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November 11, 2014

Small Business Tip #6 – Promotion Ideas

Filed under: Marketing & Sales Promotion Techniques — Tags: — PDWriter @ 9:30 am

Santa Vinyl Banner

Christmas candy displays line supermarket aisles while tinsel and twinkle lights dominate craft and hobby stores.

So, what are you waiting for?

Now is the time to start promoting your holiday specials, sales and services.

Most retailers launch holiday promotions in October or November — some even earlier. So grab the calendar and start mapping out your methods of spreading holiday cheer.

Here’s a few things to pencil in the coming days:

1. Design, write and schedule holiday-related social media posts and emails. 

You can do this right on the Facebook page. This way, you won’t forget to amplify your next promotion- just be sure to check your page periodically for comments and user-generated content.

Facebook scheduling

2. Order holiday giveaway items for customers and seasonal signage for the store. 

Having a promotion next week? Order a vinyl banner to hang in your window. This will grab driver’s attentions and encourage them to stop in.
3. Schedule holiday advertising online, radio, television and in print media.

Find out where your audience is then go there! Whether it be online, radio or print media, get in front of your audience.
4. Design bag stuffers to use in-store and postcard mailers for online customers.

postcards

In all sales leading up to Christmas, show a little love with some simple bag stuffers or postcards. Design and print a holiday message or coupon offer and slip it in their bag. when they get home and revel over their newly bought items, they’ll see the offer and be more apt to make a return visit. All for the cost of postcards.

5. And of course, don’t forget to order a few goodies for your hard-working employees who help make the holiday season a success.

week6-onThis week enjoy 20% off employee gifts including custom designed coffee mugs, mouse pads, memo pads and so much more.

Enter code WCRT1014B at checkout to get this limited-time offer.

View our entire guide to holiday promotions here.

 

October 13, 2014

Christmas Party Planning Tip #2 – Brainstorm

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 9:22 am

Christmas Party Planning Tip #2

You have a budget in place. Your dream of having an amazing Christmas party is real. Now you need to find a place to host the event. Think through your list of friends and colleagues. Do any of them have connections at a local venue? Is there a location in your city that makes you smile each time you visit? Write them down.

While brainstorming potential party locations, you’ll need to keep a few logistical considerations in mind.

Keep in Mind:

  • What will the weather be like in December? Will I be able to use an outdoor venue?
  • Is the location easy for out-of-town guests to find?
  • Does the venue have services I may need, such as catering or a DJ?
  • What is the maximum occupancy at the venue?

Once you have the Christmas party location set, send festive Save the Date postcards to everyone on the guest list.

week2-onThis week, Paper Direct is offering 20% off all holiday postcards. Simply enter code WCRT1014B at checkout to get this great deal.

For more great tips, be sure to check out our entire guide on Christmas party planning.

 

August 29, 2014

5 Effective Ways to Promote Your Pumpkin Patch

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — Tags: , , , — PDWriter @ 8:52 am
Pumpkin Parade by PaperDirect

Autumn is just around the corner and with it comes crisp days, falling leaves and of course, Halloween!

As a pumpkin patch owner, your marketing window is short. Start advertising too soon and customers might forget by the time they’re ready to buy. Advertise too late and they may visit a competitor.

Plus, like most small business owners, your hands are already full with many other tasks. So effective, cost-efficient, and low-stress advertising is a must.

Luckily, with a little planning and a few simple and fun marketing strategies, your patch will be the one everyone flocks to!

1. Reach out to moms’ groups, schools, and daycares.

Contacting groups that cater to kids is a smart use of your marketing dollars. Create impactful but inexpensive flyers using festive seasonal papers with matching envelopes. Or opt for colorful postcards in oranges and yellows.

Be sure to handwrite the addresses and use a real stamp; these methods have been shown to increase both open and response rates.

2. Host family-friendly weekend events.

What mom or dad isn’t looking for a low-cost, wholesome activity to keep the kiddos entertained? In addition to increasing sales, these events will garner you the everlasting gratitude of frazzled parents everywhere.

Depending on your budget, make it as large or small as you like. Sack races, bobbing for apples, a bounce house and face painting are always big crowd pleasers. And don’t forget the hot cider!

3. Partner with a nonprofit.

Most nonprofits are eager to team up with local businesses to raise much-needed funds. Consider hosting a “Pumpkins for Charity” day and donate a portion of the proceeds to your favorite nonprofit.

Organizations that assist children and/or families are logical choices. With their help, you’ll reach more people than you would alone, and at the same time, create buzz and goodwill within your community.

4. Sponsor a pumpkin carving or painting contest.

Again, partnering with another organization will help cut costs and expand your reach.

Approach a local grocery store or keep an eye out for fall festivals in your area. Provide supplies and allow individuals to enter for the cost of a pumpkin. And bystanders will appreciate coupons and flyers.

5. Promote with big, colorful vinyl banners.

Whether you’re advertising an event or just driving passers-by to your patch, fall banners are the way to go. Scout out a few choice spots around town to display your banners. For added impact, come up with creative ways to hang them.

For example, hay bales or scarecrows are a sure-fire way to attract even more attention.

PaperDirect has a bounty of seasonal papers and banners that can help you carve out a tidy profit this fall! Come see them all at PaperDirect.com.

July 9, 2014

8 Bold “Save the Date!” Ideas

Filed under: DIY Invitation Ideas — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 10:45 am

Save the Date Modern Photo PostcardsIn the last few years, the process of announcing wedding dates has transformed into a game of one-upmanship on Facebook, with each couple eager to gain the most feedback from friends and relatives. While a social media announcement is essential in this day and age, there’s still something special about receiving tangible wedding announcements. Consider spreading the great news with one of these new ways to say save the date!

1. Movie Poster

Instead of standard black and white engagement photos, show your silly side by creating a parody of the poster for one of your favorite romantic comedies. Mr. And Mrs. Smith and How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days are both perfect for this approach.

2. Candy Wrappers

Who doesn’t like a sweet treat? Add a special touch to your save the date by ordering mints or some other type of candy, with all the essential information included on the wrapper.

3. Infographic

From informational articles to workplace flow charts, the infographic is the ultimate in effective communication. Offer up a modern touch to your save the date by sharing all the details in a straightforward, but unique infographic.

4. Old School Family Portrait

If you or your fiance already has kids consider including them in the save the date. A goofy 80s family portrait — complete with big hair and mullets — should provide plenty of laughs for the lucky recipients.

5. Puppy Love

If your family already includes a dog, feature your pooch in the engagement picture, as well as a cheesy pun such as: “It will be a pawsitively amazing experience!”

6. Calendar Magnet

Sand Save the Date Magnets

If there will be several events taking place in the lead-up to the big ceremony, consider sending a calendar magnet marked with all the important occasions. Feel free to spice up the calendar with a unique background picture.

7. Beachy Magnets

Magnets in general make excellent save the dates. If you’re planning on throwing a getaway wedding, consider sending beach-themed magnets to get your invited guests excited for the big trip.

8. Wedding CD

If you’ve already chosen the songs for your ceremony and reception, why not share them on an exclusive save the date CD? Feel free to share all the specifics related to the wedding on the front of said CD. If nothing else, this will provide a little entertainment for those forced to drive across the country for your big day.

Your save the date will communicate the essentials about your upcoming nuptials while also setting the tone for your ceremony. Think outside the box and send reminders that guests will remember in years to come.

September 12, 2012

Halloween Postcards Make Effective Direct Mailers

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

Black Magic Halloween Postcard InvitationsMany people consider Halloween to be the most fun of all the holidays, but it is one of the most commercially successful holidays. Don’t miss out on marketing opportunities for your small business by sending out Halloween postcards to market your products or service. You can be extremely creative with Halloween postcards to yield a “monster” return on your investment.

Here are some suggestions for using Halloween postcards for direct mail marketing:

  1. Offer a treat, not a trick, to those who come to your place of business or website and purchase something. Your postcard can include a buy one get one free offer, a discount, or can serve as a loyalty card in which repeat customers buy a certain number of items and get the ninth or tenth one free.Magical Pumpkins Postcards
  2. Advertise a midnight special sale with a Halloween postcard. Encourage employees and customers to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and offer amazing midnight madness deals. Be sure to offer refreshments such as light snacks and beverages to encourage customers to stay longer. A well-fed customer is a happy customer.
  3. Postcards, due to their small size, are more likely to be read by recipients than longer newsletters. With eye-catching Halloween graphics, you’re sure to grab the recipients’ attention, prompting them to read your message.Fright Night Postcards
  4. Keep the content on your postcard brief and to the point. Be sure to include contact information such as the name of your business, address, phone/fax numbers, email address, website URL, your name and title (if applicable), and on the back of the postcard you can include directions from various locations. Be sure your special offer or whatever your reason for sending the postcard is clear on the front of the card. Choose font that’s large and easy to read. Some “spooky” fonts can be difficult to read, so be sure you don’t go overboard with difficult-to-read Gothic lettering.
  5. Consider your target demographic when planning your mailing list.

PaperDirect’s online store has the Halloween postcards you need to get the traffic you want!

 

August 1, 2012

Halloween Postcards Make Fun Party Invitations

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

Lil Monsters Casual InvitationsIf you’re looking to jazz up your Halloween party this year, try sending out Halloween postcards as your party invitations to mix things up a bit. If your friends, family or neighbors are counting on you to host the annual Halloween bash, you certainly don’t want to disappoint by sending out the same old boring invitations this year. Make it simple (and save on postage) by sending out Halloween postcards for party invitations this year. If you’re going the “open invitation” route, then you can use Halloween postcards as a mailer to everyone you’d like to be included in the spooky festivities.

PaperDirect has many of the party planning items you need for a great Halloween party this fall. Check out our custom print option and save time and money by designing and printing (or letting PaperDirect do it for you) your own Halloween postcard invitations today! Some of the best-selling PaperDirect Halloween postcards are:Haunted Cemetery Postcards

  • Pumpkin Parade
  • Haunted Hill
  • Spooky Lane
  • Fright Night
  • Witchy Kitty
  • Good Ghost
  • Magical Pumpkins
  • Black Magic

Since Martha Stewart is such a well-respected party/hosting expert, let’s take a look at some Halloween games for kids (and big kids) that will keep your guests happy and entertained:

Pop Goes the Pumpkin:  A Halloween version of the classic carnival game makes a great wall decoration, too. Simply blow up several orange balloons (fill some with candy and some with confetti) and put them up on a wall with some type of backdrop to protect the paint or wallpaper. Have one adult use a stick pin or dart (kept away from the kids, of course) and have the kids guess which balloon has treats, confetti or is empty. Start popping balloons and the kids will love the goodies that come out of the balloons that are stuffed.

Doughnuts on a String: Tie a length of rope between two trees. With kids standing under the rope, tie pieces of ribbon to the doughnuts (one per player) and then to the rope so the treats hang slightly above mouth level. Have players start on the count of three. Instruct each to eat an entire doughnut without ever touching it and without letting it fall off the ribbon. The first to finish wins. The prize? It’s already been eaten!

Pin the Pumpkin on the Face: Any child who has played Pin the Tail on the Donkey will be able to play this game. Cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from black construction paper. Stick a reusable adhesive, such as Blue Tack, on the back of each cutout, and give a set of cutouts to each player. Put a large pumpkin on a low table or a bench. With blindfolded players starting four feet away (little kids may stand closer), instruct them to walk toward the pumpkin and create a jack-o’-lantern face (without peeking). After each turn, take a picture of the player with the finished pumpkin.

Halloween Masquerade Vinyl Banners

PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for all of your party planning needs this Halloween. You can order Halloween postcards, creative Halloween invitations, or Halloween banners everything you need for a great party.

 

 

 

 

April 26, 2012

Save the Date Postcards vs. Save the Date Magnets

Filed under: DIY Invitation Ideas — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Verona Gold Save the Date MagnetsEverything you need to know about save the date events can be found right here on the PaperDirect blog. In addition to providing useful information about DIY (do-it-yourself) weddings and wedding etiquette, PaperDirect is also your one-stop online shopping source for DIY wedding necessities like wedding invitations, wedding reception cards, response cards, wedding thank you cards, and save the date magnets and save the date postcards.

Postcards vs. Magnets–You DecideHeart Serenade Postcards

You might know all the ins and outs of sending wedding invitations, but save-the-date etiquette is sometimes not so clear cut. Save-the-date postcards or magnets are typically sent to your wedding guests six to eight months before the date of your ceremony so that they can mark it on their calendars.

It’s okay to send your guests a wedding save-the-date by email, but don’t forget that this wedding card is really the first introduction your guests will have to your wedding, so a lot of couples thinking up unique ways to incorporate their wedding theme into their save the date reminder.

If you are looking for a more traditional reminder, PaperDirect has save the date postcards and save the date magnets; it’s really just a matter of personal preference which you choose. Look at our selection of both and see which one best fits your personality and style of wedding.

Seashore Scene Save the Date Oversized PostcardsYou don’t need to include as much information on your save-the-date wedding cards as you do on the actual wedding invitation, so be sure to read some tips for save-the-date wording tips before getting started on your wording. One thing to keep in mind about these wedding reminders is that they can be more casual than your formal invitations. Here are some more PaperDirect blogs about save the date wedding magnets and postcards:

 

February 9, 2012

Save the Date Postcards for Weddings and Other Occasions

Filed under: DIY Invitation Ideas — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Roses Save the Date Oversized PostcardsSave the Date postcards are a great way to send your guests a reminder about an upcoming event such as a party, shower, reunion or wedding. PaperDirect has an extensive line of save the date postcards in a variety of styles and designs, sure to please all different types of tastes. Save the date postcards are standard size (3.5″ X 2″) and allow you to send out an informal reminder once the formal invitations have gone out.Heart Shaped Wishes Photo Postcards

The large selection of designs allows you to express your personality and sense of style while reaching a large number of people in no time at all. We have save the date postcards  in vibrant, festive colors, and we have more subdued, earth-toned save the date postcards for a more conventional look. Our selection includes balloons, daisies, daffodils, tulips and black tie-themed save the date postcards, and with such a large variety of postcards from which to choose, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for the wedding or other event you’re hosting.Finishing Touch Save The Date Postcards

Save the date magnets are hugely popular, and PaperDirect has a number of those to choose from, also. Take a look at our vast selection of save the date magnets and  find one that matches your invitations.

If you’d like to read more creative DIY save the date ideas, check back to the PaperDirect blog in the coming weeks for more great ideas to save the date!

June 14, 2011

Do Direct Mail Postcard Campaigns Really Work

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

Fresh Tulips PostcardsEvery 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. Carnival PostcardsAnother 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.

Luau PostcardsOnce 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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