Quick Response (QR) codes got their humble start in the mid 1990s to track inventory in a warehouse or manufacturing environment. It was promoted from there that QR codes could be used to link printed materials to websites and apps, landing pages, and to enable touchless ordering experiences.
The clamor for consumer attention only gets more complicated and crowded over time. Digital marketing experts now estimate that most Americans are exposed to around 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements each day! These ads are coming from an ever-increasing list of channels: billboards, radio, TV, phone calls, email, direct mail, social media, website banner ads, Google AdWords, text messages, etc.
The honor of walking the stage for the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) graduation ceremony at the International Franchise Association (IFA) Annual Convention in February has been a highlight of 2020. At the first franchising conference I attended in 2015, the Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference, I had the good fortune of meeting Steve Schildwachter, the CMO at BrightStar Care at the time. He advised me to immediately join IFA and then said, "If you're going to work in this industry you really need your CFE."
The most recent 2020 employee engagement poll by Gallop found that 37% of U.S. employees were actively engaged at work, while 14% are actively disengaged. Further, a recent SHRM survey found that more than 40 percent of employees feel drained, exhausted or burned out from work this year.
When you are searching for a new print and mail service provider, many purchasing departments like to rely on issuing a Request for Information (RFI) or Request for Proposal (RFP). However, if that department is purchasing everything from paper towels to heavy machinery using the same process, they may not know the key questions to ask to find the best printers to work with.
Working closely with your printer during the concept stages of a print project allows us to use our experience to assist with cutting costs and reducing production timelines. Here are eight things to consider when designing your next print project:
Is your franchise ready to grow? Do you have the necessary tools in place for your franchisee network to double or triple in size? The proper plan and preparations in place will allow your franchise to scale rapidly, set up new franchisees for success and promote a positive brand experience for customers. Here are six items to consider as you prepare for explosive growth:
The majority of promotional products available for branding are made overseas, many in China. With the disruption of manufacturing and shipping due to coronavirus, it can be smart to look for a U.S. provider for your next branded item to ensure the factory can produce and ship it to arrive in time.
Letting a product "sell itself" is not an effective way of advertising. Product benefits can rarely be summed up on a package adequately, especially when they are competing for attention along with everything else on fully-stocked store shelves.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a useful, cost effective way to promote local businesses within the community. You may recognize these pieces of mail because they don't have your name or address on them, they are just addressed to "residential customer" or "postal customer."
