Minuteman Press - Bath Life Awards

Hope you are all looking forward to a well deserved break!

Minuteman Press has entered for the Bath Life Awards under professional services.

As every little helps may be you might consider helping out by voting for us at http://www.bathlifeawards.co.uk/apply-nom.php ?

Business Cards Digital and Litho

Business card printing these days is cheap, fast and effortless. Although cards can be ordered online, the printing is still best done using professional printing machines – either traditional lithographic, or the newer digital presses.


Litho printing is a two stage process which involves offsetting the ink from plates onto rubber rollers, and then onto card. Unlike web-fed presses, which use rolls of paper, card presses are sheet-fed, making them slower. Added to this, they are complex to set up. For this reason, digital printers are preferred for business card printing. They have several advantages over the traditional method. For a start they are fast and easy to set up, requiring no printing plates. The card is created in digital form, using templates or an existing card design, and saved as digital file. This information is then uploaded to an ink-jet or laser-jet printing machine, which prints the cards direct using heat or UV-cured inks or toners.

Digital business card printing allows an on-demand service to be offered, with short print runs and a rapid turnaround time. It’s the ideal answer for small businesses, as card details can be altered with just a few clicks, and multiple designs can be stored – for example, a single design can be customised with the details of each member of a sales team. Cards may be single or double-sided – the latter being the ideal way to portray extra information in an uncluttered manner. With modern businesses having web, e-mail and postal addresses, as well as landline, mobile and fax numbers, this has become a necessity.

Although there are internet-commerce firms specialising in business cards which the customers design themselves from online templates, the best quality business card printing is that offered by “clicks-and-mortar” companies, such as us at Minuteman Press Bath.

Last Minute Marketing Tips for the Holidays

It’s time for the final marketing push of the year. The holiday season usually means more consumers online. If you haven’t prepared for the rush, there’s still time. Here are a few last minute tips for online Christmas and New Year marketing.

Deck out your website.
If you’ve been putting off updates to your website, now is the time to make some changes. There’s a good chance your website will see more traffic in December, so you’ll want your prospects to be impressed. Give the products you’re trying to move the appropriate attention on your home page.

Think about being social.
While you’re making changes to your site, don’t forget to add those social media icons. Now that you’re directing people to your Facebook and Twitter pages you’ll want to get active. Make at least one post a day.

The search begins.
To get those last minute sales, consider spending some of your marketing budget on some search engine advertising. At the very least, take a look at where you rank on the products you’re trying to move before the end of the year.

Check your analytics.
Make sure all your website analytics are working before you get a rush of holiday shoppers. It is important to know whether your marketing efforts have paid off. Having good numbers also gives you a jump start on how to market your business for the coming year.

Promote with some last minute offers.
Complement your online activity with some printed leaflets or large posters for your window.

Don't forget to say thanks.
Believe it or not there is still plenty of time to order and receive greeting cards from printers sich as Minuteman Press. A great way to say thank to those customers who have supported your business during 2010.

You had me at hello!

You’ve heard it before. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Think about the first time you did business with a company. If you had a bad experience, you may not give them another chance. What impression does your business give? Here are some tips to leave the right first impression with your customers.

Consistency
Whether it is with your marketing materials, your physical location or your employees’ appearance and service, you need to send a consistent message. If you want to portray a professional image it is important that your advertisements look professional and that your business and employees are presented in a professional manner. This is important because there are multiple ways for a customer to discover your business and with a consistent message they will know exactly what to expect from your company.

Employees
You aren’t the only one that works with your customers. So it’s important to train your employees to give the same level of service you would give. It is important to make sure each customer has a pleasant experience so they will want to do business with you again.

Get feedback
Want to truly know if you are making a good first impression? Then ask your customers for their opinion. Surveys are easy and effective in finding out what your customers think on a variety of topics. Ask them about their experiences with your business. Then you will know where you may need to improve.

The Minuteman Press Bath 2010
Personalised Greeting Card Brochure is out now

We can make your greeting cards personal...

Your company logo added
Your company colours used
Your personalised greeting
Your signature scanned

You name it, we'll do it

Prices start from just £45+VAT

Have your own design?
Well we can print that too!

Order the full brochure to be posted to you or emailed as a pdf today
Email: christmas@minutemanbath.co.uk

Web: www.minutemanbath.co.uk
Tel: 01225 442000

You Know It’s Time for a Rebrand When...

Your customers don’t recognise who you are anymore.
Pull out your business card right now. Compare that to the last direct mail piece you sent. Now take a look at your signage. Are they all sending a consistent message? Would your customers understand what your company does if they encountered your marketing? If the answer is “no” to these questions, it’s probably time to consider a rebrand of your business.
Rebranding can be a scary process. It could take a lot of time, cause confusion with your customers and cost you some money to make the transition. But it may be worth it if you’re not delivering the right message to the right audience to get more business. Before you take the leap, consider these rebranding tips.

It’s not me. Or is it?

Many people think that their brand consists of a logo, some signage and a business card. While these elements are key in indentifying who you are, the brand goes well beyond a look. Your brand is your customers’ perception of your company, what their expectations and experiences have been in their interactions with you. Your brand is also the promises you make and deliver on everyday. Before you start making cosmetic changes, make sure you take a holistic approach to how you do business.

Get over yourself.

While it’s your brand, it’s not about you. It’s about your customers. Take a top-down approach and analyze your entire business, and who you want to be. Talk with the type of customers you want to attract and find out what they know about you and what they need from you. Look at what your competition is doing and differentiate, don’t copy.

Plan. Plan. Plan.

The rebranding process takes time and “flipping the switch” on a new brand could cause some issues. Make a transition plan and get key stakeholders involved such as customers and prospects. You have to get your employees behind the process and get them excited about their new image and, possibly, new attitude.

Finally, don’t cling onto your history, but make sure you take the good things you’re doing and keep them so your customers can still get a sense of familiarity. This will keep the customers you want coming back to do business with you.

Where we can we will!

Even if that does mean stopping late tonight to get jobs out of the door.

Printing in a hurry? Give us a call on 01225 442000!