The Six Secrets of No-Surprise Printing

The Six Secrets of No-Surprise Printing

by | Jun 7, 2021 | Creative strategies, Direct marketing, Headlines, Sales

Even When Using Digital Printing… it pays to plan.

Methods

Successful print jobs are all about planning and communication. If you plan carefully and communicate exactly what you want, it is unlikely that you will need an expensive do over by a problem or disappointment later.

Number One.

The first step is to have a rational idea of the physical piece you want to create. That means determining the size, shape, folds, and other characteristics. For anything more complicated than a flat sheet, it is wise to create a dummy or mock-up to make sure that pages and folds are where you want them to be.

Number Two.

If you are printing for a mailing, a mock-up helps to ensure that the individual pieces will fit in the envelope properly. It can also help determine the type of printing equipment, such as die cutting or masking that will be a much-needed impact. Simple steps now could lead to savings to make the printing process more efficient. Changing the dimensions, for example, could allow a piece to be printed on a smaller press to save money. Check with the post office or your direct mailer. Non-Traditional size and shape mailers may require a special rate.

Number Three.

Proofing is also important. It is often tempting to rush when you are working under a deadline, but it is always better (and much cheaper) to correct a mistake before printing begins. Show your last design to several people, include those who have not worked on the project. Their input will be fresh and objective. Look for the usual spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Carefully check the headline and subheads. Most important, be sure that all vital information is correct, including phone number, return address, postal indicia, and bar codes. 

Number Four.

One common mistake is to include photos that look good on a computer screen, but which do not print well on a press. For most, you will need photos or graphics with 300 dpi resolution. Always use stock or vector images from a reputable company. If the budget permits, hire a photographer, designer, or direct marketing mail copyrighter. Make sure they sign off the rights of their property to your firm.

Number Five.

When submitting your design file for printing, you must include not only the file but all the attached files, including fonts, photos, graphics, and logos. Check early on with your printer what they need to get what you want to achieve. Just because it is digital, printers need to follow a protocol to get the best-looking printed material.

Number Six.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that printing involves putting ink onto paper. The ink and paper you use will affect the last look. You cannot rely on how a design appears on a computer screen. Paper can come in various colors, thicknesses, and textures which affect the last appearance of printing. When in doubt, ask for samples before you begin the design and writing process.

Please share with others–except your competition!

Direct marketing copy is like a puzzle.

Sharing my time with you is not over at the end of a post. There are many ideas I experienced in owning a small business. My ideas about using and writing direct marketing and customer-centric copy are intertwined in the marketing, advertising, and selling content, articles, reports based on my philosophy of people learn by reading, then learn by doing.

Please join our Direct2Customers Marketing Community today!

Learning by reading and doing, marketing, and selling ideas, is what you will find in your Direct2Customer Community. Join us today by clicking on the button.

This is what I do and what I love to do.

Thanks again for reading. Questions?

Mdoc@direct2customers.com or 800-251-3608

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Seven Fundraiser Tips to Reach Supporters…

Seven Fundraiser Tips to Reach Supporters…

by | May 17, 2021 | Analytics, Communication channels, Copy content, Customer-centric strategy, direct mail, Direct marketing mail strategy, Email tactical, Landing Page, Sales

and learn how a few tactics will win over your customers.

 

Let me explain.

Let me explain.

Direct Marketing+Mail comprises many distinct elements to help your customers buy your products. When you add them up in your head, you can easily lose track because there are so many.

Never stop at one.

Let us talk about customers. The human mind is very baffling, and depending how their day is going, it can change in a heartbeat. For example, an automobile manufacturer does not just sell cars. They are selling economical transportation to get you to and from work every day. What else are they selling? It depends upon the person. 

A mom with children needing a new car wants lots of space. Safety features also come to mind. What about Kevlar seat covers to keep the interior looking half respectable?  

Dad will want either good mileage, performance, or both. But buying a sedan does not cope well hauling children to sporting events plus equipment. Once the last child is over eighteen, dad may finally get the sedan of his dreams.

As one can see, there are a lot of hot buttons to push to get someone to buy. Whatever product a company sells, there are many variables to consider. In these cases, a person should start thinking like enthusiasts. Focus on the payoff or reward more than on the product. Take a cue from fundraisers. That’s a good moon arising! 

 

There are a lot of hot buttons to push to get someone to buy.

Take a cue from fundraisers.
  • Whatever product a company sells, there are many variables to consider. In these cases, a person should start thinking like enthusiasts. Focus on the payoff or reward more than on the product. Take a cue from fundraisers.
  • How do professional nonprofit fundraisers raise millions of dollars for their non-profits every year? What are their secrets to fundraising? The answer is trust and establishing confidence in the direct communication copy.

As promised, here are seven enthusiastic ideas to make more money.

  1. Put yourself in an enthusiastic mind frame as you review your copy. Ask why. It is important to clarify “the why” you are asking for a donation or a sale.

A fundraiser does not want money but an agreement for their cause. The goal is to get people to support and invest in an organization. Or with a profit company, get the buyer to tell others about their product and experience.

  1. A fundraiser copywriter puts the facts about the organization in small type but emphasizes the benefits, payoff, and rewards. The idea behind this brings the reader onto a center stage in the copy using big, bold letters.

Any for profit company can send their customers to a website landing page with a similar look of the mailer and continue the reward and pay off in the copy. Once your customer reaches the web, accentuating your product with actual photography or a video is like the icing on a cake.

  1. Typically, an enthusiast for a cause wants to see more information in writing and on paper. Your customers probably do as well. 

There is no faster way to lose an enthusiast or a customer than to stop at one communication. Follow with another direct-mail piece that has continuity with the first communication. The piece should contain crafted stories, including pictures of other customers in action using your product. Do not forget email or other channels of communication they use.  

  1. A good idea is to reference the first mailing to build on the enthusiasm and the donors’ or customers’ emotions. That is another reason message frequency is so important.
  1. A single piece of direct mail can easily develop into many communications and using other channels of communication preferred by the readers.

Fund raisers take some time to learn more about their donors. This is a vital strategy in the non-profit industry and like a customer-centric marketing strategy for a company.

  1. Do not worry about redundancy. Remember, they bombarded people with thousands of messages per day. That is another good reason to keep continuity going from the first moment during the campaign to whenever the campaign ends.
  1. The image you project about your product or service or your charity and the value it brings to your customers or donors can be more important than the product or the service. To a charity donor, we consider it as an investment into the charitable organization.

Here is a takeaway from fundraisers for your profit business:

Learning a buying reason for a group of customers on how they use your product can lead your company to better marketing results. You can write more relevant copy, which can induce people to respond more often. Excellent results will lead to more customers.

I trust that was what you were looking for!

Please share with others–except your competition!

Direct marketing copy is like a puzzle.

Sharing my time with you is not over at the end of a post. There are many ideas I experienced in owning a small business. My ideas about using and writing direct marketing and customer-centric copy are intertwined in the marketing, advertising, and selling content, articles, reports based on my philosophy of people learn by reading, then learn by doing.

Please join our Direct2Customers Marketing Community today!

Learning by reading and doing, marketing, and selling ideas, is what you will find in your Direct2Customer Community. Join us today by clicking on the button.

This is what I do and what I love to do.

Thanks again for reading. Questions?

Mdoc@direct2customers.com or 800-251-3608

JOIN US

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Another way to use a call-to-action (CTA)

Another way to use a call-to-action (CTA)

by | Mar 3, 2021 | Creative strategies, Customer-centric strategy, Direct marketing mail, Sales

Another Way to Use A Call-to-Action (CTA)

What other words inspire action?

Join Today

I Love 2 Inspire

Once someone clicks on your CTA they go to your website or landing page. If the marketing term of “call-to-action” sounds like a military term, I like to use “inspire.” Also, call-to-action always reminds me of the word “sale.” Just about everyone loves a sale.

Learn by reading

It’s not a sale

But, depending on what you are selling, maybe the word sale is closed in. Simply, it’s not a sale. The mere thought of a sale is not your brand. If you plan to sell your brand to a new segment in your database, the product or service you select must appear less price sensitive,

Learn b y doing

A bit of motivation

Is the word inspire better than call-to-action? Inspire leaves a positive feeling for a customer by telling them the secrets of how to use your product or service benefits. Just about anything but a sale. If your product works the way you hype it, people will buy it at a fair price.

Learn More

At all times learning

L

Inspiration

My first boss taught me how to make dough. Using fifty pounds of flour at one time. He inspired me to learn.

L

Upselling

So, I learned how to “work” a customer. After the order is complete, I was told to remind them to order product B or C, which go nicely with a pizza.

L

Will not fail

I learned a lot from my first boss. He hired me when I was a sophomore in high school. I did not want to fail him.

L

Learn by reading and doing

It was another introduction for me to learn by reading, learn by doing. I attended a technical high school that used a similar vocation of learning. I thrived in that environment!

L

Know your customer reach

As a marketer or salesperson, help your customers feel they want to do something. Maybe they need more information, a sample of the product or service or “buy this product and you can do this or that or whatever you want to do.” Inspire them.

L

Confidence and motivation

The word confidence is another good marketing term to use. Does your product or service provide confidence by the way it works or how to use it. Maybe to fulfill an ego? That works well, it creates great loyalty. Maybe motivate yourself to find more words.

Learn by Reading…

A ton of how-2-do articles, reports, etc.

 

 

Learn by Doing...

We'll share our ideas and experience

Summary

What other words align with inspiration? Besides, from my first boss.

Learn by reading, learn by doing. You’ll find how in the Direct-2-Customer Community.

Learn By Joining DIRECT-2-CUSTOMERS

Please consider joining us today.

Mdoc@direct2customers,com

You'll Learn By Reading

In the past twenty years, are collection of articles, reports, and white papers were published consistently. Now, we are adding all our publications to our Library of Marketing. Ask to select one or two today.

We'll share our learning by doing ideas and experience

When we send an article or two with you, do not hesitate to contact us. I have a lot of information to share and look forward to the opportunity.to help you take that next step, and it’s usually free. 

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The Six Secrets of No-Surprise Printing

The Six Secrets of No-Surprise Printing

Proofing is also important. It is often tempting to rush when you are working under a deadline, but it is always better (and much cheaper) to correct a mistake before printing begins. Show your last design to several people, include those who have not worked on the project.

   Please share with others – except your competition!

   Sharing time with you is genuinely appreciated. Please join our Direct2Customers Marketing Community today!

  Learning and doing, marketing, and selling ideas, is what you’ll find at your Direct2Customer Community. 

  It’s what I do. It’s what I love to do. 

  Thanks again for reading. Questions?  Mdoc@direct2customers.com or 800-251-3608 

         

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