by Cynthia Fedor | February 3rd, 2012
Say the word “flyers” and most people immediately imagine colorful pieces of flimsy paper, tucked under a car’s windshield wiper, casually flapping in the wind. Others may picture street team members handing out flyers to folks passing by. Sure, these are typical uses for flyers; but this media type has so much more potential.
Check out these simple flyer printing ideas for business… and feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments.
[From top left to bottom right]
1. Mini-concert poster or event flyer (Credit: Danny PiG on Flickr)
2. Product spec sheet / sales sheet
3. Coupon for services
4. House flyer for real estate / home services
5. Kid’s restaurant menu or placemat (Credit: Denny’s Restaurant Flintstones kids menu, c 1988)
6. Calendar to highlight special events or sales
7. Daily specials
8. Price sheet
Do you have any creative uses for this media type? Share your ideas by posting a comment.
by Cynthia Fedor | January 10th, 2012
Direct mail isn’t what it used to be—boring and impersonal. Thanks to digital printing capabilities, new marketing technologies like QR codes, and an integrated multi-channel approach, direct mail today can be interactive and meaningful. As a result, marketers are recognizing this medium as a critical part of lead-generation campaigns.
Here are three ways savvy marketers are using direct mail to build, qualify and nurture leads while saving time and money.
Spreading the Word Offline to Get People Online
Businesses are quickly starting to realize that social media marketing is not a passing trend but a valuable way to find prospects and nurture leads. Participating in conversations with consumers online is now a necessity for influencing the public’s perception of brand and their purchasing behavior.
With this in mind, how do marketers capture the attention of new prospects that aren’t already online and get them to join the conversation? They use targeted direct mail to drive new leads to websites and social networking profiles. Read More »
by Cynthia Fedor | December 9th, 2011
During the holiday season, as many turn their focus toward spending time with family and friends, a lot of professionals tend to check out and let their marketing efforts wane. Sure, everybody deserves a much needed break from all the hard work they’ve been doing throughout the year; but successful marketers know that this is the perfect opportunity to get a jump start on business for 2012. They take advantage of the fact that many choose to hibernate rather than stay visible and available in the month of December.
Here are some ideas that can help you maintain productivity and stay visible in your local market during the holiday season.
Engage with audiences on community social sites: Even though you’ve got your footie pajamas on and you’re enjoying the warmth of your fireplace from the comfort of your couch, you can still participate in conversations happening online. Blogging, commenting on local news articles, and staying active on social networks will keep you in front of your audience during the holidays.
Volunteer or sponsor local charitable organizations and events: ‘Tis the season for helping others in your community. Doing so will not only give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, but reaching out to those in need builds a great foundation for networking and generating more business in 2012. For sponsoring events—like a food, blanket, or gift drive—local charitable organizations may provide some marketing value in kind such as: including your logo on their website and/or on promotional materials relating to an event; allowing you to send a mailer to their donor base; linking to your website via press releases; and so on.
Dial up past clients, helpful colleagues, and new prospects: Think back starting from the beginning of 2011 and make a list of clients, colleagues, mentors, and new connections that have contributed to the success of your business. Set aside a couple of hours to call and personally connect with them. They’ll appreciate your time and you’ll make a positive lasting impression that could lead to referrals and increased business in the new year. Read More »
by Cynthia Fedor | November 29th, 2011
Business cards are useful for sharing contact information; however, days of the rolodex are gone. Customers may not keep business cards around for long or consolidate them in a spot that makes it easy to access the information printed on them when needed. This doesn’t mean that they’re going away anytime soon. For several reasons, printed business cards are here to stay.
By getting creative with substrate and by including different information, you can keep business cards within your customers’ reach and your business in front of their eyes. Printing business cards on magnetic paper is one classic option.
Here are 4 fresh ways to use magnetic business cards:
Strengthen customer loyalty and encourage repeat business
Include a coupon code on your magnetic business card that loyal customers can use throughout the year. Easy access to even a small discount on goods and services can motivate repeat and just-in-time purchases. This tactic is ideal for take-out/food delivery franchises, salons or hair care providers, carpet cleaning services and other service-based businesses.
Read More »
by Jamie Klemcke | November 16th, 2011
This year at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim, CA, the focus was on new technology and faster, easier ways to get everyday tasks completed. There was a definite shift from the ‘old regime’ to a new generation of real estate professionals; not necessarily having anything to do with age, rather, a shift in business and marketing strategy. Not many attendees wanted to take printed collateral from booths that they visited. Instead, many asked for an overview of information. They could also be seen snapping photos with their smart phones of booths and information that intrigued them.
QuantumDigital’s mission this year was also focused on delivering time-saving technologies to busy real estate professionals. TriggerMarketing® was featured at QuantumDigital’s booth. It’s an instant just listed/sold program that uses the best of traditional mail, mobile response technologies, the web and social media to deliver warm, local leads directly to the agents inbox. Agents, brokers and top decision makers alike all commented that the program was a “no brainer” and could save them valuable time. The goal, many said, is to get more listings in this competitive market and they could see how TriggerMarketing could help them quickly build awareness in their communities.
The TriggerMarketing program integrates with property listing databases. Within seconds of adding a new listing or changing the status of an existing listing in a database, the program sends the listing agent an email asking if they would like to launch a campaign. Postcards are immediately designed using key information about the listed or sold property, along with photos and trackable technologies. When a recipient responds to the direct mail postcard by scanning a QR code, texting a short code, or typing a unique code on a landing page, the agent receives a real-time warm-lead alert which allows them to immediately follow up. Read More »
