Rachel Nies, Author at Marketing, content, & technology to help printers sell more printing

The start of a new year is the perfect moment to refresh your marketing efforts. Whether you’re reconnecting with loyal customers or reaching new audiences, January’s content lineup provides everything you need to make 2025 your best year yet. From engaging newsletters to tips on mastering print design, we’ve got something for every marketing strategy. Take a look at how our direct mail packages and digital content can help you create lasting impressions, build meaningful relationships, and stand out in your community. 5 DIRECT MAIL PACKAGE OPTIONS FOR PRINTERS Here’s a look at January’s content (available now!) featuring direct mail and digital content offerings to help you stay top-of-mind with your clients: Coffee Break: Bring Humor and Personality to Your Brand The Coffee Break newsletter is a lighthearted, engaging 8.5×14 direct mail piece designed to keep your print shop top-of-mind with customers. This single-sheet mailer combines humor, fun facts, and a monthly calendar to create a friendly, approachable touchpoint for your business. This month’s edition features laugh-out-loud jokes, including: Why did the turtle cross the road? To slow down traffic. Why did Miss Muffet need directions? She lost her whey. The featured sidebar highlights amusing historical anecdotes like famous missed

“It was worth every cent.” When was the last time you experienced this kind of confidence in a significant purchasing decision? Maybe it was a memorable vacation splurge. Or a service that saved significant time or energy (like hiring a pro for your home repair or outsourcing your business accounting). Perhaps it involved purchasing a high-quality product for better long-term results. Value is central to customer decision-making. And though everyone likes saving cash, most people understand a great payoff requires a measured upfront investment. Successful marketing helps people see the long-term gain you bring to their business. Beyond Print Know-How: Offer Strategic Marketing Support As a printer, you may get discouraged when you don’t see instant website sales or an immediate advertising response. But marketing is a process. It takes time to fill the funnel to create sustainable, long-term sales. This means positioning yourself as more than just a service provider, but as a trustworthy creative resource. Here are five strategic ways to communicate the value you can bring. 1. Develop Content Aligned with their Marketing Goals Creating content that aligns with your print buyers’ broader marketing objectives will serve as a magnetic attraction for new customers. Looking to attract

The best intentions seem to fall by the wayside without one simple yet hard thing: accountability. For most of us, these intentions start out with a goal and some sort of declaration. “I’m going to lose 20 pounds! Yeah, but how? I know! I’m going to start going to the gym every day and stop eating sugar completely.” Or translate this over to the mind of a printer, and it might look something like, “I’m finally going to market my print business! Yeah, but how? I know! I’m going to start sending a direct mail piece every month and regularly send marketing emails.” While these are both fantastic ideas (and even strategies), they’ll both fall flat without some sort of accountability. As Bob Proctor says, “Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result.” -Bob Proctor How can you move from intentions to results? Here are practical strategies to ensure your marketing efforts are as accountable as they are effective. 6 Strategies to Increase Accountability in Your Printing Company Set Clear, Measurable Goals If you and I were to have a conversation and I asked you why you were using a particular marketing approach, you’d likely respond with one

When the flash of digital marketing often outshines the steady glow of substantial content, it’s easy for print businesses to fall into the trap of chasing clicks over creating connections. But let’s get one thing straight: attention without retention is the marketing equivalent of a mirage—enticing from afar but ultimately leaving your print buyers parched for real value. The Seduction of the Spotlight for Printers In your quest to cut through the noise, you might prioritize the allure of attention-grabbing tactics. And why not? The initial rush of a spike in website traffic or a flurry of social media engagement is intoxicating. But here’s the rub: if all you offer is the marketing equivalent of a fireworks display—spectacular yet fleeting—you miss the opportunity to truly engage with your audience beyond the initial “oohs” and “ahhs.” Remember: Attraction Is Just the Beginning Focus not just on drawing your print buyers in but on what happens next. Your marketing should be a beacon, not a flashbang grenade. The Overlooked Middle Child: The Consideration Stage Much like a middle child vying for attention among siblings, the consideration stage of the buyer’s journey often gets overshadowed by its flashier counterpart, awareness, and the eagerly

Greetings, Printer Friends! As I recently found myself in front of the camera for a new work headshot (which you’ve probably noticed on the Tip of the Week videos), I couldn’t help but reflect on the changes that life has etched onto my face over the past ten years. As a woman who navigated the challenges of raising three teenagers, confronted numerous health hurdles, and joyfully ticked off items from her bucket list, the person staring back at me in the photograph is undoubtedly not the same individual I was a decade ago. And guess what? That’s perfectly okay. Embracing Change: A Personal Journey The journey of the last ten years has molded me into someone resilient, compassionate, and, dare I say, wiser. It’s been a ride filled with highs and lows, but each experience has contributed to the person I am today. Much like our personal lives, businesses, too, undergo transformative journeys. At Marketing Ideas For Printers, we’re no exception to this evolution. A decade ago, we were a different company with different goals, a smaller (all-local) team, and a vision for the future that was just taking shape. Fast forward to the present, and the growth we’ve experienced

In the competitive world of printing, it’s essential to embrace the magic of marketing to attract new print buyers and keep those presses rolling. Even though almost every print owner recognizes the importance of marketing, many still need help translating that idea into moving their marketing efforts to the top of their priority list. After all, who wants to spend their time marketing when you could be spending your time printing? I get it. So, I thought I’d try a new marketing tactic and throw out some marketing ideas that align more with the printer mindset when it comes to marketing: I’ll use a little CYMK. Ready? Grab your inks and buckle up! The CYMK Marketing Strategy For Printers These marketing ideas are tailored specifically for printing companies like yours! C – Create Compelling Content In the era of social media and digital dominance, captivating content is the key to unlocking the hearts (and wallets) of your print buyers. Showcasing your printing prowess through engaging and visually stunning content will not only introduce you to your audience and answer their questions, but it will also leave a lasting impression. Get your creative juices flowing with the following ideas: Printspiration Blogs

Located in the “Valley of the Sun,” Cereus Graphics has called Phoenix, Arizona, home since 1973. If you do the math, you’ll quickly recognize that this one-of-a-kind printing firm is celebrating 50 years in the business this year! Five decades of service is quite a legacy, and it’s been made possible primarily because of the Cereus Graphics team, a group of stand-out industry experts and craftspeople who combine advanced digital technologies with traditional offset printing. Cereus Graphics has discovered the key to meeting a wide range of printing and packaging needs by accommodating even the most demanding schedules without sacrificing quality or precision. But who exactly is Cereus Graphics? To answer that question, you have to start at the beginning. Introducing Cereus Graphics Cereus Graphics began its journey as G&G Printers, founded in 1973 by Tom Ginter and his dad, George, and in 1995, Tom bought controlling interest of the company. From 2000 to 2003, G&G Printers underwent an interesting journey on its way to becoming Cereus Graphics. It started in 2000 when a company called PRINTSOURCE USA purchased both G&G Printers and Commercial Lithographers, Inc, which was also located in Phoenix. Six months later, Kelmscott Communications purchased PRINTSOURCE USA

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us at the 11th Annual NPSOA Owners Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Held from March 16-18th, this annual event is always one of the highlights of our year. We look forward to seeing and connecting with you there! It can be challenging to step away from the daily operations of your business, but it’s essential for your success. To get the most significant benefit from your time out of the office, you need to set goals and plan to make the most of this break. After all, if you’re investing money to attend a trade show, don’t you want to get something in return? Get the Most Out of Your Visit to NPSOA Conference with These 10 Tips! To ensure your hard-earned money and time are used efficiently, here are ten strategies to capitalize on this event and attain optimal returns. 1. Do Your Homework Before attending a trade show, you must do your homework to understand all available opportunities. To ensure you are adequately prepared for success, arm yourself with the necessary knowledge and resources to help you reach your goals. Here’s a list of items worth researching before getting started: The

How are you feeling about your marketing efforts so far this year? Have the first few months brought in more customers or increased sales? If you aren’t seeing the results you were hoping for, consider the importance of a regular, monthly mailing as part of your marketing routine. Be sure your company’s name and contact information is at your customers’ fingertips, so they think of you first when they need printing! DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH CLUB The February download from the Download of the Month Club will get you connecting with potential and current print buyers online like never before! This business-card-size social media networking card is the perfect way for you to get all of your online addresses into the hands of your audience. Simply add your logo and company contact information and hand out… everywhere! If you struggle with knowing you should promote your print business more but don’t have the time to put it all together, the Download of the Month Club is your self-promotion shortcut. With new, ready-to-print files provided to you monthly, each download is thoughtfully and precisely created to meet the marketing pain points of your business and give you a well-rounded collection of marketing

Located in South Central Illinois, the city of Effingham lies at the intersection of two major interstates and is considered the “Crossroads of Opportunity.” Dan and Madonna Patton of Patton Printing & Graphics couldn’t agree more. Introducing Patton Printing & Graphics In 1982, the Pattons were looking for a building for Madonna’s tailoring business, The Little Thimble. “We ended up buying a building with an extra room and started our print shop out of there. Our town didn’t have a print shop, and residents would have to drive almost 80 miles away for their printing needs,” Dan explains. “Although Effingham is a small town of 13,000, it’s been a very successful base of business for us, and our printshop quickly outgrew our tailoring business.” Today, Patton Printing & Graphics offers digital and offset printing, including brochures, banners, promotional products, and more. They’ve been a community business staple for 40 years, and it’s the 40-year celebration of Patton Printing that caught the eyes of Marketing Ideas For Printers. 40 Years. 40 Charities. A One-of-a-Kind Story of Giving Back Dan and Madonna are not only creative entrepreneurs, but they’re also generous. When you combine creativity, generosity, and a talented team, the results