As 2015 draws to a close and we look back and assess the results in our business, we are also looking forward into next year. By this time you should already have your preliminary business and marketing plans for 2016 in place. Of course that is often much easier said than done. But, even if you have your plans in place, having a checklist to make sure you have not missed anything is always a good thing to have.

In marketing, one of the most important terms that you need to keep in mind at all times is "focus." In order to run a successfully executed campaign, you need to remove as much of the superfluous noise from your materials as possible and boil it down to the core essentials. You can't appeal to all people all of the time, which is why focusing on  is so important. Buyer personas are a concept that allow you to do just that in a host of different ways, all of which are beneficial to you and your team moving forward.

As you enter the world of business, you're told time and again that your brand is essentially everything. It's the first encounter that most customers have with your organization and it's your connection to those people, particularly when it comes to establishing the type of meaningful and long-lasting relationship you need to survive. While all of this and more is definitely true, there is one important thing that your brand is NOT: immortal.

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.”
– Dr. Christiane Northrup

Have you ever felt under-appreciated? It is unfortunately a common condition in our culture. But, we can do something to combat its ubiquity. Like so many negative influences in our lives, we can turn this around and reverse its influence by doing the exact opposite. Actions may speak louder than words, but some words can have an unforgettable impact.

Marketing materials that you put out into the world aren't just a great way to introduce a new product or service to your target audience. If done properly, they can also be an invaluable way to create a huge amount of buzz and anticipation surrounding an upcoming product or service launch. That can then translate into increased sales when it is eventually ready for release. By keeping just a few, key things in mind, you can use hype to your advantage and build the type of momentum that most businesses can only dream of.

Master the Art of the Tease

One of the major lessons to be learned about building anticipation for a new product or service through marketing is to master the concept of teasing.

If you truly want to draw attention to your business and potentially attract a whole new variety of customers, there are few better ways to accomplish this than with a great marketing event. Regardless of the type of industry that you're in, a marketing event is a great way to get a hold of some people who wouldn't normally have your business on their radar. To accomplish this, however, you need to keep a few key things in mind.

As a small to mid-sized business you are constantly striving to stay in the front of your customers’ minds so that when they need your services, you are the first vendor they think of. Although there are a multitude of different marketing ideas for accomplishing this objective, most of them tend to be very expensive while not offering the reward that you are looking for. You need to create a piece that has a long-standing track record of success while not blowing your limited marketing budget out of the water. Here is a great idea for you: rack cards and flyers.

Trade Shows Are One Opportunity You Just Can't Afford to Pass Up

Like any business, you probably use a wide range of marketing materials in an attempt to spread your message far and wide. Even though you rely heavily on the print techniques that have worked so well in the past, you've probably also branched out into the wonderful world of social media and digital marketing. But one marketing opportunity remains largely untapped by many businesses. That opportunity is the trade show, which brings with it a wide range of prospects you can't ignore.

Building brand awareness is one of the cornerstones of successful marketing. Print It Plus has the expertise to help you and your company create and market your brand. We know that building a powerful, long-lasting brand starts with a consistent core strength, mission and values of your company, not your logo. Your logo as it is important to represent your brand but, it is only a small part of the way your company is viewed by customers. Your mission and value have to be driven by your brand and from everyone in your organization. When you analyze it, the your brand is actually more of a feeling than an object.

How a doctor’s office or hospital can be more successful at getting referrals

Getting consistently great results for physician marketing and relations is the goal of every physician relations and hospital marketing department. Since the potential opportunities are out there, CEOs and other decision makers often invest valuable resources into building up their physician relation and marketing departments. Unfortunately, CEOs often become impatient with the progress of the relations and discontinue or severely shrink the size of the program before it has had time to really take hold with the local physician community.

So, the question becomes what can liaisons do to justify their existence and produce quicker, more actionable results?

Quick Turnaround Business Cards

We have discussed the importance of business cards before in posts on this blog. Even with all of the technological advances we humans have developed over the last several decades, the business card is still most often your first piece of branding that a potential new client or business alliance sees during and/or right after initial contact. This particularly holds true for any small to medium-sized business person who is trying to build his or her brand through networking, charity, and other types of social events.

Creating a business card that helps you to make a positive, professional first impression is not a new or unique situation for us at Print It Plus. From the design and layout of your card (including the logo design) right through proofing and production, we have been turning out award-winning cards for over 25 years. In fact, just last week we had a new client come to us and order business cards with an extra short turn-around time. Here is the situation as it unfolded.

Predictive Analytics: One of the Keys to Direct Mail Marketing Success in 2015 and Beyond

Direct mail marketing is still one of the best and most efficient ways to connect to your target audience, even in this social-media-centric world. But that doesn't mean you need to eschew technology altogether. Case in point: predictive analytics are quickly becoming not just a recommendation, but a requirement for anyone running a direct mail campaign.

What Are Predictive Analytics?

At their core, predictive analytics leverage statistics, data mining, and similar techniques to create a prediction about future behaviors. The idea is to take the past behavior of your target audience and use it to make educated guesses about future activities.

Ever Wondered Just How Effective a Call to Action Really Is?

While it's true the larger goal of your marketing efforts involves spreading the word about the products or services you sell, this isn't the only thing you're trying to accomplish. Gently guiding your customers through the various stages of the sales funnel, from the moment they begin looking for a solution to the moment they choose to do business with you, is arguably even more important. When it comes to that particular goal, perhaps the most important weapon in your arsenal is and will always be the call to action.

Reliable reminders your customer will reach for from Print It Plus

As a small to mid-sized business person one of the most important ways to grow your business is through exposing your brand to as many potential clients and referral sources as possible. One way to do this is to consistently attend networking events, local Chambers and other group meetings as often as possible. And once you are at these events, the first piece of branding that everyone you meet sees after meeting you is your business card.

What Preschoolers Can Teach Us About Marketing

Anyone who's ever spent time with preschoolers in a classroom knows just how amazingly active the place can get. Children at this age are immensely curious about the world around them and work to absorb every bit of information they can. In their learning process, they not only start to understand their own situations, but also gain the tools needed to teach the rest of us some important lessons about marketing and running a business.