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Archive for August, 2007

Surefire Page Design For Your Brochures

In Design Tips, Printing Tips on August 29, 2007 at 6:15 pm

A surefire way to create an effective brochure for your business is to combine your brochure printing elements to develop a strong design. A well planned brochure printing layout would definitely provide your business with print materials that are sure knockouts, as well as readable and easy to understand promotional tools.

 

One way to do this is to determine your pages and panels in your brochure printing project.

 

Your pages and panels would determine the cover of your brochure. The number of pages you have would determine what kind of cover would be suitable for your print brochures. More pages would need a heavy-weight paper stock to be able to hold everything. You could also use a glossy type paper which can get you that extra mileage when it comes to getting the attention of your prospective clients.

 

In addition, your number of pages would also determine how many products and content you can put in your brochure printing project.

 

Nevertheless, you can also provide a good design for your brochure printing project even if you decide to use a one-page layout. You can further optimize this type of brochure when you use multiple folds for your overall layout. Despite its limited page, you are able to provide your prospective clients with an alternative to the usual style of brochures out there.

 

The next time you’re thinking about creating your brochure printing project, plan your design according to the pages and panels in your print materials. This would help you a lot in making your brochure printing design more attractive and appealing to your target clients.

Surefire Page Design For Your Brochures

In Design Tips, Printing Tips on August 29, 2007 at 6:15 pm

A surefire way to create an effective brochure for your business is to combine your brochure printing elements to develop a strong design. A well planned brochure printing layout would definitely provide your business with print materials that are sure knockouts, as well as readable and easy to understand promotional tools.

 

One way to do this is to determine your pages and panels in your brochure printing project.

 

Your pages and panels would determine the cover of your brochure. The number of pages you have would determine what kind of cover would be suitable for your print brochures. More pages would need a heavy-weight paper stock to be able to hold everything. You could also use a glossy type paper which can get you that extra mileage when it comes to getting the attention of your prospective clients.

 

In addition, your number of pages would also determine how many products and content you can put in your brochure printing project.

 

Nevertheless, you can also provide a good design for your brochure printing project even if you decide to use a one-page layout. You can further optimize this type of brochure when you use multiple folds for your overall layout. Despite its limited page, you are able to provide your prospective clients with an alternative to the usual style of brochures out there.

 

The next time you’re thinking about creating your brochure printing project, plan your design according to the pages and panels in your print materials. This would help you a lot in making your brochure printing design more attractive and appealing to your target clients.

Body Heat To Charge Gadgets

In Promotion on August 28, 2007 at 9:09 pm

A new technology would give a totally new meaning to the phrase “hot bodies”. I just read from Yahoo news that soon our very own body heat would be able to power most of our electronic gadgets such as our mobile phones, laptops, iPods, among others. And we don’t even have to work up a sweat to do it. Even if you are a couch potato, you may be able to charge your gadgets by generating enough heat from your body.

 

According to Yahoo, the research was initiated in the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. Researchers from that institute are actually creating specially made circuits which allow body heat to charge electronic devices.

 

This is indeed groundbreaking news for most of us. This would mean less use of battery generated devices, especially mobile phones and medical monitors that have been sources of radiation ever since. We don’t have to be concerned with the radiation being emitted by the batteries for these devices as the new technology will almost (if not totally) eliminate the use of batteries to charge our electronic gadgets.

 

The specially made circuits apply the TEG principle (thermoelectric generators) – the same one used for semiconductor parts. By extracting electrical energy from the temperature difference between the hot and cold environments and then combining this energy with several other components to boost it, researchers of the new technology can store up enough amounts to operate one electronic device.

 

Now this is interesting news indeed!

The Canon EOS 40D

In Design Tips, Printing Tips, Promotion on August 28, 2007 at 8:44 pm

The EOS 40D was recently introduced by Canon in the market with advanced amateur and semi-professional photographers in mind. With features such as 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 6.5 frames per second burst performance, newly developed AF system, and a 3.0” LCD with Live View mode, the Canon EOS 40D is definitely an impressive equipment to look forward to.

In addition to these specifications, the Canon EOS 40D is simply amazing because the manufacturers retained the camera benefits found from its predecessor – a responsive operation, enhanced color rendering, and near-instant start-up time – all of which allows for a more versatile and well developed performance for users.

And as always, the EOS 40D includes the “Integrated Cleaning System” present in all EOS models, which fights sensor dust and allows for a weather resistant element for long-lasting durability.

Why the EOS 40D is considered an absolute upgrade? For one, the CMOS sensor is improved with high quality image of up to ISO 1600. It has a “Highlight Tone Priority” mode that provides photographers, particularly those involved in weddings and landscapes, the capability to create a more tonal detail to lighter colored objects.

Two, the 6.5 frames per second burst performance provide users with the capability to handle up to 75 Large JPEGs continuously. This allows for smoother gradations, as well as excellent and accurate color in reproductions.

Three, the EOS 40D newly developed AF system gives users the ability to focus both on vertical and horizontal planes, with a dedicated AF button which allows photographers to click on the auto focus with the use of the thumb.

And four, the LCD with Live View mode helps users to shoot at awkward angles. With the AF-ON button, photographers can set their EOS 40D to allow auto focus by flipping the camera mirror for a moment.

With enhanced technologies found in the EOS series, Canon has definitely made another mark that keeps them at the top of their industry. 

Making Memorable Poster Designs

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 24, 2007 at 10:11 pm

What makes other poster printing designs stand out? Why do other posters prove to be attention grabbers time and again?

 

The purpose of your poster printing project is to increase your target market’s awareness of you and your business. The best way to do that is to create a memorable poster printing design that reflects your unique identity.

 

Almost all the tips and suggestions in poster printing design and layout are the same. Some graphic designers and gurus only add a thing or two, and more often, most of them review old rules and reconfigure an alternative.

 

Although you’ve always abided with poster printing rules of design, most business owners tend to forget that a “well proportioned, carefully balanced and perfectly coordinated” poster design is not always the most effective. You have to take note that predictability is not the same with outstanding.

 

Mistakes are often made because:

 

1 – Your poster printing design tries to be more elegant rather than outstanding. Hence, your posters become inconspicuous and low key, as opposed to being outright elaborate.

 

2 – Your poster printing design fits in with the rest of the crowd.

 

3 – Your poster printing design looks like it’s cheap.

 

4 – Your posters are placed inappropriately, and at the same time at the most unlikely places.

 

The purpose of the exercise is to make your poster printing project stand out. So you have to remember that it doesn’t always pay to be the same as with everybody else. What worked for another may not have the same effect on your business. Similarly, abiding by the rules will almost always cost you – not only your money but most importantly, you’re chance to stand out.

Get Your Postcards Mailed With These Standards

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 23, 2007 at 11:36 pm

What is so great about postcards is that you can send it by mail without even an envelope to hide your postcard printing message. Your postcard printing content and information are there for everyone to see. In fact, you can already decide whether to keep a postcard or dunk it in the trash when you see one. That means that even if you just got a glimpse of the content, you saw enough to help you make your decision.

 

So what postcard printing piece gets mailed and what’s not? Here are the guidelines for standard postcard mail sizes:

 

- Postcard size of 3.5 x 5 inches is allowed. Less than that and your postcard printing material will not be mailed by the USPS.

 

- Postcard size of 4.25 x 6 inches is allowed. Anything more than that and your postcard printing pieces must be mailed as a letter, with a higher rate.

 

- Postcards are allowed with a minimum thickness of .007 inches. Anything less is non-mailable.

 

- Postcards are allowed with a maximum thickness of .25 inches. More than that and your postcard printing pieces are considered as a Parcel.

 

- Postcards with intermediate sizes (like A4 x 5.5 inches postcards) can be mailed at a postcard rate. However, the postcard printing pieces should be within the specified size, thickness, weight, specifications discussed to be considered as postcard mail.

 

Happy postcard mailing!

Brochures: Printed Marketing Tools To Combine With Your Online Shop

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 23, 2007 at 11:29 pm

Brochure printing materials are very popular among graphic designers and business owners because of their flexibility. Over time, brochures have proven their place in the marketing industry as one of the most effective promotional tools.

 

Nevertheless, with the advent of technology, people are starting to rely too much on the web for their marketing strategies. Often, business owners have put up or are about to develop a website to market their business.

 

But despite its presence, businesses still fail even if they invest in making their marketing medium a success. The reason? Over reliance on one promotional tool is not enough to achieve success. You need at least two promotional mediums to help each other to promote your business.

 

This is where your print brochures come in.

 

In order for you to get to your target market, you need to combine your brochure printing project with your online store. Not everyone has access to computers. Your brochures will be your alternate when technology is inaccessible.

 

Unlike your online shop, brochures are always available for your target audience to browse at their own sweet time. They don’t need to go online to get to know you better. Second, although people have caught up with the times, we still expect brochure printing materials in the form of paper and ink. We have this predilection for something tangible to hold on to.

 

Definitely, without your brochure printing pieces to support your online shop, you’ll just be wandering throughout your lifetime without the success you’ve always hoped for.

A Great Business Card Has The Right Message

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 23, 2007 at 6:58 pm

A business card is part and parcel of any successful marketing campaign. Despite its size, your business card printing project can tell your potential clients what to expect from your business. Although you most likely won’t be able to tell the whole story of your company from your business cards, but what you lack in data, you more than compensate for your style and image.

 

A good and effective business card printing project makes or breaks a business. Your potential clients will make their first impression based on your business cards. Hence, your potential clients expect more from your business card printing items than from the other promotional tools in your marketing arsenal.

 

So how do you achieve success from your business cards? Success can be had if you know how to convey the right message in your business card printing pieces.

 

A great business card has the makings of an excellent style that exemplifies your image, your personality as a business, and the way you conduct your business. And your business card printing style depends on the business niche you’re in. For example, if you’re into designing and graphic arts, you won’t design you’re business cards in plain black and white, do you? Similarly, if you’re business is a high end one, you wouldn’t be caught dead handing out business cards with the Looney Tunes as your border and background.

 

When crafting your business card printing design, choose a style that best suits your kind of business. After all, you don’t want your potential customer to mistake you for a funeral director when you have a travel agency as your business.

Youtube’s Success and Catalog Printing

In Promotion on August 23, 2007 at 6:31 pm

Youtube has become a household name in the short time that it started to broadcast online videos of just about any topic under the sun. In fact, when asked about online video sites, Youtube gets to be number one in the list.

 

Youtube is considered as one of the most popular online videos sites. Many users basically use this site to create, upload, and post their personal videos for millions of viewers. And it’s free. So you don’t have to worry about payments or anything of the kind.

 

So why is it so popular? It’s popular because for one thing, it’s free. You can post whatever and as many videos you want in Youtube’s site.

 

But the most significant reason is that Youtube gives every individual the chance to become a Steven Spielberg or a Francis Ford Coppola for once in their lives. And the great thing about it is that we are able to share our videos to the rest of the planet. This is what draws people to Youtube – the rawness, the peculiarity of the themes and topics in every video posted by common people.

 

And it’s so easy uploading your amateur videos. It only takes a few minutes and you’re on your way to becoming the next popular director.

Despite earlier comments of Youtube being just a trend that will fade later on, it seems to be flourishing with thousands, maybe millions even, of viewers getting online everyday.

 

Now, if we could only transfer Youtube’s success to your catalog printing you’ll be one happy business owner, indeed.

Different Paper Stocks For The Pages Of Your Catalogs

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 21, 2007 at 6:09 pm

In addition to your design, content and printing style, your paper stock provides a big difference to the overall effect of your catalog printing project. To optimize your choice of paper for a more effective catalog printing pieces, here are a few of the things you need to know:

 

Coated or Uncoated, please. –

Coated or uncoated stocks are two types of paper used in commercial catalog printing. They are further sorted by weight; hence, we have the text and cover stock.

 

The text stock is the lighter of the two that it is often used for the body pages of a catalog printing project. More so with its price, which is less than the cover stock. The cover stock, on the other hand, is made of heavier and more durable paper that is why it is generally used for the outside catalog printing cover. It is also very popular among users because it adds a classier feel to the print pieces with its thickness.

 

Gloss and matte for Coated Papers –

Often, flyers and catalogs are printed on 80# gloss stock paper to make it more upscale and professional. It has a shiny, reflective finish that gives full color pictures and images a more vivid and brilliant appearance.

 

In contrast, matte is a coated paper regularly utilized for pages with more content and text than images. The matte look makes it easy for viewers to read the text or type of your catalog printing pieces.

 

Do You Need An Envelope Printer?

In Uncategorized on August 21, 2007 at 6:08 pm

When your shopping list always includes address labels, then yes, you should seriously think about getting one of those envelope printers.

 

When you need to print more than thousands of envelopes per hour, then yes, I strongly recommend you do get yourself an envelope printer.

 

When your efforts to print your envelopes with an ordinary personal printer are always a failure, then yes, you should seriously think about getting yourself an envelope printer.

 

When you always have to make do with the envelopes you were able to print from your personal printer because reproducing another batch costs too much, then yes, definitely, you should get yourself an envelope printer.

 

Yes, an envelope printer can do all that and more. With an envelope printer, you are able to print not only hundreds, but thousands of envelope printing pieces in an hour. An envelope printer can handle different mailing sizes – from postcard sizes to full sized clasp envelopes. It can also handle as mush as 1.25 inches thick of pure solid envelope printing pieces.

 

And you don’t have to come out dull and boring with your envelope printing project. Envelope printer models can print in black, as well as in full color with ranges from 150 to 600 dots per inch.

 

Although the envelope printer can cost you a little higher than doing it in an ordinary laser printer, when you have an envelope printing project in thousands every month, it is eventually more reasonable and economical to purchase one.

 

There’s no question about it, when you have more problems and it costs you too much every time you do your envelope printing job in an ordinary printer, then it’s time for you to consider getting one for yourself. Or else, you could always go to an envelope printing company to do the job for you.

How To Create A Strong Brand Message In Your Catalogs

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 16, 2007 at 5:15 am

Your brand message is what keeps your relationship with your target clients strong. Whatever your target clients see in your catalog printing pieces is what will help them to decide to bond with you and your business.
 
Your brand message is your commitment to your prospective customers to provide them with better service than any other companies in your industry.
 
So what makes a brand message strong? It all starts with your target market. You have to determine which target market will you concentrate on. This factor is the most significant element in developing your catalog printing message. Different sectors would mean a different message for each.
 
Creating your brand message involves a deeper connection with your target market. It is a promise made and kept regarding your way of service.
 
And how do you keep your promise? By understanding more of your target market’s interests and desires. You need to keep abreast of many factors like their spending habits, their age, their gender, your target market’s educational level, among others. All of these things will determine your catalog printing plan for your brand message. 
 
When you know who you would want to get in touch with, it would be easier for you to develop what you would want to say to your target market. To effectively promote your business, your brand message should tell your target audience what makes you different from all the rest. What would make your target readers choose you? Why do you think you’re better than the other competition? 
 
Plan what you would want to say to your target clients. Choose your brand message carefully. What you put in your catalog printing brand message would be the determining factor that will decide whether your prospective client would stick with you or not.

Are You Content With Your Brochure Printing Copy?

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 16, 2007 at 5:09 am

Full color photos and graphics make for an attractive brochure printing for your target audience. While it is true that your images make your target audience look, it is the content or brochure printing copy that makes them stick a while longer.
 
Your brochure printing content holds your prospective readers’ attention, far longer than your images would. Isn’t it one of your end goals to have your prospective clients read your message? Better than the images, your brochure printing copy provides the meat – the information – that would help your target clients decide to go for your products and services.  
 
Nevertheless, selling an idea to your target readers’ needs a well thought of plan. You need to determine what would be your strongest selling points when you promote your products and services in your brochure printing copy. Persuading them to do more than read your brochures requires extra effort from your brochure printing content.
 
Be simple and brief. Although you have many pages to write your content, it is still suggested that you limit your brochure printing copy to a minimum. Do not bombard your target readers with too much information that they get sleepy over your products and services. Keeping your sentences brief and concise would help your target readers to understand better what you are offering them.
 
Be careful with your words. You know “Sticks and stones may break my bones…”, well, it’s the same with your brochure printing project. Your words can make your target audience accept or reject whatever you have to offer them. Your choice of words is important in your brochure printing content as it should be understood by the group of people you are targeting. You might want to use professional language if you’re into high end products and services; and a more casual content would be appropriate if you are targeting the younger generation.
 
“It’s all about YOU.” Focus your attention on your target readers. It’s all about them and not you and your business. Remember to use more of “you” rather than the “I”. They will respond more to your message when they know that you are talking about them and their needs.
 
In addition to your images, your content gives you further leverage when it comes to persuading your target audience to buy what you are offering them.  A brochure printing content that is simple yet packed with information would get you more buyers than you can ever imagine.

Postcard Marketing Tricks To Help You (Part 1)

In Printing Tips, Promotion on August 14, 2007 at 12:02 am

Getting new customers to add to your current database is a very difficult challenge that faces every business owner everyday. Even armed with a powerful marketing strategy, most business owners often struggle in attracting new clients to their fold.
 
One of the popular marketing tricks used by business owners is to offer different incentives and pricing discounts to get as much prospective clients to try them and their products. This includes offer of freebies, discounts, sale incentives, and even extra allowances for new clients. However, it is often very hard to provide incentives when you’re working on a tight budget.
 
This is the reason why postcards are very popular with small business owners. Postcards are more cost effective to print compared to the other marketing tools. Nevertheless, postcard alone won’t get clients for you. Postcards with additional incentives would definitely do the trick.
 
Here are some of the postcard marketing tricks to get you more clients:
 
1 – Hosting an event. Your postcards can promote a special event highlighted by a fundraiser or even a celebrity appearance. This is one surefire method to promote your business, as well as maintain your relationship with current clients.
 
2 – Provide coupons. Your postcards can serve as coupons that you can hand out just about anywhere. Nevertheless, coupons can be ineffective when done haphazardly. To develop a winning postcard coupon, be sure to offer a generous incentive to attract attention.
 
3 – Include free gifts in your postcards. People do love getting things for free. A free gift in your postcards can definitely get you clients knocking on your door.
 
You can think of other incentives to include in your postcards. Always remember that it’s not the information and features that get you clients- it’s the benefits that make your clients attracted to your business.

Pricing Quotes From Your Online Printing Company

In Printing Tips on August 9, 2007 at 10:10 pm

When you need to get a price quote for any of your marketing project – it may be brochures, postcards, posters, catalogs, or even business cards – with an online printing company, you can choose between two options: (1) from a customer service representative; or (2) instant pricing.

The conventional way of getting your printing costs is to contact a company via its customer service representative. In addition to the online printing company’s website, information such as the telephone number, fax number, and even a toll free number are provided for clients. A customer service representative or a sales agent can easily help you determine the most appropriate price for your marketing project. All you have to do is to provide them with your requirements (e.g. paper stock, inks, size specifications, finishing, choice of colors, etc.) and they will be able to give you the best price and keep your costs to a minimum.

On the other hand, instant pricing from online printing companies are getting to be very popular these days. You just log on to an online printing company website, upload your printing requirements in the slots provided, and then you can have your price quotes in a flash. There’s no need for you to haggle with another person. It’s straightforward and most clients find it more convenient and for the most part, quicker than getting a customer service representative to provide you with your price quotes.

Nevertheless, you still have to check and double check what is listed in your price quote. Either from a customer service representative or an instant pricing, wherever you choose to get your online printing costs, be sure to pick several companies so you can compare and get the most out of your time and budget. 

Honesty Is Still The Best Policy When It Comes To Brochures

In Printing Tips, Uncategorized on August 9, 2007 at 10:07 pm

The bottom line for any brochure printing project–it is not how well you design your layout or combine the elements to come up with a pleasing and quality print brochures. Your brochure printing pieces would not be worth anything if you don’t have honesty on your side of your business.

With the need to say anything positive to everyone to get a positive response from our target audience, we often make the mistake of embellishing our product information and brochure printing content. Our brochure printing projects (or any marketing material for that matter) often paint a pretty picture of our business and what we can provide our target audience. This is evident in every glossy and brilliant marketing medium that we produce to entice our target clients to avail of our product and service.

As business owners, we spend much of our budget and time to develop and produce the ultimate quality brochure printing piece to highlight and even gloss over what is really happening with our business. Messages are strategically planned and placed to convey the most persuasive angle. Our brochure printing design is often bombarded with brilliant and colorful designs with the aim to dazzle and inspire awe. 

However, we need to realize that people are very smart and that everyone knows one scam from the other. We need to know that people have the tendency to reject anything that doesn’t sound true and are embellished with so many things to dazzle. With so many trimmings, our target audience knows how to sift through all that and get to the nitty gritty of what makes one business work.

The bottom line- despite all the trimmings you put in your brochure printing pieces, your target reader knows how to scour through all that and get to the most important aspect of your business. And that is quality customer service that promotes confidence and honesty with your target clients.  

5 Elements Your Business Card Can’t Do Without

In Uncategorized on August 9, 2007 at 10:03 pm

Handing out your business cards is like having a box of chocolates where you never know what you’re going to get next. Same with the exchange of business cards; you’ll never know how your target client would react to your business card printing project. Either they accept your business card or reject it.

In business card printing, it’s all about what elements you have included in your design that would make your target client keep your business card. Here are the 5 top most elements that your business card printing should never go without.

Number 5: Fax Number. Although there’s the ubiquitous email and web message, there are still those who prefer using fax machines to relay messages. That is why your fax number should be up there along with your telephone number just to be sure that you cover all the possible areas of getting connected.

Number 4: Web Site. Who doesn’t have a website nowadays? Your business card printing project should have the information where your reader could link to your website if they want to check out your company’s information and work experience.

Number 3: Telephone/Mobile Number and Email Address. It’s either the telephone or mobile phone (because just about everybody has a mobile phone, not to mention that a telephone is an important item in every household or office) for communication; or the email when busy clients would prefer to contact you via this medium. 

Number 2: Company Name. Your company name is as important as your contact information. So never go without your company name in your business card printing project.

And the Number 1: Company Logo. Your logo is your company statement. It is how you can be recognized and be remembered by your readers.

By making sure that the top 5 elements are in your business cards, business owners can guarantee that theirs won’t be included with those thrown in the garbage bin.

Long Term Poster Design and Printing Plan

In Uncategorized on August 1, 2007 at 12:01 am

Poster printing has become a popular marketing campaign strategy that delivers big results–we all know that. But one thing probably new to your ear is that periodic launching of poster campaigns not just capture the audiences’ attention and convert them into actual buying clients. They also establish over time a brand identity that allows people to instantly recognize your marketing collateral even after a mere glimpse. For this reason, planning the design of your posters, and the designs then on after, directed towards a corporate theme or identity is one of the most significant strategy that you can develop for your business.

 

What is an identity anyway? Your business or brand identity in your marketing tools—whether you use brochures, postcards, or posters—is more than just creating a flashy logo. Your identity is what would differentiate your business from all the others in your field. Your logo is beyond a mere design. Rather, it’s something you should build your company’s belief and character around. It should symbolize what your organization believes in or what it is looking at as a goal. Most companies, as it is proven effective, fuses modern icons or modern design to allow their logos or design theme to appeal to the newer generation making it a hippier brand to know and eventually patronize.

 

In order to be different, you need to have a design plan that can withstand time. No matter how many years would pass, your identity should be able to sustain your position in your industry.

 

Take for example the golden arches and the swoosh sign. You know when you see them that the former is McDonald’s and just thinking about their sign makes you hanker for a Quarter Pounder. A swoosh in your shoes only means one thing- durability and comfort that Nike has established over the years.

 

More than anything else, a consistent poster design in print, or moreso on your other marketing materials, would provide your audience with the message that you are a company that is stable and durable and is worth their buck. As long as you support your logo with nothing but quality products, services and customer relations, your icon can go a long way. Who knows maybe one day, you’ll see yours right next to that swoosh and those golden arches?