Three Holiday Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners that you can do right now

The holiday season is in full swing, and small business owners are working relentlessly to compete for customers and finish the year with robust sales growth. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day certainly offer prime marketing opportunities for businesses. It also means that the holidays are just getting started, and your marketing efforts should not end there.

Here are three marketing tips for small business owners that you can do right now:

1. Offer “Thank You” Rewards to customers who are giving you their hard-earned money this holiday season.

   It’s always a good idea to show your appreciation towards your customers. It is now the perfect opportunity to say thank you for their business by rewarding their loyalty to you. Send them a “Thank You” direct mail postcard with a solid call to action with something meaningful such as $10 off their next purchase (either in-store or online if it applies to your business model). Because this is a “Thank You” reward, you should keep the offer simple without any strings attached. Recipients of such an offer will be happy to save that little something extra this holiday season, increasing their likelihood of acting on it and revisiting your business.

2. Send custom holiday greeting cards with sincere messages.

   It’s not too late to have holiday greeting cards designed, customised, printed, and mailed to your customers. During this time of year, people enjoy receiving holiday cards. What better way to stand out than to have a card delivered to your customers? Make sure your card’s message is meaningful and sincere, and if you can do so, include a note to add that special personal touch.

3. Pick one or two branded promotional items and give them away.

   This is the season of giving, and promotional products are the perfect way for small business owners to give back while building that relationship between customers and their brand. Thousands of promotional items can be produced specifically for your business, from calendars and candy tins to custom branded apparel and mobile phone power banks. No matter which items you choose to give, the response from your customers is sure to be one of gratitude.

Pro Tip: Now is the perfect time to send custom printed edible items to your colleagues and customers!

Tasty treats such as chocolates, individually wrapped candies, mints, and popcorn tins are a great way to show your colleagues and customers that you care. Bring branded edible items to your networking events or dish them out to your clients at meetings, and you will be sure to make a lasting impression this holiday season.

Would you like professional assistance in creating and implementing a memorable holiday marketing campaign for your business? Give us a call ☎️ (07) 3271 1899

4 Marketing tips to boost your local business and bounce back in 2021

As the economy continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local businesses now find themselves in catch-up mode when marketing. Now is the time to really kick things into gear and reach back out to your business clients and contacts.

Here are four marketing tips to boost your local business and bounce back in 2021

1. Go beyond digital marketing outreach. Don’t just rely on email or social media to market your business. Pick up the phone, send a direct mail postcard, and integrate those methods with your digital marketing efforts. The more ways you try to engage with your clients, the more likely they will see and remember you and your business.

2. Use signs, banners, and window displays to maximise your visibility and make customers feel safe. This is the perfect time to update your location to promote customer safety and also increase your visibility. On top of promoting your specials and showcasing your brand, you may also need to change your hours of operation, add special social distancing instructions, and add curbside pickup instructions. These are all valuable ways you can attract clients right now.

3. Reach out to see how they are doing and let them know you’re here. Even if you did some outreach over the past year, it’s essential to keep in mind that some of your clients might not have been ready to use your services. However, as more and more people are vaccinated, and business starts to pick back up, it’s a great time to reach out through various marketing channels. Ask them how they are doing, let them know any necessary changes to your business, and of course, highlight relevant products and special offers.

4. Use custom branded apparel and wear your brand. Right now, with masks required as part of COVID-19 safety guidelines, custom branded clothing can help you stand out. Wearing face masks imprinted with your logo along with custom branded shirts or uniforms will help your team look professional and make a positive impression with clients.

Four benefits of print marketing

The digital world is getting crowded, and more businesses are returning to print marketing to boost visibility, attract new customers and grow their business. But don’t call it a comeback: Print marketing never left.

Some things print marketing can do that online marketing and social media ads can’t compete on. Here are four benefits of print marketing:

1. Print marketing is tangible

   People can only see an online ad. A postcard or business card can be seen and touched — and the quality of the printed piece speaks to the quality of your business.

   Businesses use print marketing because people still ask for a brochure or a business card. It’s something tangible you can slip in your bag and easily show someone else without having to find a link, have cell reception, or remember the name of the website.

2. Print marketing has a high response rate

   Advertisers spent $167 per person on direct mail in 2015 and earned $2,095 — that’s a 1,255 per cent return!

   Studies also prove that combining print marketing with digital promotions drives higher response rates and conversions than digital-only communications. That’s probably because online and social media ads are there one second and gone the next. And once they’re gone, they’re out of sight and out of mind. Who has time to remember all the online ads they see?

   Plus, print marketing promotes your business beyond the computer screen. You can take your message to heavy-traffic areas or where your target audience hangs out.

   Visuals are crucial to promoting what businesses do. Printing allows companies to reach an audience that is not regularly online. In some ways, street advertising also helps businesses compete toe-to-toe with larger organisations on the street because it gives us access to the same kind of real estate.

3. Print marketing builds trust

   Let’s be honest; online ads can come across as spammy. Some people are afraid to click on them to fear having their identity stolen or downloading a virus. Print marketing, such as a professionally printed postcard, lets customers know that you are an actual business and not a scam.

   According to a recent survey by MarketingSherpa, 82 per cent of internet users trust print ads when making a purchase decision — making them the most trusted form of advertising.

   The combination of both online and print is essential to businesses. Printing helps companies solidify their advertising by appearing a second time on a different, more concrete medium. Businesses chances of making a real impact on potential audiences grow exponentially when we accomplish this.

   The best way to stand out from your competitors is to emphasise what you do better. But in a small online ad, there’s not a lot of room to highlight your business’s features and benefits. However, in a print marketing piece, you have plenty of space to share detailed information about your products and services in an easy-to-read format.

   Businesses use print materials to highlight the content and the style and tone of what they are promoting. Companies should strive to give every campaign a cohesive design throughout every single platform. In the end, the work businesses put into all their promotional materials will translate into a direct representation of what they stand for.

4. Print marketing is saved

   It’s essential to create an online and offline journey for customers, especially for businesses in the hospitality, food and restaurant, automotive repair, and any industry that involves visiting a storefront or other location.

   While many businesses dedicate their marketing budget to try to stand out in the jam-packed online world, savvy business owners use a combination of digital and print marketing increase their chances of making a lasting impression.

Make a memorable impression.

Browse a variety of printed products with easy-to-personalize designs CS Digital Print.

Print is essential for critical industries

CS Digital Print shows why print is essential for critical industries.

Takes a look to 12 industries that are relied on to operate and perform crucial functions: Healthcare & Hospitals, Food Service & Restaurants, First Responders & Military, Government Groups, Pharmacies & Pharmaceutical Industry, Education, Banking & Finance, Legal, Real Estate, Construction, Communications (Print, TV & Radio), and Mailing Services Providers.

Healthcare Industry, Hospitals, & Medical Facilities

• Critical communications for health and safety

• Door and window posters providing important information

• Social distancing safety guidelines

• Wash your hands reminders and employee best practices

Food Industry, Supermarkets & Restaurants

• Curbside pickup & drive-thru directional signs

• Labels & packaging

• Posters, graphics & onsite signage

• Restaurant menus, posters & window/wall graphics

• Social distancing safety guidelines

First Responders & Military

• Community safety posters

• Critical instructions & field guidelines

• Security clearance badges

• Training manuals

• Uniforms

Government Groups & Public Health

• Critical communications for government programs

• Election postcards, ballots & mailings

• Labels for government-issued items

• Posters and postcards providing public health & safety information & guidelines

• Special event & registration announcements

Pharmacies & Pharmaceutical Industry

• Medical labels & packaging information

• Instructions for the use of prescription medication

• Customer pickup signage and posters

• Brochures to provide health & safety information

Real Estate Industry

• Brochures for real estate listings

• Contracts & closing documents

• Lawn signs and yard signs

• “Virtual Tour” booklets & catalogues

Legal

• Court documents & legal notices

• Directional signs for buildings

• Safety posters & signs

• Time-sensitive communications

Education, Teachers & Training

• Workbooks & curriculum guides

• Student manuals & educational supplies

• Teacher lesson plans

• Report cards & test forms

• School calendars & schedules

Mailing Services Providers

• Direct mail printing – postcards, brochures, special notices

• Printed boxes & envelopes

• Packaging tape & supplies

• Shipping & package labels

Communications Industry – Print, TV & Radio

• Community newsletters & notices

• Local news publications

• Media walls and backdrops for TV, Radio, & Video Conferencing

• Branded items for broadcasts

Banking, Insurance & Financial Institutions

• Brochures for loans & financial products

• Credit / Debit card notices, terms & conditions

• Insurance claims & documents

• Window graphics and onsite signage for customers

Construction Industry

• Construction site signage

• Public safety posters & signs

• Special notices & letters to residents

• Worker safety posters, signs & guidelines

How to market your retail business this Holiday Season

Plus 12 Consumer Spending Stats that every marketer should know

The holiday marketing season is already in full swing and now is the time to reach out to customers and get them excited about deals as well as your other holiday promotions. For retailers, restaurants, e-commerce companies and many small businesses, it is vital to market your holiday promotions across multiple channels. Now is the time to reach out to your target audience and connect with them in ways that will inspire them to respond and ultimately spend part of their holiday budget on your products.

For retailers and small businesses, it is vital to get their message out via multiple touchpoints such as cross-media marketing and direct mail. Using direct mail, retailers can reach their ideal customers within a demographic that they choose. Direct mail done right also allows you to geo-target your audience based on key factors such as household income or personal interests. Businesses can also link physical mailings to online marketing efforts. Retailers can mail a postcard to consumers, who will then see corresponding online ads relating to that postcard and their brand.

Here are 12 stats about consumer spending that any retail or small business should know when planning their marketing strategies:

1. Brands see a 19% return on investment by using two media platforms instead of one. ROI jumps even higher to 35% when using five platforms. (Advertising Research Foundation)

2. 65% of consumers shop across at least two marketing channels; 21% are using four or five channels to shop. (PWC)

3. A unified cross-media marketing campaign with brand consistency across every channel is 57% more effective than being radically different or inconsistent. (Advertising Research Foundation)

4. Over 60% of online searches are conducted because of print marketing campaigns including direct mail advertising, flyers, and brochures. (Printing Industries Alliance)

5. Direct mail influences 76% of Internet users to buy a product or service online. (Marketing Profs)

6. 67% of eCommerce websites use offline advertising to drive traffic and generate sales. (CoolaData)

7. To best reach Millennials, 71% of marketing should be spent on traditional offline channels and 29% on digital. (Advertising Research Foundation)

8. 72% of consumers say they would rather connect with brands and businesses through multi-channel marketing. (Autopilot)

9. 97% of text messages are opened within three minutes. Add a text messaging subscription option to direct mail campaigns to strengthen your connection with consumers. (Autopilot)

10. Tweets with #hashtags have 2x (or 200%) more engagement than those that have none. Create a #hashtag and promote it with direct mail to encourage brand engagement online. (Buffer)

11. Personalized calls to action result in a 42% higher conversion rate than marketing campaigns with generic messaging. (HubSpot)

12. 40% of consumers buy more from retailers who personalise the shopping experience across channels. (Ironpaper.com)

Need for speed in business: will fast design and print cost you quality?

Meeting a deadline means nothing if the job isn’t done just right.

The need for speed in business is real especially as businesses begin to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, speed is essential when your audience is looking for a reason to support your local business and interact with your brand. Yet in the hurried fervour of point and click marketing, there’s a longing for print as part of your cross-media marketing strategy because printing helps reconnect your business with customers in a meaningful and more personal way.

This hunger for speed, customer service, and deliverable results is causing new digital printing technology and novel solutions to emerging. The best marketing services providers keep their fingers on the pulse of the printing industry and level-up as quickly as needed.

Three tips to make sure your business is up to speed with your eager audience, no matter what your industry may be:

1. Focus on faster workflow

Well trained and motivated staff can produce a lot of high-quality work in a short amount of time. A simple 5- or 10-minute work in progress meeting each morning goes a long way. Understanding what’s going on with jobs that need to get done today and understanding what new jobs are coming tomorrow is the key.

2. Reward speed and make it the norm

Empower your employees while still maintaining status as their boss and treating them with respect. From this, the staff take ownership and pride in the way they produce jobs with quick turnarounds and they are proactive, watching for mistakes before they happen. It’s no longer an employee coming to you saying, ‘Hey boss, we have a problem.’ Instead, it is the employee figuring out how to get the job done and keeping those jobs moving.

3. Customers come first

While keeping costs down and profitability up, always keep the customers’ needs in mind. With a well-run and efficient business, the customer’s needs can easily be met and often, exceeded.

This climate of quick consumption in business can mean new worlds of possibility for strategies that leap out from digital traffic such as direct mail. With its tactile, personal appeal, and targeted cost-saving solutions, it is just one way that speed and quality merge with design and print.

78% of executives and marketers (51% of whom are B2B businesses) claim that integrated, branded, and personalised direct mail is a highly effective channel. (source: inkit.com).

In today’s world, information is at our fingertips and customers expect results quickly. Hence, getting a job done quickly and meeting a customer’s expectations is important, but the quality of the job is paramount. Meeting a deadline means nothing if the job isn’t done just right.

The landscape of today’s marketing is changing rapidly and the powerful combination of print and digital marketing can really deliver results. The need to be fast, accurate and meaningful is real and so are the complexities of designing and maintaining the right marketing strategy. Trust the wrong print provider in favour of speed alone and quality will likely suffer, but trust the right marketing services expert with an investment in your success and you will help ensure your own adaptable business trajectory for the long-term.

Keeping Your Brand in Front of Customers for Longer

Have you thought about how you can keep your brand top of mind with your customers? Promotional products are a great, tactile way of doing this and increasing brand recognition. They are a fantastic way to stand out from the competition and stay in the minds of your customers for longer. They're also a simple tool and an ideal way to get a little creative with your marketing.

At CS Digital, we work with you to understand what you are trying to achieve with your customers or event delegates. We can help with one-off orders for specific campaigns or events, through to regular merchandise such as uniforms and pens.

Contact us today about how we can help you achieve your goals - just like we have for thousands of customers throughout Brisbane for over 25 years.