Making your Wide Format Project a Success
May 18, 2008 by OneIMS · Leave a Comment
Are you ready to make a splash? Ready to grab everyone’s attention? Then you’re ready to start on your wide format printing project. As with any project, thinking ahead of time will avoid unpleasant surprises and disappointments. Most importantly, it will allow you to choose the right type of wide format printing for your needs. Once you’re ready to start on your wide format project, make sure you can answer these questions.
1. What message does the signage need to convey?
Is it a new service or product you are promoting? Is it a special promotion? Think about the image and the purpose of your signage before moving on to the next step.
2. Is it informative or entertaining?
If you’re going for entertainment, make sure your signage makes a lasting impression. Think about colors, eye-catching images and attention grabbing quotes that entertain and draw customers in. Going for an informative approach? What information needs to be conveyed? How much information is too much? Successful signage is a delicate balance between relevant information and a promotion offer. Too much information can be overwhelming. Just enough information can be a great teaser.
3. How long will the sign/graphic be used – is it temporary, permanent or reusable?
When deciding the type of sign you will be creating, think about how long you will use it for. Is this a sign you want to use for a specific season only? A one-time promotion? Does it require a date? Will a date render it non-reusable? Reusable is better, but keeping the same sign up forever gets boring. On the other hand, having an outdated sign is false advertising and annoying for your customers. Wide format printing is a relatively inexpensive solution that allows you to print large format graphics to keep a fresh look. Seasons change, holidays change and tastes change. Make sure to update your graphics and have a fresh look all year round to keep your audience excited.
4. What conditions will the sign be exposed to?
Before deciding on the specific type of printing method, make sure you know where your signage will be used. If your sign is for outdoor use, make sure you choose a media that will withstand sun damage, rain, wind and general wear and tear. If it’s for indoor use, what temperature will it be exposed to? Is it meant to go on windows with high exposure to sunlight or hung on walls or away from sunlight. Does it require lamination? Should it be UV coated to prevent fading? Whichever your needs are, a wide format printing consultant can let you know what the best medium for your printing project is.
5. What is the average distance between the sign/graphic and the intended viewer?
Once you know where you will post your signs, think of how large and clear the images and text need to be on your signage. Ask several people to give you their opinion.
6. Who is the intended audience?
This is by far one of the most important things to keep in mind. Is your sign meant to get children excited? Then think bold images and bright colors. Is it meant for a specific group interested in specific things? Think about the type of colors, images and fonts that will attract your target audience.
7. Will the sign require special installation?
Once you know the size and location of your sign, figure out if it will require special installation. Will you require wall mounts, posts, outdoor installers, permits or other equipment? Make a list of all the equipment you will need so that installation will be a smooth process.
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Five Tips for a Successful Direct Mail Marketing Campaign
March 18, 2008 by OneIMS · 5 Comments
Are you considering a direct mail campaign in the near future? Looking for some tips on how to be successful at it? Read on to discover a few proven direct marketing strategies to double or even triple the response rate.
1. Enhanced Data – First and foremost get the right list, and get it right! It is very critical that you set the criteria for the recipients of
your direct mail piece. What does that mean for your business? Let’s break it down. 60% of your mails success depends on the list itself. It is imperative that you obtain a mailing list with the correct target audience for your product or services. If you send your direct mail pieces to the wrong audiences, your message would irrelevant and your money is wasted. As important as it is to have the right audience in mind, equally important is to have a list that is current. Not only are you saving money on postage by using a clean and current data, you are actually increasing the success of your direct mail campaign.
2. Enticing offer – Make sure that you use an alluring offer to increase response rate. Giving something away or giving a discount will always get people’s attention. However, it is very important that the offer is relevant and in proportion with the service or product that you are trying to promote. You must balance the desired response with the right incentive. Before you craft an offer, ask yourself if you would respond to that particular offer. Your initial focus should be on motivating the customers to act, rather than calculating the cost of implementing the promotion. Always put a sense of urgency and deadline in your copy.
3. Engaging Message - Ensure the message matches the target audiences. Get to the point quickly. Make the offer very prominent in the copy. Be clear and concise. Make it personal and conversational. Always remember to have a call to action. Don’t just list and discuss the features, but focus on the end-user benefits. Avoid using technical jargons. Always include all of your contact information. It is highly recommended that you hire a professional to do the strategic messaging and copywriting.
4. Energetic Creative – Don’t compromise on the quality of the marketing piece. Hire a professional design team. Graphics should be relevant to your headline and message. Images should be eye-catching and appealing to the target audience. Not only is the graphic design aspect is important, the quality of your printed material is also equality important. Both of these aspects combined reflect the image of your company that you want to portray.
5. Ensure Easy Response methods – Always make sure your offer is easy to respond to. Don’t make it cumbersome. Provide multiple channels for responding, such as a postage paid response card, a toll free number, an email address or a landing page.
