June, 2011 - PaperDirect Blog

June 29, 2011

Ideas for Student Classroom Rewards

Filed under: Student Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

One thing teachers know is that keeping kids motivated can be a real challenge. While bigger kids are beginning to understand the need for their education and aren’t quite as hard to motivate, little kids can be very difficult to keep in the groove. That’s where having classroom rewards comes into play so the kids have a goal to achieve and something to shoot for. While having perks and little gifts for the whole class helps, having special awards to encourage excellence does a much better job.

Classroom rewards that students know about are one thing. Having coupons and certificates they can shoot for gives them a goal that they can see and if the coupons can be traded in for product at the school store, that gives them a tangible reward for their efforts. Kids love to see tangible progress towards a goal and having coupons and award certificates that they know they can win or work their way towards is a very powerful tool to help keep them motivated.

However, award certificates that they don’t know about such as awards for excellence are the ones that they appreciate the most and that can be a way to motivate that student to even higher goals. When students receive awards like these, especially in front of the entire school at a PTO meeting or some other group setting, not only do they get the recognition they deserve but everyone gets to see them get that recognition. This will encourage others to try to achieve that level of quality so they can receive awards like that as well.

Award certificates like these are easy to make and are inexpensive as well. As tight as school budgets are, it would seem that a good place to save money would be in a recognition program like this, but being able to have inexpensive awards that fit within even the tightest budget. Simply pick out some great certificate blanks and download the template for your favorite word processor and set up the text and graphics you want. Being able to customize awards for specific achievements enables teachers and administrators to give students the awards they deserve without killing the budget in the process.

Giving kids the recognition and classroom awards they deserve with award certificates and other incentive programs keeps kids engaged and striving for better goals. Not only will the kids appreciate the awards, but the parents will appreciate the fact that they don’t have to push the kids to do homework. Recognition programs in the school can be a motivating factor that works better than any other method.

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June 22, 2011

Need A Creative Award? Try A Recognition Lapel Pin

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Employees appreciate being appreciated by the company they work for. While certificate awards are definitely morale boosters and plaques and trophies look great on the wall or shelf, there really isn’t a way an employee can carry it around with them to show others they’ve been honored. However, if you give recognition lapel pins as an award or as an addition to the award they receive, they can put that on their lapel and go anywhere with it.

Recognition awards not only validate the employee and show the company appreciation for them, but anyone who sees the certificate award, plaque or trophy can see that the company does pay attention to how well employees are doing. Whether it’s an award for achievement such as a Five Year Employment Award or an award specifically for appreciation of performance like an Employee Of The Year Award, employees are inspired to do their jobs better and more effectively because of them. But having a lapel pin that the employee can wear every day keeps that encouragement at a higher level because other employees see that lapel pin and know what it means.

With all kinds of great lapel pin styles available and being able to have custom pins means employees can have a pin for virtually any recognition occasion. From Team Achievement Awards to Service Awards, there are designs that will enable your employee recognition program to go to an entirely new level. As powerful a tool as employee recognition programs are, you want yours to be the best.

Employee recognition programs serve a dual purpose. They’re designed to show corporate appreciation for employees that deserve to be recognized and they’re designed to help boost morale amongst the other employees as well. Having a recognition program that is capable of using certificate awards, recognition lapel pins, plaques and trophies as well as other incentive based awards gives them a very flexible and powerful tool in keeping employees happy. While a raise is always nice, being shown recognition and appreciation by the company may mean even more to employees.

Seeing all the awesome recognition lapel pins that are available will definitely give you ideas about how to incorporate them into your recognition program. You’ll like how they look, you’ll like what they represent to your company and your employees will love them when they receive them as part of a recognition ceremony. Take your employee recognition program to an entirely new level with lapel pins to drive employee morale.

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June 16, 2011

Need Help With Graduation Invitations Wording? Start Here

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — Tags: graduation invitations, wording — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes time for graduation, friends and family alike want to be a part of the celebration. Being able to watch your friend or relative walk across the stage at Commencement and receive a diploma is one of the proudest times you’ll ever experience. Having great graduation invitations to send out not only gives the invitees the information they need so they can be present, but with the right invitation wording, it can also show everyone just how happy and proud you are of graduating.

When it comes to putting together that perfect graduation invitation, you’ll want to start with a great invitation blank. Having an invitation you really like gives you a great foundation to work from. Once you download the template for your word processor, you’ll be able to sit down and get the wording and layout exactly how you want. You’ll be able to place graphics or even photos or the school logo and add another level of elegance to your invitation as well.

Getting the invitation wording right is more than putting in the school name, the location where the graduation ceremony will take place, and the time and date. Granted, those are important pieces of information to disseminate, but a graduation invitation means so much more. Here are a few phrases that you can include that show some of the pride and happiness that surrounds a graduation.

–   We the class of 2012 are proud to present John Smith who is graduating from Yale on the fifth of June, two thousand twelve at 7 o’clock in the evening at the stadium.
–   As the proud parents of John Smith, we would like for you to share our happiness of his achievement. He will be graduating from Georgetown High School on June 5th,, 2012 at 7pm in the Georgetown High School auditorium.
–   On June 5th, 2012 at 7pm at the Georgetown High School Auditorium, we the parents of John Smith would like to have you share the happiness his graduation.

There are lots of other ways to say just how meaningful this occasion is, but being able to have full control over the process means you can change things until you get the wording for your graduation invitation exactly how you want it. Being able to share such an auspicious occasion with friends and family compounds the emotions and happiness of the day, and great invitations eschew just how auspicious that day truly is.

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June 15, 2011

Finish Your Certificate Awards Elegantly With Certificate Seals

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas,How to Design Certificates — Tags: certificates — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

One way to enhance your employee recognition program is by giving certificates to well deserving employees. With all the great blank certificates available you can give a certificate for virtually any occasion and finishing them off with a certificate seal adds that extra layer of “atta-boy!” and validation to the entire process. While certificates are great things to receive as an employee, receiving one that has a seal on it are received as being a bit more ‘heartfelt’ by the company as ones that aren’t.

Making certificate awards for achievements and successes is actually an easy and inexpensive way to boost employee morale and show them just how much they’re appreciated. Adding certificate seals to awards you’ve designed and printed on great certificate award blanks makes them look totally professional as well. This means you can use your favorite word processor, download the free template for your certificate award, custom print one for each employee to be honored and apply the seal. Not only will you have an award that the employee will be proud to receive but you’ll save a ton of money in your employee recognition budget as well.

Having certificates made for you can be a laborious and expensive process. You have to have the employee names and the certificate wording at the print shop weeks in advance of the ceremony in case there are errors that have to be fixed. And you have to rely on the print shop scheduling so you know you’ll have them in time. Also, their certificates, while not any better quality are certainly more expensive. Plus, you’re usually forced to accept whatever design they’ve got available. Keeping the job in-house means you’re not restricted by the limitations of a print shop.

By keeping complete control over how the certificate looks, how it’s worded and being able to control when they’re printed enables you to make sure you’re able to give exactly the certificates you want. If there are errors they can be instantly corrected and having total control over the layout means you can put the certificate seal anywhere you want on it.

Another great thing is being able to put different seals on certificates to enhance differences in them. They can be used to separate achievement from recognition awards, can be used to make certificates different for times of year they’re give or for any other difference that you want.

Certificate seals take giving certificate awards to an entire new level. Between enhancing the options you have in giving awards but it adds a new level of appreciation for the recipient. The awards look far more professional and everyone who receives one or that sees it will think they look awesome. Check out all the great blank certificate and certificate seals and see how you can use them in your recognition program.

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June 14, 2011

Do Direct Mail Postcard Campaigns Really Work

Filed under: Marketing & Sales Promotion Techniques — Tags: mailing, postcards — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Every business is looking for a cost effective direct mail marketing campaigns. But dollar for dollar, regardless of what type of campaign is used, the most cost effective campaign is the direct mail postcard. The great thing about a postcard campaign aside from its inexpensive cost is the fact it’s easy to implement as well.

Postcards are very inexpensive to produce. Even having three color printing on slick postcards is less expensive that almost every other direct mail marketing available. Another great aspect of postcard marketing is the fact that the post office gives a special rate to postcards. And with bulk rate postage, that expense is even cheaper. Between the cost of the post card and the postage, direct mail postcard campaigns can be less than half the cost of brochures or flyers.

Postcards are easy to layout and design too. There are two areas that are available for ad space: The front and half of the back area. While it is possible to put some things in the address area, it is usually frowned upon by the post office and overlooked by the recipient anyway, so it isn’t suggested. As for the available areas, a lot of information can be put on them, doing something colorful with pictures or graphics on the blank side is a good approach to take with sales verbiage placed across from the address area.

Once the postcard is printed and ready, either running it through a laser printer or applying labels is a snap. Since they don’t have to be folded or sealed, handling time is at a minimum saving labor cost as well. Hundreds or even thousands of postcards can be processed through in just a few hours depending on the method used.

All in all, postcards are seen as a very powerful marketing tool. Even postcards that people don’t want right off the bat do get looked at since the card is such a simple device. That means your message gets seen and if it’s effective enough, keeping a postcard is as simple as sticking it in a pocket. Take a look and see if a direct mail postcard marketing campaign will work for your business. You’ll be surprised at how effective it is.

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June 10, 2011

Wedding Menu Cards Wording Suggestions

Filed under: DIY Wedding Accessories — Tags: menu cards, reception, wedding menu, wedding stationery, wording — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

After the wedding, especially top end weddings, the reception is generally catered. Caterers at these weddings pull out all the stops to provide a wide variety of beverages, meals, and desserts for the guests. Many times there is a full evening including hors d’oeuvres, a three course meal, and dessert afterwards. Guests at receptions of this caliber are generally seated via place cards and are supplied with menu cards so they can select their preferences for the meal. You will want to pay special attention to the wording of your Wedding Menu Cards.

Wedding menu wording is relatively simple. At the top are placed the names of the happy couple. The Wedding Menu Card wording can include “Menu for the Wedding of” or something similar and can include the date of the wedding. After that, aside from the headings to separate the different sections of the meal, all that is on a menu are the items offered.

To keep the theme of the wedding consistent, it’s a very good idea to make sure the styling and fonts used on the invitations and the wedding program are carried over to the place cards and the Wedding Menu wording. This adds a touch of class to the entire occasion as every detail matches.

By using blank invitations, wedding programs, place cards, and menu cards, the planner can print your own with a minimum of effort. This gives you a level of control over all aspects of the wedding you won’t have any other way. This means if the caterer has to change an entrée or dessert at the last moment, corrections can be made and new menu cards can be printed with none of the guests the wiser. Templates are available as free downloads for all of these items which makes putting them together a breeze.

Wedding planners, caterers, and all of the other people who are involved in a society wedding have to interact together in a carefully orchestrated dance so your wedding comes off perfectly. Having the wedding menu wording come out perfectly is just one detail in a myriad of others, but an important one, nonetheless.

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June 9, 2011

Tips for Hosting a Baby Shower

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Baby showers are a great way to honor the mother to be and to celebrate a new life coming into the world. If you’re in the process of planning a baby shower for a friend or relative, then you know it can be a bit on the confusing side because of all the things that need to be taken care of. While not quite as complex as a wedding, baby showers still takes thorough planning so everything comes off perfectly for the new Mom. And, as with any other well planned affair, you’ll want to start with custom baby shower invitations.

Of course, you’ll sit down and make a list of everyone who should be attending. This will include all the friends and family of the mother to be. You’ll want to discreetly check to see if anyone else needs to be invited as well. Once the guest list is put together, you’ll send out the invitations. Being able to get baby shower invitation blanks to customize means you can make them exactly how you want. Not only can you define the time and date and location for the shower, but you can include information as to a gift registry if the mother is registered. This helps guests know what has been purchased for the baby and will give them ideas as to what needs to be purchased.

Once the baby shower invitations have been sent, you’ll want to purchase some type of decorations. While they don’t have to be ostentatious, having streamers and some other baby related decorations definitely adds to the festivities. If the sex of the baby is known then you can use decorations with the appropriate color, pastel blue for a boy, pastel pink for a girl. If the baby’s sex isn’t known, then mixing the pink and blue makes for a very attractive décor.

While not totally necessary since most baby showers foods are munchies and soft drinks, when you send out the invitations, you may want to send a response card as well. That way you’ll know exactly how many people are going to show up. Again, this isn’t a requirement, but more of a convenience for the one planning the event so they’ll have an idea of how much food to have on hand, what extra supplies they may need and how many chairs to track down so everyone can be seated. Baby showers are usually very fun and very boisterous times to celebrate the coming of the new baby. Start off the festivities right with great custom baby shower invitations.

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June 8, 2011

Always Reward Employees who Consistently Deliver Outstanding Results

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

All companies like the good employees, but companies also want to find ways to encourage and uplift all employees to that same level. And in today’s economy, human resource department’s area always trying to find ways to make sure the good employees stay with the company and also find ways to encourage other employees to do better. By having an employee recognition program that rewards employees who are good and motivates other employees to become better, you can “kill two birds with one stone” as it were.

You want to find ways to reward good employees for their efforts. Giving them award certificates that they can hang on the walls of their office or set on their shelves or credenzas not only reminds them of the recognition they’ve received, but other employees that see them will get the encouragement that they too can receive those same awards. But there are other ways to show appreciation for effort and motivate other employees as well.

Mentions in the corporate newsletter are good ways to boost morale and give recognition. Even verbal mentions during team and corporate meetings are good morale boosters. Thank you cards for a job well done are very positive ways to show employees their efforts are appreciated. And even perks like early lunch or a preferred parking place are good ways to express appreciation and encourage productivity. There are lots of ways that companies and HR departments can motivate employees and show good employees that their work is appreciated.

The best part of these ideas is the fact that they are relatively inexpensive. With blank certificate templates and a little creativity, not only can you reward employees for good work, but you can also create certificates that motivate as well. “Most Improved” and “Great Progress” certificates encourage employees to continue to build on their gains and helps them to become the great worker all companies need. Building on success with encouraging awards and rewards makes for happier employees as well.

Take a look at all the different ways you can reward good employees and to encourage others to progress. You can develop a very successful employee recognition program that doesn’t have to have a huge budget. You’ll find that employees are happier, more productive and easier to worth with and that’s the kind of results everyone appreciates.

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June 3, 2011

Wedding Place Cards Etiquette

Filed under: DIY Wedding Accessories — Tags: wedding place cards — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

As the day for your wedding comes closer, you’re getting more nervous about how well everything is going to come off. You’ve put hours and hours into planning out every step of the way, trying to make sure that not only is it going to be a memorable day for you, but that all of the guests are going to be happy with the day as well. However, people being people, some simply don’t get along or you’ve got people you want to have sitting together at the reception, but you don’t want to hurt feelings either. So paying attention to wedding place cards etiquette can make sure feathers don’t get ruffled.

The first step to get everything right is to send out invitations with RSVP cards. These are important so you’ll know exactly who is going to come to your wedding and who will be at the reception. By having the RSVP cards, you’ll be able to put together a seating arrangement to minimize conflicts and to enhance interaction and conversation. Once you have your guest list put together, here are a few things to keep in mind when putting together the wedding place cards.

–   Put the person’s full name on the card. This enables people who don’t know each other to be able to break the ice without having to have a long round of introductions.
–   Spouses should be seated at the same table, but apart from each other. This spurs conversation, and alternating males and females at a table is common.
–   Couples that attend the reception that aren’t married are traditionally seated at separate tables.
–   Put the place card at the top of the plate or over the napkin.
–   Bi-fold place cards should have the person’s name on both sides.
–   Place cards are usually the size of a business card.
–   Using the same font on the place cards as you use on the menu and on the wedding program keeps everything thematically correct

When going through the planning process, being able to have a tool like place cards means you’ve got control over how things are going to go at the reception. Place cards may seem like a small detail, but following wedding place cards etiquette will mean you’ll be able to be comfortable that your wedding reception is going to be as much of a success as the rest of your wedding.

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June 2, 2011

6 Irresistible Baby Shower Invite Ideas

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Traditionally, a few months before a baby is born, friends and family will get together and have a baby shower for the prospective mother. The person who is hosting the party is usually the one putting all the details together and sending out the invitations. Having totally cute and irresistible baby shower invitations not only lets people know that the mother is actually having a baby if they didn’t know but also encourages attendance and participation. Here are some cute baby shower invitation ideas that definitely build interest:

1.   Nothing beats traditional graphics like baby bottles and rattles or even a cute little baby drawing to get the point across that it’s an invitation to a baby shower.
2.   Using a crayon scrawl font to set up the text is a neat touch.
3.   If the sex of the baby is known, using the appropriate colors is a great way to let guests know so they can buy gifts for the baby to be.
4.   Don’t forget that stuffed animals look cute on an invitation as well
5.   Of course, there’s the obvious. Since it’s a baby shower invitation, why not have umbrellas on it. It is a shower after all.
6.   Baby shower invites that have the shape of a diaper, a onesie or even a bib makes for a cute way to invite people.

Being able to print your own baby shower invitations means you can put exactly what text you want on it. Aside from the time, date and location of the shower information, if the Mom is registered at a store, you can include that information so guests can check out the registry and see what still needs to be purchased. Plus, if there’s going to be any particular theme to the shower, then you’ll be able to include that information as well. With templates you can download for your word processor, you’ll be able to get it looking perfect without a lot of effort at all.

Baby showers are a great time to get together with friends and family for a happy occasion that everyone enjoys. Having a neat invitation lets everyone have a smile knowing that a new baby is on the way and gets ideas flowing about what to give for shower gifts. When planning out that great baby shower, you don’t want to have the same invitations everyone else uses so taking the time to find unique baby shower invitations ideas not only gives the guests something neat as an invite, but the Mom to be will feel extra special because of that extra effort.

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June 1, 2011

Consistency is Key for Employee Recognition Programs

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes to having an effective employee recognition program it is essential to Achievement Specialty Certificates make sure that each time employees are recognized that the quantity and quality of the awards is similar. This ensures that employees feel like they’re all being treated fairly. Nothing undoes the encouragement and morale boosting effects of a good recognition and awards program like inequity in the “prizes” being awarded. So having a plan and sticking to it keeps employees from feeling that the awards they receive are tainted with any kind of favoritism.

Developing a consistent employee recognition program from the start is what will prevent this situation from occurring. Regardless of what you build your program around, whether it’s intangible awards like perks with prime parking places and mentions in the workplace newsletter or more tangible awards and rewards like awards certificates and reward coupons, keeping the awards consistent is the key. There are ways to scale the awards to show levels of accomplishment.

Whatever your recognition program revolves around, having a good program is important for employee morale and encouragement. Employees do appreciate the fact that the company sees them as a person, and that their work and efforts are seen as beneficial by their bosses. Recognizing them for their efforts on a personal level lets them know that they are important to the company. And it doesn’t take an expensive award to do so.

Even something as inexpensive as a thank you card or a note in with their paycheck expressing appreciation for their effort goes a long way in the “feel good” department. As a matter of fact, award certificates, the coupons, the preferred parking place and most other ways to boost morale really don’t cost much at all. Implementing a recognition program that is consistent and that doesn’t break the budget isn’t difficult to do.

From blank certificate templates to blank card stock for congratulation and thank you cards are inexpensive ways to have everything you need on hand to create great recognition and appreciation awards. Being able to be consistent with awards and rewards is easy when you’ve got the ability to create the awards you need. Check out all the great ways you can build your recognition program so everyone feels the motivation and encouragement to be the best employees they can be.

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