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:

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.

Rectangles and squares are great, but creative people like to think "outside the box." Sometimes four sides, 90-degree corners, and parallel lines are just not enough. That means that it is time to cut… die cut that is.

Marketers today rely on coordinated campaigns using multiple channels to reach their audiences with many touchpoints over time, called omnichannel marketing. In 2020 with COVID-19 some channels are vastly outperforming others, and keeping top of mind with your audience now can pay dividends post-pandemic. Reliance on digital touchpoints, perhaps because of their low cost and ease of use is understandable.

Did you know that common mistakes in logo design can cost your company thousands of dollars for the lifetime of brand logo use? It's true. Many people design logos with a "web first" mentality now. However, every logo has to be printed at some point - what startup tech company CEO would go without business cards? Therefore, logo design can impact the cost of company stationery and other marketing collateral for life. When contemplating designing (or redesigning) your company logo, don't make these errors:

The start of a new year means everyone you know will be replacing at least one item in the house or office — their calendar! Calendars in all formats are a great way to keep your brand top of mind all year long, while providing value for the recipient as a useful item. And you don't have to do a standard wall calendar, like the one shown above. Here are eight other calendar formats you could try:

Using metallics in design and fashion has been trending in 2019 and looks to be continuing into 2020. Like many other company cards this holiday season, we applied a shiny copper foil to a set of eight different thank you cards. Since most designers don't have a lot of experience with foil applications, we thought that we would share our top tips for designing print with foil stamping.

Just like adding different spices and seasonings can create unique flavor profiles for a meal, using a specialty coating on your marketing piece can help communicate your distinct style or add a tactile reinforcement of your messaging.

Traditional and digital marketing do not have to be mutually-exclusive efforts. In a previous blog we shared 5 examples of how they have been used successfully together. Now I'd like to share some ideas specifically combining social media with print marketing.