Does Your Business Card Match Your Business?

Maybe It's Time For a Change

We've been promised a paperless office for quite sometime now, yet paper keeps piling up. No doubt we all use less paper since a large percentage of daily communication is done electronically, like email for correspondence with attached PDFs to show pictures and share reports. However in many offices and plants, paper trails have been hard to abandon. And even when ink on paper has been minimized, some items remain indispensable.

That brings us to your business card, still a very valuable way to promote yourself. An easy to read attractive card can turn a chance meeting into your next opportunity. So more than ever we need to produce cards that are memorable, plus communicate the basics - company, name and title, phone, email. Lots of business is still done face to face and without an up-to-date business card, it's tough to get to that next step of turning prospects into clients. It gives the people you've met an easy way to remember your name and the name of your business -- plus remind them of how you can add value to what they do. 

But let's make sure your card is up-to-date - no old office or cell numbers, eliminate the fax number if no longer useful, include your website - all easy fixes. Add a social media address, like your Facebook page or Twitter handle. Perhaps change to a full color card, maybe with a photograph -- much more affordable these days, and a fresh design that you are proud to hand out will get more attention.

Now about your letterhead....

Crown Press Has Your Back

There is no worse feeling the day before a big trade show than realizing all you have to give your prospects is a business card, and maybe you’ve even run out of those! So keep Crown Press in mind when you need your printed or promotional items in just one or two days.

One week or more can be typical to obtain business cards, but in some cases waiting a week is just not an option! By utilizing high-speed digital printers, we are able to produce a variety of items from sell sheets and business cards to booklets and flyers at the drop of a hat. Crown Press is able to have items ready for your 9am meeting the very next day.

And that kind of in-demand service is not limited to just our paper products – promotional items are available quickly as well. We have created relationships with local manufacturers who are able to provide our clients with Free Local 24 Hour Turnaround for a wide variety of promotional items such as pens, flying disks, key chains, bottle openers, flashlights, cups or water bottles, and much more. So whether you are hosting a charity event, attending a trade show, or recruiting new talent, Crown Press can provide you with the perfect leave-behind at a moment’s notice.

So next time you run out of time, give us a call, we’ve got your back!

3 Ways to Avoid Wasting Time Reading Lists

Every writer quantifying a subject lately has put their research 

in a list. Here are 3 ways to spend 

less time on lists, 

and more time on your work.

Lists - they come in all lengths and subjects, from places you should go to writers you should read. Even though our title tells you reading lists is a waste of your time, you still clicked on this one. Sorry to disappoint, but no list here. Are you trying to avoid a not so fun task? Trying to look busy while your boss lingers close by your cube? Our tech people are all wound up on how much bandwidth is wasted on junk mail. How many production hours are wasted reading lists?

Sure some lists are important - who doesn't need to know the "5 Best Places to Get Pizza in Kansas City"? For one, you. You're in Phoenix or Seattle, you've never been to KC, probably will never go. How about "10 Ways To Make Apartment Living More Comfortable"? Wait - you live in a house! 

There's plenty to do that doesn't get you any closer to the bottom of that daily calendar. Clicking on lists hoping for a distraction is just one time waster. Control that urge so that you can get the important stuff done now, and worry just a bit less about "6 Zoo Animals You Don't See West of the Mississippi". Otherwise, click back here next week and you can read "7 Ways To Find A New Job" - that one may come in handy.

Is your personality affecting your productivity?

Some new insight on the questions of – WHO'S MORE PRODUCTIVE, INTROVERTS OR EXTROVERTS?

To answer this question we must first understand exactly what these two words are fundamentally describing. Often when people are asked to define these words they will offer a simply explanation such as:

            - Extroversion is how outgoing                     you are.

            - Introversion is how shy you are.

However what these two terms in fact describe is the source from which you derive your energy, and as we all know people who have more energy are usually more productive.

-       Introverts are more likely to gain energy by spending time away from others. Typically they will lose energy from being around people, especially large crowds.

-       Extroverts gain energy from social interactions. Most often they find that they feed off of the energy of others, and are more likely to loose energy when they are by themselves.

In Susan Cain’s book Quiet, she explains that people with more introverted behavior tended to be more sensitive to stimuli than people without these traits. When tested, it was shown that introverts salivate more than extroverts if you squeeze lemon on their tongues. Therefore introverts can be easily overwhelmed by social situations, which can decrease productivity.

So what can you do to help yourself better manage your energy levels and ultimately maximize your productivity?

If you are feeling more introverted, you can:

-       Take a Minute: Try to schedule some down time between meetings in order to recharge before your next social interaction.

-       Dive Deep: Craft your opportunities in such a way that you are able to take the time to dive into complex problems and come ups with clear solutions.

-       Identify: As was outlined in To Sell is Human by Dan Pink, introverts are naturally skilled at attuning to other people in a one-on-one environment, which shows that introverts can have high levels of social intelligence. 

If you are feeling more extroverted, you can:

-       Bring On the Chaos: People who are more extroverted crave high levels of stimulation, so let them have it. Even if this means their schedules will be packed.

-       Positive Feedback: More than being social, extroverts love being validated socially. So go out of your way to compliment these individuals in ways that may embarrass an introvert.

-       Get Out There: The more experiences you’ve had, the more ideas you will have to draw from and the more creative you will be.

To read the full article click here

Clean Up Your Desk ... or Not

Yet more money thrown at an age old question as SCIENCE EXPLAINS WHAT THE STATE OF YOUR DESK SAYS ABOUT YOU  (click the link at the end of this blog for the full story at Fast Company).

Big surprise, here's what they found: If your desk is clean and organized you are more likely to be a person that makes good choices like donating to charity. If your desk is more on the cluttered side, you're creative and more likely to think outside the box.

Probably didn't need lab coats, clip boards and a control group to figure out that Einsteinian theory, but they do make one interesting point: "Preliminary research has found that people are more likely to donate money to an organization when its website features a clean, user-friendly design."

So the bottom line is the bottom line. Clean design is inviting, interesting, and functional - you can expect better results and more revenue when properly utilizing design to make your website - and for that matter, your printed communications - more effective. Limit your font choices, use vibrant colors, choose images carefully, and allow enough white space to be interesting without being cluttered. 

We would be glad to help you in that direction. If you have existing collateral that needs a makeover, or have an idea for a new project that needs a new look, call us for information on making your materials more effective.

And when you're done cleaning or cluttering your desk, you can read the whole (short) story about what your desk says about you by clicking here.

Print Your Email Without the Guilt

Over the years the Print and Paper industry has made tremendous efforts to become one of the most sustainable industries that exists in the world today. Through these efforts we have contributed to the responsible management and sustainable use of our natural resources. Here are just a few reasons why you shouldn't feel so bad when printing that email:



1) Paper is Good for Forests

                   An important point that is often overlooked is the that print and paper producers are extremely dependent on the sustainable management of our forests in order to ensure a reliable supply of wood fiber. Also by creating a market for these sustainable grown materials the printing industry helps to encourage landowners to continue managing their forestland instead of selling it for development.

                   In the United States, we grow more trees than we harvest. The amount of U.S. forestland has remained essentially the same for the last 100 years at about 750 million acres, even though the U.S. population tripled during the same period. 

          - U.S. Forest Service

2) Paper Promotes Renewable Energy

                   Although the process of papermaking can be very energy intensive what many people are unaware of is that the majority of that energy comes directly from renewable sources. According to the U.S. Department of Energy nearly two-thirds of the energy used by U.S. pulp and paper mills is created on site using renewable, carbon-neutral biomass.

                   The U.S. forest products industry far exceeds all other industries in the use of renewable biomass energy and is a leader in co-generating electricity. In 2005, the forest products industry produced more than four-fifths of the total biomass energy generated by all U.S. industrial sectors.



           - Agenda 20/20 Technology Alliance, U.S. Department of Energy, et.al


3) Paper is The Most Recycled Item in the World

                   No only is paper made from a continually renewable resource it has now become the most recycled product on the planet. Since the 1990s the recovery rate for used paper has significantly increased. Also there have been tremendous advances in technology that have increased the efficiency of the recycling processes themselves. So when you add up all the facts about paper, how it encourages sustainable forestry practices, uses renewable, carbon-neutral biofuels, and the advances in technology that have made the whole process more efficient, so it is easy to see how paper has become one of the most sustainable products in the world.

                   In 2011, nearly 53 million tons or 66.8 percent of the paper used in the United States was recovered for recycling, up from 33.5 percent in 1990. That’s about 338 pounds for every adult and child in the country. 



            - American Forest and Paper Association

                   Each percentage point of paper recovery represents roughly 800,000 tons of fiber, enough to fill more than 7,500 railroad cars.

            - Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries

                   In the United States, more paper products are recovered for recycling than any other material, including plastics (8.2%), glass (27.1%) and metals (35.1%).

            - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

                   Because forest products [including paper] can require little or no fossil fuels for production and store carbon throughout their useful life, they can have inherent climate change advantages over all other materials with which they compete, provided they are produced in a sustainable manner.

            - World Resources Institute

4) Recycling Can’t Do it All

                   We all know that when we recycle used paper into new products it is good for both the environment and our economy, but there’s a catch. The wood fibers in these paper produces can only be recycled up to five times before they get too weak to use. This is why we need to continue harvesting fresh fibers from sustainably managed forests too. Also this continual use of these trees discourages landowners to sell their property to less environmentally conscious industries.

                   Where profitable, timber management and the revenues it generates can serve as a hedge against the conversion of forest land to other uses such as real estate development, although the extent to which it can actually do so in the face of rapid increases in land values close to urban areas will vary.

            - U.S. Forest Service 


                   The US mailing industry provides 8.7 million jobs and $1.1 trillion in sales revenue. The production, distribution and handling of mail (including paper and printing) accounts for over 2 million jobs and over $260 million in sales revenue.



            - Direct Communications Group (The Mailing Industry Job Study) 

Want to Know What Graphic Design Can Do For Your Business

As the world has progressed into an ever more digital age, the importance of graphic design is more essential than ever. In many cases it has become the foundation on which all marketing strategies are built. By utilizing your designs effectively we are able to:

            • Enhance Your Credibility: Great Designs create an atmosphere of trust around your business, and this subtle improvement can greatly increase the confidence your clients have when referring you business.

             • Elevate Your Appearance: Many people will judge the quality of a company on the look of their website alone. Make sure you are providing an aesthetically pleasing design that will ensure your company’s image will make a lasting positive impression on new clients.

             • Improve Customer Loyalty: Brand loyalty is a powerful force in the market place, and over time people form emotional connections with the brands they use. In order to ensure that these loyal bonds are maintained, it is important for companies to present themselves with an image of trust and security. Visually appealing designs play a huge role in creating this unconscious bias towards any business.

            • Increase Sales: Just as companies may hire the better-dressed applicant, customers tend to buy from the better looking company. This simple improvement is an easy way to give your business a leg up on your competition.

The design team at Crown Press develops unique designs that give our clients the professional look needed to grow their businesses. Over the years we have accumulated the knowledge and experience necessary to help you analyze your website or other marketing materials and suggest improvements that will increase their overall effectiveness in the marketplace.

Call today to speak with one of our team members and set up a free consultation.