September 21, 2011
Letter to Our Customers
September 2, 2011
Dear Valued Customer:
We at would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our customers who have supported us over the past 25 years. We are truly honored to have been an integral part of your business! As most of us have been trying to cope with our own financial struggles, Aloha Print and Copy has been feeling the pain as well. Operating expenses and product costs have increased, and it has been increasingly difficult to compete with online sales. After serious consideration, with joy, we announce that we have decided to close our retail store front and move our office. All of your print and digital files have been be moved to our new office. We will continue to serve our customers now AND in the future. We believe we can achieve this without a retail location.
Ed and I will continue to pickup and deliver. Kim will continue to assist you with any design and electronic orders. We will maintain our normal business hours, Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm.
We feel that this decision is headed in a positive direction and will help us serve our customers better. The only other change us our fax number effective September 5th. We again thank you for your tremendous support and look forward to hearing from your soon!
Sincerely, Ed, Celia and Kim
NEW FAX NUMBER: 770-393-2062
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 501147 • Atlanta, GA 31150
Phone: (770) 642-1642 • Email: alohaprintcopy@juno.com
June 23, 2011
A Salesperson’s Ultimate Tool: Notepads
All over the world, business people are reaching for a notepad to jot down a note. Notepads are everywhere! They’re in our drawers, in our purses and briefcases, in our cars, they are everywhere. They come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Everyone loves to get notepads. The key however is to make it your pad that they grab.
Unfortunately, many sales people often overlooked notepads as an inexpensive marketing idea, one that will get your company’s name in front of a prospective client every time they pick it up.
But how do you get them to the right audience? You need to give them out to every potential and existing client, they’re perfect for tradeshow giveaways, convention bag stuffers, conference attendees, networking giveaways and more.
Notepads are one of the easiest marketing pieces to create. The basic design of a notepad should incorporate the following:
- Branding, branding, branding! It’s important to add your contact information and logo on to the notepads. This is your ultimate advertisement.
- Invest in quality paper. Make it slightly heavier that the standard 20# copy paper, but stay away from heavier or glossy stocks. If you’re using black ink, consider using a colored paper.
- While printing your notepads in full color is ideal, the name of the game is cost-effectiveness. You’ll want to get more for your money. One or two color printing is more than adequate.
- Size does matter. Get more bang for your buck by sizing your notepad to either 4.25” x 5.5” or 3.33” x 8.5”. No need to have a bigger notepad, it will just take up too much space. The smaller sizes are perfect for writing quick notes.
- Your pad should have no more or no less than 50 sheets to it.
On brilliant marketing idea: before you give the notepad away, personalize the first page with a hand-written note: “ Jill, Would love to get together to show you and _______ (company) what we can do for you.” Or you could write “This notepad is good for one free consultation.”
So, if you don’t already have notepads as a part of your sales tool kit, then you need to call Aloha Print and Copy today to discuss how we can add notepads to your marketing and promotion strategy. Don’t be surprised if they call you up to ask for more notepads.
Aloha Print and Copy has successfully used notepads on every sales call we do. To learn more about notepads, please call us at (770) 642-1642
June 7, 2011
Silly Business
Have you ever had a blond moment? An moment that you hope will be forgotten? Here are some blond moments in the print and design world that STILL crack us up.
Story #1
A few years ago, I had a customer call up to order a rubber stamp. We discussed the size of the stamp, ink color and what the customer wanted to say on it. When I asked her what size did she want her font in, she replied “The size of a typewriter.”
Story #2
Back in the 1980’s when the only personal computers found were in offices and print shops, our shop had several computers that were rented out by the hour and the waiting list was long. A customer rented one of our computers for several hours, working diligently on a project. She saved it to a floppy disk and took her disk home.
The next day, she came back to finish her work only to find the disk blank. All her work was gone! So again, she spend several hours recreating her project, saved it again to the disk and went home for the night. She came back to finish up her work and again…the disk was blank. Obviously she was quite upset, thinking the computer was destroying her work. Our customer service rep asked her where she was storing the disk when she went home.
The answer: “I attached it to the refrigerator with a magnet to help me remember to take it back to the print shop.”
Story #3
Again, this was back in the 1980’s when the common person did not know much about computers. A woman came into the shop to rent a computer. She sat there for several minutes, perplexed as to why the computer was not working. She called the customer service rep over to tell her the computer was broken. But, the computer was working just fine. It turned out the customer placed the mouse on the floor and was stepping on it (like the foot peddle of a sewing machine) thinking it would make the computer operate!
Story #4
This story comes from a customer of ours who back in the 1970’s designed type/fonts. Thanks Jerry!
A series of type had been created by a type designer for a client. Once completed, the design company mailed it to the client in another state. The client decided to make modifications to the project. He contacted the design company regarding the modifications at which he was told to make a copy of the disk and FedEx the copy back. When the designer opened the envelope, the only thing in there was the copy of the disk…a photocopy!
Story #5
I had a customer come in to the print shop to order business cards for her new business. She had already created the design but had forgotten it at home. To save her the time of going back to get her design, she said she could re-create it. So, I pulled out an order form that had a business card template on it and she proceeded to work up the card on the template. Handing the form back to me, I noticed she did not use the template but rather created her design on the backside (I figuring she was someone who had trouble writing small letters, ) In order to finish the order, I asked her what size font she wanted to use on the card. She explained the company name in 36 point, her name in 20 point and the company information in 14 point. I told her that it would not fit on the business card. She told me it would. I asked her how big the card was on her original design and her answer – exactly how she wrote it on the back of the order form…8-1/2” x 11”!
For more information about Aloha Print and Copy’s print, copy, design, bind and mail fulfillment services and product information, please call us at (770) 642-1642 or email: alohaprintcopy@juno.com.
June 1, 2011
Is Flyer Printing Dead?
The answer to the question is a resounding NO! Look around you every where you go. You see flyers posted on boards at the grocery store, handed to you when you enter a retail establishment, stuffed in your bag of items you’ve purchased at the store, in the boxes you’ve received, in newspapers and even (gasp!) under the wiper blade on your car windshield. In all told, flyers are alive and all around us. It’s advertising in its simplest form.
As with any marketing strategy, you must plan your flyer in advance. A well planned flyer can have a huge impact at a fraction of the cost. Below are some points to use when planning your campaign:
- Before anything else, you must create a plan. Decide how you want to distribute them. Also where you want to distribute them. Who is your audience/market? Does the competition have a similar marketing campaign? If so, what does it look like.
- Choose the product or service you want to promote. Don’t advertise more than two items. Too many items will distract the receiver from the true purpose and they end up throwing the flyer away.
- Determine the size of your flyer. Good sizes are 8.5” x 11”, 5.5” x 8.5” and 4.25” x 5.5”.
- Keep your design simple and clutter free. Use no more than 2 fonts in your design. Too many fonts will confuse people and your message will be lost. The same goes for photos or graphics. Consider using bullet points. Remember to focus on the benefits.
- Regardless of the size of your company, it’s important that you maintain your branding standard when designing your flyer. Consistency in branding is what helps you stand out from the competition.
- Decide whether your flyer should be full color or black and white. Full color printing is best when you use photos or other graphics that convey the image you are trying to sell. If your flyer has simple text, black ink/toner can be designed just as dramatic. Invest in a colored paper that will stand out rather than the standard white.
- Be sure to add a discount or coupon that is related to the product or service you are offering.
- Nothing is more powerful than a testimony. Your testimony should represent the product or service highlighted on the flyer. If not, a generic testimony about your company will also work.
- Make it easy for them to get a hold of you. Add your phone number(s), email address and website. If you have a retail location, add your address for the to find you. Caution: never give personal contacts info unless that is your only option.
- Consistency in marketing is a must. Don’t pass out your flyer once and expect to get the big results. If you’re a landscaping company, you should distribute your flyer every month. If you gain one or two new customers each time, that’s more than you had the previous month.
What types of business benefit from flyers? Any business can benefit, but flyers are more ideal for the service industry such as retail, restaurants, landscaping, real estate, or home businesses to name a few.
The purpose of the flyer is to advertise your business. If done correctly, you can reap the benefits of a flyer – new business and cash flow. To learn more about flyers or to schedule a consultation with our designer, call Aloha at (770) 642-1642 or email us at alohaprintcopy@juno.com
May 24, 2011
A Salespersons Ultimate Tool: Door Hangers (ADDENDUM)
Not long after finishing my last blog about door hangers, I was driving home through my neighborhood when I realized how many wonderful advertising opportunities were being missed. It got me to thinking, what kind of income was being left on the table? Have they even tried to market their services to the remaining neighbors? Or were they thinking the old adage “if you build it, they will come?” Did they think the signage on their vehicle was adequate enough to obtain more clients? Just what were they thinking?
My neighborhood consists of 76 houses. Not to mention the several subdivisions that back up to ours. So over the course of a couple days, I decided to “case” the neighborhood. I watched and observed, I talked to several neighbors to get their feedback. Below is “intel” that was gathered.
- Landscapers – there are two different ones that work in my neighborhood. One only comes to one home and then leaves, the other has three homes he services. However, in the four years that I have lived there, not once did I receive any advertising for their services. Solution? Whether quarterly or twice a year, go around to the homes and leave information about your services. Also, when a new homeowner moves in, be sure to drop off a brochure or door hanger.
- Realtors – there are three homes for sale on my street by three different real estate companies. What I found amazing is that I have not received a postcard from any of them offering their service in the event I decide to move. In my previous neighborhood, I would find on average five mailers in my mailbox every week. Solution? Distribute information to the homeowners letting them know you’re in the neighborhood “helping” one of their neighbors in selling their home. (We have a realtor in our area who constantly sent us information about the homes she was selling in our area and when one sold, we received a postcard. She worked at branding herself to the point that she opened her own agency and continued to be the top seller in the area.)
- Tree services – living in north Georgia, we have an over abundance of hard wood and pine trees. After every major storm, I see on average one tree service removing fallen trees or those with the potential to fall from around a home. But I have never been approached by a tree service to remove those trees that could ”potentially” fall or to offer their services in the event that I may need them. Solution? Within a couple days of starting a project, distribute information on your services the homeowners and let them know the date(s) you’ll be working the neighborhood.
- Maid service – just outside my neighborhood entrance is a small office park that houses a small maid service. They moved in three years ago and in all that time, they have never once advertised. Solution? Same as landscapers, whether quarterly or twice a year, go around to the homes and leave information about your services.
As far as any advertising, the only thing I can see is what is on their vehicles or on any signage that may be used at the place they are servicing. Sadly enough, these four services are a dime a dozen and if they want to have me as a potential client, they need to “tell” me what their services and products are and what they can do for me plus provide testimonials from satisfied customers.
So my advice for the service industry, do miss this prime opportunity. If you are doing work in a particular neighborhood, take a few extra minutes and distribute a door hanger (or flyer) to those prospective clients. You never know how much “missed” money you’ll find.
For more information about Door Hangers and marketing, call Aloha Print and Copy at (770) 642-1642.
May 18, 2011
A Salespersons Ultimate Tool: Door Hangers
One of the most effective marketing tools for local businesses that is often overlooked – door hangers. Door hangers are one of the easiest ways for a business to promote their products and services to a small demographic area. Door hangers are a cost-effective way to advertise. Anyone from your company can take the time to distribute the door hangers to a targeted audience for just the cost of labor. Whereas to mail a postcard or flyer, you still have the labor cost of preparing the mailing PLUS the postage.
So who can benefit from door hanger marketing? Those in the service industry will get more of an impact from distributing door hangers. Service companies include (but not limited to): maid services, heating and air, landscapers, lawn and pool services, plumbers, home improvement, roofers, tree services, restaurants, realtors, mortgage companies, and insurance agents.
So what should you put on your door hanger?
- What do you plan to promote? Highlight a single product or service plus the benefit to your prospect. Be specific.
- Let them know that you are in the area doing work for a neighbor. If you are able, list the address so they may get a testimony from that person.
- Don’t forget to add a limited, special offer.
- Take in consideration of your marketing. Who is your audience? Look at the neighborhood. Are the homes million dollar mansions or small cottages? Your design should reflect the type of homes you are targeting.
- Your headline should be catchy. Be sure that it is large and bold enough to grab the readers attention.
- Utilize both sides of the door hanger. Your main side should be your promo side. The backside can have more information about the services and products you offer. Make your copy clean of clutter, Keep in mind that your overall design should be eye-catching.
- Color is more effective than a simple black and white. Yes black and white is the less expensive option, but it does not project the image you want them to see.
- And if you decide to invest in color, make sure you have photos of your work. You want your prospective client will want to see the “evidence.” Photos are one of the best testimonies after all “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
- Also, make sure your use contrasting colors.
- Perforated door hangers can offer a dual purpose. You can add a business card for the prospect to tear off or a coupon for clients to use or pass on to a friend.
The disadvantages to doing door hangers:
- The dreaded “No Soliciting” sign. Keep in mind that it is wise not to distribute door hangers in neighborhoods that post a strict no soliciting signs, regardless if you are working in the neighborhood or not. This is when mailing a postcard will be more effective.
- Also, pay attention to where the garage is in relationship to the front door. If the home has a garage that drives under the living space and stairs to the front door, chance are that door never gets used. The same being said for garages in the back of homes. Your best bet is to hang the door hanger on the mailbox latch or flag.
Let’s face it, a prospective client is not expecting to see a door hanger on their front door knob. As opposed to getting the same routine postcard in the mail, curiosity will have them examining your door hanger to see what it’s about, making it the perfect alternative to conventional advertising.
As with all advertising, repetition is the key to success however to have a greater impact, a little change will keep them on their toes. So consider adding door hangers to your Ultimate Tool kit and don’t let the opportunity get away.
Call Aloha Print and Copy today at (770) 642-1642 and ask for more details on the Ultimate Marketing Tool.
May 5, 2011
All it Takes is a Simple Thank You
It looks like the antiquated common courtesy is coming back to life in the business world. Cell phone, emails, instant messaging and internet while valuable communication tools for marketing your business, they have become the norm in our daily business and personal lives. Sadly, we haven’t realized that we’ve lost a valuable tool when it comes to marketing. Not long ago, it was common practice that once a deal or sale had closed or you have just met with a prospective client, you sent them a hand-written thank you note. Now, we’re sending a thank you that is either computer generated at the bottom of an invoice or we “shoot” off an impersonal email to clients (if even that.) No longer do we make the effort to show customers how much we appreciate their business or the time they have taken out of their schedule to meet with you.
So it comes as a surprise that everywhere I’ve turned lately, I’ve come across the re-birth of the personal thank you notes. Our economy has forced us to reprioritize business relationships. There is too much competition out there looking for you to neglect your client. (See blog entry dated January 2010; “Make Thank You Notes Part Of Your Relationship Strategy”)
So here is what I’m seeing when it comes to sending thank you notes:
- Sending a note after an interview may be what gets you the job. In a networking forum, a member had mentioned that she had interviewed two candidates, both with identical credentials. But the one she hired was the person who took the time and mailed her a thank you.
- Sending a note after losing a quote/bid. Another person on the forum had mentioned that he had sent a thank you note to a potential client AFTER losing a bid. Several months later, the client came back to him for a job without asking for the bid. Reason was that they were impressed that he had taken the time to send the note even though they were not going to be using his services.
- Sending a note after a business network luncheon or dinner. One member of the forum always sends a thank you note to everyone she has met at networking meetings along with her business card again. Her reason is because it’s so unexpected to receive a thank you note for taking time to talk to her, they are “shocked” into remembering her. Bonus has been several new clients.
Thank you notes are just plain good business. It’s a small investment with a major return. It’s all about relationship marketing.
For more information about Thank You note cards and relationship marketing and what Aloha Print and Copy can do for you, call us at (770) 642-1642.
April 28, 2011
Small Budget Business Promotions
Looking for new ideas to promote your business? New ways to get your customers to notice you? When it comes to innovative sales promotions, you can promote your business, find new customers and add substantially to your bottom line at minimal costs. Aloha Print and Copy can show you how, that with a little work and imagination, self-promotion efforts can provide a very cost-effective lift.
Small Budget? No problem!
If you’re not blessed with a large advertising budget to promote your business, don’t despair. Promoting your business with a variety of inexpensive but effective methods can go a long way to ensure a steady stream of work. Below are some unique marketing ideas for business promotion.
- Contact a client whenever you are on a trip by sending a postcard from your location. Tell them you’ve “Heard of a Great Idea” you’d like to share with them when you get back in the office. Build the intrigue so that they are expecting your call.
- On a hot day, hand out cold water bottles with an attached message. “Refer Your Friends to (your company) and We’ll Let the Money Flow Like Water.”
- People love to win prizes so send them scratch-off tickets. Prizes can be anything from a free hours consultation to product.
- Create a “faux” Lottery Ticket business card. Design in the style of a lottery ticket with your phone number in place of the lottery numbers. At the bottom of the ticket tell prospects: “Your chances of winning is better with us.”
- Need a creative networking gimmick? Give seed packets in the Spring. “Plant your Roots with Us.”
- Have your logo printed on business card and attach it to a bag of peanuts. Your card can say: “We’re nuts about our clients…call us to learn how to get your next project for peanuts.” Place them in an envelope and mail. People tend to open bulky envelopes to see what’s in them.
- Take a photo of the front of your business and let Aloha Print and Copy print full color postcards with your message: “Wish you were here…and you could be if you used our services.”
- Purchase “location” postcards that reflect your area. Great ones are the cards styled from the 50’s and 60’s that say: Hello from (your town)!.” Handwrite your personal sales message on the back.
- People love brain teasers. The best ones are those that ask you to find the mistake or hidden item. Create your teaser based on your company’s product.
- Another teaser people love are puzzles. Have your message printed on stock that is pre-cut for puzzle pieces. Take the pieces apart, place into an envelope and mail to your prospect.
The idea is to stand out from your competition, leave a lasting impression and get them to call you back. Call Aloha Print and Copy today at (770) 642-1642 and ask us for more details on creating your next marketing promotion.
April 18, 2011
What’s in a Tagline or Slogan?
Wikipedia Definition: A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product (like a film), or to reinforce the audience’s memory of a product. Some taglines are successful enough to warrant inclusion in popular culture.
One of the hardest strategy in branding a company is coming up with a successful tagline or slogan that best communicates who they are, what they do or what they offer.
As a rule, taglines should be no longer that 10 words. Most memorable slogans are short, to the point and captures the readers attention. Your tagline should be original and self-explanatory. So how can you go about creating a tagline?
- The best way to begin your tagline is to look at your competition. This will not only help you come up with ideas for your own, it will help you differentiate your tagline to avoid confusion.
- Make a list of key words about your business, services and products. Using a search engine such as Google to run your words through will give you more phrasing options. A thesaurus is also a valuable tool.
- Talk to colleagues, clients, family and friends for ideas on creating your tagline. Once you’ve created your slogan, go back to them for feedback. Also, run it through Google to see what results may come back.
This website houses a collection of taglines or slogan. Broken down by industries, this is a great resource for helping you come up with your own:
http://www.textart.ru/database/slogan/list-advertising-slogans.html
Below are some famous taglines. How many can you identify without having to hear the company name?
I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. Alka-Seltzer
Don’t leave home without it. American Express
Reach out and touch someone. AT&T
The quicker picker-upper. Bounty
What’s in your wallet? Capital One
A diamond is forever. DeBeers
It keeps going, and going, and going…. Energizer Batteries
When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight. FedEx
Quality is job one. Ford
When you care enough to send the very best. Hallmark
They’re g-r-r-r-eat! Kellog’s Frosted Flakes
Finger-lickin’ good! Kentucky Fried Chicken
Hey, Mikey…he likes it! Life Cereal
Melts in your mouth, not in your hands. M&Ms
Good to the last drop. Maxwell House
Because so much is riding on your tires. Michelin
Must see TV. NBC
Just do it. Nike
Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman. Secret Deodorant
Head for the border. Taco Bell
Expect more. Pay less. Target
Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Timex
What can Brown do for you? UPS
Can you hear me now?…Good! Verizon Wireless
It’s everywhere you want to be. VISA
Always low prices. Always. Wal-Mart
Where’s the beef? Wendy’s
These taglines/slogans incorporate the company or product name within them. Again, each one is identifiable
You’re in good hands with Allstate.
Calgon, take me away.
Nothing comes between me and my Calvins.
Please don’t squeeze the Charmin.
When EF Hutton talks, people listen.
Don’t get mad. Ge GLAD.
The best tires in the world have Goodyear written all over them.
Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?
Hey! How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?
Did somebody say McDonald’s?
Is it live or is it Memorex?
It’s Miller time!
RAID kills bugs dead.
How do you spell relief? R-O-L-A-I-D-S
Yo quiero Taco Bell.
With a name like Smucker’s. it has to be good.
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids.
I coulda had a V-8!
Now you’re on your way to creating a tagline for your company or product. Incorporate it with your logo to complete the brand. Use it on every marketing communication you use: stationery, business cards, direct mailers, website, even when answering the phone.
Looking for more marketing ideas? Call Aloha Print and Copy today at (770) 642-1642 to talk to our marketing specialist.
April 6, 2011
25 Creative Uses for the Back of Your Business Card
One of the most under-utilized piece in your marketing package is the backside of you business card. Chances are for the majority of you, the backside is blank. Below are 25 fun and useful ideas to get your clients to notice you,
- Your business philosophy, core values, or mission statement
- A list (or partial list) of your services
- Directions to your office or place of business
- A reusable coupon/discount
- Create a referral program
- An affirmation or favorite quote
- Three benefits of doing business with you
- Tips on how your product or services can save or make money
- Five things people should know about your business, services or products
- A short quiz about your business or industry
- Trivia about your business or industry
- Your elevator speech
- A mini resume of credentials and honors
- A short joke/riddle
- A 12-month calendar
- A calendar of events (sports)
- Community emergency phone numbers
- Your rates
- Third party testimonials
- A tipping chart
- A list of common cooking weights or measurements
- Your personal guarantee
- Appointment date/time
- Useful websites
- Thought-provoking question (“Can you afford not to?”)
The answer to number 25 is NO!!! Your business card is the first and last impression a prospective client has of you. Make it memorable and utilize the back of your card.
For business card ideas and printing, call Aloha Print and Copy today at (770) 642-1642.
Aloha Print & Copy 