How to Stay Healthy When You're Stressed

The new year is a terrific time to focus on your health.

One of the greatest overall benefits to your health is eliminating or reducing your stress. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy when you’re stressed out.

1. Get regular exercise.

This sounds simple enough, yet most of us struggle with it.

Exercise can include parking farther away so you have a longer walk to work or the mall. It can involve swimming, playing basketball with a friend, and even window shopping at the mall. Just find ways to move around more and things you enjoy.

2. Keep a sense of humor.

Try to relax enough to laugh.

Read a joke book. Read a funny book or watch a funny TV show or movie. Have lunch with a friend who lightens the mood.

3. Try some relaxation techniques.

Meditation, deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, or even getting a massage are great makes to stop awhile and take care of yourself. This is the best way to stay on top of your game.

4. Take time for hobbies.

Think about what you love to do: golf, swim, read, craft, paint, hike, listen to music, etc. Then add it to your calendar.

Schedule it in so you are sure to do it. It is not a waste of time; it’s necessary for your health.

5. Spend time with family and friends.

Take time for lunch, dinner, or coffee with others. This is an important part of staying healthy.

6. Get organized.

Take time to organize your stressors. This can instantly relieve stress.

When we try to do too much, it can put an unnecessary stress on our bodies. Write out a budget if you’re worried about money—schedule tasks with enough time to accomplish them rather than rushing to get them done in record time.

7. Get outside in nature.

Sometimes we need to disconnect from the Internet, email, social media and TV.

Being in nature can re-set our clocks and give us new perspectives on life. Go for a walk, a bike ride, a canoe ride, or just sit in a park and observe nature at its finest.

8. Get enough sleep and rest.

Did you know that sleep and stress are directly linked?

The CDC has said that the lack of sleep is an epidemic right now. A lack of sleep leads to elevated levels of cortisol in the blood, which leads to weight gain and brain fog. Try to go to bed at the same time every night.

9. Journal about your life and stress.

Write down all the things that come to mind. It doesn’t have to be organized or even well constructed. Just write. Free write so your mind can catch up with itself.

If you’re experiencing stress related to your marketing materials, we can help. We offer organized, high-quality printing that will take the pressure off of you. 

Is Your Marketing a Work of Art? Why You Need a Professional Designer

Do you marvel at beautiful artwork? Are you dazzled by the use of exquisite colors? And are you perplexed as to how images are chosen for certain marketing efforts?

That’s the job of a graphic designer.

Designers have training in choosing colors and images; they make the ordinary a work of art. 

Why You Need a Graphic Designer

Even if you have ideas of what you want, a graphic designer can bring that vision to life. That’s why it’s best to leave the execution to the experts.

Graphic designers know the rules and how to break them to create a compelling message.

They are trained in color, form, line, shape, size, space, and texture. And the principles they must learn have to do with: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, proportion, and rhythm.

Graphic designers adhere to the principles of design.

These basic principles achieve effective composition in creating balance and stability for the work. Most of us haven’t been trained this extensively, and that’s why we lean on the experts.

Graphic designers help with your professional image.

And that’s why we are here to help you improve your image and marketing materials.

Working with a graphic designer is fun and can be a great time to brainstorm together and come up with something that hasn’t been done before.

Designers are artists and have wonderful ideas. Our graphic designers are ready with fresh ideas and new artwork that will surely dazzle your eyes and help your business image improve. 

Is Die Cutting for Me?

You know how a new haircut can change the way people see you? It can make all the difference in your level of professionalism.

And die-cutting can do the same for your marketing materials.

With die-cutting, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. With fresh, new die-cut marketing materials, the public will definitely take notice.

What is Die-Cutting?

It is a cut using a sharp steel blade that is formed into any specific shape you want.

It is then used to cut through the paper. It’s a lot like a cookie-cutter, except you cut paper instead of dough.

Just think what you could do for your dull, old marketing materials. It’s not just circles and squares. Die-cutting allows you to make stair steps, holes, rounded corners, sharp points, and much more. Make any point you want with fresh, new die-cut materials.

Creative Uses with Die-Cutting

You have probably thought about using die-cutting on your business cards to make them stand out in the pile of rectangles. But have you thought about using this technique on door hangers, postcards, brochures, and presentation materials?

The options are out there. It’s up to your dreams as to what you’d like us to accomplish for you.

Would you like your logo to stand out? We can do that. Or what about an image associated with your type of business?

Let’s say you are an architect, a real estate agent, or a builder. You could use a roof die-cut or a house. Or, if you own a restaurant, let’s create a basil leaf, a loaf of bread, a bowl of pasta, or whatever suits you. Or maybe you own a pet shop or dog training business in which we could cut out the shape of a dog.

No matter what item you choose to die-cut, it will freshen up your marketing materials and help draw attention to the most important aspects of your business as you see fit.

Need ideas? We’re here to help. Our die-cutting is top-notch and will serve your purpose of standing out in a crowd. 

10 Tips for a Memorable Business Card

You’re at a new business or a social event.

You look around in the sea of business people and wonder how to make the best first impression. Then you look down at your hand, holding your business card.

What do you feel next?

Are you excited to show off your business card and how it represents you? Or do you fear they will underestimate you based on your card?

Here are ten tips on creating a memorable business card that shouts, “Work with me!”

10 Tips for a Memorable Business Card

1. Make sure your design represents your business.

If you are a fun, quirky business that dabbles in creativity, make sure your business card reflects that mood. On the other hand, if you are a serious, no-nonsense business, make sure your business card is sleek, simple, and uncluttered.

2. Choose the right font and size.

Do not go smaller than 8 point type on your card. 

Try to enlarge the name of your business, so it is clear who you represent. If you have a website, try to match some fonts to create consistency.

3. Pick the right shape.

You don’t need to stick with the basic rectangle anymore.

Try a square or add rounded corners to make your card stand out in a pile of collected business cards. Not only will it stand out physically, but it will also create a mental note that you are up-and-coming and not the ordinary business.

4. Create the right images.

Use new printing techniques to make your logo or image pop off the page.

Try spot UV coating to make it shine or foil accents that add a touch of sophisticated shine. Or try embossed gloss to create a raised, glossy coating, giving your cards a hard-to-forget 3D feel.

5. Organize your information.

This sounds simple, but many people try to put too much information on their business cards.

Keep it simple.

Put your name prominently on the card. Then add your contact information in a place that’s easy to find: phone, email, and website.

6. Use the back of the card.

Go the extra mile and put something useful on the back of the card.

If you own a restaurant, add a drink mix on the back. If you take appointments, add an appointment reminder. If you offer many customized services, list them here. But try to direct them to your website if at all possible.

7. Be deliberate.

Use the same colors your other marketing materials and website use.

Be different by using the front of the business card to solely have your logo, with contact information on the back.

8. Make sure there is enough white space.

Don’t clutter your card with information. Just add the basics. They can contact you for the rest of the information.

9. Choose papers wisely.

Extra-thick paper adds an instant luxurious touch, and recycled kraft paper tends to have an organic feel. Think carefully about what you are trying to convey.

10. Include a call to action.

This isn’t a game-breaker if you have used up all your space. But if you have room, add a QR code or an invitation to contact you.

No matter what steps you take, rely on print communication experts to ensure that the finished product will be what you anticipated and something you can be proud of. 

How to Write an Effective Email

Communication is the key to running a business, and writing emails is one major way we communicate.

So it is worth saying that writing a good email is key to getting your initiatives out and in keeping customers happy.

Here are some tips to consider when writing an email.

Think of Your Audience

Who are you writing to?

Is it your coworker? Your boss? Your friend?

These all deserve a well-written email, but the tone of your letter will vary depending on whom you are writing to. Keep the tone similar throughout the email.

For example, if it’s for a friend, it’s okay to be light-hearted and funny. But if it’s your boss, and you’re inquiring about something for work, you probably want to keep the tone professional and more serious.

What do you want your audience to do? Make sure you keep your goal in mind while writing your email. This will help you not to wander and get off track.

Proofread Your Email

Don’t just send your email right after typing it.

Look it over again to make sure that nothing can get misinterpreted. Emails are hard to determine tone sometimes, so choose your words wisely. Read your email again, but think of it from an outsider’s perspective. Pretend you don’t know what your email is about, and read it with fresh eyes.

Use Spell-Check

For that matter, use grammar check if you need it, too.

You don’t want to look incompetent if there are misspelled words or grammatical mistakes. People will judge you on your wording, so be thoughtful.

Be Courteous

Use an opening and closing that is appropriate and kind. You want to build relationships through your writing.

The Email Basics

Here are the basic parts to a great email:

1. Subject line

Make sure your subject line matches the text of the letter so that your recipient can know right away what it’s about. Not only that, but when you are hunting for that email later, you will be able to find it quickly.

2. Greeting

Have a nice greeting and closing statement to set the tone.

3. Body

Keep it to a few sentences, rather than a novel. Keep it succinct and focused on what you want to communicate. Save the extra’s for later.

4. Closing

You will want to have a friendly closing, such as, “thank you,” “wishing you well,” “take care,” or other closings.

No matter what your message is, you will have a well-written email long as you follow these steps. After all, good communication is important no matter whom you are sending it to.

We welcome emails from all our customers, and we respond quickly to your questions and prospective jobs. Feel free to shoot us email today to get started on your next project.

3 Tips to Improve Your Print Marketing Strategy

Print is a powerful marketing tool.

People trust print more. In fact, 82% of consumers say they trust print ads more than digital ones. This is one reason why print helps generate loyal customers. 

Print is also more likely to be noticed and has a higher response rate, growing your client base. Although print is intrinsically powerful, there are actions you can take to grow its effect further. 

Include a Call-to-Action

Perhaps self-explanatory, a call-to-action is when you call on your client to act. 

Call-to-actions are often included within your advertisements. They ask the client to check out the business website, follow the social media account, or sign up for a newsletter. 

Often, customers’ interests are piqued by your print campaign, but they’re not sure what to do next. A call-to-action solves this problem, increasing the likelihood of customer interaction. 

Call-to-actions can reside within a plethora of print forms. 

Utilize a Variety of Print Mediums

Print comes in all shapes and sizes.

Keep your target market interested by adding variety. Brochures, business cards, and postcards are all extremely effective forms of print advertising. 

• Brochures are small pamphlets that advertise the products and/or services of your business. A compelling design will help keep your customers engaged. Brochures also provide you the opportunity to share your business’s brand with consumers. Your brand is the intangible concept of your business that consumers use to distinguish you from your competitors. Brands are important because people often attach loyalty to brands. 
  
  


• Business cards are small, easy-to-carry cards you can hand out at promotional events. It helps improve the brand recall of prospective customers because these handy business cards stick around the customers’ houses for quite some time. In other words, business cards help customers remember your business. Business cards also help customers stay in touch with you.
  
  


• Postcards are medium-sized cards with a picture or design on the front and a message on the back. They are effective because people are especially attracted to pictures. Just like brochures, these allow you to share your brand with your prospective clients. 

Some forms of print are more effective than others. That’s why it’s important to acquire data. 

Track Your Results

To improve your future print marketing campaigns, it’s imperative that you track the results of your past campaigns. 

Obtaining data will help you pinpoint what went well and what needs improvement. This will significantly help you in the future when you decide what to include. Include more of the factors that were widely successful. For the parts that didn’t go well, you could brainstorm why and how to improve them. Or, you can forgo the faulty technique and bring in another one instead. 

You want your marketing attempts to have the most impact possible. Adding a call-to-action, mixing up your print marketing variety, and tracking your results will help you develop a more effective marketing campaign. 

Say it With a Postcard

What’s little, powerful, and packs a real punch?

A postcard from you!

Postcards are often overlooked as a great way to market, but they effectively get your message out. People are forced to read your message even before thinking of throwing it away.

It’s right there, in the pile of envelopes, shining through with full color and catchy wording. If you haven’t thought of postcard marketing in a while, or ever, here are a few ideas to help you on your postcard journey.

6 Tips for Effective Postcard Marketing

1. Hone Your Message

What message do you want to get out? An event? A sale? A thank-you? A new product?

Be specific about what the purpose is, and stick to that message. You don’t want to try to promote everything at once on a postcard. Think about what your best, most immanent message should be.

2. Research and Determine Your Size Options

It’s common to use oversized postcards as well as regular postcards. What type of impact do you want to have?

Are you having a BIG event? Then go BIG on your postcard size. If it’s more of a personal message, a regular postcard will do just fine. It also depends on your budget. A larger postcard costs a little more, but its impact is much more significant.

3. Perfect Your Design

Your design means a lot.

Pick a design that has your message front and center. You want to have an organized design that represents your business.

Work with a graphic designer to come up with a gorgeous design that no one else has.

4. Headlines Matter

Write a headline that is clear about what you are offering or trying to say.

Make it fun, clever, or serious. Just be consistent throughout the postcard. If you are silly, stay silly. If you are urgent, keep the tone urgent.

Need help? We can offer you some suggestions.

5. Include a Call to Action

Tell the customer what you want them to do next.

Don’t leave it up for them to figure out. Ask prospects and clients to come into your store, call your business, or check out your website.

Whatever it is you want them to do, tell them.

6. Think of Your Audience

Who will be receiving the mailer? Will it be to future customers or someone familiar with your business?  

If it is going to prospective customers, be sure to say what you do in a short, concise way. No need to get wordy, but be sure to tell customers what you do and what you offer.

Whatever direction you choose, whether an oversized postcard or a traditional one, we can ensure you will come out swinging.

We will help you succeed in your marketing efforts when it comes to high-quality printing and design. Connect with us today!