Hot Summer Markets
Even in a tough economy, not all sectors will be suffering. According to graphic arts industry expert Vince Mallardi, there are still some blossoming branches in the economic tree, with fruit ripe for the picking. While this research focused on print purchases, the outlook for these categories is likely to be positive across a wide [...]
The United States of Bland
This morning I ran across a display ad in Sunset Magazine; it was a tourism piece for the City of Portland, Oregon. Regardless of the ad’s merit, it does make a point that resonates well today: that most cities across the country lack much individual personality. Everything looks so mind-numbingly bland. The same strip malls, [...]
Un-Confuse Your Marketing!
People send mailers for all the wrong reasons.
Are you thinking about sending out a flyer or mailer? Stop! Why are you sending it? Unless you have a clear picture of your reason, you’re cooking up a recipe for disappointment!
Most people who send out flyers are thinking DRM, or direct response marketing. Compare that to “branding” [...]
“Your rules are really beginning to annoy me!”
Kurt Russell’s words come to mind every time a new postal regulation comes into force, and this time around is no exception! Starting November 23, the USPS will require that all presorted mailing lists be cleaned using the National Change of Address (NCOA) directory. To see our NCOA primer and special promotional offer, click here.
What [...]
Control Freaks: Print is for you!
Think you’ve got your website design nailed? Here’s what Joseph Webb, Ph.D., Director of WhatTheyThink.com Economics & Research Center says:
“Content creators use graphic design techniques to ensure that images are viewed in a manner that they will make their client’s message effective. In print, they have almost full control of the physical nature of their [...]
Featured Site: Brainy Zip
While working on a client’s consumer survey project I recently ran across brainyzip.com , a quick and easy way to look up a plethora of demographic information, all sorted by zip code…. Of course you’ll find the typical stuff, such as distribution of population by age group, but how about some interesting tidbits?
Service a la the cable company
Transcribed from a real conversation. I couldn’t add much that the story doesn’t already say.
(Customer has called the repair service number provided by the local cable tv company)
Customer: My cable has been out all morning!
CSR: What state do you live in?
Customer: California, why do you ask?
CSR: Well let’s see, we have an outage in San [...]
What’s my postage?
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 [...]
(almost) 20 Tips Every Business Should Use
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 [...]
Check your speed… and your design!
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 [...]
William Alpert is a seasoned entrepreneur and 35 year business veteran. His California based companies design and create printed and electronic marketing materials for Fortune 500s, entrepreneurs as well as advertising and graphic design professionals. He is the author of InkBlot, a weekly journal on business marketing in the internet era. 
