More Than Just Ink On Paper

James Clear’s widely successful book Atomic Habits breaks down habits into four parts: the cue, craving, response, and reward. This method shows readers how they can also form habits. Luckily, Clear’s formula can be applied to business. 4 Habits That Will Improve Your Business The Cue When developing a habit, Clear suggests making the cue as evident as possible. A cue is an outside stimulus that reminds you of the habit you wish to form. Therefore, your goal is to make your business as obvious as possible. With your advertising, you want your prospects and customers to see your ads and then associate them with the habit of buying from you. To do this, make your ads big, bright, and hard to miss. Use large banners to capture attention with design that pops. The Craving After your customer has seen the cue, they then need to want your product or service. Therefore make it as attractive as possible. Clear writes, “Every behavior is preceded by a predi...

Want to know your biggest asset? Engaged customers.  The depth of relationships between a business and its clients is one of the best predictors of lifetime value. Companies with improved customer engagement cross-sell by 22%, drive up-sell revenues from 13% to 51%, and increase order sizes by as much as 80%.  Tailor Engagement Strategies for Your Customers What might engagement look like for you? The strategies are as unique as your business! Here is one example: Recognizing the power of holiday hospitality, the Penha Longa resort makes December travels extra special for its guests. While Christmas decorations might brighten the mood for lonely people, celebrations are even better for engaging guests. To get travelers involved in the festivities, Penha Longa gives guests bare, shrub-sized trees for their rooms, along with crafty kits full of everything needed for creative decorating. This is just one magical, zero-tech model of connecting with customers. Instead ...

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else.”  ~ Sam Walton (Founder of Walmart and Sam’s Club) They say every business has three types of customers. There are price-conscious people – clients who will leave if they find a better deal. There are fence-sitters – those who like your brand but could be persuaded to go elsewhere. And there are loyalists – people who are willing to pay more to maintain a relationship. If you move people toward loyalty, your bottom line will thrive. The success rate of selling to new customers ranges between 5-20%, while that rate soars to 60-70% for existing customers. And a 5% increase in customer retention can increase profits by as much as 125% . With limited time and energy, devoting some of your marketing budget to customer appreciation makes good sense. Here are five simple ways to build ...

In a world besieged by digital noise, there is something refreshing about collecting your mail. Tangible and memorable, print media leave an emotional footprint in the psyche. Like a waft of perfume from a love letter, the experience of receiving and opening mail is one of life’s simple pleasures. Want to increase the impact of your message? Non-traditional print envelopes are sure to make a strong impression. When you’re ready to think outside the rectangle, here are some creative custom options: Colored Borders When you want an envelope to pop in the mail pile, a colored border sets your piece apart. Like a beautifully framed photo, edge accents bring extra attention to your message. Your design should flow with the shape and features of the interior message. For example, pair bold borders with a more modest typeface. Or compliment an embossed label with gold accent trim. Side Splash Accents A side splash is a print style that covers a significant portion of ...

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy Though few people like it, change never stops. Success in life requires the ability to adapt. As one Chinese proverb quips, “the wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher.” Whether you enjoy change or not, the pace of change marches ahead at an ever-increasing pace. Here is a statistical snapshot of what that looks like: 94% of the internet workload will be processed on the cloud by the end of 2021 It is estimated that 70% of all automobiles will be connected to the internet through the Internet of Things by 2023 By 2030, the fully and semi-automatic car market will be worth $26 billion Artificial Intelligence is slated to replace around 85 million US jobs by 2025 The world has produced 90% of its Big Data (or extensive data sets) in the past two years Does that feel overwhelm...

Marketing content is a useful tool for any business trying to generate more traffic to their doorstep, either digitally or in person. Whether your content is provided through a direct mailer or digitally, the right information catches people's attention and attracts them to want to find out more. And that generates valuable activity that causes sales to happen. Yes, content is powerful and profitable, but what kind of content works? Here are valuable content tips that can make a difference for your business. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel A lot of energy, time, and resources are consumed creating new methods from scratch, whether in business or anything else. So why go down that road when you can learn by working examples instead? The key is to focus on companies and organizations that put out both digital and print content that is wildly successful. It doesn’t even have to be the same industry as yours. Instead, look for methodology and strategy. What is it about ...

Some of the most effective ways of communicating value don’t require looking up a website or downloading a mobile device teaser program. In fact, non-digital marketing activities win over corporate clients regularly without ever needing to be plugged in. Here are five of them. 1. Business Cards Yes, those traditional business cards are still winners. Business cards provide critical contact information and enough detail on how to connect with an organization quickly. Whether by email, text, phone, or mail, the info on a business card is powerful. People love business cards because they are easy to transfer, pack, save, and reference. In the corporate world, business cards still resonate. 2. Letterheads and Stationary In a day and age when so much communication happens by email and texting, the traditional letter stands out, even in a mail pile full of folders and generic material. Best used when conveying a personal connection, professional letterhead is loved by co...

If you're looking for a way to boost the results of your print marketing, integrate your next campaign expand your reach with Instagram! Instagram is a cost-effective marketing tool that houses many resources to help your business grow. As the second most accessed network behind Facebook, with 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram boasts highly engaged users, browsing an average of 53 minutes per day. Instagram can be a handy tool if you’re trying to reach ages 18-44, as 45% of Instagram users are within this age group.  4 Tips to Get Your Business Started on Instagram Before initiating an Instagram business profile, it’s important to develop a marketing strategy. 1. Know Your Why. Why do you want your business on Instagram? For example, are you there to sell products, share portfolio content, build brand awareness, share user-generated content, and/or use Instagram’s analytic tools? When you discover your why, you’ll have a beneficial fr...