Diversify Your Products & Double Your Revenue Streams In 4 Easy Steps
If you sell only traditional promo and not full-color printing, you're missing out on major revenue. After all, almost all businesses need full-color printed marketing materials – if your clients aren't buying them from you, they're buying them from someone else. Diversify your business and double your revenue by following these four simple steps.
Step #1
Get to Know the Products
First things first: What is full-color printing? Even if this is your first foray into full color, you're likely already more familiar with these products than you think. Full-color printed marketing materials are used by almost every industry and organization, from education to non-profits to retail to corporate. Familiarize yourself with the most popular full-color products so you're prepared to discuss the items your clients are after.
Business Cards
Business cards serve as the first impression companies make while advertising products and services. Help your clients be remembered by providing them with impactful full-color styles in unique shapes and sizes.
Postcards
Direct mail is a crucial format to reach potential customers. Postcards are an affordable and effective method to get in touch with new, existing and former customers. They can also enhance online/digital marketing efforts.
Flyers & Sell Sheets
Flyers and sell sheets are great multifunctional advertising tools. When prominently placed, both can promote an upcoming sale or event (both in-person or virtual) and they make ideal product sheets.
Booklets & Brochures
This unique category is one of the most diverse forms of marketing media available. Think beyond the norm by offering customers smart options like mini-catalogs, maps, product directories – full-color impact with format & function they need.
Banners & Posters
Thanks to their large imprint area, banners and posters communicate important messages in big and bold fashion, made even more noticeable with full-color graphics.
Folders, Letterhead & Envelopes
Part of building and maintaining a brand is conveying a cohesive look across all company collateral, down to the smallest details. That's where branded business essentials like folders, letterhead and envelopes really shine.
Labels & Stickers
Help clients create a coordinated look at a cost-effective price with customized labels and stickers. Easily and prominently display company names and contact information, call attention to products and mailings, or add special details to packaging.
Step #2
Understand the Many Uses
Now that you know the products, let's get acquainted with how they're used. One of the greatest benefits of selling full-color marketing materials is their versatility. Each of these popular product lines can be used in a multitude of ways, depending on your client's business, goals and budget. Get creative and don't hesitate to ask DFS for assistance brainstorming – their superb customer service team is ready and waiting to help.
Business Cards
- Appointment reminders
- Coupon or QR code cards
- Customer loyalty punch cards
- Trade show and event networking
Postcards
- Invitations
- Open house handouts
- Oversized business cards
- Souvenirs & travel memories
Flyers & Sell Sheets
- Menus
- Coupon or discount flyers
- Product information sheets
- Event promotion
Booklets & Brochures
- Newsletters
- Product showcases
- Company history and information
- Event programs and schedules
Banners & Posters
- Directional signage
- Outdoor event signage
- Sale and event promotion
- Reopenings and grand openings
Folders, Letterhead & Envelopes
- New hire welcome kits
- Client presentations
- Corporate communication packets
- Branded company correspondence
Labels & Stickers
- Brand logos
- Product labels
- Contact information
- Special packaging details
Step #3
Speak to Existing Clients
No two companies are alike, just as your clients' full-color requirements will vary with each project. Prepare to have the most productive conversation possible by understanding common uses in your client's industry and offering creative suggestions they may not have thought of.
All businesses need cohesive, branded business materials. Corporations use full-color printing for everyday tasks like internal reports and business meetings, as well as creating a unified and professional look for all of their brand materials and communications.
- Give business cards to new hires for networking
- Use letterhead and envelopes for mailed communications
- Print booklets for business reports (quarterly/annual)
For doctors' offices, hospitals and urgent care centers, it's important to properly explain disease prevention and healthcare best practices to patients. That's where full-color printing comes in – handouts make it easy for patients to take information with them for further review.
- Give out business cards for doctors and practitioners
- Send postcards as appointment reminders
- Leave informative brochures in waiting rooms
Bars and restaurants have a huge need for full-color printing, from advertising their business to letting guests know what's on the menu. Best of all, printed marketing materials are an affordable advertising option for small businesses and local watering holes to maximize the impact of their promotional budget.
- Use flyers or brochures as cost-effective menus
- Mail postcards with special offers to the local area
- Print business cards as customer loyalty cards and hand out with the check
Schools and colleges use full-color printing not only to advertise, but to do what they do best – educate! Brochures and booklets are especially helpful for recruiting new students and informing them and their parents about programs offered.
- Mail postcards and booklets to recruit new students and contact alumni
- Hand out brochures and folders to explain academic programs
- Display posters and banners for school events and fundraisers
Making big investments can be scary - that's why it's important that investors and new account members understand the benefits of investing. Full-color printing makes it easy to explain options and advertise special offers and new branch locations.
- Get business cards for agents and representatives
- Use booklets and folders for financial planning meetings
- Provide brochures as take-aways for customers
Retail covers a wide umbrella of businesses, but all are providing products and services to consumers. As such, it's paramount they spread the word about sales, special offers and promotions to get more people in stores and ideally to the checkout counter.
- Place business cards by the register with a coupon code
- Use labels and stickers to tag new/sale items or as fun, in-store giveaways
- Hang posters and banners outside to communicate sales and special offers
Homes are big purchases, and it's important to attract foot traffic to make the sale. Full-color marketing materials will get the word out directly to the local community, as well as explain all key real estate specifications potential buyers must consider.
- Mail postcards to spread awareness of upcoming open houses
- Leave out flyers and sell sheets in homes to display property information
- Use branded letterhead and envelopes to thank buyers for their business
Whether purchasing a car or getting one repaired, consumers want to review all the important information they need to confidently make a decision. Let consumers review the facts at their leisure with educational full-color take-homes.
- Place business cards printed with a future offer or coupon in cup holders after servicing vehicles
- Leave out educational/sales brochures and booklets near new car models or in service areas
- Hang posters and banners to attract attention to special sales
From plumbers to electricians to carpenters, all contractors need to advertise their company to ensure future business. Take advantage of full-color pieces targeting the local community for the greatest advertising success.
- Post flyers at local retail shops and businesses to promote services
- Mail postcards to local residents in service areas to inform and promote
- Organize job information and receipts in branded folders
Step #4
Research Suppliers With
Key Capabilities
Now you know what products your clients want, but where should you source them from? Take your time researching full-color print suppliers to find ones that offer all the bells and whistles – after all, you and your clients deserve the best!
Die Cutting
This unique technique involves cutting shapes out of the overall printed product, creating a "cut-out" look that attracts the eye. Don't be caught telling clients, "No, I can't do that." Instead, pick a supplier with die-cut capabilities upfront.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is especially trendy as metallic shades have become popular in both the promo industry and retail. If your clients want to convey a cutting-edge, prestigious look, foil stamping is a must.
Specialty Coatings
(Ex: UV, soft-touch)
Give standard full-color prints a unique specialty finish for greater memorability and a tactile experience recipients won't forget. Choose from popular coatings like UV, soft-touch, aqueous and more.
Variable Data
Variable data allows you to print large quantities of a project with an aspect of each print being unique. This efficient service is often used to personally address readers or to replace generic fields in mailing addresses. Adding personalization to printed materials data can also increase response rates, giving your clients a nice return on their investment for variable data services.
Design Services
If art isn't really your strong suit, just ask your supplier to help! After all, they know their products best, so they'll know the right format for your clients' graphics and copy. DFS is happy to help brainstorm ideas, create graphics from scratch, write original copy and anything else you need creative help with.
Easy Online Platform
By handling your orders online, your business instantly becomes more streamlined, plus you get the most flexibility possible to run your business. Place orders, check shipping options, get tracking updates and complete other tasks all in one easy location online.
FREE product samples
Sometimes clients just need to touch and feel products themselves to be sold on their benefits. Thankfully, DFS can provide you with free product samples so you can let clients see and feel it before they purchase.
Multiple Product Sizes & Paper Options
From larger-than-life banners to unique paper stock options, DFS offers ample ways to provide custom services without any custom fees. Let DFS know what your clients are looking for to determine what options you have available to offer.
Customization & Personalization
Do your clients need something beyond the standard offerings? That's not a problem when you work with DFS. Talk to a representative about the type of customization your clients are looking for and they'll be happy to accommodate.
Live Customer Service
This feature has double importance – both you and your clients may have questions about full-color printing products, so make sure you can get all the answers you need when you need them. DFS has a team of industry experts who are here to help. Contact DFS and connect with a real person by: