So, You’ve Decided You Need to do More Marketing… Now What?

 The choice is simple… or is it…? To market, or not to market? Which marketing media should I use… print or digital, or both? Once you make the choice to either start marketing or to ramp up your existing marketing efforts, it’s not as simple as it seems. Everyone knows they need to market their product or service, but most of us struggle to get our marketing efforts off the ground. The more we think about it… the more questions arise and pretty soon marketing gets pushed to the back-burner again.

The first step as you begin your marketing effort is obvious. Unless you want your brand to look like a homemade project, you must hire a professional graphic designer. But once you’ve selected a qualified designer, what will your approach be? Print marketing? Digital media marketing? Social marketing? Web marketing? Where and how will you start? It can seem overwhelming right out of the gate… and this is exactly why most business owners never really get their marketing efforts off the ground.

There is so much free and conflicting advice floating around online that you become more indecisive the more you read! Come to think of it, this very article is a prime example of free online advice, isn’t it :)

It is this author’s opinion that balance is the key to a solid marketing strategy. Even if your business is a 100% online sales machine, online marketing, print marketing and good ol’ face-to-face grass roots selling must all be included in your over-all plan. Here are some things to consider as you decide where to focus your business marketing efforts.

WE AREN’T ONLINE ALL THE TIME!

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is online 24/7, nor should they be. Cell phone batteries die, service is interrupted and lately more and more people are trying to disconnect in order to enhance both personal and business relationships. What happens when we are down or decide to disconnect for awhile? People actually start picking up magazines, books and brochures. They end up reading more signage and looking at their mail more closely. They listen to the radio more, create more conversation with family, friends and colleagues. It’s amazing!

  

NETWORKING FACE-TO-FACE

As long as human interactivity is still around, and I hope it is around forever, it’s unlikely that traditional print media will ever completely disappear.

Sure, we will always surf our phones, tablets and computers for websites and information, but without giving a business prospect something to hold onto, they are much less likely to remember you later. Even a simple business card can make the difference between creating a long-term business relationship or a forgotten first contact. A well-crafted, memorable business card design is a great way to merge print marketing with your online efforts. 

ADDITIONAL POINT OF CONTACT

Let’s face it, you can’t force a prospect to be engaged. Whether it is an online experience or traditional marketing interaction, keeping a potential customer’s attention is difficult. If there is the least bit of interest on the part of the prospect, conversion chances increase greatly when they have a tangible piece of your branded marketing materials in their hands. Look at it this way, if they have any interest they probably wont discard your brochure as they run across it multiple times, and each time they see it reinforces your brand. On the other hand, if they ran across your website once upon a time, they just might never make the effort to return?

We all underestimate how difficult online marketing is. A good online marketing plan requires full-time monitoring, updating and management. I agree a good website is the best way to deliver information to your prospects and customers for sure. But the best way to stay “in front” of your customers is with traditional marketing efforts that continually support and drive traffic to your website and other online marketing channels.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

To me, nothing feels better than receiving a hand-written thank you note from a client, friend or vendor. It really says to me “wow, they took the time to actually write to me and mail this personal note!” We are all bombarded with emails, texts and phone calls these days. It seems that the information age has become the SPAM age. If you stop and really think about it, sometimes the only way to differentiate yourself from the competition is to add a personal touch to the relationship. A personal sales visit, taking the client to lunch, shaking their hand at a trade show or event or with that personal piece of print communication. There are some things a website just can’t do. 

In our experience, clients who focus on both digital AND traditional marketing rarely lose clients. On the other hand, those who rely 100% on digital online marketing tend to suffer from attrition when their competition becomes better than they are at creating solid customer relationships out here in the real world. 

What’s the moral of the story? Stay on line… but don’t get lost online. When it comes to building relationships, a handshake, personal note, or a phone call beats an email every time!

Want to learn more about building and marketing your business? Contact Tower Media Group at 480-835-0003 or visit our website at: www.TowerMediaAZ.com 

Looking for a good custom apparel source in the East Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe area? Tower Media Group has over 30 years experience creating great graphics for t-shirts, hats, polos and more!

We have a variety of apparel printing methods to help you get the look and feel you really want for your next project. Here are some of the areas we specialize in:

• Custom T-Shirt Design & Print 
• Embroidered Polo Shirts
• Embroidered Hats
• Team Names and Numbers
• Fundraising T-Shirt Store Set-up 

Take Advantage of our Spring Special 100 for $500 on 2-color shirts!

Discount T-shirt Special from Tower Media Group - Runs all Spring Long!
3-21-17 through 6-21-17 Call: 480-835-0003

Need help creating your design? Give us a call!

Graphics & printing company in Mesa, Gilbert area serves the entire valley: Tower Media Group AZ
Arizona's premier graphic design and branding agency: Tactix Creative

Sunrise 3D Archery Tournament Logo Vinyl Window Stickers

Most people don't know that the Sunrise Ski Park hosts one of the biggest 3D Archery Tournaments in the Western United States each year on the 4th of July. Sunrise is nestled in the world famous white mountains of Eastern Arizona on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. It is quite literally one of the most beautiful places on earth!

A few months ago, our sister company Tactix Creative was contracted to create a logo for the 2014 tournament. The logo would be used as the central image for the shoot as well as products available at the merchandise tent. The logo features a deer skull and antlers with a Hoyt Carbon Element bow profile worked into the detail of the antlers. The logo was a hit, as well as the vinyl vehicle window stickers we printed for the event!

Thanks Sunrise… we hope to see you again in our studio soon!


Like the logo/vinyl stickers featured in this post? Want to see more? Check out our website at TowerMediaAZ.com for more product and printing services we offer, or visit TactixCreative.com to view our sister company's logos, illustrations and more! Don't forget to follow Tower Media Group on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+!

GRAPHIC DESIGN AZ | CUSTOM LOGO DESIGN | VINYL DECALS & STICKERS | GRAPHIC DESIGN ARCHERY

Printing Your Logo on Letter Openers

Everyone knows the value of advertising their logo on  specialty promotional items like imprinted pens, mouse pads, note pads, etc. We love to get them at trade shows, special events, and from our favorite vendors. I've heard some say that this is "old school" marketing and nobody cares about anything that isn't an app on their smart phone.

Well, we respectfully disagree! In fact, a recent survey indicates that promotional products are more popular than ever. Take a look at a recent report on advertising specialty impressions here.

Tower Media Group is up to one thing… WE MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD! Whether in print, on the web or on a promotional product, we help keep your brand in front of your audience! Give us a call -  480-835-0003

Custom Mouse Pad Printing - Offset, Digital & Specialty Printing

We just finished these 2014 printed mousepads for ProQual Landscaping in Tempe AZ. ProQual is a commercial landscape company that specializes in landscape maintenance, turf management and tree care for neighborhoods and  communities valleywide! Their attention to detail and personal customer care make them a great choice for any Phoenix area community or commercial complex.

We are much more than offset or digital printing, Tower Media Group provides custom mouse pads in a variety of sizes, materials and thicknesses for all sorts of businesses. Mouse pads continue to be a great way to promote your business and products. They are in front of your customer all day, every day… you just can't beat that kind of brand exposure! There are very few promotional items that get viewed as often as mouse pads, post-it notes or pens. Tower Media can print your logo on any of these items and man, many more. You can visit our online promotional product portal to get an idea of all the branded ad specialty products we have available.

Why choose Tower Media? It's simple… We provide hands-on customer service and over 150 years of combined experience in the design, printing and advertising industries. Sure… you might save a few bucks by ordering from a cheap online supplier. But it's a huge gamble on whether or not your product will turn out as expected. The few dollars you might save will evaporate quickly if you have to print the items twice because of a mistake, or if you end up with sub-standard product. Ordering printing online has a way of turning from "initial price" to "eventual cost very" quickly!

Give us a call if you'd like to sit down and discuss your business marketing needs - Tower Media Group 480-835-0003

Ordering Printing Online is Risky Business!

The temptation to save money is very real for everyone… but sometimes it just isn't worth the risk! Now days, there are numerous online printers selling at wholesale, or even below wholesale prices directly to the consumer. Sometimes the saving seems too good to be true… and as with other aspects of life, it usually is.

THE FACTS ABOUT ONLINE PRINTING 

1) How do they do it for so cheap? The answer is simple. They run multiple project together on very large press sheets and then trim them apart for distribution. Most online printers run anywhere between eight and sixteen brochures together on one sheet, where color and other adjustment cannot be fine tuned to your project. They just set the equipment at default and let it rip! That's why we see so many brochures these days with horrible color, especially in the flesh tones of faces and skin.

2) Why are there so many errors in layout? Unfortunately, online printers do not trouble shoot each project or even have a print-planning phase. they simply drop the submitted electronic file into place and it's all automated from there. If the layout, margins etc. are out of whack, it just prints, trims, folds and ships! Here's the bad news… these errors are 90% the fault of the person designing the piece and/or submitting the print files. Without the eye of a trained design and/or printing professional, these mistakes ALL just slip through undetected. An automated system simply can't check for these things, so you just have to cross your fingers and hope it comes out right. Here's a good rule of thumb… if you aren't saving at least 50% by ordering printing online, THEN DON'T! Because you'll very likely end up having to pay for it twice.

3) Why do I have to pay for the reprint if my project turns out wrong? Unfortunately, you really have no recourse. These companies are operating at very low margins in order to sell printing so cheap. They very rarely, if ever, will assume any responsibility for errors or reprint expenses. It's a simple formula; if you send a "print-ready" file, you are responsible for it. Again… the system is automated and they simply don't look at the work - just run, trim, fold, ship. They print what you give them... this is their stance.

4) Are there hidden expenses? It depends on the company, some of them are fairly straightforward. But be careful to ask all questions before ordering. 

5) Why can't I ever get someone to talk to me on the phone? Once again, this is a big, nasty, faceless, automated system. If you have a problem with Amazon or Google or any other huge business, you have to work  out the problem through their automated system… you don't pick up the phone and call customer service at Amazon :)

6) Who really does the printing? It depends, some online printing companies actually have printing facilities and run the work in-house. But I have seen cartons of printing from all over the world, and a lot are from Korea and China. The last business card box I saw from Vistaprint said "Printed in Canada" right on it. If supporting the American economy and local businesses are important to you… use a local printing company!

7) How can the quality be any good at such cheap prices? Believe it or not… we have seen some really nice projects come from online print sources. They are usually the ones that have been handled by a professional graphic designers or print broker, so the know how to trouble-shoot the files before sending them to print. But for the most part… the quality is pretty poor. Partly because of the gang-run factor and partly because honestly… run and ship color business cards for only $10? Ordering from these places is just a great way to give them unlimited access to your email account so they can SPAM you into oblivion for the rest of your life!

Here's the bottom line: There is simply no substitute for creating a solid, personal relationship with a professional graphic design and printing firm. They will take care of you and your brand. It amazes me how concerned most people are with their personal appearance. How they groom, how they dress, what they drive… means everything! But then they don't care at all how their company looks?? 

Ultimately, it's up to you when choosing a graphics and printing vendor… good luck wherever you choose to go. If you want a printing company that stands behind their work and has the experience to get the job done right the first time… Give Tower Media Group in Mesa Arizona a call - we're here to help! 480-835-0003

Apartment Community Brochure Design & Printing…

Apartment Community Brochure Printing

The Quest Apartment Homes community brochure project was a fun one. Fore Properties in Phoenix Arizona contracted our design and printing team to create a brochure for this exciting new community. They wanted to let apartment hunters in the area know there was something different about living at Quest. A modern living experience in Henderson Nevada was at the core of their message. They wanted prospective residents to realize that Quest is so much more than an apartment complex, but rather a master-planned multi dwelling community.

Apartment Community Brochure Design

Over the years, we at Tactix Creative and Tower Media Group have been lucky enough to provide logo design and branding services for over fifty apartment and condominium communities. Our experience developing apartment community identities enables our team to come up with creative solutions in an efficient, cost-effective timeline. We understand how to get the most for your printing dollar regardless of your budget. With over 150 years of combined industry experience, we have learned to recognize marketing trends, keep your brand looking fresh, and visually communicating your message in the apartment and property management arena. Providing much more than brochure design, we are committed to building brand leaders in your industry. 

If you need help promoting your property or community... we'd love to show you what we can do! Give us a call - Tower Media Group 480-835-0003