06/12/09 by christian | Blog | 2 Comments »
HURRY, CONTEST ENDS FRIDAY JULY 17th!
PrintedProof.com is hosting a new contest. Just as the title reads: Most Creative Postcard. The winner will get free postcards from 123PRINT.com* (see details below).
I am looking for the most creative postcards to feature in a new blog post. If you have designed (or HAD designed for you) a great creative postcard… enter it! Your postcard could be chosen to be featured.
I will feature the best cards in a new post. The winner of the Most Creative Postcard Contest will be determined by a vote from my viewers.
How to Enter? Its simple…
Join my Flickr group (its free) and add an image of your postcard. Please be sure to include a description, link, or any info you’d like included if chosen. Also, please feel free to add any other great print designs or print marketing material – to be chosen for future posts.
http://flickr.com/groups/printedproof
Please help spread the word, tweet it, re-tweet it. Email other designers or marketers whom may be interested. This is a great opportunity to get your work out there!
*Winner will receive 250 free regular sized postcards from 123PRINT.com. Mail them out to prospects or just use them as large business card-like handouts.
Big thanks to the super-cool guys and gals over at 123PRINT.com for sponsoring this contest. They are truly a great online printer, I have used them for several business card orders and they rock. Please give them a shot for your next print job!
123Print – High Quality Printing – Fast-Easy and Affordable
05/26/09 by christian | Design, Printing | No Comments »
My printing picks for postcards are OvernightPrints.com and PrintingForLess.com. I have used both online printers for full color postcards and think both are great. Great postcard print quality, prices, and services. See below for links to discount codes.
Below you will find a coupon code for 50% off postcards at OvernightPrints.com. Use OvernightPrints.com for the smaller orders or if you need them fast. OvernightPrints.com also has a great tool to create them right on their website!
Use PrintingForLess.com for larger orders with this coupon for $50 off your order of $100 or more. This will save you a ton on those large quantity orders. Highest quality postcards from PrintingForLess.com!
05/14/09 by christian | Blog, Marketing, Personalized | No Comments »
Have you ever tried using direct marketing to promote yourself, your business, or your product?
Try Direct Mail and I will feature you on PrintedProof.com
I am always looking for great content to feature on this website. Let me help you launch a direct mail campaign and I will feature it on my website as well as social media sites such as Twitter, Digg, Mixx, Facebook, Flickr, Google and more. This is a great opportunity to get added exposure and only pay for the mailing!
Me & Direct Mail
In addition to publishing this blog I also work full time for a nation-wide leader in Direct Marketing. I am a “techie” person, not a sales person. My full time position here puts me in front of the latest technology and business development. I follow the printing and marketing communications industry on a daily basis. I help to make each direct mail campaign a success.
My company knows better than anyone how to market via postcards, self-mailers, personalized letters, newspaper inserts, shared mail products, and much more. Being employed by such a great company puts me in a position to bypass the “sales” force and “directly” into a great product for an unbeatable price.
If you are interested in learning more about using Direct Mail to promote your business please give me a call directly. Like I said, I am not a sales person. I would be happy to connect you with our sales crew if you wish or give you options and pricing myself.
I want to help my company get through this economy as much as you desire to boost your bottom line. Let me help you find out if direct mail can help your business.
Best Wishes,
Christian Collard
Email or give me a call directly at 508-871-1959
03/26/09 by christian | Blog, Marketing | 1 Comment »
I just received a postcard from Konika Minolta in regards to the OnDemand Conference I am attending in April. The card is promoting the bizhub PRO C65hc – not a bad in-house printer/copier. I just would not sell on-demand printing or direct mail using this machine. Check it out…
Now, keep in mind this is a scan converted to RGB to view on the web, so its not at 100% accurate color or quality. Here’s my review of this mailing…
Brilliant Vivid Color?
Where’s the color? As I mentioned you can not take the images above for the true color and quality, however even if you could… where is the color? There is a glimmer of bright lights away from the machine in the background, other than that its gray and so is the printer. Oh, the back has a nice blue strip across the top, however, i see a bit of banding above the text, ew. The black is a rich looking black, just a little difficult to see the disclaimer on the bottom – probably says “Do not scan and criticize this mailing”.
On demand printing?
On demand printing is the ability to produce print quickly and easily, in other words “digitally”. I can tell you this was definitely not printed offset, due to the banding, adherence of the toner, and overall quality. So, if this postcard was printed digitally (it was), why is my name and address applied with an inkjet after printing on the bizhub? That does not seem very efficient.
Rough Landing
After a correct address and great message then next important factor to a printed postcard is the ability to make it through the mail stream. Now, most things get a little rub-off or scratch when being processed by the USPS, but advancements in digital printing have imporved the adherence of ink or toner to paper along with the glossing of cards to assure a great looking result when in the hands of the recipient. Perhaps that big white scratch is actually on the printer rather than the postcard? Oops.
Whats on demand in 2009?
Good question. It’s obviously not the bizhub PRO65hc because the owners of this particular machine have it hidden under the stairs in the basement of the building!
I dont mean to dump on Konica Minolta and the bizhub. I have actually seen this machine and played with it in person, it great for in-house printing – not commercial mailing. I am a printer and have done many postcard campaigns, so I LOVE getting these things in the mail. This made my day.
Here’s Printed Proof that you should put thought into what you are selling, your design, and leave printing to the professionals… not the little “affordable” in-house printers.
