There are a slew of printing companies that you can visit online to order business cards, post cards, banners, and other paper materials. Many firms recognize the power of the web and have had e-commerce sites for years, such as VistaPrint (from which I’ve ordered business cards in the past) to Elite Flyers (a start-up operation with 3,000 monthly visitors to its website, such as me when I printed campaign post cards last summer).
PrintRunner is an established company, founded in 1999 and employing over 60 today. They’re based in California. The firm is experiencing tremendous growth, evident by their ranking 2,138 in the Inc. 5000 last year and seeing a good handful of unique web visitors.
The site jumped to 100,000 visitors last month, with 350,000 page views.
Their marketing department reached out to me, being an avid reader of my blog, and offered five sets of 250 business cards that I could award to lucky readers. Of course, nothing in life is really free, so you have to pay shipping and handling costs; but you can choose from a 14-point stock, full-color or black-and-white printing, glossy or matte finishing, water-resistant UV coating, and on either one or two sides. You can also receive the cards either the next day or in three days. Considering what you get for the shipping cost you’d pay, trust me that it’s a pretty good deal.
Want to win the cards? Here are the rules:
1. Share an online marketing tip that printing companies might want to consider to better promote their products. There is no wrong answer. Note that I seek one tip, not two or three.
2. The tip must be in the form of a blog comment below. You’re welcome to retweet this contest or share it on your Facebook wall, etc., but the only acceptable entries are comments here.
3. You may comment as many times as you want, either to me or to other people to spark conversations, but only one entry per person. Nobody can win more than once.
4. Winners must be U.S. residents and age 18 or over. You also can’t be an employee or a relative of a PrintRunner employee.
5. Effort and thought count. If it is evident you put a lot of time crafting your comment, I will notice that.
6. If you don’t want to win the cards but want to contribute ideas, that is allowed. Just note such in your comment so I know not to consider you.
7. The contest starts NOW and ends one week from today when five winners will be chosen. Commenting will close on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 00:01 a.m. Eastern Time.
Good luck!
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{ 12 comments }
Are business cards even used anymore? It seems like email signatures are the new method of providing contact information. I think B cards are going to go the way of the Dido birds.
Jessica
I completely disagree with that, so many are forgetting about marketing off line as well as online.
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Different people have different opinions about marketing online/offline. I myself prefer to do marketing online as I find it easier and much more effective if you apply the right techniques. You don’t have to physically do marketing unlike when you are marketing offline.
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Frankly (and possibly ironically) what they are doing here is a fantastic marketing tactic for a printing company. lol
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Love the way to promote your business like this but shame I’m not US residents, lol!
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I think offering to trade ads on semi-prominent blogs in exchange for services would be a great way to get their name out in the blogosphere.
Another way would be in exchange for an article promoting them. Giving stuff away can be a great marketing tactic.
New from Keith@Hot Blog Tips: Where Are Your Readers?
I think my online marketing tip for a printing agency would be to emphasize online, that regardless of everything going “digital,” print still has a lot of relevance, especially good ol’ fashioned business cards. It doesn’t matter which digital tools you use to get this message across, the fact is that it’s true — go to any “real life” networking event, people will ask for your card, and they’ll hang onto it. Digital is great, but nothing beats tangible information to remind you of who you just met or what their services are. So yeah, my tip would be to use the new media to emphasize the importance of “old” media — because sometimes, you can’t mess with the classics.
… I originally started commenting here to tell you, Ari, that that Price is Right picture at the top is GOLDEN.
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Very good tip Stacy, far too many newbies gung-ho for the internet don’t realize the power of offline marketing…unfortunately this is because they’re taught this by those that aren’t newbies.
A vicious cycle.
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The last few times I have been without business cards, I replace them by saying I am saving some trees by not having them printed. I always get a nod of approval. No one ever seems to mind. Then I get their info, which is much more valuable to me.
I am reading your comments, btw; but purposefully not replying to each one as this thread is more about you than me.
I am here because I liked your comment on commenting on Mack’s post (ahead of mine)
And yes, we still do cards, in fact I found in China (my 2 language version) the business card presentation (2 handed) is a very important part of the introduction in business (and personal) situations.
I haven’t looked at your printer’s website so I don’t know if they do this already. If so, you can delete my suggestion.
The best marketing to me the client, would be an easy way to view the options I might select from the printer. I design a card, look at the variables in Adobe and send to the printer. Often the options I select (or think I want) don’t exist. So I’d like to go to the printer’s website and be able to input my design and see the available options actually implemented with my design and then see associated costs. I have to admit my cards are often somewhat off the grid. Also for those who don’t design their own cards, or have them designed for them, a functional simple do-it-yourself almost game like scenario to do the design/ layout process would be great. I could send several of the small biz solo entrepreneurs I mentor to try it out. @CASUDI
Use a blog to create a promotional RSS feed which can be scheduled to deliver promotional tweets and facebook postings throughout the day. The links back to the website create traffic and SEO. The offers can be tracked and successful ones can be repeated.
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