The Window to Marketing

Communicating with clients and prospects is a necessary part of doing business. But how do you keep your communication engaging, personal, and cost-effective?

Consider window envelopes.

Direct mailers that use window envelopes make responding to your message easy, and they can save you time and money in the production process. Check out these tips and tricks for window envelopes that are sure to get opened.

1. Save time. Print once.

Window envelopes make it possible to only print the name and address of your recipient one time.

Keep in mind that a standard window is on the left side of the envelope. If you decide you’d like to try a different window placement, be sure to plan for additional production time and cost to bring your unique window envelope idea to life.

2. Avoid delays. Pay attention to mailing guidelines.

You will want to adhere to the post office rules so that there is no delay in your mailing. Rules, such as:

• White space. The post office likes as much white space as possible so that the address information is clearly recognized. To be safe, allow ¼” of white space all the way around the address area.
• Barcoding. When using bar code information, it cannot interfere with the address or name at all. Bar codes should be placed above or below the address or above or below the optional endorsement line or keyline.

While rules like these might seem overwhelming, that’s precisely what we’re here for.

3. Try the ‘Tap Test.’

Does your envelope pass the “Tap Test?”

The “Tap Test” allows you to shake or tap the envelope and still see all the pertinent information within the window. This test is what the USPS uses to test it to see if your mailing can be automated. If the USPS taps one envelope and the address shifts out of the window area, the whole mailing can fail the automation test.

4. Words matter. Try these!

When it comes to designing your envelope and getting it to stand out and get opened, try these eye-catching phrases to encourage readers to open the envelope:

• Free, New
• Open Now
• Special Offer
• Exclusively Yours
• Proven Success

There are so many ways to engage customers. And now you know some great ways to save some time and money by using window envelopes. If you need any more money-saving suggestions, check out other articles from our Ideas Collection or reach out to Regal Printing Company today, 402-339-9797! regalprint.com

 

5 Opacity Tips You Should Know

Opacity isn’t a word that’s tossed around often, but it is a topic you should consider when printing your next project.

What is Opacity?

Opacity means no light is going through the paper, which means you can print on both sides and not have it show through.

A high opacity in printed paper allows people to read the front side of the page without being distracted by print images on the backside. This will enable you to be creative with colors and images without the fear of bleeding through.

Depending on your desired results, opacity will play a part in creative projects.

5 Opacity Tips You Should Know

While you don’t need to be an expert on opacity, there are some essential tips you should know if you’re looking to print on both sides of the paper.

• Thicker papers are more opaque than thinner ones.
• Papers made of ground wood pulp are more opaque than free sheets.
• Coated papers are more opaque than uncoated papers.
• When looking for more opaque papers, look for one with a rough finish rather than one with a smooth surface.
• Colored papers, especially dark-colored pages, are more opaque than white sheets.

When looking to add elegance to your project, papers that appear to be translucent are thought to be superior. But opaque papers have their own sophistication. You can combine both in a project and enhance your image.

“Opaque papers that exhibit show-through are fit only for the bottoms of bird cages,” says author Constance Sidles in her book Graphic Designer’s Digital Printing and Prepress Handbook.

Rather than looking for paper that has show-through, look for ones that don’t show ink through the page. If you plan to print only on one side, it’s okay. But if you are looking to add sophistication and print on both sides, you will want to pick an opaque paper. You don’t want text showing through to the opposite side of the paper when you print.

To determine opacity, printing mills use a black sheet behind a particular paper and measure how much brightness the paper loses. Then the percentage is calibrated. You can use this to order the type of paper you want.

When you use the right paper, opacity can elevate your project quite a bit. Need help? We’ll be happy to show you the correct type of opaque paper options to fit your project. Reach out today to learn more! 402-339-9797 or www.regalprint.com

 

The Usefulness and Utility of Print Marketing

The utility of print goes beyond just conveying a message to potential customers.

Printed items can have a long, productive life and serve as a constant reminder of your brand to your customers. People tend to keep items that they can use over and over again, even if they are throw-away items.

People Keep Useful Items

One great way to ensure that your brand stays top of mind is by using items specific to your business that customers can use daily, such as calendars and notepads.

These items are not thrown away but used regularly, reminding customers of your business on a daily basis. In fact, informative print marketing can distribute valuable reference material to customers, establish you as an industry expert, and ultimately convert prospects to customers.

Printed Items Have Long Productive Lives

A notable example of the long-lasting effect of printed items is IKEA's decision to print their logo on paper measuring tapes.

Even though these were not meant for long-term use, they often "live on in handbags and glove boxes for years, keeping the IKEA brand as a talking point, visible and remembered."

Furthermore, a 2015 ethnographic study by Canada Post found that useful printed items were:

• saved in a dedicated area of the house by 39% of people,
• kept for at least 4 months by 20% of people, and
• shared with other household members by 35% of people.

Catalogs, especially business-to-business ones, were found to have a longer shelf-life and were often kept for up to four months.

Print at Home Heat Map

Finally, a 2014 study provides a home heat map, which is helpful for understanding how effective your marketing can be.

This study focused specifically on mail as it enters and leaves the home, and identified three critical places in our homes and offices where mail is kept - the holding area, the pile, and the display area. These are important places that can convert readers into customers.

Useful print marketing will linger in high-traffic areas of a household or office for months and be shared with others, increasing your chances of converting readers into customers.

Print: Alive and Well

The printed word is alive and well and continues to be a powerful tool for building a client base. If you have a project in mind, let us help you get it started today! 402-339-9797 or visit: https://www.regalprint.com

 Boost Sales with Brochures

A great way to bring more awareness to your product, event, or business is with a brochure.

The personal and informative nature of brochures allows you an opportunity to expand on what you have to offer. Check out the tips below to enhance your brochure design.

7 Brochure Design Tips

1. Will your brochure highlight a single item or several?

2. Think about what point your customers are at in their buying journey. Are they merely interested in learning more about a product or service? Or are they on the verge of purchasing? Create accordingly.

3. Will the appeal be emotional or more pragmatic? Decide if the items featured are more practical or if they will enhance a potential customer’s life or image.

4. Decide on the overall style. The piece's tone should be business, fun, formal or informal, but not a confusing mash-up of all of them.

5. Are you trying to portray an image or convey information? Again, decide before you start creating your brochure.

6. Pretend you are the customer. What questions need to be answered? Then answer them.

7. Break up the copy with pictures, subheads, and bulleted lists.

Brochure Types to Set Yourself Apart from the Competition

Here are several types of brochures to make your business stand out.

1. Traditional Brochures work for basic information. Small brochures are created by folding an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper into thirds and printing on both sides. They contain basic information.

2. If you have more information to share, Stapled Brochures work nicely. However, if the brochure starts to go into the double digits, it’s generally wise to include a small table of contents or an index.

3. Teaser Brochures target prospective buyers early in the decision-making process. They are smaller in size, such as a one-page brochure. 

4. Tell-All Brochures go to the next level. These target people who are at the decision-making stage. These are lengthier, such as booklets.

5. “Impressers” are like small magazines regarding their sophistication and number of pages. These work well for luxury items, complex technical products and services, and intangible items such as public relations or financial services. 

6. Sometimes, you should create a Series of Brochures to update them easily. Differentiate them with different colors on the front, pictures, and text. 

Whichever type of brochure you choose, you can put them to work for you and distribute them to the masses by placing them on counters, in racks, using them at events, mailing them to prospective buyers, and more.

Reach out today if you’d like help creating the perfect brochure to boost sales at your business! 

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