The Four Words That Define 2021
As I reflect on 2021, I almost feel a little guilty about stating publicly what a great year it was for me. I was busy. I won new clients. I traveled. I spoke. In public. And I know from dozens of print companies that I work with that many feel that it was an important […]
Explore Print Sample TV: Even More Print Samples!
A few weeks ago, we had a chance to create a bucket of new episodes of Print Sample TV! We have some cool things coming, including a look at some new options for enhancing print with foil, new inkjet technologies, and some great ideas for how to create your own print sample set, complete with […]
Where, Oh Where Did the Print Customers Go?
I have had vast conversations with big-budget buyers and print buyers buying on a budget over the last two years. I have spoken to designers, marketers, and decision-makers on all levels. One thing most have in common – uncertainly regarding their futures, and where they will be working in 2022 and beyond. The ‘where’ not […]
Now Playing at a Theater Near You: PRINT!
I recently wrote an article about the return of the theater experience for the Ricoh Business Booster site where I am an active contributor, providing info and intel for developing long-term relationships with print customers and sharing creative ideas for generating new business. The Business Booster site is accessible to members only, and my posts […]
Is Your Print Business Maximizing the Value of Your Customers?
What is a customer worth to your business? The simplest calculation is your customer lifetime value (CLV), which is the profit you expect to earn from an average customer over the life of your business relationship with that customer. To simplify, suppose your average customer buys $10,000 in print annually and stays with you for […]
3 Productive Ways to Follow Up on Following Up
Printers say the craziest things. While that isn’t the name of a new Podcast From The Printerverse series, it might as well be. I have heard some doozies as of late and they are worth sharing for two reasons. The first so I am not alone in the horror, and the second so all of […]
Do All Your Employees Know the Elevator Pitch of Your Print Business?
No. The answer is no, they don’t. Some of your employees are non-customer-facing so MAYBE it’s not necessary for them to learn your company’s pitch. Or MAYBE it is. What about your customer-facing employees? Your sales, customer service, and marketing staff? Do they all deliver roughly the same pitch or do they all tell the […]
How to Win a Gold Medal for Company Culture
If you watched any of the ‘2020’ Olympics you may have drawn the same conclusion that I did… the world has really changed. I am not referring to adjusting for Covid, I am speaking about humans – more specifically humans in their mid 20’s and younger… Gen-Z. For 17 days the Gen-Z athletes showed us […]
What’s Your Priority? Sales Revenue or New Lead Generation?
What do you think is the highest-priority marketing objective of print businesses today? To drive sales revenue or drive lead generation? Recent research shows that lead gen is #1. This was surprising to me at first because you can’t pay the bills with leads. But looking at it another way, new leads are the fuel […]
The ABCs of Packaging Design
Here are some tips I want to share to ensure you have the best packaging for your product. The buzz around sustainability, online shopping, shortages sparked by COVID-19, and the unboxing experience means that packaging has received a lot of attention lately. These quick tips are grouped to focus on aspects that emphasize the importance […]
How Much Should Your Print Business Spend On Marketing
A print industry friend of mine asked my opinion about how he should budget for marketing this year. I’ll share with you, my Print Media Centr friends, what I told him. While there isn’t a single right answer, there are some directional guidelines that companies use for marketing budgeting. Many companies follow a percentage of […]
The Sales Edit: 5 Tips to Produce MORE in 2021 and Beyond
First, there was the magic of tidying up with Marie Kondo. Then there was Norwegian Hygge. Now, we have The Home Edit. According to their website, “THE HOME EDIT organizes every space in the home, from bedrooms and kitchens to closets and pantries. Every project receives meticulous attention to detail, carefully considered systems, and our […]