Inkwell Printing Company

Advice from the Printer

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How to Design and Mail an Effective End of the Year Appeal Mailing

The end of the year is a critical time for nonprofits to raise funds. Many people are feeling generous during the holidays, and they are also looking for ways to make a difference in the world. Your end-of-year appeal mailing is a great opportunity to connect with your donors and inspire them to give.

Here are some tips on how to design and mail an effective end-of-year appeal mailing:

  1. Start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning your mailing. Give yourself plenty of time to develop a strong message, design eye-catching materials, and mail your mailings well in advance of the end of the year.
  2. Personalize your mailings. Donors are more likely to respond to mailings that are personalized to them. You can personalize your mailings by using the donor’s name, mentioning their past giving history, or sharing a story about how their donation has made a difference.
  3. Tell a compelling story. People give to nonprofits because they want to make a difference in the world. Your end-of-year appeal mailing should tell a compelling story about the impact that your organization is making. Use vivid language and powerful images to bring your story to life.
  4. Make a clear ask. Tell your donors exactly what you are asking for and why it is important. Be specific about how their donation will be used. For example, instead of saying “donate to support our mission,” you could say “donate $25 to help us provide food to hungry children.”
  5. Make it easy to give. Include a clear call to action in your mailing and make it easy for donors to give. You can include a reply envelope with your mailing, or you can direct donors to your website or online donation form.
  6. Use high-quality materials. Your end-of-year appeal mailing should be visually appealing and well-produced. Use high-quality paper and printing, and choose high-impact graphics.

Here are some additional tips for designing and mailing an effective end-of-year appeal mailing:

  • Use a clear and concise subject line. Your subject line should be short and to the point, and it should entice donors to open your mailing.
  • Use high-quality images. Images can be very effective at grabbing attention and telling your story. Choose images that are relevant to your organization and that evoke an emotional response.
  • Keep your mailing short and to the point. Donors are busy people, so they don’t want to read a long mailing. Get to your point quickly and make it easy for donors to give.
  • Test your mailing before you send it. Ask a few people to review your mailing and give you feedback. This will help you to ensure that your mailing is clear, concise, and persuasive.
  • Include a personal letter from the executive director or another key staff member. This will help to connect with donors on a personal level.
  • Offer matching gifts or other incentives to encourage donors to give.
  • Create a special landing page on your website for your end-of-year appeal. This will make it easy for donors to give online.
  • Follow up with donors who do not give right away. Send them a reminder email or postcard with a special offer.

By taking the time to design and mail an effective end-of-year appeal mailing, you can raise more funds for your organization and make a real difference in the world.

 

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 Choose the Right Paper for Your Comic Book

The paper you choose for your comic book can have a big impact on the overall look and feel of your book. The right paper can make your comic book look more professional, more vibrant, and more engaging.

There are a few things to consider when choosing paper for your comic book:

  • The type of paper: There are many different types of paper available, each with its own unique properties. Some common types of paper for comic books include:
    • Glossy paper: Glossy paper has a smooth, shiny finish that can make your comic book look more eye-catching. However, glossy paper can also make your comic book look less professional and more like a magazine.
    • Matte paper: Matte paper has a dull, non-reflective finish that can make your comic book look more professional and less like a magazine. Matte paper is also less likely to show fingerprints and smudges.
    • Uncoated paper: Uncoated paper has a rough, textured finish that can give your comic book a more natural look. Uncoated paper is also less expensive than coated paper.
  • The weight of the paper: The weight of the paper is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). The higher the GSM, the heavier the paper. Heavier paper is more durable and can withstand more handling. However, heavier paper is also more expensive.
  • The color of the paper: The color of the paper can also affect the overall look of your comic book. White paper is the most common choice, but you can also choose from a variety of other colors, such as cream, ivory, or black.

Once you have considered these factors, you can start to narrow down your choices and choose the right paper for your comic book. Here are a few additional tips for choosing paper for your comic book:

  • Consider the genre of your comic book: If you are writing a superhero comic book, you may want to choose a glossy paper to give your book a more dynamic look. If you are writing a more serious comic book, you may want to choose a matte paper to give your book a more sophisticated look.

  • Consider the target audience for your comic book: If you are writing a comic book for children, you may want to choose a lighter weight paper to make your book more affordable. If you are writing a comic book for adults, you may want to choose a heavier weight paper to make your book more durable for collectors.
  • Get samples from different paper companies: Before you make a final decision, it is a good idea to get samples from different paper companies. This will allow you to see and feel the different types of paper and make the best choice for your comic book.

By following these tips, you can choose the right paper for your comic book and ensure that your book looks its best on the printed page.

Hopefully these tips help you with your new project! Good luck to all self-published authors and artists!

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 Put Together an End-of-Year Appeal Mailing for a Nonprofit Organization

End-of-year appeal mailings are a critical source of revenue for many nonprofit organizations. In fact, according to Charity Engine, thirty percent of annual giving occurs in December with 10 percent happening in the last three days of the year! That’s why it’s so important to get your end-of-year appeal mailing right.

Here are some tips for putting together an effective end-of-year appeal mailing:

  1. Start early. Don’t wait until December to start planning your end-of-year appeal mailing. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to gather all of your materials, design your mailing, and get it printed.  Your printing company will appreciate this, we promise!
  2. Personalize your mailing. The more personal your mailing is, the more likely it is to resonate with your donors. Use your donor database to personalize your mailings with names, addresses, and giving history. You can also include photos of your organization’s work or stories from your beneficiaries.  This is one of the major differences between mailings that work well and ones that don’t.
  3. Tell a story. People are more likely to be moved to give when they can connect with a story. Tell the story of your organization’s work and the impact it’s having on the lives of others. Use vivid language and powerful images to bring your story to life.
  4. Make a clear ask. Don’t be afraid to ask for the donation. Tell your donors exactly how much you need and how their gift will be used.  People appreciate knowing how their money will help others.  Make it easy for them to give by including a donation form or link in your mailing.
  5. Create a sense of urgency. Let your donors know that their gift is needed now. The end of the year is a time when many people are thinking about giving, so you want to make sure your mailing stands out from the crowd. Use words like “now,” “today,” and “immediately” to create a sense of urgency.
  6. Thank your donors. Be sure to thank your donors for their support. Let them know how much their gift means to your organization and the people you serve. A handwritten note is a nice touch, but even a brief email will do.

By following these tips, you can create an end-of-year appeal mailing that will help you reach your fundraising goals.

Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:

  • Use high-quality images and design elements to make your mailing visually appealing.
  • Track the results of your mailing so you can see what’s working and what’s not. This will help you improve your mailings in the future.

I hope these tips help you put together a successful end-of-year appeal mailing for your nonprofit organization.

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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Comic Book Printing: Things To Know Before Getting Started

Are you working on publishing your first comic book? Or maybe just publishing another in a long series? Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when you are making your decisions.

A printing press printing comic books

  • File format. Comic book printing companies typically require files in PDF format. Make sure your file is properly formatted and that all of your images are high resolution.
  • Color mode. Comic books are typically printed in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color mode. If you are creating your comic in RGB (red, green, blue) color mode, you will need to convert it to CMYK before sending it to the printer.
  • Bleed area. When printing comic books, it is important to leave a bleed area of at least 1/8 inch around all of your pages. This will ensure that your images and text are printed all the way to the edge of the page.
  • Binding. There are two main types of binding for comic books: perfect binding and saddle stitching. Perfect binding is the most common type of binding for graphic novels and results in a book with a smooth, finished cover. Saddle stitching is less expensive than perfect binding and results in a book with a stapled spine.
  • Paper quality. The paper quality you choose will affect the overall look and feel of your comic book. There are a variety of paper types available, including glossy, matte, and uncoated. The right paper selection can help cut down on spine cracking and page tearing as well.
  • Cost. The cost of comic book printing varies depending on the number of pages, color mode, paper quality, and binding type. It is important to ask questions during the quote process because often times money can be saved by making small changes to sizing or paper quality and finish.
  • Get proofs before printing. Most printing companies will offer to send you proofs of your comic book before it goes to print. This is a great way to catch any errors in your artwork or text. A hard copy proof is always preferable to a digital copy.
  • Work with a reputable printing company. There are many printing companies that specialize in comic book printing. Do some research and choose a company that has a good reputation and experience printing comics. This will help you produce a high-quality piece that your fans will love.

Hopefully these tips help you on your new project! Good luck to all self-published authors and artists!

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 Use Print to Raise Awareness for Your Nonprofit Organization

In today’s digital age, it’s easy to forget the power of print. But print marketing can still be a very effective way to raise awareness for your nonprofit organization.

Here are a few reasons why print marketing is still worth considering:

  • It’s more likely to be seen. When you send out an email or post on social media, your message is competing with a lot of other noise and distractions. But when someone picks up a printed piece, you have their full attention.
  • It’s more memorable. Studies have shown that people are more likely to remember information that they’ve seen in print. This is because print is more tactile and engaging than digital media.
  • It’s more credible. People tend to perceive printed materials as being more credible than digital materials. This is because print is seen as being more permanent and authoritative.

So, how can you use print to raise awareness for your nonprofit organization? Here are a few ideas:

  • Create print ads. Print ads can be a great way to reach a large audience. You can place your ads in newspapers, magazines, or even on billboards.
  • Design brochures. Brochures are a great way to provide more information about your organization and its mission. You can distribute them at events, in your community, or to anyone seeking more information.
  • Print flyers. Flyers are a great way to promote a specific event or campaign. You can hand them out at events, post them in public places, or even mail them to your target audience.
  • Create posters. Posters are a great way to make a big impact. You can hang them in public places or at your booth at business expos.
  • Direct Mail. If you’re raising money for your organization, direct mail can be a great way to reach potential donors. You can reach out to past donors or create a list of potential donors and blanket an entire area.

No matter which print marketing materials you choose, make sure that they are well-designed and informative. Your materials should be visually appealing and easy to read. They should also be clear about your organization’s mission and how people can get involved.

Here are some additional tips for using print to raise awareness for your nonprofit organization:

  • Target your audience. When you’re designing your print materials, make sure that you’re targeting the right audience. This will help you ensure that your materials are relevant and engaging.
  • Use high-quality images. Images can be a powerful way to grab attention and communicate your message. When you’re using images in your print materials, make sure that they are high-quality and relevant to your message. An eye-catching image is a great way to make use of space without cluttering the piece with too much text.
  • Use clear and concise language. Your print materials should be easy to read and understand. Use clear and concise language that will get your message across.
  • Make it easy to take action. Tell people what you want them to do after they see your print materials. This could be anything from visiting your website to donating money.

By following these tips, you can use print to raise awareness for your nonprofit organization and make a difference in the world.

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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Choosing the Right Print Materials for Nonprofit Events and Fundraisers

When it comes to organizing events and fundraisers, nonprofits rely heavily on effective communication to convey their message, generate support, and raise funds. While digital marketing has gained significant importance, the power of print materials should not be underestimated. Well-designed and strategically chosen print materials can leave a lasting impression on attendees and supporters. In this post, we will explore the importance of selecting the right print materials for nonprofit events and fundraisers.

Picture of a nonprofit fundraising gala

  1. Tailoring print materials to the event: Different events require different print materials. For a gala dinner, elegant and professionally designed invitations and event programs can set the tone for the evening. For a charity run or walkathon, informative flyers, banners, and signage along the route can engage participants and create a sense of community.
  2. Consistency with branding: It is crucial to maintain brand consistency across all print materials. Nonprofits should ensure that their logo, color scheme, and typography are reflected in brochures, banners, and other printed items. Consistency creates a professional and cohesive image that resonates with supporters.
  3. Highlighting the cause: Print materials should effectively communicate the nonprofit’s mission and impact. Including compelling images, statistics, and success stories can help attendees connect emotionally with the cause and understand the organization’s work.
  4. Interactive and engaging elements: Incorporating interactive elements into print materials can enhance attendee engagement. For example, QR codes can be included on event programs, linking to additional online content or donation pages. Augmented reality (AR) can be utilized to provide an immersive experience, allowing supporters to visualize the impact of their contributions.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right print materials is crucial for nonprofit organizations when organizing events and fundraisers. By tailoring the materials to the event, maintaining brand consistency, highlighting the cause, and incorporating interactive elements, nonprofits can effectively engage attendees, leave a lasting impression, and ultimately increase support and fundraising efforts. Remember, in the digital age, print materials can still make a powerful impact and help nonprofits make a difference in their communities.

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 Postcard Marketing Ideas For Small Businesses

For years postcards have been an effective way to raise brand awareness for a business.  If you are struggling to come up with new ways to bring in customers, consider adding them to your marketing strategy. Here we have put together 4 ways to use postcards that you may not have thought of.

Postcard marketing

  • Coupon
    • The first strategy is to use your postcard as a coupon. Include a discount on products or services if they bring in the card to you. This ensures that the potential customer will hold on to your ad and you will stay in front of them for a longer time.  If a customer was on the fence about using your company this can be just the nudge they needed to contact you.
  • Share News
    • Another great use of a postcard is to use them to share exciting news. If you are opening a new location, you can mail them to the surrounding area to drive traffic to your new store. Or they can be used to announce a sale or event that is coming up that you believe the customer might be interested in.
  • Promote Services
    • Using them to promote products and services is the most commonly used strategy. This is a tried-and-true method of driving sales to your store front or website.  Don’t over crown the card with too much information and make sure to include an eye catching graphic if possible.
  • Thank You
    • Our final tip on how to use postcards is to use them to show appreciation for your customers. Sending a thank you after a purchase is a very thoughtful way to show that you care about the people who support your company.  You can mail this to them or even just slip a card into a shipped order.  If you really want to go above and beyond you can leave a blank space on your postcard so you can write a personal handwritten note.

Hopefully we were able to give you a few more ideas on how you can effectively use postcards in your marketing strategy.

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 Convert Leads From Print

Is print a part of your marketing? Do you use flyers, brochures, business cards, or direct mail? These can all be great tools if you are effectively using them to generate leads.  Or they can be a waste of time.  Do you feel that you aren’t seeing any benefit from your mailings or your handouts? The problem could be in the design of the piece.  Keeping that in mind, we’ve put together some tips that will help you generate far more leads the next time you use a print piece for your marketing. We’ve been doing this for over 30 years and we have seen some amazing pieces as well as plenty that could use a little work…follow this list to make sure you are one of the amazing ones.

  • Target

First and foremost, your piece must appeal to your target audience.  Who do you design it for? Think about what you know about your customer.  Are they a certain age, gender, or income level? These can all be targeted with specialized mailing lists.  Also, the style you will use can vary greatly depending on what demographic you are going for.  You do not want to design your piece for “everybody”, that’s a good way to catch no one’s attention.  Whoever you are targeting it is crucial to use a design that specifically aims for them.

  • Headlines

Next you need some strong headlines.  Keep them short and to the point.  Focus on the benefit the customer will get from you.  Most people skim a piece before they decide if they will give it the time to read it.  The headlines need to catch their interest and portray to the customer why they should give you any more of their attention.

  • Short and Sweet

Now that your headlines have captured their attention, don’t lose it.  This is not the time to be rambling about your product or service.  Keep it short and direct.  Get all the relevant information out as easily consumable as possible.  Do not over-crowd your piece, this is a quick way to lose the potential customer.  Make use of space, use a graphic or a beautiful picture to tell the story not a flood of text.

  • Branding

In all things you design branding is crucial.  If your brand is strong enough then just a glimpse can tell a potential customer that this piece is from your company.  So, it is a good idea to tie all your pieces together.  If possible, use your printed pieces to drive traffic to your website or get them to sign up for your email blast.  This is a great way to hit all corners of your market and to have all your marketing strategies working together as one.

  • Call to Action

We can’t tell you how many beautiful eye-catching, attention-grabbing pieces we have seen over the years that fall flat because of a lack of a call to action.  What is the point of grabbing a person’s attention and giving them all the information about your product if you don’t intend to do anything with it?  You must include some sort of direction at the end.  Whether that is simply to come visit you store or check out your website, you need to directly tell the interested party what you would like their next steps to be.  Include an expiring coupon on your postcard while asking them to come visit you.  Ask them to sign up for your email newsletter to collect some customer information.  Tell them to call now to get more information they might be interested in.  Whatever your call to action is just make sure it is direct and simple to do.

  • Track

The final step to increasing the effectiveness of your printed material is to track all the data you possibly can.  When a customer contacts you try to figure out how they heard about you or what made them call.  This will help you learn which pieces are performing well and which ones need to be tweaked or dropped entirely.

 

Print marketing is a very effective tool in 2022 but it must be done correctly.  Keep these tips in mind when you are designing your next piece and you will see much better results!

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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Flyer Design Tips

A flyer is one of the most versatile marketing tools available.  They can be used for many different things, such as spreading information, invitations to an event, or company announcements.  The design of your flyer can be completely different based off what you intend to use it for.  So, we have put together a few tips to help you when you are putting your flyer together.

Goal

The very first step in designing a flyer is to determine the goal you want to achieve.  This will help you decide how to lay it out as well as give you a metric to measure the effectiveness.  If your goal is to invite people to an event then the most important thing is a large eye-catching graphic accompanied by a few lines of text to give crucial information about the event, including time and location.  Do not clutter the flyer with too much information.  This will lead to people simply tossing it away, no one is as excited about your company as you are so do not expect them to read a novel about you.  Just stick to a few lines of information.  Now if the goal is to announce a new product or service then you of course should add more relevant information.  Good spacing and editing can make sure that the flyer does not look messy and disorganized.

Images/Graphics

The next step is to select your images you plan on using on the flyer.  A high-quality eye-catching image is important.  Try not to use a stock photo, if possible, use a photo that is relevant to your business.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words so use a good picture to speak for you and avoid cluttering with too much text.  If a beautiful picture doesn’t really work for your industry, then consider using a graph to show data that supports your information.

Branded

Branding your flyer is an easy but crucial step.  It should fit in with the rest of your marketing pieces.  At a quick glance a consumer should be able to tell that this flyer represents your business.  Use your company colors throughout and make sure your logo is easily visible.  This can tie into the last tip about images. If you don’t have a particular image that you want to use, then make your logo the focal point of the flyer.

Ready To Print

This step can be tricky if you don’t have much experience designing. Just keep in mind that just because it looks good on a computer screen that does not necessarily mean that it will print out and look the same.  There are all sorts of factors to determine if it is ready to print, like margins and bleeds.  If you are not sure how to lay out the file then either hire a professional or look up some guides online that can walk you through the appropriate settings.

Call To Action

Finally, we have the call to action.  Many companies make this mistake, they will have a beautiful flyer that is well designed and should be effective.  Yet it will not work for some reason.  This is almost always a failure in the call to action.  Remember your goal of the flyer and then make a clear and direct request that fits that goal.  If you want people to attend your stores sale, then directly ask them to come in.  If you want them to inquire about your new product then you must tell them to call you or email you.  Whatever the goal is, don’t be afraid to ask for it.  This is a key piece of your flyer and should not be overshadowed.

 

Hopefully these tips can help you design an effective flyer for 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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5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs A Brochure

Brochures are a powerful marketing tool that can be used to promote your business and build your brand.  Here are 5 reasons you should add brochures to your marketing strategy in 2021.

Informative

One of the strongest attributes of a good brochure is the ability to pass on information.  Whether that information is about a future event or a big upcoming sale, a brochure can provide every detail an interest party could need.  Add a few eye-catching graphics for the background and then whatever the most relevant information is (e.g., event dates and time, contact info) and you will have a very effective marketing tool.  When advertising events keep the info simple and to the point, don’t overload the brochure or it will distract from the event itself.  On the other hand, if the goal is to explain a new product or service then more information is appropriate.

Tangible

In the digital world that we all live in now there is something to be said for a marketing piece that can be touched and held in the hand.  We are overwhelmed with digital ads everywhere we look. Our emails are full of spam and our social media pages are covered in ads.  One way to separate yourself from all the competing ads is to place your message directly in the hands of a potential customer. This will prevent your message from getting lost in the flood of overwhelming advertisements.  Tangible marketing pieces still rank the highest when it comes to consumer preference.

Distribution Versatility

Another strength of brochures is in the wide variety of ways they can be distributed.  You can pass them out on a street corner to promote an upcoming event.  You can hand them out outside of your business to promote a sale and encourage customers to come inside.  You can pass them out at tradeshows or equip all your sales team with brochures to give to potential consumers who are seeking more information.  Brochures have countless distribution strategies that other types of marketing lack.  Having a few brochures available to you at all times is a great idea because you never know when the situation might present itself to use this powerful marketing tool.

Branding

We all know how important branding is.  Countless studies have shown the impact that staying in front of your customers can have on them.  That is where a brochure can fit in perfectly to your marketing strategy.  A brochure can be easily branded to fit your company message and is a tangible piece that is not competing in the crowded world of digital attention.

Target Audience

Finally, we reach probably the biggest strength of the brochure, its ability to be targeted to whatever market you are after.  Brochures are highly customizable and with the unique distribution methods you can design on that is aimed at a very specific niche.  It is not uncommon for companies to have multiple different designs of brochures promoting the same product.  This way you can tailor your brochure particularly to whoever you are going to be meeting.  If one day you are advertising to industry professionals at a convention you can have a piece that dives into the specifics and use industry known terms.  Whereas if you are going to be meeting the public you can focus it on more general knowledge.  This ability to target a specific niche in your market can help make your brochure your most effective marketing tool.

 

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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