Source: New feed
Source: New feed
There have been days when 2157 Rayburn House Office Building had the feel of a boxing match.
It’s the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee room where Republicans and Democrats have been known to go at each other with vehemence.
That wasn’t the case Tuesday.
Members on each side of the dais went out of their way to praise representatives from both parties for work on legislation designed to save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from financial ruin.
For more years than can be easily remembered, the Postal Service has pleaded with Congress for help with its financial situation. Members of Congress, along with postal unions and other interested folks, agreed that the financial picture was bleak, but consensus on getting out of the hole seemed beyond reach.
Now, with bipartisan legislation being considered in the infamously partisan House, hopeless no longer describes the USPS’s future. It’s not fixed yet, but the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 provides a degree of optimism that for many years was absent.
“We’re actually going to get to the finish line and get a bill on the president’s desk,” Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) told the hearing. “I’d like to see that as a bipartisan reform proposal that we can all get behind and champion. I didn’t get everything I wanted, Congressman (Elijah E.) Cummings didn’t get everything he wanted, but that’s the nature of coming up with a compromise without compromising your principles.” He and Cummings (Md.), the top Democrat on the committee, made a point of thanking Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Dennis A. Ross (R-Fla.) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), who was a longtime postal employee.
“We’re faced … with 10 consecutive years of financial losses at the Postal Service, totaling some $62 billion. The United States Postal Service isn’t at ‘a’ crossroad, it’s at ‘the’ crossroads,” Chaffetz said. “It’s up to this Congress to address the challenges facing the Postal Service, its customers, the businesses that rely on it, and the taxpayers who will bear the burden if we fail to act.”
Much of what the bill would do is in the weeds of postal finances, dealing with the nitty-gritty of health benefits for employees and retirees, pensions, governance and contracting. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan said the provision requiring postal retirees to fully participate in Medicare is key because that “would essentially eliminate our unfunded liability for retiree health benefits,” which has been a major driver of postal doldrums.
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) objected to this proposal, saying it would mean a monthly increase in Medicare premiums of at least $134 for postal retirees. “All for health insurance coverage many postal retirees do not want, may not be able to afford, and have previously chosen not to take,” said a letter to the committee from NARFE President Richard G. Thissen.
For customers, the legislation would allow a one-cent increase in the price of a first-class stamp. Centralized, or cluster box, delivery would be used for homes where 40 percent of residents agree, with a waiver for the physically disabled. Before postal officials could close a local post office, they would have to consider the distance to the next one, the availability of broadband Internet service and local conditions, including weather and terrain.
In a demonstration of the exceptional unity around this bill, even the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service (C21), an organization of mailing industry trade associations and companies, endorsed the legislation, including the postage increase.
“To put it bluntly, mailers do not welcome rate increases generally, including this one. They are bad for business,” said Art Sackler, C21’s manager. “Nonetheless, we accept the necessity in this unique set of circumstances for the one-time across-the-board 2.15 percent increase … as, from our perspective, a necessary evil to assure longer-term postal financial stability.”
The bill would not end Saturday mail delivery, once strongly advocated by postal officials as a major component of their cost-saving strategy. Brennan acknowledged that would not fly with Congress.
Before the celebration over the bill begins, let’s recall that there has been hope before, only to have it wane as talk faded to inaction. At a January 2016 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, the postmaster general, the leader of the letter carriers’ union and a trade association representative all supported Sen. Thomas R. Carper’s (D-Del.) postal reform bill that increased hope but was not enacted.
Notably absent at that point was support from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate committee. Notably, the House bill, which includes some elements of Carper’s legislation, is a thoroughly bipartisan effort led by the oversight committee’s Republican chairman and ranking Democrat.
With that bipartisan backing, optimism grows. The mounting consensus around the House bill builds on the forward momentum generated at the Senate hearing and House committee approval of a bipartisan postal reform bill last year that was never considered by the full House.
“The need for postal reform is as urgent as ever. Fortunately, we also may be closer than ever to enacting reform,” Cummings said. “Only we can ensure that this 240-year old institution — an institution that connects every family, business, and community in this nation — will continue to be there to serve all Americans.”
Read more:
Postal reform consensus develops; 5-day delivery dead
U.S. Postal Service to halt retail sales at Staples stores after union complaints
Source: New feed
There is a saying that if you aren’t growing your dying.
Growing sales is an art and a science. The art is the communication and the sales and marketing copy. This is the persuasion piece.
The science is the technology needed to discover the data for optimising the conversion paths in the journey from attention to sale. The rise of artificial intelligence and marketing automation provides scale and insights that we as poor mortal humans struggle to discover in the avalanche of data.
Some of the tactics needed to be applied in today’s social web are a world away from the old proven methods of door knocking salesman and cold calling. But the core motivations to human behaviour remain the same………Avoiding pain and running towards pleasure.
The change? Technology now sits at the centre.
The old school direct mail marketing world’s ongoing challenge was always optimisation and testing. Making many small mistakes revealed what were the best tactics to get someone to open that envelope.
Did you personalise or write compelling headline offer on the front. What color should it be? White or Yellow?
Does that sound familiar?
Email open rates, click throughs and high converting lead magnets are just digital versions of old school advertising copywriting measurement metrics.
The more things change, the more things stay the same. The message hasn’t changed just the medium.
The fast moving digital world almost taunts us to fail fast and often. Because sometimes the cost is just time. Make a small typo in the blog post and it can be edited out in seconds.
But I am not talking about aiming to make mistakes but be willing to commit to spending some of your resources on trialling and testing new tactics.
You won’t find that in your average marketing 101 course handbook.
Trial and error and testing can reveal new sources of traffic and improved lead generation because you moved out of your comfort zone.
The temptation is to run off in many directions. The mobile social web is a constant distraction and .
Three areas to focus on include:
Let’s have a look at some tactics and growth hacks that help you with achieving those.
Many of us have seen the Buzzfeed’s quizzes. They look like simple fun and maybe seen as superficial.
They include these classics.
But one of their most popular with over 21 million views is “What Career Should You Actually Have? The reality is that the questio is so compelling that it drives a ton of traffic and engagement.
But there is a serious growth tactic that sits behind that simple tactic. They are great for building your email list and that is a growth tactic worth investing in.
You can custom build them yourself or you can use a platform that makes it easy. One of those is a simple to build templates from Interact and is used by people such Toni Robbins, Cindy Joseph and brands such as Forbes and NBC.
Recommended for You
So check out the Interact quiz building platform and start growing your email fast today. It is a much faster and cost effective way to implement a quiz rather than spending $10,000 on a custom build and take months of work.
It will also help you identify the top tactics and proven templates to grow your email list faster.
Increasing revenue online is not just about more traffic. Attention is vital but it’s what you do with that traffic is key.
The journey becomes one of constant optimisation. It’s simple steps like fine-tuning your lead magnet to convert at 3% instead of 2%. That alone can increase revenue by 50%.
SamCart is a tool that you can use to improve your sales funnel and one of its big features is it can improve your checkout page conversion rate by replacing the less than optimal PayPal page with one that converts better.
Here is a typical PayPal checkout page.
Here is a sample of the SamCart page that I created. It includes a guarantee, social proof and even testimonials.
The stats are currently showing around a 50% optimisation improvement. That means 50% more revenue.
The secret to many successful digital entrepreneurs is that they are always optimising every step of the buying journey.
Find more information on Smartcart Here
The question that is often now asked “Is Twitter still worth using?”. The simple answer is “Yes”. The more complex side of that is “how”
Growing your traffic with a bigger email list, building a larger social media following on social and driving more page views with search engines is something that all smart growth marketers commit resources to.
Social Quant is one tool that is adding 10,000 followers a month to my Twitter account. It also helps to increase engagement, boost brand awareness and grow your industry influence.
If there is one key strategy that has been behind my success online then growing and using Twitter well has been key.
Find out more Here
Time is one thing we can’t buy, beg for more of or even steal. So we have to get smart and scale your time and resources. Marketing automation is one of those highly leveraged tactics.
I was watching an automated and pre-recorded webinar a couple of years ago by Russell Brunson who is the author behind “Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company onLine”. I was looking to learn more on how to create and optimise my sales funnels. The secret behind effective sales webinars is that they educate first and sell second. The result. I bought an online course for $1,000. The revelation to me me was how effective an automated webinar could be.
That tactic didn’t stop it being a great educational resource and sales tool. Easy Webinar is one of those apps that can help you do that.
It is used by some big names in the online world and these include. Amy Porterfield, John Lee Dumas and Chris Farrell.
Marketing at scale is vital if you want to grow your business.
Getting attention is becoming harder. So using pop-ups that have a compelling offer is almost a requirement for most savvy digital entrepreneurs. This can double your current email list and can covert more than 3% of all your visitors into email subscribers.
One of the best apps to do this is that I have come across is SumoMe.
Their default designs are a great place to start. But you can create your own by using their large range of templates. The stats show that the welcome mat is one of the highest converting list building tactics you can use.
Sumome data shows that it can triple your conversion rate with its full-screen call to action.
Welcome Mat displays a full-screen call to action that shows when visitors land on your site. It encourages your visitors to join your email list and check out your latest and popular blog post!
Popular features include:
Want to be a little less intrusive or even add to the popup then a “smart bar” will not get you the same conversion rate for clicks but it is a nice way to further optimise your list building tactics.
If you go the top of my blog you will see the “Smart bar” that links to SumoMe and you can start setting it up today. You can also use it on your website to start building your email list.
In a fast moving digital marketing landscape the effectiveness of your marketing tactics, the reach of social networks and platform algorithms can change overnight. This means a healthy sense of paranoia needs to be embraced. So looking for new ways to grow your business should be considered in your plans.
Constant innovation, adapting and testing new tactics should be part of your entrepreneurs mindset.
How are you adapting?
Source: New feed
A direct mail catalog can provide a lot of value to its customers simply by repositioning its existing products.
Mailer Name: Hubert Co.
Date Mailed: May 2016
Hubert sells visual merchandising and support items to food service and brick-and-mortar retailers worldwide. It markets in several channels, including direct mall.
This slim-jim catalog targets food retailers with content intended to help its intended audience think in new ways. Presentation and staging are crucial to the success of these enterprises, as the mail piece tries to prove.
The catalog showcases the “Five Elements of Visual Merchandising.”
Across several spreads, it uses its products to illustrate how each one can be used by the business to maximize impact and improve the customer experience. For example, the texture of objects displaying food can be leveraged to create different impressions for customers.
Additional spreads combine two or more of the elements to demonstrate how they can be implemented with actual foods. Others go further, incorporating them into larger real-world settings, like those representing real-world trends.
Among other things to note:
You can get a more complete look at how Hubert stands apart in providing B-to-B content. To download a free PDF of this mail package, courtesy of Who’s Mailing What!, please click here.
The Takeaway
By getting a customer to think of how their products or services are part of a greater strategy or design, you can win more of their business
Source: New feed
Here’s just a sample of the business cards we can print.
Silk cards or silk lamination printing offers a couple differences over most standard business cards. The main one being thаt it mаkеѕ уоur buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ much more durаblе and gives thеm an еxреnѕіvе-lооkіng sleek/clean fіnіѕh and ѕіlkу touch. These long-lasting 14PT and 16PT stock cards are a sureway for you to bring class to you and your business affordable option to stand out from the crowd! Silk Cards by Catdi Printing are printed in full color and also come with foil embossing and coating options.
Needing to add an extra something to your business cards? At Catdi Printing we offer everything from either silver, gold or copper foil on a variety of products and have them printed on 14 pt un-coated or 16pt silk-laminated business cards. Adding foil with our unique finish will certainly make a bold and clear statement.
The Matte finish of cards possess a ѕmооth, non glоѕѕу look and арреаrs quіtе ѕtуlіѕh. Thеѕе саrdѕ receive аn aquеоuѕ lауеr post print thаt mаkеѕ your buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ softer thаn thе regular printing right аftеr mаttе (dull) complete. If уоu lіkе to wrіtе аnуthіng on the bасkѕіdе аrt оf thе buѕіnеѕѕ card lауоutѕ, іt is far better tо fіnd thе mаttе celloglaze fоrm оf finish оr еvеn a ѕаtіn fіnіѕh.
So you say you want really thick business cards? Well our 32pt thick business cards will give an unique advantage over the competition with our Super 32pt Thick Business Cards. The unique black middle color on these 32pt superthick cards gives them a modern and hip appeal so they stand out from the rest.
Reach new markets and maintain contacts with Catdi’s premium business card printing services. Business cards are one product that no business can survive without! And with Catdi Printing’s high standards in quality, service, and turnaround, customers are guaranteed to make an impact with some of the finest looking cards in the industry. All for a price that can’t be beat.
No matter the category of business in which you work, buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ аrе еѕѕеntіаl. Thеу сrеаtе a bond bеtwееn the business and their сlіеntѕ. Thеу аrе a grеаt іntеrасtіvе еlеmеnt that саn be modified by texture, mаtеrіаl, аnd ѕhаре. However, thеrе аrе соmmоn mistakes thаt compromise thе funсtіоn оf business cards that lеаds tо sales potential losses.
Buѕіnеѕѕеѕ соmе with differing qualities аnd роlісіеѕ, making each and every business unique. Thе mistake thаt іѕ often made іѕ creating a generic саrd that blends wіth оthеr cards. It loses іtѕ uniquе features аnd thus the uniqueness of thе соmраnу. Business cards (like businesses) should stand-out, not blend in.
Wіth аdvаnсеmеnt іn technology, рооr quality buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ are inexcusable. Thеѕе tесhnоlоgіеѕ аrе here to help оnе сrеаtе buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ thаt сарturе thе аttеntіоn оf реорlе. Thе mаtеrіаl оf thе саrd ѕtосk should bе strong and durable. Presenting a card with bent or peeling edges leaves an impression and it’s not a good one!
Cоmраnіеѕ make the mistake оf рrеѕеntіng buѕіnеѕѕ cards thаt dо nоt іndісаtе their area of business (the type of products and services sold). This can cost both the consumer and the business. The consumer loses time through making multiple phone calls to various businesses and the business risks potential loss of sales.
Addіtіоnally, аnоthеr common mistake іѕ having a card thаt іѕ unreadable. This mіght bе a rеѕult оf bad design оr a сluttеrеd саrd. Smаll fоnt ѕіzе, аѕ wеll аѕ wrоng ѕеlесtіоn оf font соlоr аnd background соlоr, wіll mаkе реорlе ѕtrаіn to lооk at thе card. Cluttеrіng саrdѕ bу including too muсh content and/or uѕеing too much color can be off-putting. Onlу necessary and essential іnfоrmаtіоn should bе рlасеd on thе саrd.
Cheap Materials
Don’t ѕkіmр whеn it соmеѕ to buѕіnеѕѕ саrds. Yоu wаnt tо hаvе good, thick ѕtосk рареr; print thаt dоеѕn’t blееd from a drop оf wаtеr; аn еmbоѕѕеd lоgо; аnd the card ѕhоuld feel ѕubѕtаntіаl аnd рlеаѕіng tо thе touch.
A рооr quality саrd implies the buѕіnеѕѕ wіll hаvе рооr quality рrоduсtѕ аnd services. Rather thаn аttrасtіng business, this tуре оf card wоuld mоѕt lіkеlу rереl prospective customers.
Too Much Text
Bsiness саrdѕ are ѕmаll, limiting space for content. Of соurѕе, іt’ѕ іmроrtаnt tо іnсludе as much іnfоrmаtіоn аѕ уоu саn, but if уоu сrаm too muсh іn, thе саrd wіll look cluttered and will bе hаrd to rеаd.
Inсludе оnlу еѕѕеntіаl information, ѕuсh as your nаmе, jоb rоlе оr роѕіtіоn іn thе company, соntасt telephone number, еmаіl address аnd wеbѕіtе address. Yоu mау аlѕо wаnt to іnсludе a mailing аddrеѕѕ іf rеlеvаnt.
Small Text
Although business саrdѕ don’t have much ѕрасе, all tеxt should be еаѕу to read. If іt’ѕ too small, реорlе won’t bоthеr. Don’t fоrgеt thаt ѕоmе реорlе ѕtrugglе tо rеаd smaller print. Cоnѕіdеr removing unnесеѕѕаrу text to mаkе thе mоrе іmроrtаnt content larger and more prominent.
Inаdequаtе оr Pооr Uѕе оf Cоlоr
Sрісе up уоur business cards wіth a lіttlе ѕрlаѕh of соlоr; уоu’ll bе ѕurрrіѕеd whаt a difference it makes. Juѕt аѕ rеѕtаurаntеurѕ uѕе the color red fоr its appetizing quality, thе judicious use of red іn a buѕіnеѕѕ саrd іѕ vеrу visually арреаlіng. Avоіd the соmmоn mіѕtаkе of grеу print оn a whіtе bасkgrоund; іt lacks contrast аnd the print іѕ dіffісult tо rеаd. On thе flір side, dоn’t err with соlоr-оvеrlоаd. Tоо mаnу colors thаt dоn’t соmрlеmеnt оnе another will mаkе thе саrd lооk buѕу аnd wіll detract from thе content of уоur саrd.
Too Muсh White Space
Sрасе іѕ рrеmіum, ѕо dоn’t lеаvе tоо muсh еmрtу; you’ll need to include plenty оf іnfоrmаtіоn оn thе саrd. Leave a small white border аrоund the edges of thе саrd to ensure nothing is lost in printing and cutting. Take full аdvаntаgе оf the space уоu hаvе bу іnсludіng your еѕѕеntіаl іnfоrmаtіоn and eye pleasing graphics. Take a look at some of our business card designs to get a sense of how you should set up your business card
Pооr Sреllіng and Grаmmаr
Misspellings and grammatical errors communicate lacking attention to detail. In fасt, a ѕtudу ѕhоwеd thаt 59% оf реорlе іn Brіtаіn wоuldn’t uѕе a соmраnу wіth poor grаmmаr оr ѕреllіng in іtѕ mаrkеtіng mаtеrіаlѕ. Bаd ѕреllіng аnd grаmmаr is оnе оf the bіggеѕt buѕіnеѕѕ саrd mіѕtаkеѕ you саn mаkе.Use a proofreader to сhесk оvеr your text bеfоrе уоu ѕеnd tо рrіnt. It саn bе ѕоmеоnе іn уоur соmраnу, оr a frееlаnсеr – just mаkе ѕurе уоu gеt the tеxt checked first!
Leaving off Important Contact Information
If реорlе аrе interested, hоw can thеу get іn tоuсh if уоu dоn’t іnсludе уоur dеtаіlѕ? It ѕhоuld bе оbvіоuѕ how уоu саn bе соntасtеd. Mаkе іt easy fоr реорlе tо contact уоu bу including ѕеvеrаl mеthоdѕ of соntасt, such аѕ еmаіl аddrеѕѕ, telephone number, mailing/physical аddrеѕѕes, and social media icons.
Not Including Your Personal Position
People need tо knоw what job уоu dо аnd the service you оffеr. Don’t fоrgеt, buѕіnеѕѕреорlе lіkеlу rесеіvе more than juѕt your business саrd from thеіr mееtіngѕ. It’ѕ no uѕе gіvіng them a card with just your nаmе; hоw will thеу rеmеmbеr whо уоu аrе? Inсludе your job rоlе or уоur роѕіtіоn in company аlоngѕіdе your name аnd соntасt details so thаt there is nо dоubt who you are аnd whаt уоu do.
Unused Cards
What good is having a bоx full оf business саrdѕ if thеу’rе just sitting there соllесtіng dust? It would serve уоu and your buѕіnеѕѕ bеttеr to аррlу thе оld аxіоm, “Uѕе it оr lоѕе іt.” Whаt саn уоu lose? Buѕіnеѕѕ.
Always hаvе a ѕuррlу оf your саrdѕ whеrеvеr уоu go. Give them оut whеn аррrорrіаtе, and whіlе уоu’rе at іt, dоn’t hеѕіtаtе to gіvе оut more thаn оnе. Invіtе people tо раѕѕ thе еxtrаѕ аlоng to оthеrѕ whо mіght nееd your ѕеrvісе. Yоu mіght bе ѕurрrіѕеd аt hоw оftеn thіѕ саn rеѕult in a rеfеrrаl.
Fоr a company, оnе оf thе mоѕt еffесtіvе ѕtrаtеgіеѕ to ѕрrеаd awareness аnd іnfluеnсе іѕ the uѕе оf buѕіnеѕѕ cards. Thіѕ kind оf ѕtrаtеgу іmрrоvеѕ the rеlаtіоnѕhір between your соmраnу and your clients аt the ѕаmе tіmе іnсrеаѕеѕ іnfluеnсе to оthеr реорlе. Tоdау, thеrе are mаnу ways tо make buѕіnеѕѕ саrd lооk stunning аnd рrоfеѕѕіоnаl. Hоwеvеr, thеrе аrе ѕесrеt wауѕ tо amplify the vаluе of your саrdѕ. Hеrе’ѕ how:
Did уоu know that ѕіmрlісіtу still rосkѕ? Thе ѕесrеt rulе оf dеѕіgn is that less is more. Elіmіnаtе thе parts of thе dеѕіgn thаt makes the саrdѕ lооk crowded аnd unappealing. Kеер in mіnd thаt the саrdѕ will bear all your contact іnfоrmаtіоn аnd it will іlluѕtrаtе thе аіm of уоur соmраnу. Balance thе іnfоrmаtіоn wіth ѕіmрlе dеѕіgn еlеmеntѕ fоr clear аnd соnсіѕе іnfоrmаtіоn.
Before designing your cards, first grоuр thе іnfоrmаtіоn that соmрlіmеntѕ each other. Fоr іnѕtаnсе, the соmраnу nаmе ѕhоuld gо tоgеthеr wіth thе соmраnу’ѕ аddrеѕѕ. On thе other hand, your phone number would mаtсh with уоur mоbіlе numbеr hеnсе they аrе grоuреd tоgеthеr. Thе purpose of thіѕ is tо balance thе іnfоrmаtіоn еffесtіvеlу whіlе the іnfоrmаtіоn is readable to сlіеntѕ.
Professional, уеt brіllіаnt, cards аlѕо ѕеrvе unuѕuаl function. Thеу are аn ideal opportunity to аttrасt аttеntіоn аnd inspire thе rеаdеr. Sоmе of thе uniquе dеѕіgnѕ are thе constructable dеѕіgnѕ аnd organic designs. The cards that have соnѕtruсtаblе dеѕіgnѕ tурісаllу еnсоurаgе the rесеіvеr tо ѕреnd mоrе tіmе with іt. On thе оthеr hаnd, thе organic dеѕіgnѕ dеmаnd рrореr handling and maintenance.
Today, professional business саrdѕ hаvе more function. They саn bе a сlоthеѕ ріn or a bоttlе ореnеr, for example. Cаllіng cards thаt аrе functional spread more аwаrеnеѕѕ as they саn bе utіlіzеd daily. Hеnсе, mоrе реорlе will ѕее уоur company’s lоgо аnd brаnd while уоur сlіеntѕ uѕе them.
Quality іѕ thе bеѕt aim of a gооd buѕіnеѕѕ рrасtісе. Whеn dеаlіng wіth реорlе, a gооd buѕіnеѕѕ card іѕ уоur fіrѕt linen tо attract new business. Your business ѕtаrts off with a boost. Business саrd рrіntіng is arguably thе best form оf fіrѕt-hаnd advertisement.
In thе рrоduсtіоn оf уоur buѕіnеѕѕ саrdѕ, thеrе аrе many аѕресtѕ and dеtаіlѕ to consider: соlоr, ѕіzе, mаtеrіаl, аnd оthеr еndlеѕѕ сuѕtоmіzаtіоnѕ. Business саrdѕ can аlѕо utіlіzе fоur соlоr printing tо асhіеvе bеttеr rеѕultѕ but іt dереndѕ оn your preferences аnd usage. Here аrе some оf the thіngѕ уоu саn dо to enhance the quаlіtу оf уоur buѕіnеѕѕ cards.
Houston printing company looks to become Houston’s leading print and design partner with its free design tool and free templates for small businesses
Houston, TX, November 13, 2015 –(PR.com)– Catdi Printing, a Houston printing, designing and direct mail postcard marketing company, recently launched a new design tool with hundreds of free templates for its online customers. The company, reputed for its local and global print services, deals from small to multinational corporations on diverse scale.
Commercial printing and digital designing are becoming one of the fastest growing industries. To keep up the pace and ensure highest quality printing and designing at low costs, companies like Catdi Printing are offering new services and new ways for their customers to order print marketing materials.
To celebrate Catdi’s expanding customer base of Catdi, the company launched a revamped online ordering website in which, Carlos deSantos, the president, announced that Catdi is going to a launch a new design tool totally free of cost. The design tool will enable its customers to create their personalized and highly customizable designs free of cost.
“This new online design system will allow us to compete with the national print chains. While our customer service is more one on one and personal this new tool allows users to quickly output their marketing material at no cost,” the President excited the audience. “Plus we are giving away free templates that enable our clients to pick and choose what design works for them,” he happily announced.
The president continued and announced that the company has also launched thousands of free templates for a variety of their popular products. The customers can choose any template free of cost without the hassle of recruiting expensive designers and waiting for the completion of their jobs.
The spokesperson to Catdi Printing further revealed while talking to the media that the popular items of the company include postcards, business cards, letterheads, brochures, flyers, envelopes and a lot of other products. The customers can get their free templates on Free Online Design Tool. The spokesperson continued to say that the customers can pick any free template out of hundreds and thousands of choices or create their own designs totally free of cost.
The designs can be selected from the listing area given on http://printing.catdi.com/en/flyers/designs/ for flyers, http://printing.catdi.com/en/cheap-postcards-printing/designs/ for postcards, and http://printing.catdi.com/en/cheap-business-cards/designs/ for business cards. The links for brochures, envelopes and other products are also available on http://printing.catdi.com/.
“‘Customers have been going to those other print sites because they wanted the flexibility to create custom pieces themselves, while we will still offer design services for our clients this helps fill a void for the DIY customer,” the spokesperson said when asked about the change in sales policies.
The spokesperson further said that Catdi takes pride in dealing with different industrial sectors, ranging from home-based one person assignments to small businesses and multinational corporations. Offering a wide range of services, the company ensures not only making the ends meet but also successfully created brand oriented custom designs that suit customer needs and budget.
The purpose of introducing the design tool and free templates is to make free access to quality designs more flexible and easier. “We want our customers see their businesses prosper by cutting the investment costs and the cost of hiring the designers along with truly translating the designs in their minds with the help of our free design tool,” the spokesperson said.
“Our dedicated employees are always looking forward to offer more ease and customized services to our valued clients therefore, we will soon announce our new design and create goals after the success of our recent launch,” he told the media.
About the Company
Catdi Printing is a Houston based commercial printing company that offers a wide range of free commercial services including templates and personalized design tool. The company deals with small and large businesses at different levels and ensures highest quality services prior to customer needs.
Contact
Address: Catdi Printing, 1121 Delano Street, Houston, Texas 77003
Email: carlos@catdi.com
Web: www.catdi.com
Contact Information
Catdi Inc – Houston’s GraphicDesign and Print Marketing
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Your business card is one of the first, and potentially last, impressions that someone will have of you and your business. After all, your business card says a lot about you.
However, not all business cards are created equal, and you likely know this first hand. How many times have you gone to a networking event and received an abundance of business cards, but you can’t remember a single one? If you’re like most people, this probably happens more times than you can count.
No matter what type of industry you’re in, a well-designed business card is a crucial asset. Not only can it set you apart from the pack, but it also can set the ideal tone right off the bat.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled some of our top tips for superior business card designs. Discover what you need to know before ordering custom business cards.
1.) Understand Your Goals
Before getting too far ahead of yourself, you must first consider your intentions. Why are you designing business cards in the first place? Is it to simply let people know your contact information or are you trying to set yourself apart? Before you even consider contacting a business card printing company, you must first have a clear understanding of what your goals are. Not only will this make the entire process easier, it will also insure that the finished product is nothing short of perfection.
2.) Opt for Simplicity
Have you ever seen a business card and not sure what it’s for? Chances are, of course you have! However, this should serve as a reminder of what not to do. While this doesn’t mean every business card should be “plain jane”, it does mean that you should aim to ere on the side of simplicity. A design that is too busy can be visually distracting. You want to make sure that elements such as your name and company name are easily viewable. After all, nothing is worse than having to read a business card that’s a visual nightmare.
3.) Reflect Your Profession
A business card for a lawyer may look vastly different than a business card for a graphic designer right? Well, this same principle applies to your own business cards as well. Aim to follow the design guidelines of your profession. While there may be nothing set in stone, you do want to accurately reflect who you are and what you do. A perfect business card design for a social media specialist could be a total flop for a computer programmer. Your best bet? Consult an experienced business card printing company. They’ve likely worked on similar projects as yours and will easily be able to guide you in terms of finding an ideal design.
4.) Avoid Skimping on Quality
Keeping along those same lines, be cautious of skimping out on quality. Unless you’ve done custom designed business cards before, you’ll want to seek the assistance of a professional. As noted earlier, your business card speaks volumes about you. Is it really worth it to start off on the wrong foot? You only have one chance to make a great first impression, make it count. A beautifully designed business card can do wonders for you personally and professionally. Paying for quality is worth it in the long run. In fact, you may even find that it’s cheaper to go with a professional than trying to do it yourself!
5.) Keep it Clear
Above all, you need to keep things clear when it comes to your business cards. Whatever your purpose is, be sure that your business card reflects that. Confusion isn’t ideal when it comes to your cards. Ideally, you want someone to immediately be able to know who you are and what you do. While a touch of creativity is certainly appreciated, always aim to have a crystal clear message. Avoid letting your message get lost in translation.
Still have questions when it comes to business card designs? Whether you need help designing, printing, or maybe a little bit of everything, the Catdi Team would love to help. In fact, we even offer FREE shipping to the greater Houston area. Experienced professionals in the world of design, we’d love to help you create that one of a kind business card you’ve been dreaming of.
Contact Us Today to find out more about our business card design services.
We may live in a digital age, but the need for printing services is still very much alive. Whether it’s a banner for your latest networking event, or direct mail marketing materials for your next marketing campaign, the need for excellent printing services is apparent.
However, not all printing companies are created equal. In fact, you’ll find that there can be major differences between companies. From being charged unexpected rates to prolonged shipping times, there’s a lot that you need to be aware of before selecting a provider.
Today, we break down everything you need to know when selecting a printing company. From what to look for to what to watch out for, if you have questions when it comes to printing companies, this guide is for you!
Read the Testimonials
As you likely know, the web contains a plethora of information. Why not use this information to your advantage? Any reputable printing service company will have client testimonials. You should be able to locate these either directly on a business’s website, or through online reviews such as Google Reviews. This can be a great starting point when you’re first comparing your options. If you find a printing company that has nothing but negative reviews, well, you know that there are probably better options out there.
Understand Pricing Options
Next, one of the most important elements that you will consider, price. After all, who doesn’t want a great deal? While you’ll find that many companies offer enticing pricing options, you’ll always want to be sure to read the fine print. The last thing that you want to happen is to be hit with an unexpected cost. Luckily, the Catdi Team strives for transparency when it comes to our pricing options. In fact, we even offer free shipping and a sample drop off to local clients within the Houston area. While some companies may promise cheaper rates, always be sure to know exactly what you’re getting. Any company that isn’t clear from the get-go is someone that you should be cautious of working with.
Look at Total Value
You’ll also want to consider total value when you’re comparing one printing service provider from another. While one printing company may offer deals such as a no minimum for orders, they may charge you an arm and a leg when it comes to shipping, or take weeks to deliver. Or worse yet, offer you nothing when it comes to receiving a sample of your order. After all, just imagine what a headache it could be to receive an order that looks terrible! Save yourself the stress and hassle of dealing with a bare bones printing company. Always consider the total value of the provider before placing an order. Not only will you likely receive a superior product, but you’ll also save yourself some hard earned cash in the process.
While selecting a printing business for your company isn’t the easiest decision, it’s an important one.
Here at Catdi, we pride ourselves on providing all of our clients’ superior printing and design services. Offering affordable prices, free shipping to local clients, and free samples before purchase, the Catdi team is dedicated to providing you the best when it comes to all of your printing and design needs.
In an effort to help customers get to the next level of success with their direct mail campaigns, one of Houston’s top direct mail and printing service companies has expanded its direct mail and design services into the Dallas Metro area. Being the third largest city in Texas behind Houston and San Antonio means that competition between small businesses is fierce and because we are aware that Dallas is under served when it comes to large scale printers offering a wide range of traditional online and offline marketing services we aim to fill that need.
Not only are our design services amazing but our prices are extremely affordable and the quality of our printing is superb. When someone is in need of graphic design they will often try to save on costs by attempting to put their pieces together themselves. What they don’t realize is that the design of a mail piece is much more important than they could possibly imagine.
The overall appearance of your mail piece is the first thing that the recipient will see when emptying their mailbox. The decision to read the mail piece or toss it straight into the trash will be based entirely on its graphic design. If you compare your mail piece to a plate of food then saying that you eat with your eyes before your stomach may be the best way to explain this.
Nine times out of ten a person will choose a plate of food that LOOKS good, and even though the meal they passed on was the best thing they would have ever eaten – their eyes ate first. There are also the subtle psychological elements to be considered. A well structured design with a professional appearance adds to your credibility and inspires trust where one that is haphazard and disorganized can give the impression of a company that is poorly run and will discourage potential clients from making use of your offer.
If you intend to use direct mail to attract new customers then you should keep in mind that the graphic design service is one of the most important items to include in a mailing campaign, and in the long run, it comes with the smallest price tag. And with the Every Door Direct Mail program offered by USPS, now a direct mail campaign is an affordable option. You do not need names or street addresses, therefore you don’t have to buy or rent a mailing list. Instead your mail is distributed according to a carrier route, which can be for an entire zip code or streamlined using the USPS demographic filters.
We can offer same day or next delivery on all our print marketing services. In addition all direct mail services can be mailed from either Dallas or Houston. As we work directly with USPS and have experience with the EDDM Program we can guarantee that your piece will comply with all EDDM regulations regarding size, labelling options as well as the specific bundling and mailing requirements demanded by USPS.
We offer varying quantities for your print run which start as low as 500 pieces where most printers offer a minimum run of 1000 pieces. These smaller quantities are great for if you want to run a test campaign, offer a special promotion to people that stay within a certain radius of your business or have a promotion that lasts for a specific time period only.
We arrange for all of our clients to speak directly to a USPS representative who will explain everything you need to know about the EDDM program so contact us today and find out how we can help you!
If you have a website, printed material, or other promotional item intended for your business, beware that you can’t always include trademarked logos from social media sites. Each has their own set of rules and regulations regarding use of their logo designs and keep to them strictly. Even if you have an account with one of the social media giants or up and comers, their logos still have restrictions.
Facebook Logos
Facebook logos are allowed to be used to link to a site’s Facebook account. You can use them on your website or in promotional materials to let customers know they can find your business there. However, you can’t use their logos to:
To get more details on what you can and can’t do with Facebook logos, check out their Brand Resources page (link to https://www.facebookbrand.com/).
Twitter Logos
Another social media giant, their logo design was initially created from three circles. Those who wish to advertise they are on Twitter can only use the blue and white logos. Logos using black, purple, or any other color may not be used. Other restrictions on Twitter logos include:
To get more details on what you can and can’t do with Twitter logos, check out their Brand Assets page (link to https://about.twitter.com/press/brand-assets).
YouTube Logos
If you wish to post promotional videos of your business and its goods and services, YouTube is a great, free resource. However, it also has restrictions on its logos and how they are used. The restrictions on YouTube logo designs include:
To get more details on what you can and can’t do with YouTube logos, check out their Branding Guidelines page (link to https://developers.google.com/youtube/branding_guidelines).
And these are just for the major sites. If looking to use logos from others such as LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, and others, it is important to consult a professional graphic designer to ensure that your website and all your materials are compliant with each social media platform.
To learn more about how Catdi can help with your social media logo designs and other related services, give us a call or check out our website (link to Home page).
We have previously discussed the benefits of hiring a professional Houston graphic design firm (link to Benefits of Graphic Design for Small Businesses in Houston) and want to extend the premise into how a professional can assist with website design.
Who needs Houston graphic design and website design services?
No matter whether you are a one person startup or an up and coming company, your site is your new business card and a chance to make a great first impression or turn customers off completely. Having professional website design principles incorporated into your site are a must and one of the best investments you can make. Even if you live in another area and aren’t interested in a Houston graphic design firm, having a clean, sleek site can lead to more traffic, and as a result, more customers. Good website design practices include incorporating your logos, branding, service and/or goods, prices, fees, and anything else a prospective customer could want in an elegant manner. Bad website designs can frustrate a customer by overloading them with unnecessary information, leave them confused as to what your business does, and have them clicking on competitor’s sites in no times.
Who doesn’t need Houston graphic design and website design services?
If you are an individual simply looking to create a blog to share with family and friends, you don’t need professional website design services unless you are truly looking to impress. Many common blogging sites, such as WordPress, allow you to easily create a blog from a template, write posts, and upload your photos, videos, and other media as you like.
If you are an individual looking to highlight your family, vacations, or other personal aspects, you probably don’t need professional website design services. There are many free sites, such as Wix, which will let you create a free site highlighting whatever you wish to share from text to images. However, if you want a custom URL, external hosting, or advanced features, you may have to pay for them.
Do not forego paying for a professional website design if you are an individual highlighting a professional service. This includes sculptors, painters, photographers, writers, and other creative types who want to showcase a portfolio. With a professional website design, clients can easily find your site and see your works. These sites can also show them how to contact you or get a quote.
And if you are looking for a Houston graphic design firm to help with your website design or other related services, give us a call or visit our web design page
Catdi makes it easier and more cost affordable than ever before for couples to get their Save the Date Ideas onto paper. Dozens of templates can be found on Catdi’s website that couples can choose to have customized at no additional costs. Couple can also opt to have one of our designers create a completely unique and personal wedding invitation just for them. Couples offer one-on-one consultations that help brides decide on the very best theme possible for their invitations. Designers can meet with clients in person, over the phone, or through live video conference—whatever works best for your schedule.
As a leader in commercial printing services, Catdi offers Houston area couples a far more affordable option to other wedding invitation print services. Our costs are approximately 50% less than those of PhDesign and Bearings. Couples on a budget can choose a pre-existing template at no additional costs. Personal design services, including individual designs developed completely from scratch, are affordably priced as well and include free shipping to the bride’s address and full color options bundled into the lower cost.
Couples who are in a hurry to plan a hundred things at once before that special day roles around can alleviate at least some of their worries by letting Catdi handle their wedding invitations and reminder magnets. Orders can be placed over the phone by calling 713.882.4629 or by emailing orders@catdi.com. Most orders can be expedited in only 2-4 business days.
When it comes to Save the Date Ideas, leave the design to professionals and let Catdi be your one stop shop for wedding invitations, magnets, baby announcements, and much, much more.
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The role played by websites in the growth and success of businesses cannot be underestimated. According to the President Carlos deSantos of Catdi, a popular web design firm in Houston, even top marketing and web design firms such as their own have been affected by the sluggish economy.
Carlos says that since the time they started the firm, they are offering the lowest ever web design rates and this is an excellent opportunity for businesses in Houston to upgrade current platform or redesign their sites in keeping with the competition.
Websites are no doubt backbones of any business and it is in the interest of the business owner to choose the right web design company that can offer professional yet affordable services. Before choosing the right firm, it is necessary to keep budget in mind. In today’s tough economic times,
Expert professionals in reputed web design companies like Catdi are adept at advising clients on the page arrangement, layout design and other features. It is in the interest of the business owner to provide accurate details on what they want the website to do and the audience they are planning on marketing to.
If the business is located in Houston, then it is necessary to take enough time to narrow down on the list of reliable companies and go through their previous web designing work. If the sites have appealing graphics and are well designed, then it is time to ask for the quote.
Highly professional companies know how to market to the target audience by incorporating a variety of styles in graphic designing. Their process will be clear and experts will take enough time in understanding the nature of the business, the business owner’s specific goals and information architecture principles.
Companies that are in business for a couple of years or more tend to have more experience and will be in a better position to show previously designed websites and customer testimonials. Pricing plays a major role especially in today’s tough economic situation. Choose companies that offer good discounts.
For example, web design firm Catdi offers new clients up to 40% off on web design package to boost sales. The company also offers CMS websites for as low as $699 and offers a range of web design packages.
Services include CMS platform creation, free hosting for two years, adding content, uploading template design, creating content databases and email, creating attractive image gallery, SEO enabled pages and contact form.
Professional web design companies also offer the facility to load site on server, include the site in Google Maps and offer unlimited pages apart from domain purchase for one year.
Ask for detailed proposals from the professional you are dealing with before handing over the job. Companies usually include details such as process definition, services offered, project timeline and pricing in the proposal.
For more details on web design services in Houston, log on to www.catdi.com
Small, medium and large businesses today depend to a great extent on websites for marketing their products and services. They strive to establish a strong online presence with the help of a well designed, user friendly website. Most companies take the help of a reputed and professionally managed web design company that can place them above competition.
The role played by websites in the growth and success of businesses cannot be underestimated. According to the President Carlos deSantos of Catdi, a popular web design firm in Houston, even top marketing and web design firms such as their own have been affected by the sluggish economy.
Carlos says that since the time they started the firm, they are offering the lowest ever web design rates and this is an excellent opportunity for businesses in Houston to upgrade current platform or redesign their sites in keeping with the competition.
Websites are no doubt backbones of any business and it is in the interest of the business owner to choose the right web design company that can offer professional yet affordable services. Before choosing the right firm, it is necessary to keep budget in mind. In today’s tough economic times,
Expert professionals in reputed web design companies like Catdi are adept at advising clients on the page arrangement, layout design and other features. It is in the interest of the business owner to provide accurate details on what they want the website to do and the audience they are planning on marketing to.
If the business is located in Houston, then it is necessary to take enough time to narrow down on the list of reliable companies and go through their previous web designing work. If the sites have appealing graphics and are well designed, then it is time to ask for the quote.
Highly professional companies know how to market to the target audience by incorporating a variety of styles in graphic designing. Their process will be clear and experts will take enough time in understanding the nature of the business, the business owner’s specific goals and information architecture principles.
Companies that are in business for a couple of years or more tend to have more experience and will be in a better position to show previously designed websites and customer testimonials. Pricing plays a major role especially in today’s tough economic situation. Choose companies that offer good discounts.
For example, web design firm Catdi offers new clients up to 40% off on web design package to boost sales. The company also offers CMS websites for as low as $999 and offers a range of web design packages.
Services include CMS platform creation, free hosting for two years, adding content, uploading template design, creating content databases and email, creating attractive image gallery, SEO enabled pages and contact form.
Professional web design companies also offer the facility to load site on server, include the site in Google Maps and offer unlimited pages apart from domain purchase for one year.
Ask for detailed proposals from the professional you are dealing with before handing over the job. Companies usually include details such as process definition, services offered, project timeline and pricing in the proposal.
For more details on web design services in Houston, log on to www.catdi.com
Catdi is back with bigger and bolder postcard printing specials!
Catdi.Inc, were offering quality work at great price. Today they are back with offering quality flyers at even greater prices. For a measly amount of 50 flyers you can get it at hardly $25 or even less. If you are a small business owner or an affiliate marketer or a home based business then you need to contact Catdi.inc for your printing needs. They can help you kick start your business. The new digital prints they are offering are best in quality and convey exactly what you wish. Previously they were offering only bulk orders. Now their offer is for smaller runs too. You can get 50 to 100 flyers done also.
As we all know the printing industry is very competitive. By offering “mini runs” Catdi.inc have destroyed the competition by being the only printing company in the club flyer industry that offers small digital print runs starting at a minimum of 50 flyers. Another major advantage with Catdi.inc is that wherever you are, in whichever part of America, be it Miami or Los Angeles these people are professionals who undertakes all your printing solutions. They offer graphic designing as well as you can choose the quality of paper and whatever message you need to convey through your flyers. Catdi.inc is adept at handling small as well as big orders. They give equal importance to both big as well as small orders. The dedication of these professionals has helped them to retain their clients who are repeatedly getting their printing work done from them.
Besides flyers you can also get your postcards, banners, posters, brochures, CD/DVD inserts, newsletters and business cards done from them. When Ben was given the pink slip at his office he didn’t know what to do with his life. It was not only devastating but an emotional experience to be laid off at such a young age; an age where people climb the corporate ladder. The global meltdown and recession didn’t make it any easier to look for another job. Not to forget the mounting monthly bills. He saw a TV program about small entrepreneurs and that propelled him to start on his own. He became a network marketer (earning passive income) as well as started conducting fitness classes at a nearby gym. With fitness being a fad today especially in America where 40% of the population is obese and over weight, he didn’t find it difficult at all. He has been an aerobics enthusiast and regular for ten years now and knew exactly how to become an instructor. He got his license by clearing a small exam and started his own gym. He wanted to advertise in his neighborhood and sought the services of Catdi.inc. Initially he got 500 flyers printed and sent out with the dailies. Slowly people started joining his gym and today Ben has more than 3 gyms in his neighborhood as well as in neighboring towns. But he always gets back to Catdi.inc for all his printing needs as their professionalism is impressive. They also help with mail lists and marketing.
Another major advantage of being online is that in whichever part of America you are, Catdi.inc can ship your order. You may wonder that the cost may be more. Not at all. Since these people are located in Houston, Texas their cost is competitive. If you are in Florida or New York you can get your flyers printed online through these guys as it will work out cheaper for you. You can Email and also chat with their staff online or better still join them on Facebook. These professionals will help you to kick start your small business with a minimum investment enabling you to carve your own identity in the business world. Call them at 713 882 4629 today.Order today at: www.catdi.com
Once summer sets its shopping time in America. People troop to malls and retails to buy stuff for their homes. Businesses also loosen their purse strings as there are many sales and discounts available during this time. The internet is no different from a business. Catdi.inc is selling postcards at discounted rates especially for summer. The Summer Special Direct Mail Processing Starts at .04 cents with no setup fees. This new low direct mail processing fees allows small businesses to use direct mail as an effective tool to reach new customers. You can book your bulk order and get it delivered instantly at a very minimum expense.
To make direct mail services you can start printing as low as 200 pieces. This makes direct mail more affordable and is indeed an effective tool. If you are a small business or are planning to start one then avail this summer discount and enjoy the benefits of Catdi.inc. You can Email them or send as fliers with dailies. If your small business is a home based business, then it is all the more reason that you should print bulk orders of fliers and brochures to market your business.
When Martha’s company down sized she was given the pink slip. Martha was relieved than being sad as she wanted to start something on her own. Her home made cookies and chocolates were well appreciated by her friends and relatives. She started to bake and make chocolates at home. Initially she had orders from neighbors and friends who wished to help her. Her confectionary was so infectitious that soon more and more orders started piling up. Unable to manage on her own she hired a small shop and a couple of employees. She printed postcards and brochures and sent it along with the local daily. Her business grew and today Martha is earning more than what she was getting from her previous employment.
There are many people who wish to advertise their small business but don’t know how. Postcard marketing can be done to draw customers to your shop. If it is a home based business then you need to get an e-brochure designed so that it is appealing to clients. Catdi.inc offers graphic designing and layout facilities also. If you are making your business cards then you need to make it in an eye catching way. You also need to convey the message about your products and services. They also offer email list services. This will enable you to reach out to a wider audience. If you are selling kitchen tiles or pet care items, then you need to advertise not only in your neighborhood but all around town also. The machine used for printing is of high quality and known as HP Indigo Machines. The quality of these machines is equal to offset printing quality.
At Catdi.inc you not only get quality work at affordable prices but also get great customer service. You may think that printing your brochure may take a while but at Catdi.inc it takes just 2 days to print as big an order as 20,000 cards. Since it is digital printing all you need to do is send your requirements to them through Email and they will show you various styles. Choose the one that suits you and place your order. Within two days the cards arrive at your doorstep. If you wish to buy readymade postcards then you can get them at throw away prices. See, it’s as simple as that. You needn’t waste time going to the printer. Another major advantage is sitting in New York you can place your order in Houston where they are located. At New York it maybe expensive to print cards; hence you can get your advertising and marketing done at half the price from this Houston based company. So hurry and avail your summer discount of 0.04 cents per card. Wow! That’s a steal!!