The iPad

So over looking the awful name, Apple has once again changed the way we think of technology. What do you think the iPad is going to do for everyday business? It's something none of us thought we would be thinking baout 10 years ago, but now it's time to adapt once again.

I recently had a conversation with my Sales Manager about the iPad and the threats and opportunites that are going to arise from it's birth. Obviously working for a print and marketing company we sqirm everytime we see a new technology that looks like it could take away another print run, but there is always a silver lining to every story. What about the opportunites. Yes I work for what started out as printer, but now we are a full service marketing company and we are exploring the idea of becoming some sort of liason to help your organization publish your previously printed projects on an iPad or Kindle.

From what we can tell, publishing and selling your files online is not going to as easy as posting your PDF to your website. Special programing languages must be used as well as designing the items in InDesign differently than you would for a print peice. So with the work week already way over 40 hrs a week who wants to deal with figuring out how to create iPad and Kindle friendly file then handle the logitstics of following all the rules and regulations that I'm sure are going to apply to these files? We may be able to help you understand what you need to do and even help you convert your files and start selling your pieces and connecting with your members, or clients like you never have before. Stay tuned for more info!!!

Print Delivers

Are you stressed about budgets? Trying to figure out where to spend your money? Should I do go with social media, Internet blogging, personalized URLs, variable data e-mails with links and tracking?

WHAT ABOUT PRINT?

Print Delivers is an event celebrating and educating people about the power of print. Over the next few months Print Delivers Events are occurring in all of the major US cities. My company has been chosen to represent a marketing services provider in the mid-Atlantic area, and I am so excited. In the recent years everyone has been making the switch to digital, but now people are realizing they aren't getting the bang for their buck and their messages are getting lost in e-mail land. People are learning that:

• Print Build Customer Loyalty- 70% have renewed a relationship with a customer as a result of receiving direct mail Source: Print in the Mix; printinthemix.com
• Print Energized the Marketing Mix- Consumer receiving a printed catalog are 2x more likely to purchase online than those who don't receive a catalog Source: USPS
• Print Drives More Sales- 75% of consumers say they made a purchase as a result of direct mail Source: Print in the Mix; printinthemix.com
• Print is a Responsible Choice- 45.2 million tons of paper was recovered from recycling in 2007. That's 57% of all paper and paperboard products. Source: American Forest & Paper Association

Who's going to be there?

• Ben Cooper, Executive Director, Print Council
• Marc Johnson, Marketing Programs, Digital Printing Solutions- Americas, Eastman Kodak
• Ferko Goldinger, Advertising & Promotion Manager, Appleton Coated
• John W. Snyder, Owner/President, HBP, Inc.
• David Mastervich, Manager, Periodicals, Catalogs & Saturation Mail Mailing Services, United States Postal Service
• Jim Dunn, President, Heidelberg USA

Details...

• Friday, March 26th, 2010
• 10:30am-12:30pm
• Johns Hopkins University
  Montgomery County Campus
  9605 Medical Center Drive
  Rockville, MD 20850

Annnnnnd.......

Free Lunch! So sign-up today and reserve your spot. Hope to see you there!

Scanlife- Are you hip to it yet?

Scanlife is a national organization that is involved in the development of a technology that is bridging the gap between print and Internet. With free downloadable software for your phone (http://www.scanlife.com/us/appdownload.html) you have the ability to scan a printed barcode on an item and immediately be linked to a website that can contain more information about the item, allow you to enter a contest, register for an events, receive discounts at checkout and the list goes on and on! (After you download the software try it out on the barcode above!) And the technology is now reaching out to the digital worlds as well as seen in the examples on the Scanlife website, http://www.scanlife.com/us/examples.html.

I am so excited about this technology finally growing some feet because I see this as the future for print and the internet coexisting and thriving off each other! As the internet gets bogged down with so much information we don't know what to do with (who can really keep up with their twitter, blog, facebook, and linkedin and work a full time job?) or has this ever happened to you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jMt6saTqq4? We can turn to PRINT for help! Print has always been able to cut through the clutter and static of everyday life to deliver it's message. Even if the message is read a few days later, IT IS DELIVERED and readers take note.

To learn more about Scanlife and how to go about printing your first interactive project please check out- http://www.scanlife.com/us/index.html

Happy Reading!

Sarah

HBP's Marketing Day

Marketing Day is just a few weeks away! To learn more about where, when, who, and how to register please check out the link below!

http://hbpseminar.com/

Hope to see you there!
Sarah

Marketing Day 2009

Marketing Day 2009!

What:
A day dedicated to new ideas and solutions that can help improve your ROI. You will walk away with tangible techniques to move your organization forward. PS it's on a Friday so take the day off from your normal routine and come enjoy the day with HBP!

Who:
Anyone responsible for the bottom line! Including Marketing Directors, Membership Directors, Communication Managers and CMO's.

When:
Friday, October 23rd, 2009 from 9:30-4:30

Where:
Johns Hopkins University,
Montgomery County Campus
Academic and Research Building

9601 Medical Center Drive
Rockville, MD 20850

For registration information please e-mail me at sarahk@hbp.com. Hope to see you there!

Summer is Comin to an End!

Time to get back to work people! I know most parents are singing the "It's the most wonderful time of the year" song because their kids are off to school, but I'm excited because the "I will be out of the office until...." voicemails will be dwindlin and I will finally be able to help people plan, impliment or produce their fall jobs. This might sound crazy. I like my job. What? But I speak the truth, the satifaction I get when a customer calls me in a panic and I can help figure out a solution and get their project done on time is huge. Granted the nature of the beast with sales is that you can't always help or fix everything, but it's the moments when I can that life seems grand. Sooooooo calling all....

CMO's

Marketing Assistants

Traffic Coordinators

Project Managers

Directors of Events, Conferences, Programs, Seminars

Membership Directors

ASK ME FOR HELP! If you need an honest answer, are confused about your options, or just need someone to bounce ideas off of give me a call 571-303-2421. I am all about being honest and having open dialogue so use me as a resource and let's see where we can go!

Have a fantastic day!

Sarah

The USPS thinks we need more rules....

....so here is the newest mailing rule that will go into effect September 8th, 2009. Below is a link that gives you the nitty gritty of the new rule. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or would like to speak with our Director of Mailing who has more than 20 yrs of experience and is more than willing to help talk you through any questions or concerns.

http://pe.usps.com/FRN/Booklets.pdf

Hope you have a great day!

what makes YOU buy from a new rep?

So the question that always arising in my office after I get a new meeting or after I get a new cutsomer is why did they switch? My immediate answer is price, they saw a new value, they had a new need or they are upset with the service they are getting somewhere else. But I wanted to throw it out there for others to comment. Why do you switch vendors?

10 Reasons to Choose Print

Hello! Just wanted to remind you all of why I choose to work in this industry and why you should have a vested interest as well! First off I love that everyday is different and always changing, but more importantly for you below are 10 reasons you should care about printing:

1. Print provides differentiation (make yourself stand out!)
2. Print offers incredible branding (is your's consistent or could it use some work?)
3. Print makes introductions (even when you aren't there; be at 100 places at once!)
4. Print readers are focused (because they aren't staring at their computer going cross eyed.)
5. Print travels (metro, train, airplane you can take it anywhere!)
6. Print sways trend setters (it only takes 1 good piece to get recognized!)
7. Print drives users to other platforms (websites, donation sites, coupon offers, openings, events etc.).
8. Readers are receptive to print (we take time with print, it take more effort to throw it away than click delete so chances are you pay attention longer!)
9. You can pass along print, and it has logenvity (when is the last time you ran into"this site is no longer available", when you were dealing with print?
10. Print is a lead-generation tool (make more people aware and you will find more people who are interested!)

Now I bet these 10 reasons got your gears turning and thinking about how you utilized print! As always if you have any questions don't hestitate to call or e-mail me. I would love to hear from you! Hope you have a great day!

Sarah
sarahk@hbp.com
571-303-2421

Go Green Get Green ($$$)

Hello everyone on this muggy Thursday afternoon! I think I might have a little something to put a spring in your step! Attention all event planners, marketers, conference organizers etc. We are now offering Green Event Signage at only $50 a pop! Yes with a minimum order of 6, 22" x 28" posters you get each poster for only $50 and get this.... money back too! When you let us know to come pick up the signs after your event you will get a credit of $9.50 on each sign and you are being green because we are reusing the Sintra mounting boards! Everyone wins with this one. Let me know if you want more information about the campaign or have any questions. Hope you have a fantastic day!





Thanks!


Sarah


sarahk@hbp.com


571-303-2421