Postage Rates Raised Again, Direct Mail Affected

Once again the mail postage rates have gone up ANOTHER $0.02. Which makes it now $0.44. You may not think that is a lot but when you are sending thousands of pieces a week that greatly affects your budget.

So... is USPS trying to make it more difficult for direct mail. I am a firm believer that you should do both online AND offline marketing. However, when those budgets are getting tightened already and then an increase makes it more difficult to hit the targeted audience from all angles. I've already seen a dramatic decrease in amount of pieces in my mailbox from real estate agents. However for agents, now is the best time to market since those semi-serious agents are now onto the next biggest craze for fast cash.

So, for now we will keep on truckin' but I hope that USPS, gives it a reprieve on another increase next May. It was more acceptable when it was every other year or so for a $0.01 increase.

*Stamp image provided by USPS.com

Full Color Foil Printing WOWs Prospects

NEW! Full Color Foil Printing

Full color foil printing is the newest and most revolutionary process in the marketplace today! It's eye candy. It has the magnetism of a shinny quarter in a school playground.

The Process of Full Color Foil Printing

In Line Cold Foil is the design and marketing tool that everyone is embracing as an essential part of their available tools to capture prospects attention.It makes you think, what is the purpose of creating a flyer or postcard to market your services? The purpose is to attempt to capture your target audience's attention, even if just for a brief moment. Because, a brief moment is all you have to either make an impression or to loose your prospects interest. That is why foil printing or foil stamping is so important. It gives you a higher chance of capturing someones attention. It's different, it's eye candy that is irresistible to the eye. Try it for yourself and you too will notice the higher response rate from your foil marketing tool.

Unlike hot foil systems, cold foil is an inline process and does not require heat for transfer nor expensive dies to define the design. Instead, cold foil systems are made up of two units: one unit of the system applies an adhesive that defines the imprint for the foil, and the second unit releases the foil from a carrier sheet and applies it to the substrate. Quite an amazing process, right?

Offering foil printing on:

• Business cards
• Large business cards
• Quarter (1/4) page postcards
• 4x6 postcards
• Rack cards
• 5x7 postcards
• Half page (8.5x5.5) postcards
• XL (6x9) postcards

Request foil printed samples today and you too will agree that this is the most effective tool to draw attention to your most valuable marketing tool.

Call us today to start on making a lasting impression. 888-774-6861

Postage stamp rate increases one cent on Monday

Effective on Monday, the stamps are going to increase one cent. What does this mean for the business? Typically small to medium sized businesses.

There are still plenty of businesses that do direct mail marketing. While one penny does not seem a lot, those that are mailing 100s of thousands of pieces per month will see it gradually dig into their bottom line. This is potentially dangerous for those involved in that process. From the designer to the list provider, the printer and even the mailing house.

There is a concern on the print end of it. Will more people move back to a typical 4x6 postcard rather than the half page postcard or the jumbo sized postcard? There was a push towards larger sized postcards to make an impact but as the price of postage increases the desire to spend more decreases.

It was just a year ago when the stamp was increased. Does this mean there will be a trend for the postal service to increase each year? Lets hope that this is it for at least 2 years.

See what the current rates will as of Monday, May 12th, 2008.

What is in a brand?

Lately, the increase in small business owners coming to us to help establish a brand has been amazing. These days, small business owners are trying to figure out who they are and how they can become more established with the local community.

When it comes to the service industry, its more work to establish a brand or name for yourself. You have to prove yourself, show that you have the background and years in the field. Still the common mistake made is by describing what you can do, INSTEAD of describing how you can help make the prospect's life better by using your services.

Branding is not all about colors or the logo/mascot. It's about your message. What makes you unique from the mass of competitors? How can you show that being a small company is a benefit not a draw back? These are questions that should be answered while establishing a branding for your business. If you can have a tag line that is 7 words or less and doesn't leave the prospect confused of what you offer then you have done a good job.

How do you present your branding? The first thing that is given is normally a full color business card. That is the first impression of your brand other than yourself. Yes, you are your brand. Present yourself as such. Make sure that your business card clearly states your tagline, your website, and of course 3 bullet points to how you can help them. That way, even after you leave, they will still know what you do.

These simple questions will help you determine the brand for your small business.

5,000 Full color business cards for $125

Spring Time Business Card Printing Special

Since its such a beautiful day out I felt like giving everyone a special little discount our business card printing services. Print-it-Quick.com offers great pricing color business card printing. For a limited time we are offering you a special.

What you get!!!

• 5,000 Full color business cards
• FREE UV coating
• Printing on both sides with bleed
• Heavy 12 pt cover stock paper
• 24-48 hours turnaround

Order online now. Business Card Printing Special

What a year!

What a year!!! Its been a very exciting year. Lots of new ideas were put to life this year.

We launched our printing site Print-it-Quick.com. Which has been in the works for quite some time. Its a great way for our clients to purchase printing as well as upload their files. The site also helped create one heckofa case study for our other new service. Search Engine Optimization. This month alone we've had 3 very large orders come in because of it. Not only are the 3 new clients but they are clients that are looking to print many more orders. Full color printing has been a great addition to our services the past few years though this year we've doubled our production.

Another idea that has been in the works that is launching beginning of January is our Web site management tool. I have been asked to offer this type of product for quite some time but I haven't had the programming power to do so. I finally found a very highly talented programmer to come work for us and its paying off. This tool will allow any client who opts in for this to modify their site without any skills. All you need is a web browser (any kind) , an internet connection and a web site. This tool allows you to browse through your images on your server to place your images through a thumbnail view. Which is pretty damn cool! The editor is easy to use, almost as if you are using Word. We've taken all the great things everyone needs and wants and put them into one tool. Any site can be converted.

With the new year ahead. I am anxious to release them to the public. Come January 1st. Everyone will then know the pricing and details. Till then you'll have to wait in suspense in what the full package will hold. I guarantee it'll be worth the wait. Stay tuned. I promise 2007 will not be boring by any means. We will be taking the term "marketing company" to a whole new level with you in mind!

Cheers to a great 2006 and to an even better 2007!!!

Chat with you next year!

Start of a new beginning

Welcome to our blog. Stay tuned as many exciting things are happening. Let us be your marketing arm in helping you get your message and company out there. Here are how we can help you:

• Develop a web site
• Sell your products online
• Stay in touch with your clients and prospects through email marketing
• Have the power to edit your own sites with our web site management tool
  
• Get your site listed with all the major search engines
• Design your marketing material, business cards, stationery, post cards and brochures
• Print any and all of your marketing material
• and much much more!!!

Visit us online at www.6thsensedesign.com or www.print-it-quick.com