We live in a world of convenience and taking shortcuts can cost your business in the long run. Searching the web for an online printer is a great way, and perhaps the only way, to find a good quality printer to provide brochures for you. It can save you time and money if …you are adept at creating print files for the press.
Once you find an online brochure printing service you can begin to build a relationship with your printing service. More and more businesses outsource printing services to cut down on overhead, free up staff to take care of other vital tasks, and take the worry out of completing the project.
Concentrate on mapping your message with your brochures and leave the rest to the your printing service. At Bartelby Press we can provide you with professional brochures at affordable prices, design the brochures and come up with a creative layout. A good deal of money can be saved: no need to hire an in-house designer, spend money on printing equipment and paper stock
You can find online printing companies by searching for “printing services Austin” and look for BartlebyPress.com
About the Author: Thomas Miner is the owner of Bartleby Press, a printing firm.
Bartleby Press
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Your First Impression is Your Last Impression
Presenting a good brochure may not close the deal but it can greatly improve your chances and leave a sustainable impression. Creating a good image when it comes to the use of printed material requires effort and finding a good printing service.
Begin by defining your image. Do you have photos collected and copy written? Do you have your specific colors picked out? Are you working in RGB or CMYK? Do you have corporate guidelines to follow? Do you know the finished size? Number of folds? If so, gather all required copy, logos, design requirements and PMS colors.
Computers have made creating brochures easy but knowing how to set margins, build gutters, sizing for bleeds, allow for cuts and folds requires skill and expertise. Purchasing a design program is expensive and if you are not in the business of marketing your time may be better spent on hiring a graphic designer and directing them. In most cases, a good printing service will offer solutions to make sure it is done correctly. If the piece is not complicated it can be done quickly and easily and worth every penny spent allowing you to do what you do best…sell your product and services.
When selecting your printing service ask about their capabilities. Are they short-run or long run? Do they have digital printing for quick turn-around? Or can they deliver variable data? Provide mailing lists? Direct mail services? Do they provide these services or sub-contract out? Examining the product requirements is crucial and the more questions you have answered the better you brochure will look and your chances of getting an accurate quote improved. Communicating with the providers either by visiting, calling or emailing is necessary. They can be a valuable resource for you.
Finding a good printing service may be a lengthy and time consuming process, but it is worth the effort. If they are a quality service you have just made a good friend. Besides no one likes to do business with people they don’t like or don't help you grow your business.
About the Author: Thomas Miner is the owner of Bartleby Press, a quality printing service.
Begin by defining your image. Do you have photos collected and copy written? Do you have your specific colors picked out? Are you working in RGB or CMYK? Do you have corporate guidelines to follow? Do you know the finished size? Number of folds? If so, gather all required copy, logos, design requirements and PMS colors.
Computers have made creating brochures easy but knowing how to set margins, build gutters, sizing for bleeds, allow for cuts and folds requires skill and expertise. Purchasing a design program is expensive and if you are not in the business of marketing your time may be better spent on hiring a graphic designer and directing them. In most cases, a good printing service will offer solutions to make sure it is done correctly. If the piece is not complicated it can be done quickly and easily and worth every penny spent allowing you to do what you do best…sell your product and services.
When selecting your printing service ask about their capabilities. Are they short-run or long run? Do they have digital printing for quick turn-around? Or can they deliver variable data? Provide mailing lists? Direct mail services? Do they provide these services or sub-contract out? Examining the product requirements is crucial and the more questions you have answered the better you brochure will look and your chances of getting an accurate quote improved. Communicating with the providers either by visiting, calling or emailing is necessary. They can be a valuable resource for you.
Finding a good printing service may be a lengthy and time consuming process, but it is worth the effort. If they are a quality service you have just made a good friend. Besides no one likes to do business with people they don’t like or don't help you grow your business.
About the Author: Thomas Miner is the owner of Bartleby Press, a quality printing service.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Back In The Day...
I can remember when MacIntosh computers were released in January of 1984, with 128K RAM of memory. It changed my life forever. When I opened Bartleby Press in 1986 it was a business in name only but that tiny screen computer revolutionized the print industry. I began by typesetting for a franchise print firm that used linotronic processing for their typesetting. For those of you under thirty it might as well as been as old as setting lead. The process for typesetting copy was either positive or negative. Positive is a photographic print that was then sent to a layout artist who cut and pasted (literally) copy in a format that was sent to a plate maker. The exposed press plates were made of paper and used on the press to create impressions. Consider the time and precision of labor needed to line up copy with a rule! With the MacIntosh typesetting was fast, accurate and inexpensive. I still employ an Eskofat camera for paper plates and will until it breaks and I cannot find replacement parts but the rubber cement, exacto knife and rules have all but disappeared in the art room. The art tables are reserved for piles of paper or a coffee stand.
I still have my Mac 512 and it works although I have not turned it on in years. It sits in the pressroom on a shelve in plain view. When I walk by the RipIt (computer to plate system), the digital press and the offset presses I am astounded at our progress in the print world and the continued success of the printed word in the Internet age.
About the Author:
Thomas Miner is the founder of Bartleby Press, a printing firm.
I still have my Mac 512 and it works although I have not turned it on in years. It sits in the pressroom on a shelve in plain view. When I walk by the RipIt (computer to plate system), the digital press and the offset presses I am astounded at our progress in the print world and the continued success of the printed word in the Internet age.
About the Author:
Thomas Miner is the founder of Bartleby Press, a printing firm.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Mapping a Message for Your Marketing Campaign
1. Do you know your Market?
Once you have defined your target audience your focus is and should be on customer pain points. Verifying and collecting that information is a difficult task that requires expertise and funding but for the small business you can begin by analyzing your own database. Knowing your current customer demographics is a good start: Their age range, male or female, education level, geographic location, what are their common pain points can you solve, as well as how they prefer to buy. This information will help you shape your marketing message.
2. Do you know where to find your market?
Find publications, clubs, associations, websites, conventions and other traditional networking events that serve the market. Evaluate your social media and connect/network much the same as you would in a room full of people.
Find publications, clubs, associations, websites, conventions and other traditional networking events that serve the market. Evaluate your social media and connect/network much the same as you would in a room full of people.
3. Do you have a position statement?
Have a position statement that is succinct and to the point. Most important, be able to describe your business in short phrasing that rolls off you tongue without a second thought.
Have a position statement that is succinct and to the point. Most important, be able to describe your business in short phrasing that rolls off you tongue without a second thought.
4. Do you have a call to action?
Solve a real problem. Meet a basic need. Repeat the benefits you provide for the price.
Solve a real problem. Meet a basic need. Repeat the benefits you provide for the price.
5. Define the offer in terms of benefits and assets.
Assets are what your service brings to the table or your product value. They refer to tangible aspects of your product like availability, delivery options, and your level of service.
Benefits are what your product or service offers that fulfill your customer’s needs. That which removes his pain point. They connect your product or service with value/emotion and the bottom line.
6. Do you have a system in place that will connect your marketing to sales?
Individual marketing pieces should be considered only a part of a larger plan that will lead your prospects to becoming customers. Begin by creating a plan so you know how all the pieces fit together to help your customer make the journey from prospect to paying customer. You may have to hire a 3rd party that can be objective and hand you an executive brief outlining a plan of action.
Individual marketing pieces should be considered only a part of a larger plan that will lead your prospects to becoming customers. Begin by creating a plan so you know how all the pieces fit together to help your customer make the journey from prospect to paying customer. You may have to hire a 3rd party that can be objective and hand you an executive brief outlining a plan of action.
Drive prospects from one marketing arena to another — from your traditional introductions to your social media network—e-mail newsletter to your website and your Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter and such. Weave your message and keep them engaged no matter where they interact with your company.
About the Author: Thomas Miner is the founder of Bartleby Press, a printing communication service.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Best Business Practices A Holistic Approach to Increase Sales
With all the down sizing of companies most of us find ourselves taking on more responsibility. And with that responsibility, there is little time for being completely thorough in one job. It is commonplace for a manager to oversee multiple departments.
Finding business partners that provide more service are likely to gain a larger share of business. For instance, at Bartleby Press, we are more than a printing service. We are becoming marketers for Demand Gen–a resource that archives and maintains files for easy retrieval. We are a copywriter, editor and proofreader; A designer, data base manager–whatever it takes to create a pipeline to automating your marketing collateral and solving business pain points. In short, customer service is becoming a commodity.
About the Author: Thomas Miner is President of Bartleby Press
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Write Powerful Church Bulletin Articles That Parishioners Will Read
How many phone calls have you received asking what times are Mass? Registration for Religious Ed classes? And all the information was in your Sunday bulletin!
A powerful written message can tell a story, report news, or help a cause. Smart writers know that great writing can get your message read. Writing takes time, and some skill, which catapults visibility of the message and drives results. Remember there is little room for long drawn out explanations of your cause. Reduce the basics of your message down to one sentence that answers the 5W’s of reporting – who, what, when, where and why. To get the results you want, follow these 4 steps.
Have a great headline
You only have a few seconds to grab a reader’s attention, so be sure to craft a headline. Lead with a concept, not your ministry name — your audience probably knows about your ministry, but they do care about finding a good story. Lead with a compelling concept to draw them in. Be creative — don’t confine yourself to the headlines you see create a headline that stands out. Test — test your headlines just like you would any other content. Find the headline that grabs attention and makes the reader want to learn more.
You only have a few seconds to grab a reader’s attention, so be sure to craft a headline. Lead with a concept, not your ministry name — your audience probably knows about your ministry, but they do care about finding a good story. Lead with a compelling concept to draw them in. Be creative — don’t confine yourself to the headlines you see create a headline that stands out. Test — test your headlines just like you would any other content. Find the headline that grabs attention and makes the reader want to learn more.
Avoid jargon
When writing bulletin copy remember to minimize technical jargon. Although relevant for some cases, jargon may confuse your audience and turn them off to your message. To engage new readers who may not be knowledgeable, write for a broader audience and increase the likelihood the content is shared. Keep it simple, and offer explanatory resources like your web page, contact name and phone number.
Provide resources
We don’t live in a one-dimensional world, and your bulletin shouldn’t look one-dimensional either. Provide added value to your bulletin article by including photos, links to source material and any other in-depth resources, giving your readers the assets they need to fully understand the news you’re providing them. Remember, we live in a digital world, so be sure these resources are web-ready and in the correct formats for web publication. The easier you make it for a parishioner/reader, the more likely they are to pick up on your message.
We don’t live in a one-dimensional world, and your bulletin shouldn’t look one-dimensional either. Provide added value to your bulletin article by including photos, links to source material and any other in-depth resources, giving your readers the assets they need to fully understand the news you’re providing them. Remember, we live in a digital world, so be sure these resources are web-ready and in the correct formats for web publication. The easier you make it for a parishioner/reader, the more likely they are to pick up on your message.
Proofread
Errors in grammar and spelling can take away from your overall message. Write your bulletin article in word processing document instead of a text file or online submission form. When you’ve got it drafted, print it out and proofread your writing. Correct and rewrite, then proofread again.
Errors in grammar and spelling can take away from your overall message. Write your bulletin article in word processing document instead of a text file or online submission form. When you’ve got it drafted, print it out and proofread your writing. Correct and rewrite, then proofread again.
Keep your audience in mind when creating your bulletin article and stick to these 4 tips. When you put the thought and time into creating a truly killer bulletin article, you’ll find it can gain readership to your bulletin and help promote your message.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
When is it best to use Digital Printing
Offset printing is the most common method of high volume printing while digital printing is gaining momentum as an important short run print method. It saves time, there is little variation in the print process, and it can print in hours. You can also add variable data printing to personalize your direct mail without slowing down the printing process.
Digital printing can be less expensive for small businesses that prefer a small print run as there is very little set up cost involved. Therefore if you want small quantities of business cards or flyers, brochures and promotional products you may be best served by opting for digital print. If you need large quantities of high-quality print, offset printing offers the better solution.
If you want to find out more about printing services contact Thomas Miner at Bartlebpress.com
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