7 ways printing can help you survive a zombie outbreak...

That got your attention, didn't it? And it illustrates a simple marketing truth: Be compelling.  You could have the most amazing stuff to sell, but if you don't make it compelling to read, then you aren't going to get far.

Now, before you start wondering, "But what about the zombies?" don't worry. Here's the list I promised at the beginning of this column, along with some nuggets you might not have known about our printing firm:

7. A printed map will let you know where the zombie hangouts are, so they can be avoided. Invaluable for tourists in Washington, DC, so they can avoid the walking dead at the Capitol and White House! Did you know we can print maps?

6. Bright-colored packaging, with realistic imagery, advertising TV dinners for zombies will placate today's lazy, new age zombies, who are more interested in convenience than substance, when it comes to preparing their meals. Did you know we can print all types of packaging?

5. Printed direct mail pieces can alert citizens to a zombie outbreak, and how to respond to an encounter; sort of an abbreviated version of zombies for dummies. Did you know we can print YOUR manuals, self-help guides, direct mail pieces, and alerts?

4. A well-organized, web-to-print portal will allow you to stay inside and order your printing, and not be susceptible to roving zombies. Did you know you can log in to our website, order printing, and send us files without leaving your desk?

3. Printed signs can direct the zombies to walk back to their graves or into the ocean. Did you know we can print your signs, get your car graphics designed, and make sure people know where to go?

2. Bumper stickers can alert drivers to HONK IF YOU'RE A ZOMBIE. Did you know we can print bumper stickers, labels, and other sticky stuff?

1. Printed zombie masks for humans will fool the zombies, so they won't attack you for your flesh and brains! Did you know we are can help you with all your printing needs? No fooling.

It is extremely important to play video games honey, honest.

How valuable is your attention? How much is your ability to focus worth? Your success is dependent upon your ability to focus your attention on whatever it is that is going to make you grow. Here are some tips on how to improve your focus and attention

Pay attention to your working memory.  "Working memory is the ability to actively hold the information in the mind needed to do complex tasks such as reasoning, comprehension and learning. Working memory tasks are those that require the goal orientated active monitoring or manipulation of information or behaviors in the face of interfering processes and distractions." In other words working memory is the amount of space you have to pay attention. Here is a neat list of tricks to help improve your working memory... http://su.pr/1E2bQi...cool note...playing video games counts!

Control your space. All of it...noise, visual distractions, email, clutter. Limit disruption. IM, text, cell phones, emails, television...they all have something in common. They are designed to make a noise to get your attention. If you are a slave to those attention getting chimes then you are a slave to the demands of others.  Schedule blocks of time that are not to be interrupted. Turn off the phone, email and IM.

Take charge of one of the most valuable things you own. Your time.

That Email is Bigger Than You

You want more business right? So you've been working on your database, right? You are working on your lead lists, your social media lists, your direct mail lists...right? I knew you were! Me too! What about your email marketing lists, So do you have a survey on what you are sending out? Are you asking people to "opt-in"? Are you linking properly?

Think about Forwarding... what happens if your email gets forwarded? The people you send the email to, presumably, know who you are and why you are emailing them...but hopefully your email is SO great and interesting and fabulous that they get forwarded to people DO NOT know you. If they like what you have to say, and you make it easy for them, they might just click a link in your emails to join your email list...so make sure that join button is in the email.



Think about FaceBook or Twitter: So someone clicks the link in your email and they get taken to your web page that is a web version of your email. That web version is what you tweet, put on FaceBook, LinkedIn...so you can spread that email around If you've got a link to sign up for "email-only" offers, these new readers just might sign up.



Think about Surveys: if you ask people what they think about you and your product you can get feedback, testimonials and comments. The answers you use to improve your business, put as testimonials on your website and focus your marketing. And you will get a greater response rate if you actually ask people to do something.

It's not hard to do, and doesn't take much to get a few new sign ups. And who knows? They may just become some of your best customers!

Promotional Products Get Results

A recent study of promotional items -- things like hats, mugs, pens, and tote bags, used to market a company -- showed some pretty interesting results you might find helpful as you plan your next marketing campaign:

1. Instant recall: For starters, more than eight out of 10 (84%) respondents remember the advertisers of the promotional products they receive.

2. Favorable impressions: 42% of respondents had a MORE favorable impression of an advertiser after receiving the item, and nearly a quarter (24%) said they are MORE likely to do business with those advertisers.

3. It's all business: Most respondents (62%) have done business with the advertiser on a promotional product after receiving the item.

4. User-friendly: The majority (81%) of promotional products were kept because they were considered useful.

5. Staying power: More than three-quarters of respondents have had their items for more than six months.

6. Bag it!: Among wearables, bags were reported to be used most frequently, with respondents indicating that they used their bags an average of nine times per month.

Don't you want to have existing customers WANTING to keep your name in front of them all the time? If so, give our printing firm a call. We offer a wide range of promotional items, designed to give you front-of-mind awareness with your clientele.

Targeting "Me"

The single best sales strategy in the world is to find your best clients and ask them, "How do I get more clients like you?"

I was in a store last month chatting with the owner, and she said to me: "You're my ideal customer; how do I get more of you?" I thought about it for a moment and told her how I'd found her. We then sat down for a while and figured out how to target more 'me's'. (I am a printer and a salesperson after all!) I was able to buy her a mailing list for people in her demographic and do a series of direct mail pieces to people like me.

Because she asked her customer how to grow, her customer actually answered. So, talk to your customers!

Don't Assume

Never assume your current clients know all you can do for them. The best way to get more business is to get more from existing customers. The only way you can do that is to keep telling them all that you do. One marketing strategy for this is to send out a printed piece that lists all the things you do followed by pieces that expand on each individual item. The way a printer might do this is to create a piece that talks about brochures, business cards, wide format printing, book binding, and so forth, with a short paragraph about each thing. This would then be followed with a postcard that talks more about each individual item.

This strategy works well for most businesses -- from lawn care to lawyers. Mowing, landscaping, xeriscaping, etc., followed by details of what each of those things is and why. Litigation, taxes, wills, etc., you get the picture.

Keep telling people about the things you do, and don't get frustrated if they don't seem to "get it" right away. No matter how many years I've been working with a printing client, I still get people walking in who say, "Oh, you do that? I had no idea!" It can be frustrating when you think you've gotten your message out...but that sentence is an opportunity for me to tell people about all my printing and marketing services...and it is an opportunity for you to tell people what you do, too.

How Are You Using Your Time?

I ran across a startling infographic I thought I'd share with you. It's on the website Information Is Beautiful, at http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2010/cognitive-surplus-visualized/. US adults spend roughly 200 billion hours (combined) watching TV each year. By contrast, it took just 100 million hours to create Wikipedia.

All of us at one time or another have wished we had more time. But have we stopped to think about how we're using the time we have? Are we contributing more to mindless activities like watching TV, or are we using our time for more worthwhile pursuits?

It's something to think about, the next time you reach for the remote control.

World Leaders... In Their Own Words... For Free

If you're looking for powerful speeches from some of the top thinkers in business, entertainment, and politics from around the world, look no further than TED.com. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, is a nonprofit group that sponsors conferences across the US and UK. Attendees pay to hear thought leaders ranging from Al Gore and Steve Jobs to Dr. Jane Goodall and writer J.J. Abrams.

What's unique about TED is that the group makes all of its past speeches available free on its website and even allows reposting. An archive of over 600 speeches, searchable by name and topic/theme, is available, with translations into more than 75 languages. The site also includes a blog, a thriving online community, and information about upcoming events.

For more information visit http://www.ted.com. But be warned. Once you get there, you might never want to leave.