they handle problems that could arise throughout the project. Some companies are less expensive, but you can only communicate with them through email. Is that a big problem for you or are you willing to work with that? Good customer service in a printing company is a sign that they care about your project. They will go above and beyond to make sure that your project meets your standards

Location

Location is very important if you are on a tight deadline.  If you continually need projects printed with a very short turnaround then you will need to look for some place local.  Delivery from a national company can take 3 to 5 days after the project is completed.  Keep this in mind when you are placing your order.  Also, if your project is a high-quality piece you may want to see a sample proof.  A local company can prepare one for you very quickly.

Visit The Facility

If possible, you should take a tour of the company.  This will serve multiple purposes.  First it will confirm that you are working directly with the company and not through a broker.  Second you can tell a lot about how seriously a printing company takes itself by the working conditions.  Finally, it will give you an even better look at the company’s customer service.

History

Lastly, look in to the history of the company.  Has it been around for an extended period?  Check customer reviews.  Even ask the company for referrals.  This will give you a good idea of the quality of work produced by this printing company.

 

 

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Direct Mail Myths

Direct Mail

Myth 1: Low Response Rate

Studies show that direct mail has a 4.4% response rate.  Which is significantly higher than the .12% average response rate of email marketing campaigns.

Myth 2: Direct Mail Can’t Be Personal

With the introduction of variable data printing you direct mail piece can be extremely personalized.  It no longer costs a lot to add a personal greeting to a mail piece.  You can even personalize a mail piece based off a customer’s buying history.  For example, you can include information on a sale item that a particular customer frequently purchases.

Myth 3: Direct Mail Is Expensive

In the past when all printing was run on offset presses a direct mail piece could become very expensive unless you were willing to buy thousands of pieces.  Now with the industry turning increasingly towards digital equipment you can run much smaller quantities for a much smaller price.  Direct mail is going to cost more than email marketing, but studies show that the average ROI on a mailing campaign is significantly higher than for an email campaign.  The cost may be more upfront, but the payoff will be better with the higher response rates.

Myth 4: Direct Mail Is Complicated

When people think about running a mailing campaign they think it sounds overly complicated.  This is simply not true.  A good printing company will have access to hundreds of lists that you can mail to.  Most can even design you a piece after collecting your information and have it printed and mailed in a week or two. It is a very low hassle project.

 

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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How To: Rack Card

What is a rack card?  Generally, a rack card is a printed piece that measures 4”x 9”.  It is a great way to communicate information that requires more space than a business card but less than a full brochure.

Rack Card

The 3 keys to a successful rack card are:

  1. Standout Design
  2. Call To Action
  3. Distribution

 

Standout Design

Your rack card should be an eye-catching piece that effectively uses its extra space.  Focus on a graphic that is not too busy or distracting but that will encourage people to pick it up and learn more.  A rack card is not designed to be over flowing with information.  Remember it is not a brochure but instead it is a piece to raise curiosity in your business.

Call To Action

Your rack card should include a strong call to action.  Either encourage the potential customer to contact you or visit your website to get more information on the topic.  Another example of a good call to action is a coupon or offer.  Include this to get people to hold on to your rack card rather than tossing it after they have looked it over.

Distribution

The third key revolves around how you distribute your cards.  Rack cards are an inexpensive marketing piece, so it is important to get them to be seen by as many people as possible.  Have them at tradeshows or business expo booths.  Pass them out at your local chamber of commerce networking events.  And look to other businesses in similar industries as yours and ask them if you could put up a small stand at their front desk.  Many businesses and restaurants will allow you to do this.  And if you have a well-designed piece it should catch the eye of potential customers passing by.

 

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Tips To Make Direct Mail More Effective

When using direct mail one of the first things to consider is the list you want to mail to.  There are many different options for lists and any mailing company that you go to will have access to many of their own. But which list is right for your company?

Direct Mail

When picking a list you need to analyze your specific type of customer.  Do you sell to just businesses or are you a business to consumer company?  Do your customers live in a certain area or have a specific income level?  Are your customers primarily male or female?  These are all questions to consider.  A direct mailing list can be wide ranging and include many different people or it can be extremely targeted and include a few very specific people.  The list you select should be based on your usual customers.  Next let’s look at some different types of lists.

Every Door Direct Mail

This is a type of list that includes every door in a specified area.  You can select a zip code or a few mailing routes to send to.  This is a very inexpensive and comprehensive list.  The pros to a list like this are that you can mail to a wide range of people for a small cost.  The cons would be that you can not specify which doors to mail to.  If this is your list, then everyone along this mailing route will get one of your mailing pieces.  If you have the type of business that appeals to the majority of people, then this is the best route to take.

Targeted List

There are many different targeted lists you can select.  The post office or your local mailing company should have access to these lists.  These are effective if your company has a strong consumer profile built.  If you know that the majority of your customers are millennials between ages 19 and 29 who are in a specific income bracket, then that list is out there for you.  It is amazing how specific some of these lists can get.  The pros to this list are that almost every piece you send out will be put into the hands of the exact type of consumer that your company is aiming for.  This will give you a higher return on investment.  The cons are that this list is more expensive than the Every Door Direct Mail List.  But if you can effectively target your specific customers then this list will pay off more.

Personal Database

This type of list is one that was made by your own company.  It will include past customers and prospects that you have collected information on.  This is a great way to reach out to people who have previously bought from you and ones who you believe have a high probability of becoming a customer.  The pros to this list are that it is the most effective mailing list.  This is the most highly targeted list and will have the best returns.  The cons are that this list takes a very long time to put together and involves a lot of extra effort on your company’s side.

Regardless of which list you decide is best for your company the most important part of a direct mail campaign is in the tracking of your results.  You must track your results so that you can decide what worked and what did not work.  Then you can make minor tweaks to your piece and to your list to make your return even higher.  This will increase the effectiveness of each direct mail campaign that you run.

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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Why A Business Should Send Holiday Cards

The holiday season is rapidly approaching.  For some businesses this is a busy season. For others it is a slow season.  Whichever category your business fall into, this is the time to send out your holiday cards.

Holiday CardsHoliday Cards

Holiday cards serve many purposes to a business. They are an excellent way to show appreciation for your customers.  They are inexpensive and go a little above and beyond for those customers you are grateful for.  A customer will appreciate this personal gesture from a business.  The biggest benefit of the holiday card is that it is a nonintrusive way to get back in front of your customers.  They are not a sales pitch and they are not meant to be a traditional advertisement.  They are a much more subtle and personal connection to your customer.  This means they will be noticed by your intended audience.

 

This time of year, mailboxes are flooded with different ads and coupons from all your competitors.  People receive so many different types of ads that they do not even pay attention.  Most of these will be discarded without a second look.  Your holiday card will be an exception to this.  Keep your card relatively simple.  Put it in an unbranded envelope with a nice card on the inside.  If you can add a personal handwritten message this is an excellent extra touch.  But remember, the focus of this card is to wish the customer a happy holiday.  It is not to advertise your business.  Keep your business name small in the bottom of the card to show who sent it.  This personal gesture will be far more noticed than the companies that send the obviously a sales pitch card.

If you remember these few tips about keeping your card personal, and nonintrusive then the holiday season can be an excellent time of the year to separate yourselves from your competitors.  Do not let this opportunity go to waste.  Get your holiday cards out soon!

 

For more helpful information check out our blog at: /advice-from-the-printer/

And for more information on Inkwell Printing Company check out our website at: www.inkwellstl.com

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