View from Mount Olympus
‘Push’ and ‘Pull’ Marketing
Before deciding whether “push” or “pull” marketing activities are right for your company, you should fully understand the differences between the two. “Pull” marketing strategies are excellent for lead generation. Once prospects are qualified, “push” marketing strategies can help influence buying behavior. Read More >>
Building Brands
A Message from Your Post Office about e-Tailing, Catalogs and Business Services
The U.S. Postal Service has some useful insights to share with those engaged in the communications business. Its main point is “Zappos.com and Dell weren’t always the big names in e-tail that they are today”—so states its Website. Read More >>
Success.In.Print
Assumptions Have No Place in Printing Sales
Ass-u-me. The lesson that I continually learn from a phrase like this is that no matter what I THINK I know, I’d better take action and operate on only those facts that I know to be absolutely true. Read More >>
Margie's Buyer Insights
What Print Buyers DO Want
Earlier this summer, a printer e-mailed me to ask if I had a handy list of what print buyers want. A “simple list” is what he actually called it. There’s nothing simple about such a list, because print buyers are not all the same. Read More >>
The Sales Challenge
Ten Rules of Sales Etiquette
Life has changed a great deal in the 29 years I’ve been in sales. Electronic barriers, such as voice mail and Caller ID, give customers the chance to hide and ignore calls. Overall, some would say people are more rude than ever. But as my 85-year-old mother would say, you can only manage you. Read More >>
Real World Digital
Lights, Camera, Action! - Putting Your Business on Video (Part II)
Video can be a powerful communication tool and engages people in ways that mere words cannot. Picking up where we left off, here are the other things you need to think about when planning, creating, shooting and editing a video to help promote your business and all the value you bring to your customers.
Read More >>
Printoolz
Ten Things You Should Know About the iPad in the Real World
People have said many things about the iPad. It has been called everything from “revolutionary” to “overblown.” It is both. It is most certainly a unique addition to the myriad choices we now have for exchanging digital information, and it has been so well received that it has already made a huge impact on the publishing market. Read More >>
On the Road
Finch Paper Displays its Green Credentials
Finch Paper recently opened its mill (and forests) in Glens Falls, NY, to several industry media and analysts, myself included. The tour featured an up-close view of the company’s integrated paper-making facility, which includes a woodyard, pulp mill and four paper machines. Read More >>
Gapen on UV
Printing Plastics not a Slam Dunk with UV
The objective is to use a sufficient amount of energy to dry the inks correctly, but not to distort the plastic so it looks like a potato chip. Dyne levels of the plastics along with chemistry compatibility continue to have a large effect on successful adhesion and end result. Read More >>
Pressing Ahead
Style Flexing to Service your Customers Well
Style flexing is an easy concept to grasp, but difficult to do. You need to concentrate on the other person’s needs and how they want to be communicated with when making decisions. Read More >>
Trish Talks Finishing
Standard Horizon Blends Intelligence, Ergonomics and Speed in New Automated Folder
Removing the tool shafts from a folder is one of the most time-consuming, troublesome (and dangerous) changeover activities for an operator. The new AFC-746F automated folder offers an alternative.
Read More >>
Paper Guru
Pulp Prices are Down; What About Paper?
Pulp prices are slipping. Will paper prices follow? No. Pulp prices are determined by the supply and demand for pulp, while paper prices are determined by the supply and demand for paper. Read More >>
Printers’ Pulse
Snapio.com Uses Universal Language for Contest
Social networking sites can be fun but soon turn into "me, too" propositions, even from a business standpoint. Snapio.com has gone green in its marketing networking initiatives, but it's got nothing to do with environmental sustainability. It's a green that never goes out of style. Read More >>
Nick's PrintSpective
Applying Stochastic - not Sun - Screening
I sought out a CSR position at Bolger “Vision Beyond Print” because I wanted to be involved in the entire print production process, starting from when the sales rep hands me the job all the way to when it’s shipped out the door. Read More >>
Speak Your Piece
The Next Wave of Cross-Media Communications: A Perfect Storm
Marketers are hustling to respond to the changing needs of customers with personalized offers that address where, when and how they want to be reached. Read More >>
Printblogalooza
Wired Magazine – iPad Edition Review
Wired magazine released it’s newest addition designed specifically for the iPad. It met my expectation in the sense of how it blended the magazine experience and the abilities of the iPad. Read More >>
Crossed My Mind
Getting Peanut Butter on Your Chocolate
While sitting around a table with a group of printers, I was hearing that business is starting to pick up after last year, but the commoditization of print is making pricing ever more cut throat. Read More >>
Mark My Words
Trade Show Managers Blast McCormick Place
Higher trade show expenditures directly impact industry suppliers' bottom lines, which ultimately get passed along to consumers (you) in several ways. Read More >>
Green Media Matters
Companies Exhibit Their 'Green' and Impact Graphic Communications
For companies with trade shows in their marketing mix, lowering the carbon footprint of their participation is coming under fire and several have made significant changes in their involvement that will directly affect show management as well vendors supplying them. Any organization counting on the business generated by clients’ trade show participation should take heed. Read More >>
The Mañana Man Online
Reflecting on Quad/Graphics, Worldcolor Deal
This deal is happening for all the right reasons—great management, great opportunities for cost saving, great marketing and manufacturing fits, and great value for the shareholders. Read More >>
