Dancing Christmas Lights, Plantation Florida

How to Handle offline Promotions in an Online World

Here's some advice from Print Runner

When you run an Internet-based business, it's easy to forget that there's a large segment of the population who is either not online (no, seriously!) or – at the very least – not in the habit of regularly visiting the sites you've decided to target for advertising and promotions. If your Internet marketing strategies have stalled and your freelance business is suffering as a result, you could end up feeling like you're at a loss as to how to proceed, completely trapped by the limitations of your online universe. That's why it's so vital to remember that offline promotions can still play a very important role in this online world.

Many freelancers hesitate to market themselves offline for two reasons: First, because they have doubts as to how valuable “real world” advertising can be when they have the entire Internet at their disposal, and second, because they think that creating actual, physical ads will be prohibitively expensive. In actuality, promoting yourself both online and offline is an excellent way to broaden the scope of your business and reach out to untapped segments of the marketplace that could use your services.

As for the cost, commercial printing services are surprisingly affordable, especially if you choose to print items in bulk. Here are a few of the easiest ways to use these materials to your advantage without abandoning your attempts at link building, social networking and content promotion:

• Design effective business cards. Perhaps the single most important piece of print marketing material you can have is the humble business card. Given the enormous popularity of social networking sites, it can be all too easy to overlook good, old-fashioned face-to-face networking – but it's still an ideal way to generate new business. Whenever you make a new acquaintance, whether at an industry event or in a social situation, hand them your card. Even if they don't have any immediate use for it, they may call upon you in a few weeks, months or even years – or they could pass your info along to a friend. Consider full color business card printing or the use of unusual shapes to make your card stand out in a sea of white rectangles with black lettering.
• Flyers are decidedly “retro,” but there's a reason why you still see them wallpapering lampposts and walls in every major city worldwide: They're effective. The trick to making your flyers compelling rather than annoying to viewers is to keep the design as simple as possible without leaving out any essential details. Including the address of your site is an easy way to let interested onlookers know where to go for more info. Always do flyer printing in bulk; the more you put up, the greater your return on investment.
• Consider custom greeting cards. Greeting cards are another unexpected – yet highly effective – way to generate publicity. Send them to clients as  a “thank you” once you've completed a job, mail them out to commemorate holidays or try a mass mailing to encourage new business. People will love the personal touch that a custom card offers.
• Finally, through magnet or sticker printing, you can utilize unusual offline promotional items that work to get your name out there. These items have long-term marketing potential, since they will be used and/or seen by people every single day.

Are Video Resumes Gaining Popularity? Check out this guy – Graeme Anthony

 

Update on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 10:04AM by Bob D Ward

This guy is raising the bar on video presentation for job seekers. He's very creative and well spoken. The Video resume is an unlisted on Youtube, which means it won't show up in searches and can only be viewed by anyone that was sent the link, without or without a Youtube account. Very enlighting set of videos with built-in links to other videos revealing more information about himself in resume format.

The First of 4 Holiday Wanders in Roslindale Village

Soulful Body Fitness Presents Group Cardio Boxing

Roslindale Holiday cards FOR SALE. Sold in packages of 12 for $24.

"Downtown Boston" photo taken from the Moakley Courthouse from my Razr phone

Unfortunately the beautiful morning sun caught me by surprise and all I had was my Motorola Razr phone to capture the color of the "contrasty" light on Boston's financial district. The tallest buildings in the foreground is International Place and the photo was taken on a September morning at 8am. (2010)

Advertise with car magnets from Signazon

Signazon.com is an online custom sign printing company that specializes in high resolution digital printing and offers a variety of great products to choose from. With headquarters based in Dallas, Texas and a new location open in Boston, Massachusetts, Signazon strives to provide excellent customer service, the best quality products, and a quick turnaround time to all their customers. Unlike a local sign shop, Signazon offers the very latest in technology, free design templates, and full color printing for business signs, outdoor signs, window signs, and car signs since 2005.

If you are looking for quality car magnets for your vehicle, Signazon.com is the place to go. Specializing in custom car magnets, you can choose your custom size for a magnet that looks like it’s made just for your vehicle, or choose from any of their standard sizes. Signazon.com car magnets use a 30 mil. magnetic material that is designed specifically for outdoor use and is the thickest made for vehicles. This thicker magnet is designed to be able to hold on tight during city and highway driving. Signazon also rounds the corners of all of their magnets to help prevent gaps and sharp edges that can catch wind and pull off the magnets.

Signazon offers full color printing and free design templates for a variety of industries that can be personalized with your own information, pictures, and business logos, or you can also submit your own complete design. Signazon prints high resolution digital printing at 1440 DPI which offers vibrant, crisp images that will last. All printing is done using solvent-based ink which is designed to eat into the material securing the ink and creating a brighter and longer lasting product. Once the magnet is printed, Signazon is the only company that covers the design with a clear laminate film to further protect the images. This 3.25 mil laminate will protect the graphics from weather, UV damage, scratching, peeling and fading.

If you are looking for any kind of signage or car magnets, definitely take a look at Signazon.com. They offer low prices, easy online ordering, and top quality products. Their standard production time is a quick 1-2 days, and they currently offer free ground shipping on most orders. For product or pricing information visit them online at www.signazon.com, or contact them directly at sales@signazon.com.

Brochure I photographed & designed For SoulfulBody Fitness

Poster I designed for SoulfulBody Fitness

Rozzie Open Studios this weekend ! !