Friday, August 1, 2008

Eco Friendly Printing - Finding the Best Balance

Everyone is talking about the environment and today you realize that everything you do effects the earth we live on. If someone told you that printing your latest sales and marketing literature would destroy a section of a forest, leak carcinogens into groundwater, and add toxins to the soil, you'd probably would think twice about going ahead with your project. That would be because you are unaware that there is a way print using eco sensitive methods minimizing harm to the environment.

Most businesses and organization produces several printed pieces a year to attract new customers, promote events, and increase sales. If your present print vendor employs traditional print methods to produce your printed advertising, sales and marketing literature they may not be eco sensitive manufactured paper and petroleum-based inks, toxic solvents in their process. By being aware of your options you could reduce your environmental footprint and at the same time benefits your companies social responsibility and image.

We all need to be doing as much as we can to help the environment. Now some printers are offering alternatives to traditional printing papers, inks and solvents used in the printing industry. Luckily, there are now eco-friendly ways to print your projects while helping to protect your environment. One of the ways is by printing your advertising, sales and marketing literature using eco-sensitive printing such as The Green Factor Printing papers and soy and vegetable based inks which are green certified on recycled paper. The use of Eco friendly Superior Linen cover or text weight papers are a start. These papers are an elegant 30% recycled Green Seal Certified alternative for printing excellent quality advertising, sales and marketing literature and still being eco-sensitive. Combined with vegetable based inks, green factor printing can make a smaller footprint on the planet to help make a difference and let your customers know you care. Using high quality Superior Linen papers gives your cards, flyers, brochures and business stationary a unique elegant feel and texture while still being environmentally friendly. Available in 100 Lb Cover and 70 Lb text weights, these superior linen stocks are an excellent choice for a truly distinctive touch and allows you to be kind to the environment while still delivering the highest quality printing possible.

There is the misconception that printing green is always more expensive than using traditional printing methods. However, this isn't always the case. Using recycled linen stock has allowed printers to build a green printing business on sensible alternatives that both help sustain local and global environment, and still keep prices low on high-quality products so that customers can take pride in their printed materials. The small additional cost for printing eco-sensitive is well worth it since by printing green, you are sending a powerful reminder to your market that you care about your social responsibility to the planet.

Keep in mind, too, that as more organizations like yours invest in eco friendly options, the prices will eventually decrease. It is cost-efficient to make recycled paper as it requires less energy [than virgin], yet there is a slightly higher premium for recycled paper. This is largely based on supply and demand issues. The more we request recycled paper, the more the paper industry will supply, and costs will even out. So seek out that commercial printer who like you wants to do more than just talk about the environment but goes that extra step to offer you a way to print green- print eco sensitive.

Recycled paper is always a good option to consider when choosing the paper for your next printing project. Using a small recycled paper logo on your printing lets the world known you care and are doing the right thing. Consider the words of the late Peter F. Drucker, the father of modern management “Doing the right thing is more important than doing the thing right.”

For free samples and more information about eco-friendly full color printing, go to: http://www.colorprintingpros.com or call 800.598.1841 or 818.735.0385.

COLOR PRINTING PROS saves you money, and offers CHEAP TRADE PRICES while still offering SERVICE and QUALITY. You supply the files and we will do the rest.

Postcards That Really Attract Attention -An Exciting New Twist To A Proven Money Maker.

There are hundreds of thousands or even millions of business articles on the web. Most are the same old stuff in a different package. If you read on, you will find something totally new. Chances are you haven’t heard about or seen before. It’s rare when something new and exciting comes along, this is it. And it’s affordable.

The internet and technology have changed the way business is conducted, but don’t underestimate its effectiveness. Some of the old more traditional ways such as direct marketing have produced large profits in the past and continue to do so today. A printed 4 color post card will never go out of style, just keep getting better.

An important reason why they still work today is the fact that postcards are passive. They take no action on the part of the recipicent to be seen. Postcards just need to pass before a reader’s eye to get noticed. Postcards target your messages directly to prospective customers. An offer with a specific closing date as a call to action can be used immediately for a fast return on your ROI. Responses can be easily and quickly measured. Postcards can be printed in a variety of ways, in various sizes and for varying costs. But in order to get a return on your investment (ROI), your postcard needs to stand out from your competition and all the other distractions in your mailbox. Of course, the content is important but more important than the message is the design. It does little good to have a great offer on an uninteresting, boring design. The first thing your card needs to do is attract instant attention so your message is noticed and the reader takes that second look. By getting your postcard noticed, you can guarantee an upsurge of interest . Attention can be achieved by having a high quality full color postcard printed on heavy 14pt or 16pt quality card stock. This choice can make a lasting impression showing quality that transfers to your product. For added interest, you may want to use a Wow Factor effect so that your post card will stand out and get your company noticed.

Wow Factor effects are new state of the art printing techniques that raises the interest level and attract additional attention. Three new affordable gang run Wow Factor printing effects are Spot UV coating, Metallic Silver ink and Colored Metallic effects.

1. Spot UV coating is a high gloss laminate coating that can be applied to selected areas of your card. Spot UV coating can be applied to type, a photo or illustration and also be used on a solid color background to give a high/low effect. Spot UV coating creates a combinations of glossy and dull finish effect to focus the eye and makes the card more appealing.

2. Metallic Silver Ink can be added as a fifth color in conjunction to the standard cmyk 4 color process. Metallic Silver Ink is actually made by adding microscopic bits of aluminum to the ink base which give it a unique metallic look. When this effect is used it adds interest and a special elegant richness to a standard 4 color card.

3. Colored Metallics can create metallic colors sure as silver, gold, brass, bronze, copper and more than 150 other metallic colors you can easily create in Photoshop™. By using this new technique you are able to increase the colors in the traditional 4 color pallet and create effects never seen before. The possibilities of using these effects is only limited by your imagination.

Wow Factor effects are very unique and require special technology to produce. They are only offered by a very few commercial printing companies so it is not common and over used. If you looking for an attention driver, you have to learn more about these hot new printing techniques. Find a printer that offers Wow Factor effects and see how it raises the bar and changes the game. You can’t sell yourself without getting the customers attention. Unfortunately, Wow Factor effects do not reproduce on monitors, so you can’t see them online. But if interested, request free samples from printers offering this great attention getters and see for yourself what these card can actually look like.

For free samples and more information about quality full color printing, go to: http://www.colorprintingpros.com or call 800.598.1841 or 818.735.0385.

COLOR PRINTING PROS saves you money, and offers CHEAP TRADE PRICES while still offering SERVICE and QUALITY. You supply the files and we will do the rest.

Penny Pinching Postcards Put Profits In Your Pocket

Postcards are one of the most popular ways to quickly increase cash flow and produce otherwise lost profits. Maintaining and increasing business in these difficult economic times is the primary challenge of most businesses. With sky rocketing cost of materials and decreasing purchasing power of consumers, you can find your business in trouble overnight. Waiting for positive economic forecasts can only makes the situation worse.

Postcards are a great way to attract new business and reenforce old whether your business is national or local. Many printers with large presses, state of the art new equipment and high overheads are also feeling the pain of the economy. Printing prices for postcards have never been lower and now is the time to take advantage of these deep discounts and cheap pricing. We all need the business now. Many business owners are thinking they can’t afford to do a promotion now because business is so slow. If this thought has occurred to you that is the best reason to do a promotion now. Business is probably going to get worse before it get better. As of this writing, most economists think we haven’t hit the bottom yet.

Discounted high quality post cards are an inexpensive way to generate new sales. You can buy 1,000 very high quality full color post cards printed both sides on heavy 14 point or extra heavy 16 point card stock with gloss UV or matte / dull aqueous coating for an extremely cheap cost. With an attractive offer and targeted distribution, your post cards can generate very high returns quickly. If you don’t believe me just check your own mail box and see what other companies are doing. You see the same company promotions all the time. If they didn’t work effectively, do you think they would continue to send them?

With a postcard marketing plan, the dark clouds could have a silver lining. Smart businesses can take advantage while others pull back to ride it out. Many companies print multiple offers and discounts on their card which can extend the life of the card and create even better returns. The time is now. Don’t delay. Start getting noticed. Post cards are the answer to putting profits in your pocket without spending big bucks.

For free samples and more information about quality full color printing, go to: http://www.colorprintingpros.com or call 800.598.1841 or 818.735.0385.

COLOR PRINTING PROS saves you money, and offers CHEAP TRADE PRICES while still offering SERVICE and QUALITY. You supply the files and we will do the rest.