Reality Check: The Perception of Printing
I record and produce a significant number of episodes for Podcasts from The Printerverse. Discussions about printing, print business, print sales, and print marketing are often playing through my computer, earbuds, car speakers, and voice assistants like Alexa. When I have some mindless admin work to focus on, I click on my pop culture podcast […]
Print Samples: Pushing the Envelope
The folks at the Envelope Manufacturer’s Association have a mission – envelopes. But it is more than that! They share ideas, compare notes on things like keeping staff motivated, finding staff, and finding that all-too-precious commodity – the paper and other substrates used to manufacture the envelope. At their last meeting, there were vibrant discussions […]
Print Samples: Why You Should Use Postcards
Postcards are the lingua franca of communication. Even in today’s Instagram world, people send postcards when they travel. Businesses use them to find new customers and stay visible with current clients. Retailers use them to make offers and politicians use them to pitch their policies ahead of elections. Even governments use them to communicate deadlines, […]
Say Bye-Bye to #BlackFriday and Hello to Print Opportunity
For as long as I can remember, the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. has been the Olympics of retail shopping in malls and stores. When the clock strikes 5 am (or some ungodly hour before dawn) thousands of in-store shoppers go gang-busters for doorbuster deals on electronics, winter clothing, holiday gifts, and more. Stores […]
Get Informed on Informed Delivery and Other Direct Mail Enhancing Opportunities
Take a deeper dive into Informed Delivery and other direct mail enhancing opportunities that are available, and profitable! Topics covered: • How Informed Delivery works (the nuts and bolts) • Successful actions when launching direct mail with Informed Delivery • Leveraging Informed Delivery for increased campaign engagement • Postage Promotions for Informed Delivery • Do […]
Do You Smell What I Smell? Clean Up Stinky Data, Stat!
If you are using your customer’s stinky old data and mail lists for email or print-to-mail campaigns… PLEASE DON’T! As printers and marketers, we have to set the bar high when working on customer campaigns, and that means using proper data hygiene methods. If your customer’s data doesn’t pass the sniff test, take the steps […]
Take Advantage of the 2017 USPS Emerging and Advanced Technology Promotion
Are you taking advantage of USPS’s Emerging and Advanced Technology promotion? Oh, you are? Well, I’m not talking to you at the moment. Everyone else, we’re calling the “Emerging and Advanced Technology promotion” “EAT” for the rest of this post. Just go with it. Earlier this month, a print pro and I were discussing how […]
Tips For Shipping Materials To International Markets
by Marc Zazeela Marc Zazeela is a 20-year veteran of international mailing and shipping. He says, “My customers are my friends. They bring issues to me that challenge my imagination and my company’s capabilities. Together, we can discover a unique and creative approach to international logistics.” You can find him on Twitter at @MZazeela or on LinkedIn. So, […]
Go Global: Tips And Tools For Streamlining International Shipping
by Marc Zazeela Every day, the world is getting smaller and smaller. Businesses are going global. The Internet has spawned a brave new world of business opportunities. Why then, the anxiety about shipping internationally? Many companies find that international orders account for 30% of their total business. Surely, it must be difficult to serve an […]
Big Changes in January From the USPS For Bulk Mailers
by guest contributor Blase Ciabaton January is the month of change for the USPS and bulk mailers. These changes will have wide reaching impact across both the business and nonprofit communities. Changes include mandatory adoption of the Intelligent Mail Barcode, new tabbing regulations for letter-sized self-mailers and a postage rate increase. This article will cover the highlights […]
Shipping with The Enemy… USPS Partners with FEDEX!
No, it’s not a remake of a Julia Roberts movie but a real life horror story, at least for the Post Office. Global Express Guaranteed Service is the new program I just received an email about. Apparently, you give the package to the USPS but they in turn give it to FEDEX who uses their planes, […]
1/1: Interview with D. Eadward Tree, Chief Arborist at Dead Tree Edition
Mr. Tree… Thank you for talking the time to answer a few questions. Im excited to see if I will be able to remove a few layers of bark and reveal the man behind the tree… DC: So, this is what we know. You allegedly live in Hawaii. By day, you hold a “regular” job in publishing, and […]