@kendallPress The Blog

The other day I spoke of the key focus on People to People connections and Customers as global keynote trends for success in 2011. Here is a third overall global trend that isn't global at all.

BE LOCAL

As people, we live, work and play in communities. We want our lives and our mobile devices to integrate our worlds seemlessly and quickly. Investment in community will take a center stage in the upcoming year.

Buy Local, Be Local

shows up in actions, not words. Businesses big and small are likely to become more involved on local community issues and opportunities if they want to sustain vibrancy.

The New Year's Transition is upon us. Close out 2010 strongly while you bravely look ahead to 2011. Enjoy the holiday.

Labels: 2011 predictions, buy local

As 2010 runs out of steam, we at Kendall Press are gearing up for a very different type of New Year. Our customers look to us more than ever for guiding them to the most efficient ways to communicate to their clients. Traditionally that has meant printed flyers, printed brochures and newsletters. Some, today, say it will all be eMail, eNews and eBooks.

If you have been following our comments over the year, you'll know that our answer encompasses both PRINT and PIXELS, for a reason. Different target audiences respond to different mediums and different messages.

In 2010, Social Media dramatically led the most exciting area of business communications. But, with all the concern over "Return On Investment" and searching for measure success beyond just "sentiment," business leaders are looking for manageable programs with solid results. The economy still has many on edge.

Here's two very obvious ones that we see in 2011:
1. People wanting to talk to people.
Out- impersonal phone trees and online form fill ins
In - tools - old and new that let individuals connect quickly and directly.

Business is getting very personal and much more collaborative.

2. Customers Rule
Out - marketers pushing product, cookie cutter approaches, preaching
In - listening, helping, providing content of value to the consumer, preferably free but always fast ("in real time") and accurate

This past year has shown tremendous differences in business results between companies that listen and help and those that are overly bound by process and procedure. Not all big companies are bad but all companies that fail to listen and act swiftly stand to lose opportunity; big time; and fast.

The internet, real time web and social media tools like Twitter have proven the power of individuals to ask questions and receive answers in real time.

These are both simple and familiar concepts. Both have been around a long time, but delivering on them in the real time web mode of thinking is what will differentiate the leaders.

Labels: 2011 predictions, print and pixels, real time web

Do you know that these two very visible and very successful INTERNET companies have a not so secret program they'd rather people don't dwell upon?

INK! BLACK and FULL COLOR INK and DIRECT MAIL PIECES.

Yes, paper and ink and messy variable data with stamps on envelopes.

Well, here at Kendall PRess, we are ready to share the incredible and still very timely value of Print and Direct Print campaigns.

Who can forget the full back page color ad Amazon Kindle ran in the Wall Street Journal on Sept 17, 2010? For a paperless product, they sure had a lot of nerve resorting to newsprint. Why did they do it? It scores well in being memorable and as a call to action. They undoubtedly found new customers and new business opportunities. By the way, trees are a sustainable resource. Plant them, use them, plant more of them. Kindles? If they go the way of 8 track tapes and radio tubes, the primary thing they leave behind is landfill.

Have you seen our Google places QR code? We received it like many other companies as a direct mail piece. How does this multibillion dollar company grow their sales? Direct Mail advertising. Why? Because it works. Direct Mail can locate new customers and opportunities in ways that compliment and oftentimes exceed the results of keyword searches.

You may not be as big as Amazon or Google but you should know that direct mail is a great way to deepen customer loyalty and increase front-of-mind awareness. Yes, even in today's Social Media, internet, and on-line frenzy.

Do you know what it takes to “wow” your customers and prospects? Collaborate with us and let us help you find out. We are not trapped in an all print or all pizel matrix. No matter what your need, we can create the look, produce a fine product, and distribute that product to your customers and prospects. We are committed to finding the best way to get your word out. And that's no secret.

Keith

Labels: direct mail, kindle