Your manuscript is done and you're ready to get your book printed and out to the masses. You've looked at countless websites that tell you they'll "take care of" all the publishing details. But, you're unclear about what those details really are. Here is a summary of the steps to self-publishing. 1. Proofread your book. Or better yet, have someone...
If you're like many retailers, the holidays make up a large portion of your total annual revenue. It's a hugely important season, so direct mail often becomes a hugely important vehicle for drawing in customers. Since a lot of other retailers are using direct mail during the holiday season, you've got to make an impression. Here are some tips to...
Business owners and our marketing staff often make the mistake of writing for our websites or digital ads like we write for brochures or print ads. With "traditional" marketing, we promote goods and services by sending information to people. We design and write brochures, send direct mail or email, or buy advertising. We start the conversation. We "push" it. In...
Are printed materials still relevant in an age when electronic media and information is everywhere? Definitely! Here's why print media should still be a part of the marketing mix for your business. 1. Print is "touchable". It's tangible. You can create a high-impact impression that makes readers want to touch and feel your message with new papers, new methods to...
If you have not refreshed your company's website in a few years, now is the time to bite the bullet and give it an overhaul. It's often easy to spot an outdated website, especially if it has not been optimized for viewing on a mobile device such as a tablet or phone. Today's websites are often more visually appealing with...
It's an exciting time to be an author. The opportunities to self-publish your book and spread the word about it are practically endless and are limited only by your budget and time. Of course, certain types of books will have a wider audience than others, but if you are interested enough to write your book, there are probably people who...
When making marketing decisions, business owners will often look at direct mail and email as two totally separate things. However, direct mail can be a valuable partner to email campaigns because direct mail can remind people about an email offer they've recently received or prepare them for an email campaign that's coming. Using both direct mail and email can be...
The fall trade show season will be starting up soon, and you may be looking at ways to make sure that your investment in participating in the next trade show will be worth it. The following are a few tips to get your booth noticed and make a great impression to the right people. 1. Create a message for your...
Everyone loves to receive gifts, don't they? And most of us seem to love surprise gifts even more. Think back to a time that someone sent or presented you with a gift that was not for your birthday, the holidays or an anniversary. Wasn't it more memorable because it was unexpected? As a business owner, you have the opportunity to...
If you aren't sure you are getting the most "bang for your buck' with your direct mail campaigns these days, think about mixing things up and doing some testing with different options. Just like almost anything else, your old tried-and-true direct mail program may need a bit of a change to capture new interest. Here are some ideas to help...