Business Cards

Let's talk today about one of the first elements of your brand identity that gets seen by your clients, prospects, partners and competitors.

It's your business card.

These days everybody has a business card, even those between opportunities. You must have the basics of how people can reach you:

• Name
• Address
• Phone
• E-mail

Then consider other things:

• A logo and or tagline
• A website or blog or LinkedIn address

Now that people can find you, consider appearance:

• The type of paper stock--weight, color, coated?
• Printed both sides or just one side?
• Standard shape or a dye cut shape?
• Printed horizontally or vertically?

It is the first line, but it is alos something that speaks after you are gone. Choose wisely.

ThExecutive Pressman

The office family

OK, it's Friday and the Pressman is feeling a bit lighthearted.

This is Rocco. He is the resident dog at our neighbor and partner's office, The Lamination Station. We share space with them to house our Canon Digital press. Rocco is kind, polite, but pretty much all business.

Why am I telling you this? Because people do business with people (and other office occupants) that they know, like and trust. Sure, Rocco is a dog, but it tells you something about the nature of how we do business. We want our clients to know that we like what we do, we enjoy our work and the atmosphere and want them to get to know it and like it, too. Being at ease with one's work is the key to a successful business.

We think we are a successful (and friendly) business. We like what we do.

So, stop by some time and ask for Rocco.

The Executive Pressman

Digital Press

The final piece of a printing capability in any effective print shop operation is a digital press.

Take for example our digital press, this Canon machine.

"With this machine we can do 4-color quantities of your project as small as one copy," Tom Sadler said. Tom is President and an owner of Executive Press.

"This press adds just the right element to our mix of machines and capabilities,"Tom continued.

The machine was added to the operation at the request of a client who did a large-volume, product manual printing on a regular basis. Since then, Tom said, its capabilities have been applied to work done for other clients.

"Short run, long run and specialized digital work really shines on this machine, Tom added.

When shopping for a printing look to see the breadth of their capabilities and if digital is a part of the mix.

The Executive Pressman

Newsletters--electronic and printed

Reaching out to your constituents--clients, prospects and suspects--is critical in today's business environment. that's pretty obvious.

While many companies are leaning on social media to make contact, most are forgetting the personalization and the directness of newsletters. While social media is an outreach, it is more "broadcast" in nature. Couple that with a directed outreach of a newsletter and you are building rapport and a connection with your audience.

Electronic newsletters are good in that they land on your target's computer desktop or phone in box. Good information shared quickly makes you memorable.

For a more traditional audience or to supplement the electronic and broadcast outreach, a paper newsletter distributed via U.S. Mail is every workable, affordable and effective. Studies show they are still widely read.

The bottom line is that you should consider a targeted outreach via newsletter to your constituents as a part of your marketing mix.

The Executive Pressman