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Social Responsibility: Modern Day Slavery

Social responsibility is something that seems to keep coming up in many various conversations and reading material that we have seen lately. Social responsibility defined is “an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large.” One of the nation’s largest retail stores has put together many programs to help out neighboring communities, such as giving a percentage of sales to local schools and sponsoring a free museum entrance on the first Sunday of the month. So, when I came across an article that CNN.com had on their homepage Wednesday regarding global slavery and what we can do about it, I felt compelled to pass it along to you.

The article is part of the ongoing “Freedom Project- Ending Modern Day Slavery” from CNN. The article starts by addressing sheer numbers that have captured my attention. Estimates range anywhere from, ten to thirty two million people that are caught up in some sort of slavery today. That’s right ten to thirty-two MILLION! Experts in the field say there are two main reasons for this discrepancy. The first reason is that the people they are counting are, by definition, a hidden population. There is often shame, fear, and embarrassment associated with this issue and those that are caught up in it keep to themselves. “The second problem is more of a theoretical one where the definitions are not specifically in place. We don’t have a common definition as to what slavery is.” I think the most encompassing definition comes from Roger Plant, who formerly worked at the ILO, when he said, “when you get into work or service without the freedom of choice and you can’t get out of it without punishment or the threat of punishment.” The biggest consequence of incorrect data is not knowing the full scope of the problem or where it’s concentrated. This can lead to poor decisions on where to focus resources and how best to solve the problem.

That leads us back to the beginning. What is our responsibility in all of this? What can we do and will our small part really make a difference? We, at Integrity, know the importance of stopping the cycle of slavery. We contribute and volunteer with those companies that have that in mind. Another initiative that seems to be gaining ground in combating slavery is the fair trade movement, which seeks to govern work conditions and wages. I think when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you educate yourself and resolve to DO SOMETHING!

Working Together Works Better

Like any industry out there, the world of Printing and Mailing Services requires an intricate detail of working with many team members to reach the final product. We are not a business that can rely on one person to do everything. We must daily work together as a team to produce a final product worthy of our customers.
Our working relationships are so important when it comes to how we do business and what we can accomplish. It made me realize we are all on a thin line between being productive and being inefficacious. Respect is at the heart of building business relationships. It is the glue that holds together the functioning of teams, partnerships and managing relationships. We understand this dynamic and have worked to foster mutually respectful relationships with all of our Printing and Mailing Services clients. Identifying and understanding differences allows people to shift their position to one of compromise and negotiation. If you know what you are looking for it is easier to defuse problems before they start. Below is a list of some of the main differences we see in the business world today.

1. Communication Styles- Not everyone communicates in the same way. It can be difficult at first, but once you have taken the time to figure out how each other communicates there will be fewer arguments and more will get done.

2. Non-Verbal Communication- Non-verbal communication can include body language, facial expressions, and tone. With this additional understanding of what is really being communicated more effective collaboration is possible.

3. Learning Styles- People learn in different ways. When we understand and utilize a person’s unique learning style it can make communication and understanding easier for all involved.

4. Differing Values- While if communicated and understood, these can usually be resolved. However, there are times when conflicting values can be so different that they cannot coexist on the same team.

5. Company Culture- Different companies have different cultures. It is important to realize this and give new employees time to learn and integrate into their new systems.

6. Individual vs. Team- Taking the time to identify and then address both individual and team dynamics are an important balancing act.

We have implemented these into our Printing and Mailing services teams and have seen success when we identify the issue and take a minute to see it from the other side. I hope these help you in all your business needs and if we can do anything to help in your Printing and Mailing Services needs, please feel free to email or call us at 951-461-1400.

We look forward to building a Team relationship with YOU!

Marketing on Steroids

The evolution of the meaning and use of the word “Google”—from proper noun to verb—shows us just how much of a disconnect there is between web users and search technology. As many companies are moving into Search Engine Marketing and Cross Channel Marketing, it is important to understand what is really happening behind you and your potential customers search. A decade ago, searching for content on the web was a difficult process, but today it is simple as imputing a few words into Google’s search bar, and you receive instant and accurate results. The goal we are all striving for is to optimize our content with specific words and to do that we must understand a little behind the scene background.

As Christopher Butler from the imprint online community has stated, Google’s purpose is to index and rank web content in order to help searchers find what they are looking for. While this is done, in part, by organizing pages on the basis of authority, the goal of Google’s increasingly sophisticated algorithm is to understand the particular queries users submit in order to direct them to the best source for the information they need. I like the way Alexis Madrigal put it in a recent Atlantic Monthly article. While she was writing primarily about online matchmaking, I think she gets right at the heart of what Google is all about without being too technical:
“If only you could Google your way to The One. The search engine, in its own profane way, is a kadosh generator. Its primary goal is to find the perfect Web page for you out of all the Web pages in the world, to elevate it to No. 1.”

Armed with this knowledge, we at Integrity Print Services, implement similar methods when picking and setting up your Cross Channel Campaign. Sure, search engine marketing can help improve your business, but to really get the most out of your campaign it needs a little help. It needs a boost! That is where we at Integrity Print Services come in. We start with an effective direct mail driver that pulls attention and turns heads. The importance of the content, relevance and the final call to action are just a few of the ways to ensure it is a successful start. We then add to that the current trends in digital marketing, giving your campaign a jump over your competitors and the increase in sales you are looking for. This combination is the ultimate feat to move the people seeing your ads from potential clients to sales. Working these two strategies together, we can insure that your campaign gets you the pertinent and accurate results you are looking for.

An example of a recent Cross Channel Campaign that Integrity Print Services ran for a customer: $30,000 Ad budget – included 75,000 direct mail pieces, 20,000 e-mail blast hit 3 times during the week of the sale, banner ads placed on various search engines brought in over 1 Million impressions, Data acquisition page supplied a high number of interested individuals information for a hard close, The dealership located in Virginia sold 52 cars and grossed well over $200,000.

If you are ready to stop searching and find “The One” all inclusive Print and Mailing Services company that you can trust, give us a call or email us at Integrity today. 951-461-1400

Using Cross Channel Marketing in Today’s Advertising Environment

It seems like every time I turn around I hear someone say. “There’s an app for that!” I would be hard pressed to find 5 other words that so acutely articulate the trend of advertising and marketing today. People are in motion; they are latching on to social media websites like there is no tomorrow. All of these statistics are out there and you can no longer ignore the fact that there is a new way to be advertising and integrating your marketing. The question you need to be asking yourself is “How do I turn this trend into increasing my ROI (return on investment) for my company?”
You have probably heard something about Multi Channel Marketing. It is simple stated as, “the ability to drive marketing through more than one channel.” This is something most marketers have certainly achieved. The next level in your Internet Marketing plan should be to include Cross Channel Marketing. It is used by driving a single campaign with a consistent message that is coordinated across all forms of marketing channels. It is no longer sufficient to say that you have used email marketing and Direct Mail. To optimize your customer’s experience, there is a huge benefit in hitting them with consistent communication. It is time to delve into the world of Cross Channel Marketing or fear losing your potential clients to the guy next door who is.
Even if you are using various forms of advertising with your Printing and Mailing Services, there are often problems that are cause by lack of coordination. Using multiple vendors or sites make if difficult to track interactions within your promotion. Each different channel has specific and unique goals and attributes that must be taken into consideration when producing your Internet Marketing Campaign. We can no longer afford to treat each form independently but rather use a centrally designed driver and synchronize all the channels. Companies like Integrity Print Services have been able to catch on to this vision and are successfully integrating traditional forms of Direct Mail Advertising with the emerging Cross Channel Marketing.

A Cross Channel Marketing platform greatly simplifies the execution of cross-channel campaigns, enabling marketers to essentially create single campaigns that are duplicated across a variety of means of expressions. Content, graphics, and offers remain homogeneous. Campaigns are coordinated across the channels. The move to Cross Channel Marketing is becoming more vital to a businesses success and their ability to reach their customers who are increasingly on the move and turning to these forms of communication it their work, play and everything in between. In the New Year it is as important as ever to make sure you are doing everything you can to reach every customer possible. Explore all the options that Cross Channel Marketing allows for you.
Contact Integrity Print Services Today @ 800-340-5885.

Success in 2011

Revamp your Business Plan
Researchers say we are technically out of the recession and the economy is growing. Albeit it is not nearly as fast as anyone would like; we still must acknowledge that fact. To stay still is to die a slow death. Now is the time to rework your business plan and take the steps to move to the next level. Find the best ways for you to find new business and take the time to evaluate and re-examine often; keeping what is working and leaving the rest behind. Growth requires change and moving forward.

Find New Ways to Excite Employees and Customers
A well thought out bonus program can help focus your staff’s attention on key metrics such as sales, profits, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Find ways to get people excited to come to work- have a contest, play a game- there are many ways to energize your employees that are just out of the realm of what is normal but enough to shake things up and get the juices flowing.

Explore New Channels
When the market down turned a few years ago, business understandably went after the cheapest available options for advertising. Now, with the uphill shift we can see the change in the market. Successful companies are letting go of single path marketing and jumping feet first into all forms of marketing. That is where companies like Integrity Print Services excel by taking away the fear of the unknown and setting you up with a multi channel marketing budget incorporating many conduits for your marketing program.

Diversify your Marketing Spending
A recent study shows that 80 percent of consumers rely on more that one channel when making a purchase decision. It is not just about recurrence. A potential client needs to see you in different aspects. We need to make sure your marketing budget includes all forms of advertising from printing and mailing services, SEM, radio, point of sale visuals. We need to remember that people have one type of learning style- either by seeing, hearing, or doing. They will most likely be enticed to buy that same way. Are you covering all 3 ways when you advertise to potential customers?

Free Million Dollar Roll

FREE Shipping, FREE Nights Stay, Buy one Get one FREE. Admit it; we all love to get things for free. We wait in long lines, shop at specific times and stores, and sometimes even fill out forms and rebates to insure that we are getting our free gift. Imagine being able to tell your customer that they not only get a FREE trip to Las Vegas, but during that trip have a chance to win $1,000,000. That is exactly what you can do with our new premium giveaway called the new Million Dollar Roll. Our new promotion hits the very heart of each of our souls. It combines the desire for an instant win, free travel, and a second chance. No matter what the industry, your customers are wanting a free gift and a chance to win a ton of cash appeals to all our senses.
How it works
• 25K Cash- Chance for customers to instantly win. Each card has the possibility to be a winner.
• Trip to Las Vegas- enter pin on our secure website to see if you win the trip to try for 1 Million Dollars
• FREE Gift- customers can choose one of 7 hard premiums that will be shipped to their door-free of cost.
• Second chance- Drawing for the trip to Vegas- customers are automatically entered when they choose their gift

This is a package that is sure to enhance any printing and mailing services you are doing. It goes beyond the same old business promotional gifts that everyone is doing and takes it to the next level. Call us for more info on how this promotion can start working for you and a chance to demo the program.
Integrity
800-340-5885

Postage and IMB Update

We do our best to keep you informed on anything that may affect your Printing and Mailing Services with us. We understand that at times all the rules and regulations can be overwhelming. There are 2 important updates about the USPS regarding postage rates and the Intelligent Mail Barcode coming into effect in the coming months. Here is a short and simplified version of the new policies set to be implemented.
Postage
On July 6th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) filed a proposal for consideration by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) that, if approved, would dramatically increase postage costs for all mailers.
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) limits postage rate increases to the amount equal to the rate of inflation except when “extraordinary or exceptional” circumstances make larger increases necessary for the USPS to continue operations.
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued an order yesterday afternoon which found that the Shipping Services price change we announced last month complies with statutory requirements. They intend to implement these prices on January 2, 2011, as planned.
Intelligent Mail Barcode
In May 2011, all mail claiming automation discounts on postage rates will be required to bear either the Basic or Full Service Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB).
In order to begin using the IMB, mail owners will need to obtain both a Mailer ID (MID) and a Customer Registration ID (CRID) using an electronic USPS system called PostalOne. The process is fairly quick and easy. We have already started to make the transition and have started implementing into our process.
“The PLANET Code and POSTNET barcodes have served us well for decades,” says Tom Day, senior vice president, Intelligent Mail and Address Quality. “But now it’s time to embrace the latest technology to assure better service and increased value of the mail to meet your business needs.”
The Intelligent Mail barcode holds all routing, sorting and additional services information in one barcode. It enables unique identity of individual mail pieces and provides more real estate on the envelope for marketing messages.

If you have any questions on how these may affect your mail campaigns, please feel free to give us a call at 800-340-5885 or email us.

Official Start of the Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving now a week away, I think we can now officially call it the beginning of the holiday season. With it comes the changing of the seasons bringing cooler weather and beautiful color changes. Or at least all the color changes the trees here in sunny California can muster. Changing weather means its time to start thinking about doing cold weather Insurance Promotions with your next Direct Mail Campaign!!! I mean, who wouldn’t love to win a 100% rebate on their holiday purchases? With a weather Conditional Rebate promotion, you can give your customers the chance to get a full refund on their purchases – whether it’s a snow machine, a snow plow or a glittery diamond ring – if it snows on Christmas or New Year’s. If snow in your area is about as likely as Pepsi selling Coke products, then the prize vault option may be what you’re looking for. Give your customers the chance to win up to 12 different prizes with our Holiday Prize Vault. It’s easy! Just select 12 different prizes, one for each of the “12 days” of your promotion and invite your customers to come in daily and enter their “lucky number”. If someone has the winning combination of digits, they’ll win that day’s prize, and the insurance company writes the check. We all want to give back to our customers and make things easier this holiday season. And while it’s a lot easier to keep that true Christmas spirit while hustling around doing all the “things” this season demands when we are less worried about where the money is coming from, I encourage us to see beyond the costs of things this season and look at the VALUE of relationships that are in our lives.

Is Freedom ever really free?

On this Veteran’s Day, it’s hard not to think about our freedoms here in the United States and the huge sacrifice that we have paid in order to enjoy them. It is a credit to our country that we take the time on this day to commemorate and celebrate those who have helped pave the way for our freedom from the bonds of another country to those who help oppress the terrorism in our present society. In our industry of print and publishing, it’s hard not to see the correlation between the wars we have fought and the freedom of speech that we exercise daily in our direct mail advertising and internet marketing campaigns. It’s an old saying that may seem overused, but it is no less true or relevant; FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE. Being the progeny of two generations of veterans, I have a special appreciation for what it takes to allow ourselves to live in our society. Democratic elections, health care, readily available food and water, the ability to write this blog, or network within social media sites- these are all freedoms that no matter how much we may want to grip about, we can not deny the fact that they are freedoms that much of the world lives without and we have our armed forces to thank for that. No matter what side of the fence or which wing you are on, we can not refuse to give credit where credit is due. And today is as good a day as any to give them the honor they deserve. So for all the Veterans of the past and all those that will come in the future, we at Integrity say THANKS!

Drive Traffic Now!

Problem: You need to drive traffic in a short amount of time to your business
Answer: CROSS CHANNEL MARKETING!!

You may be asking yourself what is cross channel marketing and can it work for me. Cross channel marketing is one of our most effective ways to make sure you are getting the most out of your marketing. It is a fusion integration of traditional advertising venues and new emerging markets. We start by using a specifically designed direct mail flyer as a driver. By converging the mail campaign with a variety of marketing techniques, we are able to promote the same urgency within all media avenues. We use the full circle of optimization to bring and fulfill total conversion of leads to sales per campaign. Now more than ever people are using the web, their phones, and social media to interact with their world. We must adapt to use these markets. That is where cross channel marketing comes in. We are no longer limiting ourselves to TV, radio, and newspaper. We have programs to blend mobile marketing, email, social network pages, data acquisition, display ads, search engine marketing, and many more. Depending on the marketing area, we research which mediums work best in that market and use them to produces the ultimate results. By using these outlets, we constantly have your money working without your having to do anything. It’s almost like getting free labor. There are currently people all over the country tapped into this under utilized market and it baffles me as to why more people are not taking advantage of it.