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

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

Today, it can often feel like we’re living in a digital world. But how is your printing company advertising itself online? Websites are often the first place customers will go to learn more about a company’s products and services. So how can you create or update your company’s website to grab customers’ attention and make a great first impression? Here are five ways you can make your website effective and engaging. 5 Tips to Make Your Printing Company’s Website Shine 1. Highlight reviews and testimonials on your webpage. According to TechJury, 60% of customers say they trust the reviews from other customers. So use responses from genuine print buyers to prove your company’s quality! Create a separate page for testimonials and reviews, or paste a quote from a satisfied customer on the homepage of your website. If you don’t have reviews built up for your company yet, this is an important thing to focus on. After you’ve worked with a satisfied print buyer, simply ask them for a brief review of their experience in working with your company. 2. Use your website to promote future outreach. Your website is the perfect place to let customers know about your company’s email

As the printing industry continues to evolve and become increasingly competitive, your printing company has to stay ahead of the curve to succeed. With a few simple steps and a little planning, you can start now to ensure you’re ready for success in 2023. Here are ten things you should consider doing today to help your printing business sell more this year. 1. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan With the right comprehensive marketing strategy, you can reach your target print buyers and stand out from the competition. Researching trends and understanding customer needs allows for creating targeted campaigns to increase the effectiveness of your marketing initiatives. All in all, get your marketing off of the back burner and invest in putting your brand front and center. 2. Invest in modern printing technology and software to increase efficiency To stay competitive in the printing industry now is the time to invest in modern printing technology and software. If you haven’t looked at Odyssey 2.0 for your Print Management Information System (Print MIS) needs lately, what are you waiting for? Odyssey 2.0 is a powerful and intuitive software solution designed to help your print businesses increase its efficiency and profitability. With an