On Target With 3 Social Media Improvements!

The great thing about social media is that it’s always evolving, and most of the time it’s for the betterment of your marketing strategy. These changes (some simple, some BIG) will help you reach out to customers in the social media world more effectively.

We’ve got the simple changes, the upgrades and the just plain complicated (in simplified form, just for you). See what’s new in the world of social media that can help you today.

The Complicated—Facebook Home
Let’s start with the complicated. You’re probably thinking, “Facebook, Huh?” It’s okay, we’re wondering the same thing. Is it a phone? Nope. Is it an operating system? Try again. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook Home is an application that turns android phones into a Facebook phone.

So what exactly does that mean?

It means people with the application will see Facebook news front and center without ever having to open an application. Facebook’s Chat will always be on so people can communicate with users that way. Plus, notifications from other social media sites will take a backseat to Facebook.

For you, it means your current social media presence should be evaluated. If you don’t have much emphasis on Facebook currently, it may be worth looking into increased emphasis.

The Simple—Facebook Direct Comments
It’s time to get personal—or at least more personal than you’ve been on Facebook. A simple and much needed upgrade to your Facebook profile now allows users to make a direct reply to a fan who has made a comment on your wall, photo or status.

In the past one of your fans could post a question or statement that needs a reply, but tons of people commented after it before you could respond. Now you can simply click ‘reply’ to that particular comment and the person will be notified. Facebook then puts your reply next to the original statement or question.

The change means better customer service and an easier way to connect with fans. Kudos to Facebook for implementing a change to make marketers lives easier.

The Upgrade—LinkedIn Mentions
At last, what Twitter and Facebook have already done we can now do with LinkedIn. The professional networking social media site has included direct mentions in its updates. If you have an article you know one of your clients would love or want them to see your post, simply type your connection’s name and select their profile. They’ll then be notified that you have content or a message just for them.

Use it to make sure you’re targeting the right people with your content, and ensuring that they see it. Again, the upgrade gives you the opportunity seek out specific people and make them feel special.

NJC Printing provides quality digital and offset printing to businesses in St. Louis, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Please visit our website at www.NJCPrint.com to learn more about us or to Request An Estimate.

Resolutions For Your Business….Make Them Happen!

Today is the best day of the entire year to make your business better. Regardless of when your fiscal year begins or ends,  a new year allows you a chance to renew and refresh your company.

We’ve explained 3 New Year’s resolutions that we predict will be indispensible to your success in 2013.

Be More Responsive
Your responsiveness on social media will be critical in 2013. Resolve to respond to every single comment, good or bad. Treat negative comments as opportunities to show unhappy customers you’re willing to make it right. (Remember that all of your followers and fans are watching, not just the upset party.) Show your graciousness by thanking customers who leave positive comments on social media.

Be More Adaptable
Mobile commerce will be increasingly important in 2013. Even now, most of your clients rely on smartphones to get their work done. So make sure your business can adapt quickly to mobile’s effect. If you were slow to integrate digital tools like PURLs and QR codes on your print marketing pieces, do so now.

Whether it’s mobile technology or some other trend, adapt to it swiftly so it’s not a threat to your business.

Be More Relevant
Nowadays, competing in this environment means clawing your way to the top at any cost. You can’t afford to lose customers to any controllable circumstances. And that includes your product line and especially your marketing.

Make yourself more relevant in 2013. Research your current customers and their business needs—find out which vendors they rely on for services you could provide. Ask them what they wish your business offered, then go after that market. When you integrate services similar to the ones you already offer your customer base will expand with little investment.

In 2013, make sure the changes you integrate in your business plan and your marketing strategy are attuned to the current business climate. By 2014 your business and your client list will be unrecognizable! (In a good way.)

NJC Printing provides quality digital and offset printing to businesses in St. Louis, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Please visit our website at www.NJCPrint.com to learn more about us or to Request An Estimate.

You Are The Key To Unlocking An Amazing Presentation

We live in a world where the people who can make compelling presentations are highly valuable. You might not think you are called on to be a presenter, but the truth is you have to present a case for yourself every time you speak up at a meeting, have a job interview or pitch a product to your clients. Your ability to make presentations will help you become a more effective marketer for your business as a whole.

If you follow these tips, you can present things and get people to change. Making presentations isn’t really about great information or quality content. It’s a question of getting your message to really resonate and stick with an audience. Having something important to talk about is necessary, but not enough. Perfecting your presentation is what can really change people’s perspective.

Here are the three keys to a successful presentation:

 90% of Presentation is Preparation
The truth is that 90% of the presentation’s success happens before you get in front of your audience. If you want to have a successful presentation or sales pitch, you’ve got to be willing to spend time preparing exactly what you want to say. That means figuring out the structure of your presentation, what your key points are and most importantly, actually practicing the way you present yourself.

While this point is straightforward in theory, how many people really take the time to practice their presentations out loud before they give them? Did you practice for your last job interview with a friend? Have you tried recording a video of you practicing a sales pitch and analyzed your body language to figure out how to improve your communication?

It’s Not About You, It’s About Us
When you present, you have to understand your presentation isn’t about you, but rather, about us. Practice recording the presentation, then count the amount of times you say “we” or “I.” The truth is, as the audience, we don’t care about you or your company. Your story only matters to the point where we can learn what it means for us. How does your message change us?

Speak to your audience. Tell us how your message can change us and our status quo for the better. A helpful practice: For every slide of your presentation and every assertion, put yourself in the audience’s shoes, and ask—“So what?” If your assertion doesn’t respond to that candid objection, cut that point out.

Tell Us A Story, Not What To Do
Public speaker and entrepreneur Seth Godin has some advice applicable to all who want to learn to present better: Persuade, don’t convince.

What’s the key distinction? When you try to convince someone, you appeal to their logical, calculating side—the side that doesn’t make the decisions. When you persuade, you speak to an audience’s emotions, dreams and fears. The power of persuasion speaks to what really motivates us and causes us to take action. Plus, stories are simply entertaining.

And the best way to persuade is to tell stories. People are constantly crafting narratives from the experiences of their lives; it’s just the way we’re hardwired. And in order to create an engaging, persuasive presentation—instead of just a convincing one—you need to hone your storytelling ability.

Once you’ve done the intense preparation, truly focused your appeal on the audience instead of your own motivations and worked to create compelling stories, that’s when your presentations will truly shine. You’ll be able not just to communicate information, but actually change the way your listeners view the world.

NJC Printing provides quality digital and offset printing to businesses in St. Louis, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Please visit our website at www.NJCPrint.com to learn more about us or to Request An Estimate.

3 Marketing Trends To Make Your Business More Competitive

While individuals brainstorm their New Year’s Resolutions, we’re dreaming up how to make businesses better in 2013. Perhaps your company has a great product line but little marketing to spread the word. Or maybe you need to work on your relationships with customers.

Whatever changes you sense are due for your business in 2013, the projected marketing trends for the New Year can make you more competitive. Keep reading for a few suggestions on 2013’s top marketing trends and how to make them work for your business.

At Your Service
Your consumers are finally coming into their own. The ability to voice complaints about major brands on social media or price shop online, demonstrates that consumers now have more power than ever. Instead of dealing with minor or major annoyances about the brands they do business with, consumers can simply move on to another provider.

Make sure that customers never abandon you for something your business can control. Customer service is your chance to develop long-term relationships with loyal customers.

Provide extraordinary customer service and your customers will be far less likely to leave you. Treat customer care as an afterthought, however, and you’ll soon be one too.

Pleased and Pandering
You don’t have to pander to your prospects to persuade them with your marketing. But in 2013 developing technologies makes personalized marketing a must instead of a bonus. Set your company apart with marketing materials that show prospects they’re worth the extra investment.

Develop direct mail pieces that take advantage of customer data. Subtly show that your business and your prospects are perfect for one another by using their personalized information and copy that emphasizes what you have in common.

For example, a baker might mail a piece about a “wedding cake” as an anniversary gift. Save money by only sending the piece to households with married couples.

Upward Mobility
Social media drives sales—mostly it gives happy customers a mouthpiece to recommend their favorite brands to friends. We saw that trend play out this past year.

But 2013 will be the year of mobile commerce. The amount of money consumers spend via their smartphones will absolutely skyrocket in 2013. Take advantage with an upwardly mobile marketing plan.

Create marketing materials that reach prospects at multiple points, then drive them to your mobile website. Print QR codes on your mail pieces, any signs where pedestrians will have access to them and even your business cards.

You don’t have to be a trendy business to develop marketing that’s on-trend in 2013. Prep now—before your competitors do—so that 2013 will be as profitable as December is merry.

NJC Printing provides quality digital and offset printing to businesses in St. Louis, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Please visit our website at www.NJCPrint.com to learn more about us or to Request An Estimate.

Direct Mail Keeping It Short and Sweet!

Direct mail is an often under-appreciated form of advertising. Let’s face it, our first instinct is to quickly toss it away so we can get on with our day. But direct mail shouldn’t be so quickly discounted in a marketing strategy.

The possibility for direct mail with good response rates is promising, especially because it stands out as different from all the online advertising we now consume. But competition is still tough—in between the other coupons, bills and magazines, people don’t make much time for leisurely mail reading. Keep your message short and sweet to increase the chances of recipients reading your entire mail piece.

And what do recipients’ mail reading habits mean for you? It means you have a couple of seconds (maybe less) to get noticed. So do just that. Here are our favorite tips for creating delightful, must-read direct mail pieces.

A little humor goes a long way. Add some human spark to the voice of your direct mail. Dare to be funny. But don’t let your humor get in the way of the original purpose of your mailing.

Make your offer up front. Don’t make readers dig for the benefit you’re offering—put it up top and prominent. Oh, and make it something of value to your audience. Turn the focus away from your business and back to the prospect.

Direct mail is strongest when partnered up with another form of marketing. Whether that’s a QR code, landing page on your website, or even making a traditional follow-up phone call, don’t rely on a single direct mail piece to do the whole job.

What’s more important than what you’re saying is who you’re saying it to. Make sure you have a reliable list of recipients and that you’re sending to a segment of your audience that will be interested in your offer.
Personalization helps response rates. Consider employing variable text and images based on the information you have about your prospects. If you know their gender, for instance, you can select appropriate photos for either a man or woman.

Follow these tips and your direct mail will have a fighting chance. Channel your inner Godfather and “give them an offer they can’t refuse.” (Sorry, we had to.)

NJC Printing provides quality digital and offset printing to businesses in St. Louis, Missouri and throughout the Midwest. Please visit our website at www.NJCPrint.com to learn more about us or to Request An Estimate.