tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43603223684400276692024-03-04T21:53:45.243-08:00Barb's BlogBarb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-77451842232999370252013-01-02T08:46:00.002-08:002013-01-02T08:46:42.294-08:00<br />
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Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-8254142984493017552012-11-09T08:53:00.001-08:002012-11-09T08:53:53.304-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
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“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.”</h2>
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Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-50756319283598835042012-10-22T11:28:00.000-07:002012-10-22T11:28:12.900-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal;">“Life is half spent before we know what it is.”</span></h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 26px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i> George Herbert</i></span></span></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-21277969111829752692012-08-23T08:45:00.003-07:002012-08-23T08:45:29.428-07:00<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Motivational Quote of the Day…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”</em></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Albert Einstein</span></span></strong></div>
Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-15233921569119896392012-08-13T09:27:00.002-07:002012-08-13T09:28:23.297-07:00<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PRINTED PAPER</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Today's paper fact blog was found on and reprinted from the website of www.PrintGrowsTrees.org </span></div>
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<b>Printed paper is made from a renewable resource.</b> Trees can be replanted in places where they were harvested and also in places where they don’t currently grow. As much as we love our electronic devices, they don’t grow on trees or anywhere else.</div>
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<q style="quotes: none;">54.7 percent of all paper in the U.S. is currently recycled.</q></blockquote>
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<b>Printed paper can be recycled, recovered and reused.</b> The systems that are in place for these processes are widely available and have become more efficient and sophisticated over the many years they have existed. In contrast, electronic devices are much more complex and expensive to recycle, recover and reuse due to the toxic nature of many of their components, and current systems are still in the early stages.</div>
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<q style="quotes: none;">The average data center serving our electronic devices consumes the same amount of energy as 25,000 households.</q></blockquote>
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The paper we use to print in the U.S. is made from more than 60 percent biofuels. Paper mills use what’s left over from the manufacturing process to generate bioenergy on site. This serves to:</div>
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<li>Divert waste from landfills</li>
<li>Decrease the overall carbon footprint of paper products</li>
<li>Decrease dependency on coal and other fossil fuels</li>
<li>Help meet green energy goals in America</li>
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By contrast, server farms that power computers have become the fastest growing users of fossil fuel in the world, and <b>the amount of energy they use is doubling every year.</b></div>
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<b>Modern commercial printing employs more sustainable practices.</b> From recycling to energy usage, commercial printers are making great strides in reducing their environmental footprints by implementing such practices as:</div>
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<li>Purchasing products, materials and services from individuals and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability</li>
<li>Gaining third-party certification credentials</li>
<li>Reducing the impact of chemicals by using vegetable-based inks, eco-friendly soy inks, alcohol-free chemistry and aqueous coatings</li>
<li>Sequencing print jobs by ink color, saving ink changes and waste</li>
<li>Using biodegradable packaging materials and waste paper instead of petroleum-based foam peanuts</li>
<li>Using a higher percentage of paper grades that are recycled, post-consumer and third-party forest certified to be from responsible sources</li>
<li>Reducing the impact of energy loads on the electric grid by staggering production start times and effectively avoiding operating at full load during peak run time hours</li>
<li>Using alternative power, such as wind or solar, in many locations where it is available</li>
<li>Educating employees on environmental information, recycling procedures and certification training</li>
<li>Equipping presses with ink monitoring devices to reduce waste</li>
<li>Recycling printing plates, soda cans, cell phones, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, old computer equipment, tin, glass and plastics</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">Find out more by visiting this fine organizations website: www.PrintGrowsTrees.or</span></span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">g</span></em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><i>PGAMA is the not-for-profit trade association serving the graphic communications industry in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Greater Washington, D.C. and Southern Pennsylvania. They represent the interests of over 350 member firms.</i></span></div>
Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-30804571747546298692012-08-02T08:55:00.001-07:002012-08-02T08:55:53.665-07:00<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Motivational Quote of the Day…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><em>and conscientious stupidity"</em></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Martin Luther King, Jr.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Want more inspiration? Visit - http://dailyinspirational.net/</span></span></div>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-88989975647026423682012-07-12T08:46:00.000-07:002012-07-12T08:46:11.960-07:00<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Motivational Quote of the Day…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.”</span></em></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Frank Sinatra</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">dailyinspirational.net</span></span></div>
</div>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-67319121665971842602012-07-11T09:19:00.000-07:002012-07-11T09:19:10.376-07:00<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px;"><b>How Many Trees Will You Use Today?</b></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I spotted this blog on Finch Papers - thought it was worth sharing! </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 30px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Barb</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"><strong><em>Introducing Erin O’Neill:</em></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"><em> With this week’s post, Finch forester Erin O’Neill joins Roger Dziengeleski as a contributor to the Finch in the Forest blog. Erin joined Finch in 2000 after earning a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resource Management and Wildlife Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.</em></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">As a forester for a paper company, I’m often asked </span><b>how much paper we can make from one tree.</b></div>
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My answer? It depends. Here’s why:</div>
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<b>First, it’s not often that one entire tree is used for paper.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Most trees are harvested for multiple products, with the highest-quality portions going into furniture and building materials that bring the highest price to the landowner. Paper is made from the lower-quality wood (“pulpwood”) that is left over.</span></div>
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<b>Second, the initial step in preparing logs for pulping is to remove the bark.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Depending on the type of tree, bark can account for 10-20 percent of a tree’s volume. (Paper manufacturers don’t throw the bark away; we either burn it to produce biomass energy or sell it for mulch).</span></div>
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<b>Third, different types of trees provide different quantities of pulp.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> This varies by species (hardwood, softwood and aspen) and subspecies (for example, red pine, jack pine or white pine).</span></div>
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<b>Fourth, different types of paper — tissue, book, digital — require different volumes or densities of pulp</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Even within grades, there are different weights of paper, which require more or less wood fiber.</span></div>
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So, how can you equate paper or other forest products to raw wood? Let’s use the unit of pulpwood measurement called a “cord.” This refers to a stack of logs four feet tall, four feet deep and eight feet long, and typically weighing a total of 2.5 tons.</div>
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<b>The average cord of wood could produce either:</b></div>
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• 1,000-2,000 pounds of paper, depending on grade</div>
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• 12 eight-seat dining room table sets</div>
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• 250 copies of the Sunday New York Times</div>
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• 4,000 half-gallon milk cartons</div>
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• 4.3 million postage stamps, or</div>
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• 7.5 million toothpicks</div>
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For additional perspective, building an 1,800-square-foot home requires the equivalent of about 20 cords of wood.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I hope you’ll agree that these statistics point out the </span><b>incredible diversity of trees, the importance they hold in our society</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> — and just how fortunate we are to have this incredible, renewable resource available to us. Americans have been utilizing vast quantities of wood for more than 200 years, and thanks to sustainable forest management, our forests remain plentiful and healthy, providing wood for forest products, habitat for wildlife, and lands for recreation, all while pulling greenhouse gases from our air. </span><b>As the Society of American Foresters says, “Trees are the answer!”</b></div>
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px;">Finch Paper LLC</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px;">One Glen Street<br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif;" />Glens Falls, NY 12801<br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif;" />1-800-833-9983<br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif;" /><a href="mailto:info@finchpaper.com" style="color: #056cb6; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-top: -3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;">info@finchpaper.com</a></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-37064112543938090952012-06-29T08:51:00.000-07:002012-06-29T09:09:03.243-07:00<h4>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Print is Dead? Not so Fast.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><b>Forbes.com </b></span></h4>
<h4>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<br />
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Is print dead? This is a question that has been buzzing around the marketing world since the rapid surge of the Internet and social media. While many businesses have completely migrated their advertising efforts to the web because of its cost effectiveness, exposure potential and convenience, print still maintains its stance as a powerful and necessary component of an ad campaign. Let’s take a closer look at print media and some advantages it has over its digital counterparts.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tangibility –</b> A print piece is a physical thing. Magazines and newspapers can stay in houses or offices for months or years, while Internet ads can disappear into cyber space instantaneously.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Credibility –</b> There is something about print that gives a sense of legitimacy. The saturation of popups and banner ads on the web can be overwhelming and the fear of spam and viruses is enough make people weary of clicking. There is no imminent danger in a print ad.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Branding –</b> Print ads are excellent for solidifying your brand identity. Your ads should have a consistent aesthetic in terms of fonts, colors and types of images to establish brand recognition.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Target Marketing –</b> Placing ads in publications such as specialty magazines can effectively reach niche audiences that may be more difficult to target online.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>More Engaging –</b> Consumers are more engaged when reading printed material, unlike websites, which are often skimmed in as little as a 15 second visit. A study shows that people read digital screen text 20% – 30% slower than printed paper. (Alshaali & Varshney, 2005)</span></div>
</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Less Print Ads –</b> With more and more businesses relying solely on the Internet for their advertising needs, the decline of print publication can actually be used as a marketing advantage. The publications are less crowded, allowing more room for your ad to shine, and possibly even cheaper prices for that ad space.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>QR Codes –</b> Placing QR codes on printed pieces is an excellent way to bridge the gap between print and web. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code will take you to a homepage or a special offer page that lives on the web.</span></div>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 15.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The best way to market your business is to utilize as many channels as possible to reach every corner of your target demographic; this should not exclude print. Although it is likely that most emphasis, in terms of advertising, will be executed online, there still exist those who revel in the glory of the printed page and it’s important to reach them. Finding the right balance between various media will ensure a steady revenue flow, an increase in sales and new customers.</span></div>
</div>
</span></h4>
<div style="font: 18.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.forbes.com/sites/thesba/2012/06/28/print-is-dead-not-so-fast/?goback=%2Egde_162645_member_128998477</span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Georgia; line-height: 24.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;">Sourced from an online discussion by Jeff Howell, Marketing Coordinator - Fargo ND Area </span></div>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-47533482095830311932012-05-29T12:53:00.000-07:002012-08-23T08:44:49.274-07:00Thought for today.....<br />
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 614px;">
He who stops being better stops being good.</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: left; width: 614px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oliver Cromwell</span></i></span></strong></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; text-align: left; width: 614px;">
<div style="text-align: left; width: 614px;">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 614px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 614px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">check out more at DailyInspirational.net</span></i></span></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-71477988229404581552012-05-22T12:06:00.000-07:002012-05-22T12:06:59.192-07:00Best Travel Apps: 10 Essential Downloads<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Frommer's
released its list of the top 10 smartphone apps for travelers -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>1.
TripAdvisor</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">One of
the Web's most popular travel review websites has made its way to the iPhones
and Androids. This Web-based app pairs your GPS coordinates with content from
the TripAdvisor website, so you'll need a data connection to use it. You can
see ratings, read reviews and book hotels directly from the app.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>2.
Skype</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Skype
transforms your WiFi connection into a virtual cellular network, enabling calls
to anywhere in the world for pennies on the dollar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>3.
TripIt</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">After
creating an account on TripIt.com, simply forward your flight, hotel, or rental
car confirmation emails to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>plans@tripit.com</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">, and essential travel details will be stored online. Use
the iPhone app to access all your trip info on the go, including flight status
info. All for free. Trip details are saved on your device, so you only need a
data connection to synchronize updates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>4.
Yelp</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">With
user reviews of businesses in virtually every city in the United States, Yelp
has become a priceless resource for consumers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The app also offers a Nearby mode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>5.
AroundMe</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
Google ad-supported app utilizes your iPhone's GPS to find your current
location, then provides categorized lists of nearby shops, restaurants, and
even hospitals. The app doesn't offer any reviews, but plots business locations
on a map, which can be saved as a contact with just one click. (Requires a data
connection). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>6.
OffMaps</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
app allows you to download maps to your iPhone for offline use, so you can find
your way around without racking up international data usage charges. The app
costs $1.99, but includes two Guide credits, for downloading city-specific
travel listings and maps. International listings are somewhat limited at this
time, but the app can still pay for itself in a day, considering how much
you'll save on data usage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>7.
Urbanspoon</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">This is
a slot machine-style restaurant selector. Restaurants are categorized by
neighborhood, cuisine, and price. Narrow down and lock in the restaurant and
shake your iPhone. The app will randomly select a cuisine and price range. Or
give up all control and leave all three categories blank, letting the app lead
you on a culinary journey across town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>8.
OpenTable</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Need to
reserve a table on the go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>OpenTable's <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>app provides
real-time inventory of table availability for major cities around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>9.
iTrans</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">A
transit app for for cities around the world, providing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>transit info even when you don't have a
connection to the Web. You can find a new route without heading above ground
for a signal, calculate trip distance, and even see when the next train will
arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>10.
SeatGuru</b></span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>SeatGuru.com</b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.0pt;"> is a website that features <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">aircraft seat maps</span>,</span> seat
reviews, and a color-coded system to identify superior and substandard <span style="text-decoration: none;">airline seats</span>. It also
features information about in-flight amenities and airline specific information
regarding Check-in, Baggage, <span style="text-decoration: none;">Unaccompanied Minors</span>
and Traveling with Infants and Pets.</span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.frommers.com
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-72374953027152933162012-05-15T08:23:00.000-07:002012-05-15T08:39:04.552-07:00Does Your Business Card Pass the Trash Test?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 24px;">Your business card
is often the first impression a potential client has with your company. The
business card design and message will ultimately determine whether it gets
thrown in the trash or filed for contact later.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a67ce; font-family: Verdana;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Reach in your wallet
and pull out your business card. Your Small Business Information guide has put
together the business card test. Learn if your business card will pass or be
trashed.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a67ce; font-family: Verdana;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Size:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Does your business
card conform to the traditional size of 3.5" by 2"? Anything greater
will not fit in wallets or most business card holders. End result trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Paper Quality:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Is your business
card design of professional quality or is it flimsy with perforated edges?
Cheap cards are trashed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Ink:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Drop some liquid on
your business card. If the ink runs, it's in the trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Color Test:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Colorful cards can
add to your professional image. Too much color can be detracting. Trash your
card if it is black and white or has more than 3 colors unless it's a
photograph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Message Design:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Your business card
should clearly tell people what you do and offer a meaningful benefit. No
message adds confusion so your card ends up in the trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Image Match:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Your business card
design should match your business image. If you're a designer, then the card
should be creative. If your card is out of synch with your image, time to toss
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Font Size:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Is your card
crammed with information? White space on the card will make it easier to absorb
your message. If you have a lot to say, add it to the back of the business
card. Is the print so tiny you have too squint to see it? This one is heading
for the trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Contact
Information:</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Your clients or potential clients should have as many means as
possible to contact you based on their preference. Your business card design
should include: voicemail, phone, fax, email, and website. Lack of contact
information puts your card in the trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">You only have one
chance to make a great first impression. Make sure you invest in the best
business card design you can afford. The business card is your introduction to
a client, for the low cost per card that is money well spent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><i><a href="http://sbinformation.about.com/bio/Darrell-Zahorsky-8283.htm"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Darrell Zahorsky</span></a>,
former About.com Guide</i></span>
</span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-56862901434366675702012-05-13T08:50:00.000-07:002012-05-14T08:27:07.479-07:008 Reasons Not To Ignore Your Print Marketing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: ArialMT;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">8 Reasons Not To Ignore Your Print Marketing</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 14pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.eztexting.com/"><span style="color: #2d6797; text-decoration: none;">Text message
marketing</span></a> is so cheap, widespread and effective that it's tempting
to abandon print marketing altogether. This is a good move sometimes -- think
about the last time you thumbed through the yellow pages -- but other print
marketing still has some life in it. Consider these factors before jettisoning
every piece of "dead tree" marketing in your campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>1. Print Shows Up Where It's Least
Expected</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Digital pop-up ads aren't asked for,
but most people expect them when they appear. SMS broadcasts and similar
messages are typically opted into, which makes them even more expected.
Expected is appreciated, but can often mean ignored. You can place print ads to
catch people by surprise and snare new customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>2. Print Is Flexible</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Mobile messaging shows up on a cell
phone, on a small screen, often with limits to the character count and file
size. Print ads can strut your stuff in detail, with high-resolution photos and
plenty of room for a testimonial or three. This is also true of your website,
but your website can't go outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>3. Print Carries Authority</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">For some reason, people trust things
they see in print. They trust a book by an amateur more than a speech by a
professional, and a newspaper more than a website. This perception might change
over the next decade, but for now it's a marketing fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>4. Print Is Starving</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Companies that used to make huge
profits with print advertising are feeling the pinch from mobile modes. This
means you can afford some truly impressive print campaigns -- options that
simply weren't available in a small business budget even five years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>5. Synergy Is King</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">A powerful mobile and Internet
campaign can get customer attention, but not as much as mobile combined with
something else. People retain information best when they receive it from
different modes of communication. Print is the least expensive of the other
main options, coming in substantially cheaper than radio and television.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>6. You Can Read Print While
Driving</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Thirty-five states say it's illegal
to read texts while driving a car -- and for good reason. No state says it's
illegal to read a billboard, roadside sign, vehicle wrap or bumper sticker...or
even that magazine ad on the passenger seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>7. Print Is Immersive</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Studies show that people skim digital
content, but they sit down and <i>read</i></span><span style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">print. Use your mobile campaign to foster interest in your
company, but print to give them the details of why you're a great value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #555555; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 16pt;">
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><b>8. Print Sticks Around</b></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;">Look at that one corner of your desk, that
one drawer in your kitchen and probably the magnet-covered part of your fridge.
If you're like most people, they're filled with advertisements, coupons and
flyers from businesses. Many of them are months, even years, old. Those print
ads can generate customers long after a mobile message would have been deleted.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Reprinted from SMS Marketing Specialists - 800.753.5732</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: x-small;"> - EzTexting (Jason Brick Entry)</span></div>
<br />Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-2330378334670043792012-05-11T08:47:00.001-07:002012-05-14T08:26:57.439-07:004 Reasons to Use Customer Communications<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 17pt;"><b>4
Reasons to Use Customer Communications</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><i>The following was excerpted from an article by
Customer Communications Group.</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Why use customer communications? </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Customer communications CAN impact your bottom
line. The case to use customer communications mirrors in many ways the case to
invest in relationship marketing. A customer communications strategy may be for
you if your objectives are to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt list .25in left .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Enhance your
relationships with your customers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt list .25in left .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Upsell and cross-sell
products and services<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt list .25in left .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Retain customers
(especially the best customers)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt list .25in left .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Build loyalty and
advocacy among customers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Build Credibility</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Newsletters allow you to build your company's
credibility as an expert by providing customers with educative information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Convey Information </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Got a lot to say? Have plenty of information to
share? Customer communications work well if you need to convey complex
information about your products or services on an ongoing basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Break Through the
Clutter </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Customer communications
can be an excellent tool to break through junk-mail clutter. If it offers
valuable information to the customer, rather than just trying to sell products,
a newsletter can become something that the customer anticipates, especially
when sent frequently and regularly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Deciding Whether to
Seek Help or Go Out of House. </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don't
have the resources in-house? Consider taking your project to an agency. Being
consistent if the key. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Published by Customer
Communications Group, Inc., a full-service agency specializing in relationship
marketing and customer communications. Copyright 2012 Customer Communications
Group, Inc.</i></span></div>
</i></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-77241138959830245632012-02-27T13:18:00.002-08:002012-02-27T13:19:07.526-08:00Read what our customers are saying about us!<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I have used Expressions Printing on a few business jobs from punch cards to menus and each time the customer service was friendly, the job was done right the first time, and in a timely manner. </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I would definitely use their services again."</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-Natasha S.</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Portland, OR</span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-35754850273668349432011-09-13T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-17T13:01:27.404-07:00Need to improve your Google ranking?<a href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-new-ways-to-improve-your-google-rankings/">Social Media Examiner has a great article on improving just that!</a>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-29475490730778133002011-08-17T12:52:00.000-07:002011-08-17T12:56:43.033-07:00The basics of business cards<a href="http://www.businesscardsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/good-business-card.jpg">Click here to see the ins and outs of business cards</a>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-650070723282893202011-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:002011-08-17T13:06:56.546-07:00Just when you thought there were no other ways to fold...Tired of the same old fold? Channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/foldfactory">foldfactory</a> on You Tube has plenty great ideas! Seriously, there are loads of 'em.Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-47466486613009041882011-07-17T12:49:00.000-07:002011-08-17T12:50:55.810-07:00Customer Loyalty: Attitude or a Behavior?<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 26.25pt;mso-outline-level:1;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 26px;"><b>
<br /></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.75pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The concept of customer loyalty can be approached from one of two different directions: attitudinal or behavioral. “Although each of these directions is valid,” says Don Peppers of the management consultant firm Peppers & Rogers Group, “they have different implications and lead to very different strategies for businesses.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.75pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Defining loyalty as “attitudinal” implies that loyalty is a state of mind. In other words, customers are “loyal” to a brand or company if they have a positive, preferential attitude toward it. In terms of economics, this would mean that someone is willing to pay a premium for Brand A over Brand B, even when the products they represent are virtually equivalent.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.75pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The behavioral definition of loyalty, on the other hand, relies on a customer’s actual conduct, regardless of his or her attitudes or preferences. By this definition, a customer is “loyal” if he or she buys from a company and continues to buy from it. In this sense, loyalty revolves around re-purchase activity. In the behavioral definition, loyalty is not the cause, but the result of brand preference.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.75pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.75pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">According to Peppers, the behavioral definition of customer loyalty is more useful and practical because behaviors can be observed, while attitudes can only be measured by using polls and surveys. But this doesn’t mean attitudinal loyalty is unimportant. After all, positive attitudes do tend to drive positive behaviors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-83247740693029024412011-06-15T10:55:00.000-07:002011-06-15T10:55:00.158-07:00A Practical Way to Make Invisibility Cloaks<span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">It's the stuff of science fiction but e</span>ngineers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have developed a new printing method </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >to begin <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/37720/?mod=chfeatured&a=f">fabricating invisibility cloaks and superlenses.</a></span></span></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-6397530686048817352011-06-02T12:05:00.000-07:002011-06-10T10:37:02.134-07:00Celebrate 23 years with us<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>We're celebrating our 23rd anniversary. We will be having many specials in the upcoming months. Currently we're featuring a special deal on letterhead and envelopes. Get 50% more free! More great deals to come. Follow and contact us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Expressions-Printing/152368404780177">Facebook </a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ExPrintTweets">Twitter</a> for more info. </b></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-80229289009137621552011-06-01T10:15:00.000-07:002011-06-10T10:06:38.361-07:00I'll have my business card in three dimensions, thank you.<span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; "> A multi-disciplinary team of chemical researchers and mechanical engineers at the Vienna University of Technology has constructed the world's smallest 3D printer. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; ">About the size of a milk carton and weighing only 3.3 lbs, this breakthrough brings us that much closer to a reality of DIY 3D printing production.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; "> <a href="http://www.tuwien.ac.at/aktuelles/news_detail/article/7009/">Click here for more on this amazing new invention!</a></span></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-1627315626487177692011-05-18T12:55:00.000-07:002011-05-18T12:57:26.370-07:00Tips when dealing with print shops<h2 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 21px; line-height: normal; ">Consider your options</h2><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Before ducking into your nearest print shop or scouring through the Yellow Pages for a local printer (seriously, why would you be looking at OTHER print shops? for shame!), it’s a good idea to check Google for one that does most of its business online. You’d be surprised at how easy it can be to deal with them, and amazed by the great variety of products they are capable of producing. In many cases, you’ll also find that the quality of the end product is as good as the one you would get from a local provider, but at a lower price.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Note that many printers you'll find via Google, are also local providers in their communities—maybe your community—so while you may want to support your local printer, consider the possibility that your local vendor also does business online (yep, we do tons of our business online!).</p><h2 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 21px; line-height: normal; ">Know your files</h2><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">The first important step toward a successful print job is sending your documents in the right format. Most online print providers have become adept at accepting a wide range of files—from Microsoft Word documents to bitmap images, but most of these formats have a number of pitfalls.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">For example, Word documents only render properly if all the fonts they contain are installed on the host machine, which may not be the case for the computer your printer uses. Bitmap fonts, on the other hand, only support a fixed resolution and could make text and line art appear jagged.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">The golden standard, then, is to use a format that leaves as little to chance as possible. In the past, this meant using something like Adobe’s Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), but, these days, almost every printer will accept PDF files.</p><h2 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 21px; line-height: normal; ">Find the right paper</h2><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Choosing the right paper for your job is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">There are three important factors to consider. The first is the <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">color</em> of the paper—even “white” could mean a number of different shades and hues, with those tending towards yellow (like ivory or cream) being better suited to formal products, like invitations or greeting cards, while cooler whites are more appropriate for image reproduction.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">The second element to keep in mind is <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">weight.</em> Heavier paper—made of thicker stock—is perfect for documents composed of individual sheets, like posters, pictures, or business cards. Thinner paper is usually better for multi-page documents, but the lighter the stock, the cheaper it will feel in your hands.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Your third choice will be one of <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">shine.</em> Glossy paper brings out the vibrance in colors, which makes it particularly appropriate for photographs and art. Matte paper, on the other hand, produces a more readable output by reducing glare and reflection, and is therefore better for text. Glossy paper also tends to be more difficult to write on—something to keep in mind if you’re printing things like reply cards or forms.</p><h2 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 21px; line-height: normal; ">Understand how your documents are printed</h2><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Printers will typically print your documents using one of two methods: digital or offset.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Digital printing is performed using machines that compose each document directly from its digital representation—basically, the same way the printer in your office does. Obviously, print shops use professional equipment which produce better-looking output than your personal inkjet, but, generally speaking, a digital press trades quality in favour of speed and cost.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Offset printing, on the other hand, works by first etching your document onto a set of metallic plates (typically one for each primary color), and then using the plates to transfer ink onto paper in the right places.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Offset printers produce much better output then their digital counterparts, but are more complex—and, therefore, expensive—to operate. To put things in perspective, it’s not unusual for one of these machines to require hundreds of wasted sheets of paper to “make ready,” that is, to uniformly ink up all the plates so that they can be used for printing the final product.</p><h2 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 21px; line-height: normal; ">Embrace the process</h2><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(3, 3, 3); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; font-weight: normal; ">Armed with a little knowledge, going from digital file to fine printed product should be easy and inexpensive; with a little planning, the look of crisp, fresh ink on paper is just a few clicks away.</p>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-64863688789844560062011-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:002011-03-25T12:42:20.410-07:00But aren't you guys hurting the environment?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Lucida, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 0.8em; ">Paper use can be conceived as bad but here are the facts:</p><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-align: left; "><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 0.8em; text-align: left; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; ">The forest products industry plants more than 1.7 million trees per day. For every tree that is harvested, several more are planted or naturally regenerated.</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 0.8em; text-align: left; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; ">We have about the same amount of forests as we did 100 years ago. If we did not use these forests for tree production commercial land would be used for development, which would shrink our forests.</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 0.8em; text-align: left; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; ">For every ton of wood a forest produces, it removes 1.47 tons of CO2 from the air and replaces it with 1.07 tons of oxygen</li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 0.8em; text-align: left; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; ">In 2009 over 63% of paper consumed in the US was recovered for recycling. The recovery rate for metal is 36%, glass is 22%, and plastic only 7%.</li></ul></span>Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360322368440027669.post-2878148316319995602011-03-14T11:37:00.000-07:002011-03-14T11:46:36.359-07:00Get The Word OutNeeding to get the word out about an event? Need to promote that big sale? Or are you just wanting to say "Hello" to your customer base? We here at Expressions Printing can craft the perfect promotional piece for your business and mail it with lightning quick speed. Contact us today to experience a stress and hassle free service that will make your business take off!Barb Jones, Owner/Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07599877353206653275noreply@blogger.com0