MyOrderDesk by PagePath

When your business is slow, it’s easy to think customers have moved to cheaper printers or decided to do without the services you offer.

Particularly during such times, it’s a good idea to survey present and recently departed customers in order to check the pulse of your printing business.

You’ll probably discover some customers didn’t like the level of service you provide. That’s not pleasant to hear, but complaints of any kind are good. They give you a starting point for improvement.

Many former and present customers are nice people who don’t want to complain. These are the people you need to talk to.

Studies reported by the CornerStone Leadership Institute show that for every person who registers a complaint, there are a couple of dozen who don’t say anything about it at all.

Conversations with customers will show that you really care about them. They will be more loyal to you in the future.

Have you talked to your customers lately? What have they had to say? Post your comments below.

Joe Kern  is Vice President of  Marketing/Customer Service at PagePath Technologies. PagePath was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Plano, Illinois. PagePath’s MyOrderDesk is an eCommerce solution that combines, Web-to-Print, automated proofing, pricing, reordering and more. It seamlessly integrates into a printing organization’s existing website or can be used as a standalone site. MyOrderDesk is known throughout the printing industry as the leader in Web-to-Print software.

Some experts say the employee handbook should be a good-news tool. It will help you attract qualified people and keep those you already have.

While some categories, such as paid holidays, are specific, the book’s forward should emphasize that it contains general guidelines. When writing it, advisors at INC. magazine recommend saying “we may” in the book, rather than “we will.”

Avoid making the book sound like a contract and be sure to mention in the preface that policies can be changed at your discretion.

Relationships with employees are governed by many laws. They apply to businesses with one employee or more.

• Harassment and discrimination. State that you are an equal opportunity employer in every way. State that you will not tolerate harassment or discrimination. Outline steps an employee can take to report a violation, such as reporting it to two people. Tell how you respond to discrimination or harassment, and emphasize that the employee who makes the claim will not face retaliation.

• Workweek and hours. Generally tell the days and hours of the workweek and rules for breaks and meals. State which employees are paid for overtime. Tell the difference between an hourly worker and a salaried worker who is not paid for overtime.

• Safety. If workers operate in the printing plant, a safety policy should be given that is commensurate with state and federal regulations. Check with the Department of Labor in your state.

• Attendance, tardiness, dress code, use of the telephone and more. Don’t address minor areas, but focus on your actual needs. Avoid reminding people of the punishment they face for each infraction. Have one category at the end of the book that details discipline.

• Paid time off. Rather than having separate sick days and vacation policies, some businesses offer “paid time off,” which can be used at the employee’s discretion. Unused days can be paid at the end of the year.

• Benefits. Some are specified by state and federal law, such as time off for jury duty and military service. Check the rules.

• Voluntary benefits. More good news. Tell about any health insurance plan, retirement accounts, and other benefits you offer.

• Each employee should sign a statement saying they have received the employee handbook.

Joe Kern  is the Marketing and Customer Care Manager at PagePath Technologies. PagePath was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Plano, Illinois. PagePath’s MyOrderDesk is an eCommerce solution that combines, Web-to-Print, automated proofing, pricing, reordering and more. It seamlessly integrates into a printing organization’s existing website or can be used as a standalone site. MyOrderDesk is known throughout the printing industry as the leader in Web-to-Print software.

We’re running hard to get new customers and increase sales with those we already have.

We’ve turned out the lights and saved power wherever we can, and we’ve checked for every possible savings on material and supplies.

These steps would help any organization preserve the bottom line, but there is one factor that can do more.

Keeping people satisfied with their work is a big item. We all have more to do today. Some of us are wearing two hats, according to job descriptions.

That could be one reason university professors say today’s workplace is rife with rudeness and lack of respect for each other. Some 60 percent of their study respondents say the situation is getting worse.

Workers who are in a hurry may think they don’t have time to be polite. But it saves time in the long run because it increases cooperation and creativity.

Civility goes beyond please and thank you (but those words can help). It includes listening and body language.

A study published in one psychology journal says positive relations with co-workers are a big factor in how people feel from day to day. They are less stressed, even if they are very busy, and more productive.

Besides respecting others, as well as yourself, it’s important to know what makes you angry or frustrated. Decide that when it happens, you will have a solution-driven attitude. Focus on the problem, not the other person.

When one person becomes a role model for civility and respect, those qualities can spread to others.

Joe Kern is the Marketing and Customer Care Manager at PagePath Technologies. PagePath was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Plano, Illinois. PagePath’s MyOrderDesk is an eCommerce solution that combines, Web-to-Print, automated proofing, pricing, reordering and more. It seamlessly integrates into a printing organization’s existing website or can be used as a standalone site. MyOrderDesk is known throughout the printing industry as the leader in Web-to-Print software.

I came across this article on producing good flyers. This might be something that you can pass off to your customers or prospects.

Getting a flyer printing project to work effectively for your business  is like looking for a husband (or a wife) to be with you through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, till death do you part.

In order for your relationship with your flyer printing project to succeed, it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. It’s not something that you can just come up with in a flick of your fingers. You need to have the patience to carefully plan your flyer printing design to get the attention of your prospective clients.

What makes an effective and successful flyer printing project? Here are a few of the factors that should be considered in your flyer printing project:

White Space

White space is basically used to lead your target readers’ eyes to the most important part of your flyer printing project.

Contrary to popular belief, your white space is not there to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance in your flyer printing piece. White space is provided to emphasize, as well as provide your eyes with an area in your flyer printing design where they can rest, to be able to see the focal point of your print flyers.

Although it’s a tad tempting to squeeze in as much information in your flyer printing project, always remember that a sea of gray or black text only makes for an overwhelming design that will only confuse your prospective readers.

“S”- Pattern

Actually, the pattern looks more like the letter Z than the S. It is how your target readers’ eyes go when scanning an ad – it starts from the top left corner of your flyer printing ad then ends up at the bottom right.

Although they look at your flyer printing design according to the S-pattern, make sure that you make it easy for your target readers to understand what you have to say to them. It doesn’t do you any good if your target readers suddenly ask whether they’re still reading the same flyer printing piece halfway to your design.

Consistency

Being different is laudable, especially when it makes you stand out from the rest. But making it hard for your target readers to know your top from your tail is also not commendable.

People expect consistency in whatever marketing material they come across (e.g. brochure printing, flyer printing, postcard printing, catalog printing). They want to see certain elements at certain areas of your flyer printing piece. And believe it or not, they do look for them whenever they look at your flyer printing ad.

Simplicity

Always keep your flyer printing project simple and short. People have other things to do aside from skimming through your print flyers. So make it easy for them to get your message fast. Don’t put too much elements that will only make them distracted. Include fewer elements in your flyer printing project.

Joe Kern is the Marketing and Customer Care Manager at PagePath Technologies. PagePath was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Plano, Illinois. PagePath’s MyOrderDesk is an eCommerce solution that combines, Web-to-Print, automated proofing, pricing, reordering and more. It seamlessly integrates into a printing organization’s existing website or can be used as a standalone site. MyOrderDesk is known throughout the printing industry as the leader in Web-to-Print software.