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Showing posts from January, 2020

6 Ways to Speed Up Your Next Print Project

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Do you have a print deadline that needs the fastest possible turn-around time? If speed is of utmost importance, here are several ways you can improve efficiency as you take your project to print: 1. Plot Your Course and Communicate Early Early planning and communication are vital when starting a print project. When possible, get your printer’s input early regarding design, project checkpoints, and final editing. Setting a schedule with your printer regarding design, estimated turnaround, and print presets can directly impact the speed with which your project is finished. As soon as you coordinate these details, you’ll establish a timely framework that both parties can stick to. 2. Ask Questions Upfront When partnering with a design professional, be sure to clarify the contract at the get-go. Will you be paying a project fee or an hourly rate? What services are included in this fee? Clarify how long the project will take, how often you’ll review the work, and how many r

Beyond Fitness: 5 Ways to Foster Well-Being in Your Workplace

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According to the World Health Organization, health is central to human happiness and well-being. Healthy populations live longer, are more productive, save resources, and make important contributions to sustainability, a better world, and economic progress. But well-being involves more than just fitness. It includes physical comfort, mental stability, and emotional connectivity. In short, well-being is the “feel-good factor.” 5 Workplace Well-Being Factors Companies that prioritize safety, work environment, and the emotional well-being of employees will improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and be more productive in the long run. Aside from fitness incentives, here are five factors that contribute to well-being in the workplace. 1. Physical Comfort and Safety Do you do your best work when you are shivering or dripping with sweat? The physical comfort of employees has a significant effect on company outputs each year. The design and “unwritten rules” of a workspace are ke

Add Color and Charm with 3 Unique Banner Options

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As a small business owner, you need ways to cultivate curiosity and look your best, and business signage is your foremost advertising tool. Grab attention and set your business apart with gorgeous custom banners! Banners are an inexpensive substitute for a permanent sign, allowing you the flexibility to change and move your materials as needed. Plus, banners are eye-catching, sophisticated, and fun. Distinct Banner Options to Get All Eyes on You Whether you want to highlight a promotion, organize your sales floor, or increase foot traffic at a trade show, consider some of these imaginative banner options for your next display. 1. Pole Banners Pole Banners are vertical banners made from sturdy vinyl material and can affix to almost any type of light pole, street post, or sidewall mounting. Pole banner advertising offers an excellent medium to market to pedestrians or drivers in locations with heavy traffic. Because they are located at or above eye level, they are easily no

Design Trends to Look Forward to in 2020

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2019 was a year where taking risks in design was considered normal. What design trends can you look forward to this year? As we round the corner into a new decade, we may see a softening of some of 2019’s more abrasive trends and a shift toward simplified contrasts when designers want to be bold. Here’s a sneak peek at five design trends to watch for in 2020: 1. Beautiful Flowing Shapes & Lines The last few years have brought an abundance of geometric, rigid, proper shapes. In the new year, these designs will be replaced by more flowing shapes, patterns, and lines. Flowing shapes can convey a natural, abstract, peaceful feel on a page. Whether you use a soft speech bubble to surround text or place images overflowing water or lava currents in your backgrounds, this shift toward flowing lines brings a down-to-earth, creative, and authentic tone. 2. Neutral, Natural-Looking Stock Photos Several years ago, bright, colorful stock images were all the rage. Graphic artists

4 Small Adjustments that Bring 5-Star Customer Service

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Did you know it only takes seven seconds to make a lasting impression on new people that you meet? If this is true in personal relationships, how significant are the impressions your business makes with customers? Great entrepreneurs know that if you want long-lasting, loyal clients (who spend AND who voluntarily advertise your excellent service by word of mouth), then you must prioritize customer relationships and consistently offer superior service. Going From Good to Great What does five-star service look like from a patron’s perspective? Here is a snapshot of where a business moves from average to above-average:    3 -- Service is average, fair, "the usual" satisfactory, expected, etc.    4 -- Customer is very satisfied. Service is average, above average, exceeded expectations, etc.    5 -- The client is delighted and amazed. Service is extraordinary because employees "walk on water" for customers. To elevate your customer experience, you have t

Build a Lasting Legacy Through Thought Leadership in Your Industry

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Looking to increase your strategic visibility, gain exposure for your ideas, and change the world in meaningful ways? Everyone is following someone. Maybe it’s time to engage others, so they follow you! Facebook GROWs with Print What does thought leadership look like from an industry perspective? Here’s one example: In 2018, Facebook launched a thought leadership campaign (GROW) to help leaders grow businesses and networks while challenging the status quo. To communicate complex ideas, the social media empire developed a quarterly print magazine and marketing program aimed at business owners in the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. GROW is sent directly to marketing clients and distributed at select airports and train business lounges to reach top professionals: “We know that business leaders have limited time for long reads at work, so we’ve also created a physical version with journeys in mind,” said Leila Woodington, Facebook’s head of business marketing in northern Eur

How Successful Entrepreneurs Overcome Self-Doubt Each Day

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Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian fashion designer who has built her namesake company into one of the most recognizable in the world. Furstenberg has been listed as the world’s 68th most powerful, received an honorary doctorate, and been president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America for years. Confidence should come easily to someone like this, wouldn’t you think? But Furstenberg does not see herself this simply. She believes she’s a constant work in progress and says successful people (like herself) probably feel like losers at least once a week . Furstenberg said she feels self-doubt continually. What does that look like in her life? “Oh, just, you know. You feel like a loser, you wake up and you doubt. So my trick is, I look in the mirror and say, “If you doubt your power, then you give power to your doubts.” Squash Doubt to Bring Your Best Work to Life Can you relate to Furstenberg? You’re not alone. Even successful business owners grapple with self-doub

How Re-Purposed Malls Can Teach Entrepreneurs a Lesson

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Have you been to a dying mall lately? It can be pretty depressing. Empty storefronts litter the hallways like missing teeth in a hockey player’s mouth. Dim lighting seems to permeate each corner, and mall walkers bring more energy than any hint of retail activity. What was booming 30 years ago now feels like a bust. With consumers shifting more of their shopping from physical to online spaces, young generations have a different perspective on what a buying experience should bring. This explains why some malls are dying, while others are thriving. What’s the difference? In Maryland, one mall is renting space to a theater company while, in Michigan, one mall is now home to a cultural association that sponsors Chinese festivals. Some malls have transformed parts of their space to offer thriving art schools for walk-in shoppers. Others have created customer-centric experiences, like combining fashion consultants with on-site purchasing options. Like most other sales venues, there i

4 "No Fail" Strategies for Organizing Your Next Big Event

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Do you have any “nightmare” trade show experiences? Maybe you worry that an impending disaster is ahead. Everyone who manages a big event knows the feeling. You know . . . the nagging sense that you’ve forgotten something crucial (but have no idea what). Or . . . one of several million things is about to go wrong (but there is no way to prevent it). 4 "No-Fail" Strategies for Organizing Your Next Big Event Large events can be stressful, but most large-scale events can be managed with confidence if you have a plan. Here are four “no-fail” strategies for navigating your next conference, convention, or trade show. 1. Generate an Event Checklist Early planning and great organization are the keys to a stress-free event. Make a master list of marketing and print deadlines, reservation dates, and travel coordination details. Months in advance, nail down every date possible and organize your task list in chronological order. Then you can work from a checklist with

5 Pro Tips for Spectacular Sell Sheets

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Looking to showcase the benefits of your business or idea in a concise, compelling way? Use sell sheets to connect and close the sale! Like one-page billboards, these grab-and-go promotions can educate prospects, motivate buyers, and offer a point of reference for further review. What is a Sell Sheet? Perhaps you’re new to the concept of sell sheets. Sell sheets are simple. Like a miniature billboard, they showcase the benefits of your idea in a concise, persuasive way. Typically, these documents are just 1-2 pages, and contain all the information about a product or offer that your decision-maker needs. When you’re ready to multiply your message, sell sheets can be delivered by mail or in person. 5 Tips for Head-Turning Sell Sheets Ready to get started with your sell sheet design? Here a few helpful guidelines. 1. Use High-Quality Photos One of the most important features of your sell sheet is an image of the product, concept, or the people engaging with your company.