Spectra Now

What's The Secret To Facebook Success?

2012-02-15T13:26:00.003-06:00

In October 2011, Mashable reported that Facebook had as many users as the entire Internet did back in 2004, the year Facebook was founded. With over 800 million active users, it's safe to say if you are reading this post, chances are, you're among the majority. Businesses and organizations have been quick to realize that Facebook provides a way to reach out to potential customers via a fluid and interactive site unlike a static web site. But what is the secret to a successful page? It might surprise you to learn that the secret to success on Facebook really is no secret at all.

Make It Fun!!

If you have ever visited a boring web site, you know what I am talking about. A web site landing page that is heavy on copy, light on photos and color is not engaging and won't hold a visitors attention long enough for them to discover what a terrific product you have. What do you think are the odds of visitors returning for a second visit? The same holds true for Facebook - a page that is interesting and engaging gives fans a reason to come back to your page.

The secret here is that your competition on Facebook is not necessarily your direct competitors. Facebook, blog and websites with a high energy "wow factor" that offer up-to-date information and feedback are the sites that compete for your fans attention.

Create a Community

One of the reason's Facebook has become the 'go to' place is it allows individuals, organizations and businesses to create a feeling of belonging to a community. Sounds great but how do you create a community for your business?

A real estate company might pose the question, "What is your fondest memory that involves either your childhood home or a favorite family member?" A hardware store could engage their fans by posting a close-up photo of a tool and ask their fans if they can identify the tool. The first person to respond with the correct answer might receive a $10.00 coupon off their next purchase of $50.00 or more.

The secret to starting a fan community? All you need to do is to post regular and relevant content to your wall that prompts a discussion. Don't let it overwhelm you but you need to show up and post several times a week and you should spend at least 30 minutes a day reading your fan's posts and visiting their sites.

Other factors you need to consider ...

Can You See Me?

Check your page settings. Your content needs to be visible so others can see your videos and photographs, stories and questions.

Pay No Attention To That Man Behind The Curtain

Show your personality! Be active on your Facebook page by sharing your opinions and responding to your fans' comments. It shows you as welcoming and warm, all of which contributes to a sense of community.

What Do You Think?

The adage "the most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said" is another secret behind your Facebook success. People love to share but especially so on social media. Encourage your fans and followers to share: if you are a shop that caters to the outdoor market, ask your fans to share a photograph of themselves engaging in their favorite outdoor activity (biking, fishing, camping), ask them to share their personal stories. The secret here is to listen, comment and compliment.

Making Special Deals and Discounts Truly Special

Offering special deals and discounts to just your Facebook fans is guaranteed to generate buzz, get people engaged on your page and keep your fans returning to your page. Rewarding your fans with offers and discounts that are regularly updated will be appreciated, creating loyalty within your community.

You can design a tab specifically for contests, games or quiz, which will make it easy to find and allow you to promote a contest or quiz on your fan's wall posts.

The added benefit to you is Facebook contests are a great way to capture data, including email and physical addresses for re-marketing.

You Like Me! You Really Really Like Me!

In an effort to differentiate between personal and business pages, people who "like" your business page are called a fan. All too often, business owners take this term far too literal, convinced that the reason anyone would "like" their page is because, well, they like you. In truth, a fan is just a term Facebook uses for a customer or potential customer. Your goal should be to secure their business but first you need to convince potential customers that you are prepared to support your product and provide first class customer service. You do this by engaging your customers, responding to their posts and asking for feedback.

They're Just Not Into You

Your Facebook page should not be all about you. If your page updates are all about what you are doing, how fabulous your company is with a reoccurring sales pitch, your fans are going to quickly lose interest. It's doubtful that anyone will want to share your sales pitch with their Facebook friends.

Engage your followers in a dialogue. Focus your status updates whenever possible with content that is relevant and newsy: emerging trends, new products etc. Fun and compelling status updates are exactly the type of information Facebook users tend to "like" and share with their friends.

Crunching The Numbers

Finally, the truth is, the business with the most amount of fans at the end of the day is not necessarily the winner. The number of Facebook fans and Twitter followers has been referred to by marketers as vanity metrics. Businesses tend to give creditability to their Facebook likes as if they held the same value as customers or sales which isn't a true indicator of Facebook success.

Many businesses set up a Facebook fan page and look to their fan growth rate as the primary success metric. But their number of fans isn't giving them the "big picture."

Sure it's great to think thousands of Facebook users are seeing your content but instead of collecting hundreds of fans, you should be tracking and measuring how much and often your fans are actually engaged with your content by the number of times your posts are "liked", shared and tagged. Regular sharing between a number of fans demonstrates more engagement than a high number of fans who only leave one post and never return. (Think Starbucks and Coca Cola as prime examples of massive Facebook groups with low levels of engagement.)

The goal is not to be good at Facebook. The goal is to be good at business because of Facebook.

In a future post we'll discuss how to measure your Facebook success. Until then, don't throw in the social media towel if your page has a small number of fans. If your fans are engaging with you, responding to your updates in a way that fits in with your marketing plan and social media goals, you are doing fine.

Spectra Print Clients Prepare for the Upcoming Sport Show Season

2012-01-06T13:29:00.001-06:00

It's that time of the year when the topics being discussed center around the upcoming run to the Super Bowl, the weird and wacky weather playing havoc with our ice fishing and the start of the sports show season. For our Canadian friends this is the time of the year when they head south of the border to talk fishing and hunting.

For the past few months the pre-press and press departments at Spectra Print have been busy assisting clients with their marketing and promotional material. With the first of the All Canada Shows scheduled to open in a few hours, we wish all the exhibitors on the sports show circuit a successful season.

Spectra Print is pleased to announce the addition of four new accounts to the dozens of our Canadian outdoor accounts: Showalter's Fly-In Outposts, Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts, Oak Lake Lodge and Arctic Lodges.

Spectra Print has been a proud sponsor of the All Canada Show for the past several years. Working with Jennifer Young and the staff at All Canada Show, we know first hand the hard work and effort that goes on behind the scenes; it really does take an entire village to make All Canada Show such a success. The 2012 show season kicks off in St Louis, Missouri, January 6-8. The entire All Canada Show schedule can be found here.

As one of the sponsors of All Canada Show, Spectra Print will be again be an exhibitor at the shows and will be be tweeting the event as well as live blogging from the Chicago and Minneapolis shows. We will be posting #hashtags on our Facebook page so you can join in the conversation.

Avoid Filler Language in Presentations

2011-12-02T14:39:00.001-06:00

Presenters often use the phrase “Does that make sense?” to gauge audience understanding. But this can convey a speaker’s uncertainty and signals that the audience might not comprehend or appreciate the content. To be an effective speaker, eliminate useless words and phrases like this one. Since you often include them unconsciously, record your next speech (try the voice record function on your smart phone). Play it back and listen for where you added fillers. Repeat this process several times and soon enough you’ll start correcting yourself. And if you want to check whether your material is getting through, try the more concrete “Do you have any questions?” instead.

Adapted from "Never Ask 'Does That Make Sense?'" by Jerry Weissman.

Source: http://hbr.org/tip?date=111811

Dropbox Allows Anyone to Utilize Cloud Technology

2011-10-19T16:42:00.002-05:00

There are times when I just can't help myself. A large number of the accounts that I follow on Twitter either have the word "tech" in their name, share the latest inroads in technology or exist only to make my life more fun … make that easier thanks to today's technology. Some have been nothing more than a flash in the pan but others have become the things I cannot live without.

One of my favorites is Dropbox, an online storage utility that allows you to make your files accessible from virtually anywhere there is an Internet connection. Dropbox has allowed me to enjoy my love of family history without having to email information to myself or keeping track of what flash drive I was using when I made that last trip to the court house.

Here's how it works. After installing the application and connecting to the server, Dropbox works like any other folder on your computer or mobile device allowing you drag and drop to move files around. Any files or folders that are uploaded to Dropbox, either by you or someone you are sharing the files with, are immediately synchronized in your account. As if that isn't enough of a wow factor, Dropbox keeps track of every change that is made to the contents of your storage, instantly updating to all the computers that are linked to the account. You can even undelete files that you may have accidentally erased.

But where Dropbox moves to the front of your list of "favorite go-to" is the way it allows you to share whatever you want with other people. Every individual folder can be shared with other people and every member of a shared folder will be able to add, edit and delete the contents but will not have access to anything outside of that specific folder.

There is also a public folder that allows you to share files with non-Dropbox users through the use of a hyperlink.

Oh …. did I mention that Dropbox is free for Windows and Mac? You can share 2GB of your files for free or upgrade to Dropbox Pro for 50GB of storage.

Refer a friend to Dropbox and you and your friend can get an additional 250 MB of storage.

As with any cloud-based service, Dropbox is a great source for storing non-confidential content. The following video demonstrates how easy it is to use Dropbox. Who knows? It may be your next "cannot live without."

Is This Your Social Media Sign?

2011-10-13T15:44:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was discussing the endless advantages social media could offer my friend's volunteer woman's organization: why they needed to be involved and why my friend should convince the organizations "CEO."

"Yup, I can see the benefits and opportunities and it will work for us but only if our leader is smart enough to get it - otherwise social media is more of a liability."

Now that is an interesting observation. Unfortunately, it's the truth.

Every business, regardless of its niche, can find value in social media but that doesn't mean social media is for everyone or that everyone should be engaged.

So … how do you know? If you answer yes to any of these questions: jog, don't walk, away from social media.

You have no social skills. Social media is about people. If you never had friends as a child and you can't deal with people then maybe social media isn't for you. If you don't like to talk to people, get someone else to handle your social media services. Your customers will thank you for it.

You have no sense of humor and can't handle criticism. If you can't laugh at yourself then you don't belong on the Internet. Success in social media means being able to embrace the weird and quirky. You need to show your fun side to get people to like you. You don't want to be seen as the dweeb of the Internet - it will target you as someone who can virtually have their lunch stolen.

Just add water! If your definition of social media is creating a blog or an account on Facebook and then kicking back and waiting for the leads and conversations to pour in, social media is not for you. If you are not going to create a marketing plan and dedicate resources to that plan then don't waste your time setting up social media accounts.

You think social media is the new way to sell. If you don't think it's necessary to create a relationship with someone before you sell them on your company or product, social media is definitely not for you. To be successful at social media, you have to hear what is being said about your company or your brand; that means listening before you speak. How will you know what to give people if you don't know what they want? We've all been target marketed by our friends which is acceptable in the world of social media. However, shouting your message to a room full of strangers is not.

And speaking of Selling …. If you are shouting your sales message, not listening to your audience, chances are you consider success in social media as a numbers game. Your goal is to have 3,000 followers on Twitter, 10,000 Facebook fans and enough RSS subscribers to match your telephone number (including the area code.) If you are this person then you think the higher the number, the more successful you look. Savvy people on social media need only spend a few minutes looking at your list of followers or fans to determine if you have garnered followers because of meaningful content or just casting a net out into the social media waters. It does not make you look like you know what you're doing and it just annoys everyone else.

Pay No Attention To That Man Behind The Curtain. When Toto unmasked the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy realized he was incapable of granting her wish to return home to Kansas. Companies who succeed in social media are the ones who don't hide behind the curtain and who bring relevant content, conversation and media to the party. Don't hire someone to blog as your company president or use Twitter to push your RSS feed: that's using social media to be a tool and you're missing the point.

Your Social Media Strategy is Twitter. Twitter is a social media tool. So are blogs and Facebook. They are useless unless you have a strategy about how to use them. You don't decide to enter a marathon and expect to be able to run 15K when the day of the race arrives without any preparation (see "Just Add Water" above.) Social media is not Twitter but Twitter can be used to accomplish your marketing strategy.

Social Media for Printers: Ready, Set, Blog!

2011-10-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

Social Media for Printers: Ready, Set, Blog!

"Back To The Future" is the theme of American Business Solutions Fall Conference

2011-09-20T14:06:00.000-05:00

If Spectra Print's Sales Representative Jeff Reichert had a theme song, it would probably be Willie Nelson's On The Road Again. Home long enough to change the message on his voice mail box before he and Marketing Director Al Scherwinski were off to attend American Solutions for Business's fall conference "Back to the Future." This year's venue was the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis, MN.

As American Business Solutions CEO/Chairman of the Board Larry Zavadil explains, "...'Back to the Future,' [which] is very appropriate. We look forward to the future of American with great expectations ... Although we don't know what the future holds, it's important for us to anticipate changes and adapt to them."

American Solutions for Business, was founded in 1981 as American Business Forms and has grown to become the nation's premier provider of commercial printing, forms, labels and envelopes in addition to offering clients unlimited options for quality promotional products, wearables, packaging, office and computer supplies.

For American Sales Associates, attending a conference is a way to stay current within the industry, adapt to the changes and grow their business.

As a Gold Level Sponsor of the Fall Conference, Spectra Print was proud to be participating in the conference by offering support to American Sales Associates. Al Scherwinski conducted a workshop on Saturday morning, "Why do I Need Social Media and What the Heck is Smart Printing?" The attendees learned the benefits of adding QR Codes and Micro-Tags to printed pieces and gained a new understanding of how traditional printing can benefit from the addition of cross-platform marketing. Specific to the American Solutions for Business conference attendees was how mobile marketing can interact with traditional print marketing. Jeff Reichert was on hand to answer questions at the conclusion of each 30-minute seminar.

Based in Glenwood, MN, American Business Solutions now has approximately 550 sales associates, a support staff of nearly 200 Home Office employees and 30,000+ clients. American became employee-owned in 2000.

Central Wisconsin Social Media Conference; Oct 20, 2011

2011-09-01T07:29:00.004-05:00

Spectra Print is pleased to be one of several area sponsors of the Central Wisconsin Social Media Conference on Thursday, October 20, 2011.

The one-day event will be held at the Westwood Conference Center, 1800 Westwood Conference Center Boulevard, Wausau, WI. Conference hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Social Media Conference is part of the UW-SP Continuing Education, offering a full day of workshops, presentations and vendors to help attendees take social media efforts to the next level and help grow business.

The conference will offer four tracks to meet business needs:

Legal Aspects
Marketing
Branding
Utilization

If you are a business owner, marketing professional or someone who is responsible for your company or organizations social media efforts, you will benefit from the peer-to-peer breakout sessions to provide insight on how to energize your social media efforts.

Online registration as well as a printable registration form can be found on the web site; click here for information.

Plan to join conference attendees at the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company for social and networking from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Friend, Follower or Linked?

2011-08-01T16:26:00.003-05:00

Like it or not, social media is now an essential part of your brand's online identity. A few years ago, adding social media to your company's marketing tool box was as simple as creating a Facebook page.

Do I really need Social Media?

The short answer is: yes. Admittedly we are biased but our experience has proven how social media can positively impact a customer's brand.

Why do I need Social Media?

If your idea of Twitter is countless status updates ranging from your followers sitting on the patio to ordering a double mocha latte while checking-in at the local coffee shop - you aren't alone. Businesses who dismiss sa well thought out marketing plan that incorporates social media and tools such as QR codes (when and where their use is appropriate) quite simply is missing potential sales.

Today's consumers are actively engaged in all aspects of social media, taking part in conversations about everything and anything. These tech savvy people are tethered, if not addicted, to their mobile devices connecting with others who share similar interests: chances are someone is having a conversation about your company.

Are you listening?

Having a presence on social media allows you to join in these conversations. By taking part in these conversations you will be able see what the sentiment is toward your brand - and monitor whether the talk is in a positive or negative light.

Follower, Friend or Linked?

Not all companies will need to have a presence in all social media platforms. The main players in the social network are:

Facebook. One of the better known and most widely accepted network; Facebook is usually a companies first foray into social media waters. Facebook provides a place for organizations and companies to share their brand through status updates, photo albums, conducting polls and "hosting" events that are relevant to your brand.

Twitter. While Facebook offers a platform for multiple people to manage a presence, Twitter offers a more personal presence with a direct one-on-one conversation with your customers. Customers provide feedback and engage in conversations through succinct 140 character messages.

LinkedIn. This platform is especially relevant for creating a corporate presence and creating a platform for professionals to network and learn about your company. LinkedIn has had success displaying current vacancies to people who may be interested in filling this positions within your organization.

FourSquare. This platform is relevant for organizations with at least one "bricks and mortar" store. Foursquare is best utilized by providing discounts to users when they identify that they are at your location by clicking on a "check-in." Returning customers who check-in can earn Mayorships, badges and other rewards.

It should go without saying that your website and blog page should share a commonality in design and writing style. Today's consumer has become accustomed to receiving their information in real time; they aren't satisfied to wait while a newsletter is published and a web page updated. Your company web page should be the repository of resident information while your blog is where you regularly share inform and detailed information not suited for Facebook and other social media platforms. Your company or organization should be using Facebook and Twitter to direct friends and followers to your blog and web sites.

OK, I'm sold but who is going to manage my companies social media?

There is no hard and fast answer to this question but it should be someone that is genuinely interested in social networks and enjoys spending the time needed to help your company build and maintain a social media presence.

What is just as important is the company providing that person, or team, with information and resources needed to create meaningful conversations and content.

Industry Leaders Set to Make a Splash at ICAST

2011-07-06T10:53:00.006-05:00

We just delivered catalogs to two major players in the fishing industry: the Worth Company and Strike King Lure Company for their use at ICAST, the world's largest sportfishing trade show, held this year in Las Vegas.

The Worth Company, Stevens Point, WI, is a world class manufacturer of fishing lure components sold to lure manufacturers. Their 112-page plus cover perfect-bound catalog was printed by Spectra Print from client furnished art files.

Strike King Lure Company is an industry leader of lures and terminal tackle with an emphasis on bass fishing. Strike King Lure Company is located in Collierville, TN. Spectra Print handled all aspects of Strike King Lure's 56-page saddle-stitched catalog from design through printing.

Both companies enhanced the functionality of their catalogs, utilizing the latest in mobile technology with Microtag and QR code applications in their printed pieces.

We wish success to the Worth Company and Strike King Lure Company at ICAST.

Social Media: If You Build It, Will They Come?

2011-06-08T15:19:00.000-05:00

Bill Schrader is credited with saying, "Almost overnight, the Internet's gone from a technical wonder to a business must."

During the last two years, businesses of all sizes and categories have come to the realization that social media is no longer something they can choose to engage in, having a social media presence is a requirement. As Facebook and Twitter begin to play a bigger part in the consumer experience, it's important that businesses understand how it can affect their business.

It wasn't very long ago that your customer's comments and complaints were limited to reviews on websites. In today's world, social media reaches far beyond the website into 'real time' customer experience. So how can a company use social media effectively to improve customer service?

Why Should I Care?

The most important thing social media can do for a company is to allow you to monitor what's being said about your product and customer service.

Social media sites create an environment for a business to engage in an open conversation. When a customer has left a comment on your Facebook page about a positive experience or encounter, take the time to thank them. Customers prefer to interact with a company that shows it is concerned and takes time to acknowledge a compliment.

Likewise, if someone tweeted about a problem with your products or service, your response may involve sending a direct message to the customer as well as a reply for others to see that you have read the comment, are concerned enough to continue the conversation in an effort to resolve the issue.

Using social media successfully will require effectively listening and engaging with your customers but goes beyond seeing what is being said about you and your services. It will allow you to better anticipate your customer's needs.

Spectra Print Corp Announces Launch of Wildwood Wildlife Park New Website Design

2011-06-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

The new redesigned website of Wildwood Wildlife Park is live on the Internet with a new look and website structure that will brings a user friendly design with improved readability to the park's long-time and new guests.

"The new look is lighter and a lot more user-friendly than the old design," says Al Scherwinski, Spectra Print Corp. Creative/Marketing Director. "The site's design features vibrant colors and bold graphics, updated photographs increasing the fun factor which reflects the Wildwood Wildlife Park experience. Our Web site visitors are going to love it."

Among the features on Wildwood's homepage are the 'flash tracks' taking visitors quickly to Encounters and Hours & Tickets buttons. The site is designed to provide quick and direct access to all of the resources guests to the park are looking for. "We wanted the site to reflect the park's dedication to providing their guests with up close and personal experience, interacting with the animals," says Scherwinski.

The new face of the Wildwood Wildlife Park website is the handiwork of the design and marketing department of Spectra Print Corp., Stevens Point, WI.

The online resources are as diverse as the friends and guests of the park; from the educational and volunteer opportunities offered to visitors to the special experiences guaranteed to create unforgettable memories the web site and the launched Wildwood Wildlife Park blog support of the park's mission to provide an exciting zoological collection and education facility for all visitors.

"The new design was created specifically for Wildwood Wildlife Park's online visitors," says Scherwinski. "We encourage guests to submit photos and videos. Current exhibits, news and stories will be constantly updated allowing guests to plan their visit to the park and make it a memorable experience."

We've "Landed" Two of Canada's Top Fishing Destinations

2011-05-17T13:47:00.001-05:00

Showalter's and Jackson's Lodges & Outposts, two of Canada's premier lodge and outpost services have selected Spectra Print to coordinate, develop and produce their new web sites.

"Jackson's and Showalter's are among the top Canadian destinations for customers looking for that unique wilderness experience. We feel [Spectra Print] is uniquely qualified thanks to our continuing sponsorship and support of All-Canada as well as other outdoor account experience," said Al Scherwinski Spectra Print Marketing Director. "We've demonstrated our ability to understand the needs of the lodges, all of whom offer exceptional opportunities to their customers for the most incredible experiences of their lifetime an look forward to working with Jackson's and Showalter's."

Jackson's Lodges & Outposts is a family-operated business based in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, providing their guests with the finest fly-in fishing and hunting excursions for close to three decades. Jackson's operates their own air service "Adventure Air" with a fleet of highly maintained aircraft making it possible to provide easy access and transportation to their facilities in northeastern Manitoba's provincial Parks: Atikai, Nopiming and Whiteshell. It is Manitoba's wilderness beauty at its finest.

Showalter's Fly-In Service & Outposts has been associated as one of Canada's premier fly-in & outpost service for over 25-years, helping guests realize their dream vacation. Whether it is a fishing vacation to a remote northwestern Ontario wilderness lake, a black bear hunt in Ontario's Red Lake area or a guided moose hunt 135 air miles north of the Showalter's base, you'll want to return for another version of your trip of a lifetime.

Both web sites are tentatively scheduled to be live in the Fall of 2011.

Spectra Print Corp Acquires The Journal Printing Co.

2011-05-04T14:52:00.000-05:00

Stevens Point, Wisconsin (May 2, 2011) - Spectra Print Corporation, a leader in sheet-fed offset and heat-set web printing, announced today that they are acquiring the Journal Printing Company of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to further strengthen their position as a major supplier of offset printing and business forms.

Spectra Print will acquire the account base and equipment of the Journal Printing Company, and will hire most of their employees. “Three generations of our family and the Cashin family have worked side by side producing quality printing here in Stevens Point. We have nothing but the utmost respect for the Cashin family and the employees of the Journal Printing Company, and we are excited to join forces,” said Eric Hofmeister, president of Spectra Print Corporation.

This acquisition will result in greater efficiencies and will offer more services to the customers of both companies. "Together this will make us a much stronger and better printing company than we would have been as seperate companies,” Hofmeister added.

Spectra Print Corporation will not be utilizing the former Journal Printing Company’s facility in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. All operations will be combined in the headquarters of Spectra Print Corporation located at 2301 Country Club Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

For More Information Contact:

Eric Hofmeister /President

Spectra Print Corporation

1.715.344.5175

1.715.344.7227 Fax

So You Think You Don't Need To Tweet

2011-04-28T13:32:00.002-05:00

I really don't need to know that Susie is on the deck enjoying ice tea.

Twitter is nothing more than idle chatter.

I text my friends and clients/customers so I don't need Twitter.

Twitter doesn't make sense to me.

I don't know if Twitter is right for me.

Is Twitter for everyone? A good question and one that eventually gets asked by individuals and companies who are venturing into the Twitter community for the first time. As you stare at your Twitter homepage with a few followers and, literally, a handful of tweets to your credit, you find yourself wondering … Is Twitter really for me?

Twitter Don't Get No Respect

There appears to be no middle ground when it comes to Twitter; you either love or hate the blue bird. There are some who say it has to do with your personality type. Some claim the platform favors outgoing people but many introverts are quick to say they love Twitter as it allows them to connect and build relationships on their own terms. It seems that Twitter has become the Rodney Dangerfield of social media but before you dismiss it completely, consider showing the blue bird a little love.

None of my customers are using Twitter so this is just a big waste of my time.

There are many other benefits to Twitter beyond simply making sales leads. Even if your customers aren't on Twitter - yet - the platform is a powerful way to learn, connect with your peers not to mention keeping track of what the competition is up to. Imagine yourself getting in front of the curve, becoming familiar with Twitter before your customers start asking you about its benefits.

Is there a place for Twitter in every organization and company?

It depends.

Lawyers, financial managers, medical professionals, caregivers and defense contractors may have strict regulatory limitations regarding information they can discuss in public so Twitter may not be appropriate. Keep in mind that Twitter is a form of publishing. Which brings an interesting point to consider: Where do your customers get their information?

People are jumping on the social media train in record numbers and are spending inordinately enormous amounts of time there. Ask any business owner what their number one marketing and business issue is and chances are they'll tell you "social media."

Aside from all the window-dressing, at its center, Twitter is a business networking tool - something many companies and individuals don't understand. If you view Twitter as just another way to broadcast company press releases or as your social media sales tool, you're missing the point.

You wouldn't attend an industry conference or a chamber meeting or event and read press releases out loud would you? Of course you wouldn't. You attend these events to seek out people to connect with, discuss subjects that you both have a common interest in and look for ways to work together. There's a reason why a social time is offered following an event.

Welcome to Twitter.

In today's always connected world, the role of social media in the business and personal world is blurring. There are a number of strategies to help you become successful on Twitter, which we'll explore in future posts but I won't leave you without first giving some words of Twitter advice:

Know your voice and be true.
Everything you say on social media should sound like your company or brand.
Good content isn't fake and it doesn't make promises it can't keep.
It has personality which is what makes it engaging. Individuals actively engaged and connected on the social media network will sniff you out if you are pretending.
When networking, the successful relationships are built on trust and friendships, so it is perfectly acceptable - and welcome - to let others know a little bit about what is going on in your life; sports, charity and family.

Tweeting what is interesting to you on a daily basis, as long as its appropriate and professional, will add to your Twitter success.

Do you RSS?

2011-04-20T11:18:00.004-05:00

They are everywhere ... those social media icons that direct us into the social media atmosphere.

Twitter - YouTube - Facebook - LinkedIn - Blogger

By now we're familiar with social media logos. You know what it means to "follow" and "join the conversation" and you've overcome your aversion to signing up for notifications.

That is until we are asked if we want to subscribe to RSS?

Huh??

RSS, which stands for "Real Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", is a simple way of bringing content from an outside source directly to you!

The following video will help you understand the mystery behind RSS in Plain English.

Now you're back on track with another social media tool in your arsenal.

Yeah .. you RSS!

You Know Winter's Been Here Long Enough When ...

2011-04-07T14:19:00.002-05:00

Honestly, it was here the last time I looked.
Really! And just when exactly would that have been?
Ok! Ok! You look over that way and I'll have a look see over here.

You know, I might have been mistaken. Maybe that was last year.
So, what do you think? Another two, three days before it's open?

"You Know Winter's Been Here Long Enough When ..." Digital Images.

Can I Scan QR Codes Without A Smartphone?

2011-04-04T13:03:00.005-05:00

Does it seem as if everyone in the world has a Smartphone except for you? Sure you've had your eye on that iPhone or the latest Android technology but you're not quite ready to make the leap to a sleek new app filled phone. Does that mean are left out of today's technology loop and won't be able to take advantage of accessing the links hidden in those QR Codes?

Hardly.

ScanLife has introduced technology that brings barcode scanning to all mobile phones with MMS capabilities, no application needed.

ScanLife's new "Scan & Send" feature supports application-independent scanning of QR Code, Datamatrix, EZcodes and UPC barcodes. Users can now simply snap a photo of a barcode and send it via MMS to 43588 or e-mail to scan@scanlife.com to be decoded.

Images are decoded similar to applications for iPhone or Android apps but the user is sent an MMS message with actions associated with the code, including links to product information, photos and phone numbers.

According to ScanLife CEO and president Mike Wehrs, "Scanbuy's technology now allows a brand, agency or retailer to reach at least 80% of today's camera phone users with industry standard barcodes. The user experience now ranges from taking a picture and send it (a seven keystroke solution) to a zero click, very fast recognition when using the ScanLife app on the over 190 models of phones that are supported."

The only downside is that the Scan & Send MMS feature is limited to U.S. users on Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, though the e-mail option will still work for camera phone owners on other carriers.

Bibliography: Internet: www.mashable; www.fresnobee.com

You Know You Want To Go ...

2011-03-24T11:31:00.000-05:00

Is it just me or does it seem as if everyone in the world has a Smartphone, is on Twitter and Facebook? Those of us who grew up with Clara Peller's "Where's the beef?" are now bombarded with requests to be added to a network, follow our friends on Facebook and asked to compose our thoughts in 140 characters or less.

While we thought we could avoid the whole social media scene, like my father underestimating the power of rock 'n roll, social media is here to stay.

According to Facebook statistics, more than 500 million active users are on Facebook and Wikipedia estimates 190 million of us are using Twitter, generating 65 million tweets a day. Gigaom has made the bold prediction that by Christmas 2011, 1 in 2 Americans will have a Smartphone. Looks like now would be the perfect time to have your social media for business questions answered.

Enter the Central Wisconsin Social Media Conference sponsored in part by Spectra Print as part of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Continuing Education. The two-day event will be held April 14-15, 2011, in Wausau. Thursday, April 14th events will be held at the Westwood Conference Center; the events on Friday, April 15th will be held at the NorthCentral Technical College.

Who Should Attend?

If your business is looking for information on how you can start using social media to promote your business today - you need to click on this link for registration information or click here to download the form.

Social media is not a fad, but rather a fundamental shift in the way businesses now communicate with their customers. Until you actually join a social media network, such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, its difficult to understand what is so appealing and how it can help your business.

Thursday's schedule consists of a wide range of relevant breakout sessions as well as the keynote address, "Measure This! The No B.S. Guide to Social Media Measurement" delivered by Social Media Explorer Jason Falls.

Events on Friday are made up of hands-on lab sessions in the Heath Sciences Building Computer Labs at the NorthCentral Technical College. These sessions are limited to 25 each session; please contact conference registration for availability.

Save The Dates and Share The Experience!

Wireless Internet access will be available so bring your iPad, laptop and Smartphones. Join the conversation and live tweet and blog the event using the hashtag #cwismc.

What's a hashtag?? Looks like you might want to sign up for breakout session B3-Twitter for Small Business and ask Phil.

UW-SP Continuing Education asks that all registrations be received no later than April 12, 2011. Any questions you have about the Central Wisconsin Social Media Conference can be directed to the UW-SP Continuing Education Department. Click here for email addresses as well as a personal favorite, telephone numbers.

And The Winner Is ...

2011-03-03T14:05:00.003-06:00

The organizers of the 2011 Portage County Business Council Expo couldn't have asked for a better turnout. From a cooperative weather forecast to the enthusiastic exhibitors eager to welcome the steady stream of event attendees.

With so many hands on displays, who wouldn't want to get into the act (and apparently several exhibitors, including Lori Schuler of Central Wisconsin Senior Living, just couldn't resist the urge to show everyone how it's done!)

At the Spectra Print booth, the subject of Smart Printing and social media were the hot topics for the day. Networking via live blogging and event tweets from our booth helped spread the word about the event and engage those who weren't able to attend.

When the time came to draw the winner for the iPod Touch, we were surprised to find the entry box nearly overflowing. At 4:30, under close supervision the winning name was drawn and announced.

Congratulations to the winner of the iPod Touch: Gary Evans, Mitchell's Heating and Cooling Company, N2759 Hill Street, Waupaca, WI. The company specializes in geothermal, hydronic & radiant in-floor heating, air conditioning systems, solar water and space heating.

Gary was not present at the time of the drawing and stopped by the corporate offices where Spectra Print Executive Vice-President Hans Hofmeister made the presentation. Gary will certainly look way "cool" while sporting the "hottest" new iPod.

How We Prepare To Take Care of Business

2011-02-28T12:25:00.000-06:00

Spectra Print To Attend 2011 Portage County Business Council Expo

2011-02-25T14:16:00.006-06:00

Spectra Print is pleased to announce they will be among the nearly 100 businesses attending the 2011 Portage County Business Council Expo. The event will be held on Monday, February 28, 2011, from 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI.

What's In It For Me?

What could be more important to an area business owner than spending an afternoon of networking and business building? Find out what's new in the marketplace and help keep your business dollars in the area.

Four top-of-the-hour mini-sessions will be held on the Expo floor.

The Smart Printing Buzz

Stop by the Spectra Print booth, #208, and find out how to show your customers just how smart your printing can be.

We will also be Twittering from the Business Expo. You can join in the conversation with the hashtag #spxo11

Do You Really Need Another Reason To Attend?

How about an awesome giveaway … like maybe the chance to win one (1) 8GB iPod Touch? This is the hottest addition to the iPod family with new features such as FaceTime video calling, Retina Display for crisp viewing, HD video and camera. Perfect for scanning QR codes.

To qualify, drop off your business card at the Spectra Print booth #208 for your chance to win. The drawing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2011. While you don't need to be present to win - your business card does.

Stop by our booth - we will be happy to discuss the possibilities and benefits of Smart Printing. You won't be disappointed.

We've Made Business Cards Smart!

2011-02-16T06:27:00.002-06:00

With the recent advent and expanded use of QR codes and other mobile tags, it's now easier than ever to have smart business cards.

We've taken this technology and applied it to a staple of the business world, your business card, and made it 'smart.'

Is There An App For That?

Business cards printed with your personal contact information are made smart with the addition of a QR code directing your contacts to your company web site or blog as well as a QRV code to transfer your personal contact information. These are just two ways to upgrade your business card.

With a QR reader installed on a mobile phone, the images on your business card are instantly scanned and the information decoded as a link to a web site or in the case of the QRV code, your personal information.

In the image below, you'll see the decoded QRV code scanned from the front of the business card of Spectra Print Marketing Director Al Scherwinski, shown above:

It really is easy to be smart. Contact us for other options.

Still Showing Off: Continuation of Booth Design

2011-02-09T07:35:00.002-06:00

In our last post the topic of discussion was creating a booth environment that would give you an edge at your next show.

No one needs to tell you that your booth establishes your show presence and is the central element of how your company will be perceived.

Take a step back, so to speak, and look at your booth from the other side of the aisle. When considering your booth, Spectra Print's Marketing Director Al Scherwinski says, "An effective booth is one that conveys your company's product accurately, quickly and what benefit it brings to potential customers."

If A Picture Paints a Thousand Words ...

Then a booth filled with nothing but text won't grab anyone's interest, but a photograph will.

The use of photography should be a key element of your booth; showing your customers your "product" (even if the product is you!), matching the photography to the brand and conveying the intangible is best left to another post, one we will cover in the near future.

It Takes A Village To Create a Booth

Someone once described their decorating style as "Early Halloween." While it may be a amusing description for a family room, it shouldn't be the way customers see your booth display. Professional graphic artists are a necessity for insuring your booth will look professional and convincing. A good graphic designer can take your concept from a piece of paper and turn it into a compelling design that clearly conveys, in 30-seconds or less, what your products are and what they do.

There are many other factors to consider such as working chairs into the overall design of your booth so they are a part of the display and not a distraction. If you have product demonstrations or products that will be physically on display, you will need cases or a countertop to show them. Panels with laminates as an option or stand along acrylic cabinets can be integrated into the design.

Anyone can put together a show booth with a company logo, a couple of photographs and a stack of brochures and business cards. Creating a show environment that commands attention involves professionals with a solid strategy to help level the playing field.

It's Okay To Be A Show Off

2011-01-26T13:53:00.003-06:00

Doing business without advertising is like winking

at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing,

but nobody else does. ~Steuart Henderson Britt

It never ceases to amaze me how hard small business owners work in order to achieve success. Contrary to popular opinion, there are very few perks to owning your own business: long hours, very little time off, on call and on the clock pretty much 24/7. If love makes the world go ‘round, small business owners are surely the cog that keeps the wheels of commerce turning.

The last few weeks we’ve been out on the show circuit, both trade and consumer, and came away with the knowledge that it is a jungle out there!

In an environment where everyone is in the same boat, how do you stop the parade of potential customers so they don’t pass you by?

Don’t Leave Home Without It

A set of clear goals that is. What are your expectations for the show you will be attending? Are you focusing on business promotion or is this the stage where you launch a new product? You can have more than one goal but you need to be clear about what your participation is going to achieve.

Your Display Is Your On-Site Ad

A successful display is one that is planned with the audience in mind. Who is it that you are targeting with your display? An important question to ask yourself since audiences “shop” shows differently.

Create a Buzz

Invite clients, customers, suppliers and other contacts; this is the stage made for social media and where Facebook and Twitter shine. Do you know your booth number in advance? If you do, make sure to feature the number prominently in your advance advertising.

Build It And They Will Come

Spectra Print’s Marketing Director Al Scherwinski says five basic elements for show booth displays are memorable visuals, headline, copy points, company logo, and web/blog presence.

Select your trade show graphics carefully; simple, bold and clear images work best.

Choose your words carefully and keep your display headline simple, clear and to the point. Chances are, people that did not plan to visit you at the show will more than likely walk past your booth. If this is your only chance to grab their attention, you will need a carefully thought out and compelling headline to make them want to find out more about your company.

It makes sense that the shorter your headline is the larger it can appear on your show booth display allowing your display to reach farther into busy show traffic. Even a small table top display with a short bold message can be seen several yards away.

“Your choice of typeface is also important,” Scherwinski says. “With literally thousands of type fonts to choose from, selecting the right one can seem daunting. The next time you attend a show, notice the displays that grab your attention. They won’t necessarily be large booths but displays that consistently use simple bold graphics.”

It was a dark and stormy night …

While it is tempting to write a description that explains everything your customer needs to know about you - don’t. As much as you would like them to, most show attendees will not want to spend a ton of time reading about your company. Use bullet points, keep your message short, don’t get too technical and remember to keep your company name front and center. Utilize QR codes to feature your social media and web site presence.

Now that you have a stack of requests, make sure follow-up correspondence is priority one when you are packed up and homeward bound.

Next week’s blog post will conclude the show marketing discussion. Stay tuned!

Jennifer Young Presents Seminar Opening Night All Canada Show, Madison

2011-01-26T08:55:00.003-06:00

Here is a YouTube portion of a seminar presented by Jennifer Young at the opening night of the All Canada Show at the Marriott West in Madison, WI. Jennifer's presentation, "Couples and Kids Fishing in Canada," featured a number of slides, sharing the success of Jennifer's many trips to Canada over the years with her family. Common sense tips included opening both car windows on the drivers side of the car when crossing the border to allow the agent to see into the entire vehicle, reminding your children that only the driver of the car should answer questions posed by the border agents as well as speaking with your guide ahead of time to arrange for those much needed "nature" breaks.

Jennifer will repeat her seminar again on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at the All Canada Show. Click here for the entire seminar schedule for All Canada - Madison, WI.

Do you have a funny story to share with Jennifer or have any specific questions for your upcoming trip with your significant other fisher person or family? Contact Jennifer Young by clicking on this link which will take you to the contact page for All Canada Show.

We've Flipped Over Flipping Books

2011-01-15T13:49:00.002-06:00

The next big thing to hit the online marketing industry - flipping books.

With just a few clicks of a mouse, clients can transformation their print-ready promotion material from a static PDF to life-like flip books with all the bells and whistle functions: search, zoom, hot-links and other reader interaction features not available in printed versions.

Sometimes referred to as e-catalogs, digital catalogs and flash catalogs, flipping books can be used either on or off-line without having to purchase additional software. All that is needed by the reader is a current version of Adobe Flash Player, which is available free-of-charge from Adobe.

MirroCraft Boats has utilized flipping book technology for their online marketing, which you can access here.

Our graphic designers can convert your PDF documents into a flash page flip book your readers can access by turning (“flipping”) each page of your document.

Digital flipping books create a user-friendly interactive experience for your readers allowing them to view the images and read the text as if your promotional material were right in front of them. In addition to the wow factor, imagine your client’s reaction to being able to view a video and access links all from the reader interactive pages of your company’s flipping book.

Apple iPhone has a mobile app that supports flipping pages and Adobe has released Adobe AIR for the Google Android mobile platform with support for other platforms like the BlackBerry soon to follow. Check out your mobile phone app store for more details.

How can digital flipping books be part of our online marking online solution?

What Am I Looking At?

2011-01-14T16:44:00.001-06:00

In addition to the introduction of the Spectra Print blog, Spectra Now, this week marks the roll-out of QR Codes at the All-Canada Show at Pheasant Run, St. Charles, IL. With the QR Code for the Spectra Print web site prominently displayed on the booth banner and on the newly designed business cards, Spectra Print is definitely causing quite a buzz at the All-Canada Show. Oh and did we mention the QR Codes on the shirts?

What is a QR Code? No, you are not looking for Elvis.

The unique bar code known as a QR or Quick Response code lets your customers - and potential customers - instantly learn more about your business by visiting a mobile version of your web site home, special landing page or blog via a QR code reader app on any smart phone.

The QR code could quite possibly become your business' new best friend. You may have seen QR codes scattered around and not known what they are; essentially they are a two-dimensional bar code but instead of being limited to storing numbers on groceries, QR codes are able to store things like strings of text, URL's, emails and much more.

Terrific. But what's the point and how is this going to help me?

Think about it this way. Nearly everyone has a smart phone and with a reader app, the phones have the ability to read the QR codes and instantly direct them to your specific page on the Internet. Imagine the response if your business' QR code was on your business card or to allow a potential client the opportunity to view a video about your business or a product review or to find a coupon or special offer?

The possibilities are endless!

It's Cool To Be A Groupie

2011-01-11T09:44:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the roll-out of the Spectra Print blog. Our goal at Spectra Print has always been to "provide our customers with high quality printed products and effective marketing solutions ..." In today's fast-paced, technology driven environment, it now includes incorporating social media into our customer's advertising arsenal.

The most frequently asked questions by our customers is, "I know about Facebook and Twitter but how is that going to help my company?" We recognize our clients uncertainty as to how to navigate the social media terrain; you know your destination but you are not sure how to get there. Technology seems to be evolving at a faster rate than our ability to grasp the lessons. While it may seem as if social media advertising has burst on the scene, we've been hearing the buzz for quite some time, incorporating social media into our long and short term company plans. The result is our formation of Spectra Group. We now can help our customers through the maze of social media information, providing them with innovation and creative solutions.

Our success is not measured merely by our presence on the social media scene; it is more than just creating Facebook pages and establishing Twitter accounts. We realize there are no "one size fits all" answers to social media questions. We are here to listen to your specific goals for your social media program and will help you obtain the results you are looking for.

Companies in today's highly competitive markets face unique challenges, something we understand. Spectra Print's commitment goes beyond its ability to help their clients online. Our staff regularly attends conferences and will be hosting a social media event in early spring. Social media is now part of our employee day to day activities and part of our entire agency culture.

Social media is always evolving and changing and is more than about making friendships and attaining numbers. We realize the value of building relationships with our clients, fans and followers and is more than just posting information.

We are excited about this new venture and being part of our client's team - the nice thing about a team is that you always have someone on your side. We invite you to join the group!