Marketing N'at

  Sir Speedy Print Signs and Marketing of Pittsburgh provides a complete marketing solution for your company. From direct mail pieces to marketing services and promotional products, all the way to the traditional printing processes. Our main goal is to help your business grow! Here at Sir Speedy Print Signs and Marketing, we get your job done - on time, correctly and at the right price!Speed to Print. Speed to Signs. Speed to Marketing. We've Got You.

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National Restaurant Chain Benefits from Full-Service Printing and Fulfillment

Challenge: The vice president of marketing of a large national restaurant chain was seeking an easier, less costly and more environmentally friendly way to print, store and distribute customized menus, table tents and check stuffers for the restaurant’s numerous locations across the country. Many items varied by region and location, but to keep costs in control the company was printing the items offset in large quantities. When they wanted to make changes they had to wait for enough items to gang together to justify a print run. Also, they often ended up with a large amount of wasted materials when a new product roll out occurred. Their marketing department personnel spent nearly two weeks manually counting out and preparing the materials to be shipped to each location, and requests for additional items took nearly two hours a day to fulfill.

Solution: We helped this company by taking over all of the printing, warehousing, kitting and fulfillment. An online storefront was created that allowed each location to order their own personalized materials as needed, that we printed and fulfilled, rather than the restaurant’s own corporate office personnel. The printing of all items was done digitally, on demand, which meant a huge decrease in obsolete materials that ended up being thrown out. To help meet the client’s environmental goal, the menus were printed on FSC - certified paper.

Results: With the online storefront in place and all printing, warehousing, kitting and fulfillment now handled solely by us, this company has been able to concentrate on growing their brand. Since implementation of the online ordering and fulfillment system, they have added more locations. They are very happy with the reporting capabilities we are able to provide which allows them to track orders and inventory in real - time and control costs.

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TURFMaster, Inc. can always rely on the outstanding services provided by Sir Speedy. Great, professional, timely services; a true 5 star company!

TURFMaster, Inc.

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Maximizing Efficiencies with Online Ordering

Our Opinion: Soon you will see Online Storefronts everywhere. Did you know that Sir Speedy Pittsburgh was one of the first printing companies to offer Online Storefronts in the country? We have been building and maintaining these storefronts for our clients for over 15 years and have become experts in the technology and designs. Our goal is to help our customers by saving them time and money while enhancing the customer experience. Did you know that for every marketing dollar that is sourced to an outside vendor that $6 - $14 is spent internally to make that purchase. Online storefronts streamline those purchases, ensuring company branding, eliminating the need for employees to hoard materials and inaccuracies, and saves everyone time in ordering and delivery of needed items, with the ability to track your purchases. The case study below is just one way a typical client found benefits in using an online storefront. If you are thinking about how and online storefront can benefit your company, call Sir Speedy - we are the experts.

Challenge: A manufacturing company was looking to save time and money in the warehouse by finding a business partner to take over their pick/pack and fulfillment. The company’s marketing coordinator was responsible for receiving orders via email, executing pick and pack from a product list of over 100 items, and arranging shipping to nearly 1,000 sales reps and distributors nationally. No automation was in place to track real-time inventory and cost center assignment. It was estimated that the coordinator spent 10 to 15 hours per week managing this process. It was also uncovered that the company had almost two dozen pallets of material that occupied valuable real estate inside their facility. The company approached us for help to consolidate their entire fulfillment program.

Solution: In addition to developing an online storefront where they could order all their sample products, printed materials and promotional items, we implemented a fulfillment system to relieve the marketing coordinator of this arduous task. The online ordering and fulfillment process allows the company and sales reps to order materials directly, manage inventory online, keep track of back orders, receive notification of low inventory levels and manage cost centers in real time. We also negotiated the transfer of all items managed on the site to our warehouse where we inventory, pick/pack and ship all items.

Results: The senior marketing manager is thrilled with the results. In six months, we have helped them decrease the amount of time spent on inventory management and fulfillment by 90 percent. In addition, this solution has also freed up over 400 square feet of valuable production floor space. Most importantly, the marketing coordinator can now concentrate on those responsibilities that are most beneficial to the company.

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Sir Speedy Print Signs and Marketing does it all! From promotional products to fulfillment services, all the way to graphic design services. We’ve Got You.

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Here we go again! More wow in augmenting our reality

Tupak Shakur has been long gone - since 1994.  But if you haven't seen the article on how he was brought back to life to perform LIVE, with Snoop Dog at Coachella in April 2012, you need to take a minute to watch.  Click on the photo below and you will see Tupak perform and then be joined by and interact with Snoop Dog.

This sounds so futuristic, but marketing strategies are changing at a lightening pace and our ability to manipulate technology is one of the keys.  Every day I have clients coming up with ways to bring these futuristic ideas to their own campaigns and asking for help in implementing them.  It has turned corporate marketing on its head and has been fun to work on new ideas that integrate print, video, web, and other medias.  

You can see for yourself how new technology can spawn new ideas and learn more about how they did it in the following article.  Next up - a Marilyn Monroe concert tour - really! 

How They Did it

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Augmented Reality is Getting Even Cooler

When Augmented Reality first made a big splash on the cover of the December 2009 issue of Esquire Magazine, my first thought was "This is so cool!" My next thought was "No one is going to be able to afford it". And for a while, that was true. But now AR is finding it's niche as a marketing option that both large and small to mid-sized business can use without breaking the budget.

Simple Augmented Reality 

Here is a really simple example of AR in action. To see what I mean, you need to download the Aurasma app, which is available for both the iPhone and the Android, and aim it the image below for a special effect.

Something like this can make a marketing piece interesting and attention getting. But Augmented Reality has gone beyond this and is a great way to stretch the real estate you have available on a direct mail piece, billboard, or signage.

Using AR for higher marketing

Below is a great example of how Simpson College made a simple banner come alive. Judge for yourself the effect it has on each passerby. There is no underestimating the wow factor. Additionally, there is a call to action at the end of the video and with a simple touch of the finger, the viewer is taken to the Simpson website where they can get more information about the college.

This last example is really a fabulous way to use AR. It engages the user in what they are doing at that moment, which is an accomplishment with all of today's distractions.

Augmented Reality - the past and the future

Using an AR app called Layar, this video shows a different way to learn. Layar can be used to make entire publications come to life.

There's a lot of potential here - I see this application being used in museums so patrons can learn more about each exhibit, on travel tours to learn more about the countryside, and even in stores where window shoppers can check out an item in detail, maybe see it in use or being worn before they decide if they want to purchase it.

Marketing and More

Augmented Reality is a market space in its infancy. It is limitless in its uses and still has a lot of wow factor. Calls to action can be maximized and videos can easily be created with a cell phone. AR companies are getting more creative, user-friendly and affordable.  So now is the time to consider using AR in conjunction with your next invitation, direct mail piece or cross channel marketing campaign. It's easier than you think!

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An Easy Way to Kick Start Your Social Media Marketing

Many companies know they should have a social media marketing plan in place, but Social Media is one of those things they "can do themselves" and don't see the need to pay for. As a result, they still have no social media and they are missing out on viral marketing, which is  particularly valuable for service businesses.

Paying to have someone plan and execute your social media marketing may be a hard pill to swallow - but think about it - even though we may be able to cook a hamburger for ourselves, we still are willing to pay for one that someone else cooks, prepares and packages for us and the success of McDonald's, Wendy's and many other restaurants are proof of that. It's the convenience of getting the job done that makes it worth while and the results are worth the cost. Similarly, glowing internet reviews can significantly increase business and get your business to rise to the surface when someone is conduction a web search for what you have to offer. It's free advertising.

So, here is an easy way to get your social media program going with little effort. I came across this article in Digital Nirvana and thought it was a great idea for all service businesses such as doctors, dentists, restaurant and the like. Here's the pertinent portion of the article:

"I was sitting in the doctor’s office with one of our daughters, and there on the back of the exam room door was a poster with three QR Codes, each taking me to a different social media site (Google+, Yelp, Yahoo!) where I was encouraged to write a review of the practice.

What a great idea, I thought. The office benefits from positive online reviews, and I benefit from having something to do while I sit and wait for the doctor to arrive. Win, win! Could I write those reviews at home? Sure, but chances are, I won’t. But if I’m sitting there waiting, chances are, I just might (I did)."

I think this is fantastic because it is easy for your clients and easy for you. As I mentioned above, it is really all about convenience.

If you need help getting a social media program off the ground, or QR code signs for all of the doors in your business, give us a call and we can get you started.

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The Best New FREE Thing I've Seen in Years!

Sometimes something new comes along that is so fantastic I just have to tell everyone about it.

That's the case with We Speke, a new language learning program developed by Pittsburgh entrepreneur, Michael Elchik. Michael's global commerce background, combined with his collaboration with some folks at Carnegie Mellon University, has resulted in an easy to use interface that can help you learn a new language in the simplest way possible, by talking about what you know with someone who is interested in hearing it.

Let’s face it, in today's worldwide economy being fluent in languages other than English is going to be a big differentiator in the job market as well as in personal life. Now with We Speke, you can easily learn a multitude of languages, on your time, talking about topics that appeal to you. The program has caught on in France and a Spanish option is being implemented now, with many other languages also in the works

Elchik got the idea on a trip to Switzerland with his family.

"My kids could speak a little German, but still managed to communicate with Swiss kids and other international tourists because they wanted to learn about what they had in common, like did they listen to the same bands on their iPods and what sports did they play - soccer, football? I saw how quickly they were picking up expressions and words because they were asking questions and talking about what they knew and what was popular. The international kids were just as curious about life in the US. The two way interaction accelerated the learning curve immensely."

We Speke is social media with a purpose. But it is much more than making friends or business connections. Sign up is simple and I love the dashboard interface because it easily walks you through the process and cleverly uses the universally known and loved Harry Potter gang as a guide. There is also an online tutorial to help you get started.

First, you set up a profile just as you would on any other social media site. Then list your hobbies, a bit about yourself and your level of competency with the language you want to study. Once your profile is complete you can see who else is online and match up with someone who shares your interests, is at your same learning level and wants to speak your native language. You learn quickly because you talk about topics that are relevant to both of you and the dashboard translator helps move the conversations along.

The potential for We Speke is unlimited because it is not just for kids. Companies that are expanding into other countries and need to quickly school thirty employees on the language can now have them immediately start interacting with another person, discussing the weather, politics, business, things to do and see in each other's countries, or a myriad of other topics. They can learn quickly and efficiently, with more in-depth tutored sessions available if needed. Middle schools and high schools can offer students real world learning experiences - it's the modern day pen pal. Students traveling abroad can quickly learn some basic questions that will get them through common situations such as how to make a purchase or get directions.

We Speke is the new way to learn a language and my bet is that it is going to catch like wildfire. No more watching tapes or trying to stay awake with an online course. Oh, and by the way, did I mention? We Speke is free - a rare bargain in today's world! Now that really takes us out of the “stone” age.

Watch this quick video to learn more http://vimeo.com/wespeke/whatiswespeke.

Or set up your profile and start chatting at www.wespeke.com

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The Joe Show

Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing offers an array of marketing products and marketing services.  Branded promotional items continue to provide a good way for companies to leave a message with customers long after they've interacted with them.  Some are tried and true - how many magnets do you have on your refrigerator from realtors, plumbers and other businesses?  The great thing about advertising specialty products is that they work for every kind of business.

As distributors, we are members of the Advertising Specialty Institute, an organization that connects the myriad of manufacturers with the distributor.  Because there are thousands and thousands of manufacturers, ASI provides an invaluable service.

 Many tools are available for us to become familiar with and research new products and ways to use them.  The one I like best is the The Joe Show, by Joe Haley.  Joe has a way of quickly describing products, showing them, and then listing unique ways to use them.  

I am always amazed at the new ideas manufacturers come up with, such as the cone cup Joe talks about here.  Just when you think they’ve thought of everything there is something new, or a new ways to use familiar products.  For example, I recently saw a new twist for bandana, maps printed on them - perfect for college campus tours or large parks.  They are lightweight to carry and easy to stow.  Who ever thought a carabineer, those d shaped rings with a spring catch, would find a new life as key chains?  They aren't just for climbers anymore.  And now you see them everywhere,.

Therefore, in order to bring you the latest - here's Joe Haley with some new ideas for your business.  Since you won't be able to purchase any items directly (these products generally are only sold through distributors), note the ASI number and the Sir Speedy Staff will locate it for you, create your artwork and with your proof approval get an order started.  Or just tell us what you liked and we can take it from there!

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Large Format, Large Impact

Visitors arriving by train at Stratford Station, the main public transport hub for the Olympics and Paralympics, were greeted by a wrap of the entire station, visible during the hours of darkness as well as daylight.

Digital printing has brought an explosion to the large format world. Even ten years ago, expressing design, messages and marketing on anything larger than 23 inches wide was an expensive and long process. But now large ideas can be developed and executed in the same day. The change in equipment has also brought down the price, making it more feasable to create large signs, posters and banners for single events or projects.

As a result, we are seeing more innovation and great ideas every day. For goodness sake, who thought you would be able to wrap a building? Gone are the days of the Mail Pouch barn - a big project that took a long time to complete and was NEVER removed. The building practically had to fall down before the advertisement was gone, let alone change it for a new ad on a regular basis. Generally it had to be right the first time - mistakes were tough to fix.

But enter the new large format machines by HP, Epson and a slew of other manufacturers. Now large and grand digital output is more affordable and available to everyone. The substrates are specialized for special uses, and there are a lot of them, fabrics, vinyl, see through window material, and plastics made especially for backlit signs. The uses are endless and every day new ideas are being implemented everywhere.

What a great way to show how renovations can bring new life to an old building

or advertise using all of your outer spaces, including the windows

and the interior walls

Then there are clever elevator wraps such as this one

So, with all these ideas, what are you going to do to make a big impact? No need to hold back, because it can be done and in no time at all!

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Getting Serious With Your Resume

My son, a recent Allegheny College graduate, is in full job search mode, looking for a position in the film production industry. His search reminded me of a great way to use QR codes that my daughter came up with several years ago - on your resume. It is another form of an integrated marketing campaign and the product is you!

A QR Code on your resume can take a potential employer to a You Tube site, a blog or any URL where you can give them more information about you in a unique and intriguing way. It can portray you as an innovator and someone who is creative.

Check out this example that was highlighted by Interlink One, a wholesaler that produces Integrated Media tools and programs. While Kelly has since been hired and put her resume marketing effort on hold, you get the idea from the link: http://qreateandtrack.com/2010/12/28/using-qr-codes-on-resumes/

It is a great way to use all the social media tools at hand to organize your experience and education, let potential employers see and hear you, and an opportunity for you to give more detail than you are able to on a resume. It is almost a one way interview if you play it correctly.

QR codes are only one facet of integrated marketing. Let Sir Speedy help you promote your next big project in a way that gets results! Call us at 412-787-9898.

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Worth Repeating

In early May I wrote about QR Codes and what the differences are between managed and non-managed codes. I want to repeat the article again, but give you two additional points to consider when utilizing QR Codes.

1. If you are conducting a PURL campaign include a personalized QR Code (not the same as customized). This is ideal so that the person scanning the code gets the same benefits as someone utilizing the personal URL, ie, pre-filled information and you will receive an increased likelihood of call to action completion.

2. Mobile optimized websites are stongly recommended for utilizing QR Codes. With a QR code you are asking your client or prospect to scan and take action. Make the site easy to see and navigate so you don't lose them too soon.

Using QR Codes? 4 Essential Rules to Keep in Mind

By now most people have either used or seen a QR code - you know, those funny looking black and white squares that you scan with your smart phone. They are a great marketing tool because they can direct customers and prospects to URLs and videos. You can easily introduce and promote new products. The videos are a great way to develop advertising, tutorials or testimonials and can be parked for free on your own You Tube channel.

Many people don’t realize that there is a BIG difference and many benefits to using managed QR codes. Here are four things to keep in mind:

Free codes generated on the internet often expire. A managed code works well because it lasts as long as your supply of printed items with the code on it does.

Managed codes are easier for smart phones to read. A long url can result in a very dense code unless you are using a managed code. It will shorten the url and thus make the code easier to scan.

Tracking your hits is a great way to determine if your marketing efforts are working. A managed code will tell you how many hits, from what type of device and where in the US your scans are originating.

Change direction mid-stream. With a managed QR code you can redirect where that code points to. If you would like your audience to see a new message but the code is in a permanent place, such as a sign, or on a lot of printed products, a managed code that changes regularly keeps your message fresh without having to re-do all of your marketing materials.

One last benefit of a managed QR Code is that it can be customized to reflect your company logo or colors and it doesn’t have to be square. Design can bring life to a code and make it stand out so that you generate as many hits as possible.

If you are interested in learning more, contact me at [email protected] or 412-787-9898.

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4 Blogging Tips to Double Your Site Traffic

This article is a reprint from Social Media Examiner, but is right on target so I thought I would share it. Call Sir Speedy if you want more information or need help with your blogging. Business Blogging Case Study: Learn how Block Imaging's focus on content marketing through their blog increased sales and traffic and more. http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/business-blogging-case-study/#more-24220

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This is TRULY incredible!  Augmented Reality is marketing from the future, or so it would seem.  This technology is developing very quickly, and combined with printing, can generate qualified leads for your products.  Call us if you would like to find out more about Augmented Reality and other cutting edge marketing techniques.

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Augmented Reality - It's a really cool marketing tool.  Read more about it here.  Call Sir Speedy if you are interested in learning more.

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QR Codes can be customized. Call Sir Speedy at 412-787-9898 to get your code!

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Get Going for Q2 - Get Mobile - NOW!

How’s your first quarter going to end up?  Believe it or not, we are nearing the end of Q1 for 2012.  It seems it was just a minute ago that we had a blizzard outside and were shopping for Christmas presents, and this weekend we are turning our clocks ahead an hour for daylight savings time. 

January, February and the first part of March has been good according to economists.  The robust growth we are having in Pittsburgh, frankly, is refreshing after the financial nightmares of 2009 and 2010 that most all of us experienced.

Two years later, things seem to be moving again.  In particular, a new trend has emerged and if you aren’t ready to embrace it, you’d better get ready, or you will be missing out on many opportunities.  I am talking about the smartphone and how it has changed the way people are shopping, paying bills and conducting business.  We have heard a lot about it because what was once thought of as a young person’s toy is now the way many of us are doing business.  Non smart phones are being discontinued and it is just a matter of time before we all are walking around with a mini computer in our hands.  Sounds like old stuff, but it’s important and you need to jump in now if you haven’t already.

What does this mean for you?  It means if your website is not optimized for mobile viewing, you are going to be left behind.  People on the go want to find, call or buy from their phones and we need to make it easy for them to do that.  Scrolling and clicking links on a tiny screen is enough to discourage anyone, particularly the baby boomer reading glasses set of which I am a member, and customers will move on to a site where they can easily find what they are looking for. 

A mobile optimized website is simple: Products, Contact Us - Find Us, Get a Price. These are the basic questions someone has when looking up a business from their smartphone.  And if you are a restaurant, a menu is nice too.  Who wouldn’t want the pizza delivery person to show up at their door just as they pull into the driveway from work?

Fortunately, a mobile-optimized web site is a relatively inexpensive expenditure.  For about $400 your website can be maximized for viewing on an iPhone or Android or any other smartphone.  You can get by with a small monthly hosting fee and manage the content yourself.  Are you really behind and don’t even have a website?  No problem, customers can go directly to the mobile site. 

The statistics are staggering – according to Infographics, 80% of humans own a mobile phone and out of the 5 billion mobile phones in the world, 1.08 billion are smartphones.  9 out of 10 smartphone owners use their phone daily for texting, internet browsing, playing games and making purchases.  And the United States is NOT the only country in love with their phones.  In fact, we are behind China and Canada and on par with Hong Kong, Sweden and Spain.

If mobilizing your website isn’t on your agenda for 2012, it should be.  It’s an easy, fast fix for jumping into the emerging on-the-go e-commerce market.  And if you are a B2B business, you STILL need a mobile website.  Think about it, how often do you contact a company from your phone?  If you still aren’t convinced, check out these staggering smart phone statistics.

Want to learn more about turning your marketing efforts into real dollars?  There is still time to sign up for our marketing seminar on March 29th.  Just go to www.powerup.paper-n-at.com and register.  It’s free and a quick and easy way to catch up with marketing trends that are not going away!  No doubt about it, it’s time to jump in.