What’s my postage?
March 28, 2008
Online Postage Calculator from the US Postal Service
LATE UPDATE: Click here for information on the new NCOA regulations and special offers from Copies&Ink
A question heard frequently at Copies&Ink is: What’s the postage tab for my upcoming mailing? Here’s the easiest way we’ve found to calculate postage for your business mailing, and also compare the costs for various types of mailing services offered by the USPS.
To be completely accurate, you’ll need to know how many of the destinations in your mailing list will be sorted into 3 digit, 5 digit, carrier route, etc. Of course, this is nearly impossible without software to analyze your list directly. (That’s a service we offer at Copies&Ink.) But for a rough estimate, it’s usually safe enough to guess that your mailing will mostly fall into the “3 digit” category unless it’s going to just a few cities in a focussed area. If you mailing for a certified non profit, you can apply for a special permit to mail at greatly reduced rates. Check out the latest rates at the official USPS online calculator site.
Postage is often one of the largest costs in your direct mail campaign, so it pays to understand the “rules of the road.” When in doubt you can contact your regional USPS business center. We find that for the most part, you’ll find helpful and knowledgeable assistance just for the asking. In our Santa Ana, CA region their phone number is 714-662-6483.
Finally, don’t forget that a well designed mail piece will keep postage at a minimum, while at the same time optimizing response. So the sage advice is: don’t cut corners in the planning stages. When in doubt, consult with a mailing expert, and for larger mailings consider working with a mailing professional, like Copies&Ink!
Leopard and Vista: Ready for big cats?
March 28, 2008
I’m considering the newest Mac OSX upgrade for a couple of our newer Imacs. If you are considering the same, you should note that Leopard is a bitter cat; it requires hardware with a bit more umphh than it’s predecessor:
RAM:
Tiger: 256 MB
Leopard: 512 MB
Disk Space
Tiger: 3 GB
Leopard: 9 GB
Processor:
Leopard is not supported by G3s, and G4s with processors below 867
Here’s a range of viewpoints I’ve heard to date:
“I’ll try updating my personal machines, but won’t consider it for production machines!”
“It’s really cool, new Leopard apps are already available, and I upgraded the day it came out.”
“I never upgrade my computers. I’ll get Leopard when I break down and buy a new Mac.”
For us it’s still wait and see. My advice for most users: if your system is already taxed to the max, this upgrade may slow down your work. Still, an increasing number of applications are Leopard only. I’d upgrade only machines that require one of these new applications. And you should forget about dual-booting these into concurrent Windows/Mac operating systems while running Leopard, unless you’ve got loads of RAM.
From Apple: Leopard System Requirements
As far as Windows Vista, I’ve not felt the need to upgrade any of our XP systems, nor do I know any good reason to make the switch. On the other hand, I’ve heard plenty of reasons to avoid it! Here’s a video from an editor at PC World that advises against it for most users. Check it out.
My decision (and advice to you as well) don’t upgrade to Vista unless you have a specific reason. Just wait and get it pre-installed next time you buy a system. If you are a Vista fan and think I’m full of beans, I’d love your constructive comments!
(almost) 20 Tips Every Business Should Use
March 27, 2008
You’ve no doubt seen a lot of “must do” lists for business sales and marketing. I like this one, sent to me by the folks over at QuickBooks. The reason I like it: I’ve come up with many of the same ideas myself… you know, that thing about brilliant minds thinking alike 
Anyway here are some of best from the list.
1. Market to a Niche
2. Outsource internal tasks to save money
3. Seek out little known grants and venture capital to expand
4. Accept credit cards
5. Use incentives and other programs to “involve” customers
6. Look for ways to improve, constantly
7. Use testimonials and press releases in your marketing
8. Be personal, link your personality to your “brand”
9. Offer special deals and promotions
10. Create and update your marketing and business plans
11. Use business blogs and RSS feeds to increase public awareness
12. Consider podcasts and other new forms of online marketing
I’ve condensed this list for readability.
Here’s a copy of the full original document
Have a suggestion we missed? Drop us a note!
Check your speed… and your design!
March 12, 2008
speedtest.net, an easy way to check your internet speed!
OK, I admit this is a bit on the geeky side, but haven’t you often wondered if you’re actually getting the upload and download speed your internet service provider is advertising?
We recently updated our phones to a VOIP system; it routes outgoing calls over the internet. Part of the process involved getting a better feeling how quickly our bits and bytes reach their destination. Speedtest.net is not a technical test of bandwidth, but rather a very simple way to see how your connection is performing at any given time.
One reason I wanted to share this site is its slick interface. Notice how the design clearly communicates, informs and motivates the reader. Whether online, or in print, good design is difference that turns a lackluster campaign to a winner.
A blog for your business?
March 6, 2008
The web log, or blog, was popularized by individuals who wanted to share their personal thoughts with a wider audience. It was a sort of online diary, that became popular in the 1990s. Today, more and more businesses are are blogging; they are tapping into the power of the New Internet, sometimes called Web 2.0.
A good customer recently asked me what would a blog-o-site do for us? I had recently suggested it to her as a nice compliment to her existing, well-prepared traditionally printed newsletters. Here’s how I answered her question:
There are many benefits to a blog-o-site:
For one, no further need to send a copy of your latest newsletter via e-mail with attachments, which are becoming more and more of a taboo. But over and above that:
A blog-o-site can be updated at will, so the content is fresh. You and your marketing team can easily add stylish content in a timely fashion.
A blog-o-site is a different paradigm than a traditional website; it’s more of an online community, a place to exchange ideas and interact.
Business blogs are a separate marketing tool, which will increase your exposure to a larger audience. Well constructed blog-o-sites are optimized to be highly compatible with Google and other major search engines.
The newest and freshest articles are visible right on the home page, archived articles are also searchable and accessible. Readers are motivated to visit your blog-o-site more often than on a traditional site.
Business blog-o-sites can come with tools that gives you a lot of information about who is reading your site, even the specific articles they are reading. In fact you can even see the words they type into a search engine to reach your site. This is a great way of understanding your customers’ and prospects’ behavior.
Finally, blogs are a very cost-effective solution. They are relatively simple to construct and maintain at a lower cost than a traditional web presence.
As you can probably tell, I’m enthusiastic about using blogs for business and organizations. I think it’s the direction that marketing is headed; I want our clients to have access to its benefits. I’m currently hosting almost a dozen different blogs for clients ranging from a massage therapist to a children’s theater workshop.
Do you have a business related blog? Please write to tell us about it! Whether you’re a plumber or a psychotherapist, I’d be willing to bet there’s a blog somewhere in your future too!
