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Showing posts from December, 2022

4 Simple Steps to Set Intentions

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It's that time of year again: Time to re-evaluate your life, business, and goals. Setting intentions for this year will help you fulfill them and be more successful than setting a resolution. Both practices require looking at yourself and making changes. But an intention isn't as harsh as a resolution. Rather than setting goals for where you want to go, creating intentions shifts your attitude and mindset toward how you want to be. It allows you to take steps and be proud of them. How does one do this? Take a look at these four steps to setting intentions. 4 Simple Steps to Set Intentions  1. Evaluate Yourself If you want more knowledge, energy, and creativity, you have to start by taking a step back and looking inward.  This is true even for leaders who don't have time, perhaps, especially for them! "Spending time casting our thoughts back over the past day, week, or month and sitting down to regularly set goals for the future feels like a luxury of tim

3 Top Specialty Papers for Your Print Marketing

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Metallic, matte, recycled. If you want to create direct mail marketing that stands out from the crowd, these three types of paper are the ones you want to know about.  While it might sound simple, there are implications to using each type. So let's take a closer look. 3 Top Specialty Papers for Your Print Marketing 1. Memorable Metallic This paper is shiny, durable, and oh, so sophisticated. The metallic finish almost creates a 3D effect and gives your designs a warmth and depth that no other paper can. Metallic tones add a bold and elegant touch to your designs, from projects as simple as homemade cards to more sophisticated endeavors like business cards, stationery, or even your wedding paper suite. Use metallic papers to create a line of business marketing materials that pop. Try pairing metallic envelopes with non-metallic paper printed with metallic ink for a subtler look. 2. Earthy Matte Why choose matte? It's chic and earthy. Matte can make your mat

7 Great Ways to Show Gratitude During the Holidays

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"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude," writer G.K. Chesterton said. It's that time of year: The perfect opportunity to show appreciation to those who have helped you this year and those you don't know. It will do your heart and head well to increase your gratitude this holiday season. So here are some practical ideas. 7 Great Ways to Show Gratitude During the Holidays 1. Volunteer Help at local hospitals, libraries, homeless centers, nursing homes, animal shelters, churches, or parks. You can also go much more personal, helping friends in need by babysitting, doing their yard work, or taking them a meal. Whatever you do, you'll help the community and improve your sense of thankfulness. 2. Count Your Blessings Make a list of things for which you're grateful. For example, instead of making a list of items you want for the holidays, make a list of what you have. Count y

5 Graphic Design Trends to Look Out for in 2023

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2023 is just around the corner, and a new year comes with new graphic design trends.  Graphic design matters because it captures the attention of your audience, aids in memory, and influences the consumer's first impressions. This is why the global graphic design industry was worth $45.8 billion in 2021. Make sure your business stays up-to-date with the latest graphic design trends.  5 Graphic Design Trends to Look Out for in 2023 1. Science Fiction-Inspired Designs  Many businesses are aiming to look futuristic with science fiction-inspired graphic designs.  Certain elements are common within science fiction designs. Color . Shades of blue- like cyan- and neon colors are prevalent. There's often a contrast between light and dark. Shapes . Sharp lines, circles, and geometric shapes give off science-fiction vibes. Fonts . Science fiction fonts are an entire genre, often showing distorted letters that look stretched, chopped, or duplicated with inconsistent lett

How to Develop an Abundance Mindset (and Why You Should)

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An abundance mindset is when you believe there are enough resources in the world for everyone and are grateful for what you have.  This is in opposition to the scarcity mindset, which believes the earth contains limited resources. This mindset creates an overly competitive lifestyle and envy for others because the person tends to focus on what they don’t have. This mindset is damaging because it promotes unhappiness and less fulfilling relationships.  Why You Should Develop an Abundance Mindset Having an abundance mindset helps you create a happier, more fulfilling life for yourself.  It comes with many benefits . An abundance mindset …  Promotes personal and professional success by letting you focus on the many opportunities. Helps you feel confident and capable. Generates creativity and motivation through a more proactive approach to life. Makes you feel better about yourself. Deepens your relationships.  If you’ve been struggling with a lack of motivation, envy

4 Tips for Getting More People to See Your Direct Mail

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Direct mail is naturally advantageous when getting people to notice your business.  85% of consumers open their direct mail, and 62% act after receiving direct mail, according to a recent report. However, your business can take action to increase further the number of people opening your direct mail.  1. Use a Call to Action in Your Direct Mail  The best call to action, or CTA, follows the format “Do something simple, get something great.”  In this scenario:  Do something simple = open the envelope. Get something great = receive a credit card, special discount, or a gift or sample. Creating a sense of scarcity works exceptionally well when prompting people to act. For example, try advertising a limited-time offer or a special discount while supplies last. Fear of missing out or not being enough gets the customer to act soon. However, don’t create a false sense of scarcity.   2. Send Your Direct Mail in a Unique Envelope  The envelope is the first thing people see when

7 Print Marketing Ideas to Boost Holiday Sales

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The holidays are a busy time of year for you and your customers, but print marketing has the power to get you noticed and boost sales. How do you accomplish this? Here are seven ways to use print marketing to boost your sales this holiday season! 7 Print Marketing Ideas to Boost Holiday Sales 1. Creative Packaging  Use beautiful boxes, papers, and images when you send out items to customers. They are more likely to hang onto them and remember you in the future. Plus, it creates a warm fuzzy feeling when customers receive such packages. 2. Door Hangers Create fun, whimsical door hangers to put on customers’ doors. These will receive a lot of attention and will solicit a response.  3. Coupons Send coupons to customers on fun, holiday-centered postcards. Include fun images, pictures, and sayings that will grab their attention during the holiday hustle and bustle. 4. Holiday Newsletter Time and attention span may be limited this time of year, but a compelling and

3 Winning Direct Mail Campaign Ideas You Can Start Using Today

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We're proud to inform you that the reports of the supposed death of direct mail have been, as Mark Twain once said, "greatly exaggerated." Not only is direct mail just as effective as it ever was - it's positively thriving. According to one recent study, the market for direct mail advertising is anticipated to grow from $71.57 billion in 2021 to a massive $72.67 billion by the end of 2022 . Much of this has to do with the average return on investment for direct mail collateral is $4.09 for every $1.27 you spend getting those marketing materials out into the world. But it can be challenging to know where to begin if you've been out of the direct mail world for a while or are wading into these proverbial waters for the first time. With that in mind, here are three winning direct mail campaign ideas that you can start using immediately. 3 Winning Direct Mail Campaign Ideas You Can Start Using Today Taking Advantage of the Holidays One of the best direct ma

8 Common Design Mistakes To Avoid in Print Marketing

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There is much room for creativity in graphic design for print marketing.  However, if you aren't a graphic designer, there are some definite no-nos you want to avoid in order to create a visually compelling design. Here are a few to keep in mind. 8 Common Design Mistakes To Avoid in Print Marketing 1. Centering Everything  A beginner design mistake is to center everything: Large chunks of text and more. This approach makes it harder to read because the left and right margins are ragged. 2. Imbalanced Elements Balance is one of the fundamental principles of design. It refers to how elements are distributed throughout a layout, providing a sense of order and stability. But too much symmetry can get boring so try adding asymmetry to create visual interest.  3. Not Leaving White Space  Make sure you don't pack everything into your design. You may have great design ideas, but you don't need to use them all in one place. Instead, save some for future proj