The United States Post Office…We Love to Hate Them, but….

May 4, 2010 - Leave a Response

…they sure do get the job done. The USPS delivers literally billions of pieces of mail and packages each and every year. How’s this for a statistic…the USPS actually successfully delivers 99% of its mail to the addressee on the letter or package.

99% is pretty impressive, and I am a person who really does not like the post office.

When you are thinking about how you want to reach someone…a customer, a prospect, an associate, consider your options.

A recent study by ReturnPath posits that only 19% of permission-based email actually even gets through spam filters and people hitting their delete keys. That is just an average, though; I would imagine that decision-makers actually use their delete key with a bit more alacrity, speed and frequency than everyone else does.

So, at the end of the day, choosing to mail an important correspondence is the conservative, careful and logical choice to make. Email might be “cheaper” in the short run, but not getting your message to its intended recipient will most likely “cost” you more in the long run.

314 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201  www.curryprint.com

You can also … connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter!

Categorized in The USPS...We Love to Hate Them...

Don’t Be A Cardboard Cutout!

April 29, 2010 - Leave a Response

You know what I mean, right? Those life-sized, full color blowups of real people, mounted to foamboard, cut all the way around, and then propped up so they look like a real person?

A few phrases come to mind here… “Light’s on, but no one’s home” “As useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle” or a new favorite “The wheel’s spinning but the hamster’s dead.”

Don’t be that guy!

Bring your brain, your motivation, your desire to do a good job, to every meeting, conversation, activity you do all day long!

Show you are listening, by repeating back, using different words, what has been said to you. Show you understand by actually DOING what is asked of you. Show you are engaged by participating in the discussion, bringing new ideas and concepts to the table.

Don’t just show up and take up space, using oxygen better allotted to those contributing members of society! Don’t just sit there and nod your head, hoping against hope that no one will notice you, pay attention to you, or, heaven forbid, ask you a meaningful question.

Don’t just “coast” through life, your family, your job, pretending that it is a dress-rehearsal.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE, YOU SHOULD LIVE IT ACTIVELY AND ON PURPOSE!

Be present in all you do. Show you care. Prove you want to do a good job. Excel at all that you work on. Make a supreme effort for all your attempts.

At least produce a pulse!

Office: 410.685.2679

paula@curryprint.com

314 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201

You can also … connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter!

Categorized in Don't Be a Cardboard Cutout!

Trade Show Selling Strategies

April 28, 2010 - Leave a Response

After attending the On Demand trade show in Philadelphia last week, I would like to share some smart exhibitor selling strategies.

So, you’re an exhibitor, you’ve spent a lot of money on the trade show space, promotional items, booth, etc…how do you get attendees’ attention and turn them into serious prospects?

A good start is to have a booth that stands out, with interesting give-a-ways to ensure you will attract visitors. Lindenmeyr Munroe Paper Company was one of the exhibitors with a visually appealing booth. In addition, they were encouraging visitors to compete in a game of Wii bowling to enter to win a logo’d Lindenmeyr IPod. Not only were they able to gather business cards from the players for follow-up after the show, they provided a fun atmosphere to get to know potential prospects, qualify and connect.

Your booth and your promotional items are working and people are stopping by…for heaven’s sake, qualify by ASKING QUESTIONS! Don’t make the mistake of rambling on about your products, services, newest thingamabob you are selling. BEFORE discussing your products or services, qualify by asking questions like, “What are your needs?”

One of the exhibitors (who will remain anonymous), was launching a new digital press and the trade show personnel couldn’t answer a simple question about page size, leaving a not-so-good impression. Avoid this by taking time to work with your trade show staff so they are prepared to answer every conceivable question attendees might ask and KNOW THE PRODUCTS!

Make sure to have the fundamental sales skills to ask the right questions, provide the right information, and be ready to follow up after the show.

When you get back to the office, it is easy to be overwhelmed with emails, phone calls, catching up. But don’t miss out, FOLLOW UP and you will turn those qualified sales leads from the show into solid prospects!

Office: 410.685.2679   314 North Charles Street, Baltimore  Maryland 21201

Categorized in Trade Show Selling Strategies

Nobody’s Fault But Mine

April 14, 2010 - One Response

How are you as an apologizer? Does it stick in your craw? Make you annoyed because you felt justified in whatever action you took?

Or do you apologize too easily? Want to keep the peace and just say you’re sorry to get it over with?

Well, neither situation is ideal.

In order for an apology to be meaningful, it must be, by definition, “full of meaning.” You must mean what you say, and how you say it.

Interestingly, apologies can have very little to do with “fault.” In fact, “fault” is a concept that always seems rather unpleasant. In my mind, “fault” is about finger-pointing. The proper terminology might actually be “responsibility.” One might be justified in feeling like a situation was not his or her fault; however, one may still take responsibility for the outcome.

That’s when a meaningful apology comes into play.

Try looking at the entire picture from start to finish, not only from your viewpoint, but from the other party’s vantage point as well. Think about the implications of action vs. inaction, apology vs. righteous indignation. Take some time to formulate your thoughts.

And then act on them. Hopefully your meaningful and heartfelt apology will be enough to set things right. If not, you can still console yourself that you offered what was a thoughtful and sincere response. If it is not enough now, perhaps it will be in time.

Categorized in Nobody's Fault but Mine

But Do You REALLY Want To Take It Into The Bathroom?

April 6, 2010 - Leave a Response

Yes, we all LOVE our computers! Isn’t it great to have oceans of information at our fingertips? I love my computer as much as the next person; however, I don’t want to do all of my reading on my computer screen.

First, it hurts my eyes after a while. It’s hard to curl up with my computer for a good read. It’s not always on when I’m ready to read. I don’t necessarily want to read my computer screen when I am on a long flight, train or car ride.

And don’t even get me started about the bathroom!

Printed material can be used very effectively in conjunction with “digital” media, such as e-newsletters. In fact, many studies show that people much prefer to read certain types of material NOT on the computer screen, but in their own hands.

Think about your own handling of emailed material. How quick we are to press that DELETE key! I know I am inundated with emails every hour of every working day, and I can only process so much. If an email is not recognized by me as “mission critical,” BOOM, there it goes down the proverbial e-toilet!

You don’t have to take my word for it, though. Here are some links showing the benefits of printed material over digital messages:

http://www.thenewsletterexperts.com/PrintNewsletterAdvantages.html

http://www.printgrowstrees.com/paper-facts2.html

http://printinthemix.com/fastfacts/show/319

So, don’t necessarily ditch that email marketing campaign just yet. Merely keep in mind that print and digital can both play nicely together in the sandbox!


Categorized in But Do You Really Want to Take it into the Bathroom?

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