Best Buy at Crossgates Mall in 2009

More than 150 million Americans are planning to swarm the stores on Friday to get their hands on deals that are out of reach the other 364 days of the year.

And when it comes to holiday deals, the primary source for sales information is still the printed advertising circulars.

More than half of shoppers polled by the National Retail Federation said that’s how they keep up on the latest offers.

Another third said they use retailers’ holiday commercials. Online deal sites and social media were also popular, according to the NRF.

We reached out to several large companies to see exactly how many circulars they print this time of year, but were told that information was either not available or not disclosed.

You can guesstimate the math yourself though. Think one flyer for ever newspaper circulated and you’re easily talking 10s of millions.

Need help getting your store’s deals out there? Talk to the pros at imPress Printing.

But saying you want a “calendar” to a printing company is like walking into a car lot and saying you want a new car. The possibilities are endless!

How big do you want it?

Do you want a huge desk calendar, a medium-size wall calendar or a smaller promo calendar or a small magnet?

Calendars are a great way to help your clients keep you at the top of their mind and make your contact information easily found.

Here’s a magnetic calendar that holds your business card at top.

This calendar has a cardboard stand so clients can keep it on their desk.

If you’re looking to get extra creative, you can order a calendar with your own photos and customize what your customers hang on their wall.

If you want a large desk or wall calendar, you can customize a nice header so no matter the month, you’re right there.

Looking for something specific? Our imPress Printing experts have endless options to make an awesome calendar to keep your customers talking.

When it comes to reading traditional print publications online, The New York Times reigns king.

Experian Hitwise data gathered in September showed nearly four percent of traffic to print media websites went to www.nytimes.com.

The Times is followed by USA Today at a distant second and, on the newspaper side at least, The Washington Post as a solid third.

But when it comes to actual circulation, the number of papers distributed each day, the scoreboard is quite different.

The Wall Street Journal, which doesn’t appear on the Hitwise list (likely because of its subscription cost), is above USA Today and more than double The Times’ weekday subscription.

The San Jose Mercury News and Los Angeles Times are also major players in print that don’t make the list.

One other interesting note, is the appearance of the Daily Mail, which is a British tabloid.

Hitwise measures traffic to more than a million websites by about 10 million Internet users in America each day.

Source: Russell Herder

Whether you know what they are or not, QR codes are everywhere.

But just because someone sees them doesn’t mean they know what they are, or, more importantly, how to use them.

Not surprising, younger people (especially 18- to 34-year-old men) and those with smart phones are more likely to know what they are, according to a study by Russell Herder.

What was surprising was that only 31 percent of those surveyed said the outcome of their QR code was worth the effort – especially if they had to re-scan.

The study also offers some advice for marketers [read it here].

In general, know who your audience is and who you are targeting. Are they ready for or already using QR codes?

Really think about where your codes are going and put yourself in the mindset of an audience member who might be interested in scanning. Is it possible? Are there time limitations? Will they have their phone with them? What will they get in return for scanning? Is it worthwhile?

Also, how is your QR code standing out? Are people overlooking the codes on your printed material?

If you need some help figuring out how to make QR codes work for you, ask the experts here at imPress Printing.

Today we call that fragrance printing. It’s done by mixing chemicals into inks and/or paper coatings. And it really works. Whether you’re a perfume manufacturer or make cookies, you can give your customers a taste (figuratively) right out of their mailbox.

Have you considered if you’re reaching multiple senses in your printed material?

Visually, the colors you use will have a huge impact on how your message is perceived.

Here’s another chart, which also points out that different countries and cultures have some different meanings, connotations, etc. for colors.

Not all papers are the same

What kind of paper are you using? Nothing says cheap like a thin business card. At the same time, you don’t want paper for some items so thick it requires extra shipping.

Do you want a glossy finish or perhaps you want a more natural look? If you’re a non-profit raising money, you want to look organized but not like you’re spending thousands of dollars on some flashy mailer.

Have questions or need some help reaching your customers’ senses? Let the experts at imPress printing help!

Don’t just tell something to your audience, show them — through text, charts, images, video, etc.

Part of the planning for your mailer, flier or website needs to be focused on what message you want your images to bring.

If you’re targeting eight different audiences, why not vary your imagery according to audience?

For instance, if you’re a theme park going after teens, you’ll want to show teens having a blast at your park. If you’re targeting grandparents in other material, show some seniors holding a young child’s hand. Have you investigated targeted mailing so the proper material gets into the right hands?

A picture is not worth a thousand words

So how many words is a picture worth? About 84, according to one study. So make the best of them.

The size and subject of your images say a lot about you. Are you showing actual customers or employees? Is your image file large enough and of high-enough quality to make larger? Is it large enough on your mailer or website? Are you being clear in illustrating your product or service? Do you need multiple images to show a series of steps?

Make sure to ask about getting the most out of your images – both print and online. The experts here at imPress Printing are here to help.

With that said, have you ever thought about sending Thanksgiving holiday cards? If you have sent them, what was the reaction? It’s a growing trend partly fueled by companies wanting to beat the ‘traditional’ holiday craze.

Unlike the mid-December card mailing, Thanksgiving cards are more likely to be read and not lost in the shuffle.

If you’re in the business of standing out, this might be a great way to go.

You can still have the traditional holiday and happy new year wishes, but you frame it in a way that has a different punch.

Ready to try it out? Have imPress Printing help you choose and customize your company’s Thanksgiving cards this year.

Seriously, nothing beats avoiding that last-minute holiday card writing stress.

Today’s technology can break down your recipients into very specific interest groups (aka potential customers) by location, geographic range, household income, education or retirement status, whether they own a home and much more.

So how does this apply to social media?

Consider this: Direct mailing >> Social media fan >> Customer

Incentivize your potential customers to join your social media networks. Once you have them hooked, you can keep them informed and engaged.

If you’re about to stop reading because your target isn’t what you’d consider a ‘social media user’ – think again!

Statistics year after year have shown a significant up-tick in social media use by all age groups.

That means you can send specific targeted mailers customized with names and even links to personalized website landing pages all leading to your social media.

You’ll wow your customers with how with-the-times you are and likely you’ll also get them to talk about their experience and get even more customers.

Just be very clear in the steps someone must take or your awesome idea could flop.

Need some advice before your next mailing? Let the experts at imPress printing help!

Unless you’ve used them before, you might be surprised how modern green printing techniques are.

Recycled papers are great for the environment, but these days when practically everyone is using them, it’s almost cliché.

Have you ever tried printing on hemp paper? How about sugar cane, bamboo, mango, banana or coffee? The paper is made by mixing the plants with post-consumer waste.

Now that you have fancy eco-friendly paper, what about the printing itself?

Soy inks, which are made from soybeans, have many advantages. First, they’re not made with petroleum like traditional inks. That makes your products even easier to recycle. They are also said to have more accurate colors.

Even the printing itself can be green. How about hiring a printer that runs off of solar power? imPress Printing can help you find a company that uses renewable energy sources.

And make sure you tell your customers what you’ve done on the printed materials.

Want to give your customers an additional incentive? How about offering a donation to an environmental group for each campaign response?

Remember, your green initiatives shouldn’t be limited to printing. Earlier this year, we told you about some green products to make your business stand out and show your green side.

QR, or quick response, codes are a perfect example of how traditional print is marrying with web development to keep businesses progressing (or at least make them seem like they’re part of this century).

For some of you, QR codes may be old news, but don’t worry if you’ve never heard of them before. That’s why we’re here! The principle is similar to the bar codes you find on your supermarket items (remember how much fun the self-scan can be?). This time, though, the scanner is your smartphone.

Here are some ideas (remember imPress can help you set your own QR code (they’re free) and add them to all your printed materials):

A sign can only say so much. Perhaps you’re selling a home. How much can you write on a flyer or brochure without making someone’s eyes cross? Use a QR code and those who want to know more will scan the code and learn everything they ever wanted from a related website.

Trade show with a punch. Add some pizzazz to your trade show table or booth. Instead of overwhelming potential clients, show them how savvy you are with a QR code. They see your awesome printed material and when they want to know more, they are sent directly to your awesome site! (You do have an awesome site, right? If not, check out IntelliSites Web Design.)

Promo items that jump off the table. If you want to be noticed, add a QR code to your promo item. Entice clients to see more or link them to a web page with a contest. The possibilities are endless. It’s a great conversation starter, too.

Grow your Facebook fan base. Looking to add more friends to your Facebook page? Instead of just saying you have a Facebook page, link your potential clients directly to your page. They’ve already taken the first step so they’re that much more likely to become a fan since they’re already on the page!

Want to try something but need some advice? Let imPress help!