If we had a nickel for every time someone has declared print dead, only to eat their words later… well, we’d have quite a few nickels.
The point is this: print is more valuable and resilient than a lot of people give it credit for. Here are just a few of the reasons why.
Print makes people happy.
No, seriously. You’ve probably subscribed to at least one magazine over the course of your life. Do you remember that little burst of happiness when you check your mailbox and find the most recent issue in there? You just don’t get that from clicking on a digital edition. (You also don’t get to experience that nice new-ink-and-paper smell. What do you mean, you’ve never ...
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It’s never been easier to get in touch with your audience. Gone are the days when you were limited to print ads or even email marketing blasts. Today, savvy brands choose to reach out to customers and prospects via content they’ve created themselves (or paid someone to create for them).
But it’s also never been more confusing to choose the right strategy for your brand. There are so many different kinds of content, and each of them serves a different purpose. Here is a short introduction to some of the most common terms, what they mean, and how they help your brand in different ways.
Thought Leadership
As a general rule, this kind of content comes from the top of your organization ...
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It feels like the world is stuck in perpetual crisis mode these days. You probably didn’t need us to tell you that, but we think you do need some facts to remind you that we still live on a wondrous, fascinating planet.
Fact 1 | There is such a thing as a “moonbow.”
Rainbows are created when sunlight reflects off water droplets in the atmosphere. But did you know that it can happen with moonlight too? “Moonbows” are significantly more rare than rainbows. They only occur in places where the night sky is very dark, and when the moon is either full or close to full. The phenomenon is most often seen near waterfalls. SOURCE
Fact 2 | Times Square’s New ...
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Whether digital or in print, ads are one of the best ways to get your brand in front of consumers. But given the sheer amount of information competing for your targets’ attention every day, how can you stand out?
Here are ways not to do it:
Write a novel.
Ad space is pricey, so it’s tempting to fill that space with everything you want your target audience to know. Resist that temptation. People’s eyes will slide right over an ad that is too heavy on the text. Anything more than two sentences and a couple of bullet points is probably excessive.
Combine messages.
One of the fastest ways to lose someone’s attention is by throwing too many different pieces of information at them, so ...
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Let's be real: things haven't been great for most people lately. This article can’t claim to solve any of life’s big problems, but we do hope it’ll make you feel better for a little while.
Fact 1 | The Post-it note was invented completely by accident.
Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at the company 3M, was researching ways to make stronger, tougher adhesives, when he accidentally discovered one that stuck to surfaces but didn’t bond with them. For years, he struggled to find a use for his invention, until Art Fry, one of his colleagues, realized it would be useful to have a bookmark that would adhere to pages without damaging them. The two worked on their invention together. When they ...
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Your brand is your most valuable asset.
So when you trust somebody to tell your brand story for you, you want to make sure it’s the right kind of person. Someone who can write copy that’s engaging and easy to process and, most importantly, get to the heart of what your brand is about.
In other words, a journalist.
Why a journalist, you say? Seems like a marketer or ad copywriter would be a better choice.
And sure, we get it. Marketers and salespeople know how to craft an appealing message and broadcast it. But so do journalists, and they have a few other skills in their repertoire too.
Here are five reasons why journalists make the best content marketers:
1 | They can distill ...
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Customers have high expectations of brands. To stand out from the competition and attract new prospects, you’ll want to have the highest-quality promotional material, both in print and online.
That’s why you need the help of a professional graphic designer.
Here’s a list of five reasons why you need a trusted
professional to handle your design needs:
1 | Designers know how to find the right balance between words and images.
You want to convey your brand message in your promo
materials, and it’s tempting to fit in as much text as you can. A designer will
help you rein in that impulse and let you know when your websites or brochures
are getting too text-heavy.
2 | You’ll save money.
Seriously. Yes, hiring a designer is ...
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We’re living in uncertain times. It can be hard to decide
how your brand message should be adapted to acknowledge this and meet prospects
where they are, while also giving them hope for the future.
There have been missteps for some brands, of course, but
quite a few have launched well-received campaigns. Here are some things these
brands are doing right (and that you can do too):
1 | Remind customers you’re here for them.
Recent Ford commercials have included messages to let
customers know that “we’re here to help” anyone who is having trouble making
payments on a Ford auto loan. You can adapt that strategy to fit your own brand
by sending the message that you know your customers’ plans are changing, and
you’re here to help them ...
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Let’s be real: 2020 hasn’t been a great year for
the world in general. This article can’t claim to solve any of life’s big
problems, but we do hope it’ll make you feel better for a little while.
Fact 1 | In Switzerland, it’s illegal to own just one guinea pig.
Guinea pigs are social animals and get lonely without other members of their own species. So in 2008, the Swiss legislature approved a law that makes it illegal to own just one of them at a time. What if one of your guinea pigs dies, you ask? In those cases, you can turn to a guinea-pig rental service. Source
https://youtu.be/QewuWf4CJ7U
Fact 2 | A group of hippos is known as a “bloat.”
Animal ...
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States across the country are moving forward with reopening procedures, but many potential visitors to your region are understandably cautious about venturing out. In this unprecedented time, CVBs have had to get creative to support their membership and keep the revenue flowing, all while ensuring the safety of travelers. Here are a few strategies CVBs have used to stay visible and relevant in the COVID age:
Promoting restaurants’ hygiene and social-distancing protocols
To ensure its member restaurants keep their heads above water, Visit Fort Worth created a page with comprehensive information about local establishments that offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery.
Serving as a connector between government and the lodging industry
Some CVBs have linked local officials with accommodations that can be used ...
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