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July132021

Alternative Uses for Engraved Nameplates

Name Plates are usually thought of as a way to display your name on your desk. However, alternative uses for engraved nameplates are many and varied. For example, did you know that you can use them to promote your brand? In this article, we will explore alternative ways to use engraved nameplates.

Engraved Nameplates On Office Windows and Walls in a Co-Working Space

Co-working areas have become very popular over the years. Place engraved nameplates on office windows and walls to help people identify the location of your office. It can also be a great way to promote your company or brand. and let your customers know where you are located in a co-working space.

Engraved Nameplates as Product Labels labels

Your engraved nameplates make an ideal product label because they are durable and easy to read, which means your branding will also be clear to viewers. If you have products that do not change, this could be a great alternative to sticker labeled. Place a magnet or velcro strip on the back for an easy way to move and update as needed.

Engraved Nameplates For Decorations

So you have a favorite saying or quote? Why not put it on an engraved nameplate and showcase it on your desk or bookshelves. This alternative use for engraved nameplates is a great way to make your space more personal. This can also be a fantastic alternative if you have been looking for original ways to decorate your office or home.

Engraved Nameplates For Schools and Libraries

Room numbers are also commonly used in schools and libraries to differentiate rooms from one another. The room number is displayed on a plaque that can be attached either to the wall or door and is typically located near the doorway. Almost all room plaques are labeled with the room number.

Building Rooms Numbers

In this alternative use for engraved nameplates, they are used to identify individual rooms. Plaques are usually made of a durable material and are displayed by the front door of the room that it is identifying. For example, room number one would be displayed in a hallway near the exit door. This alternative is common in schools and libraries and also includes rooms of homes or workplaces.

Did you know that nameplates come in all kinds of sizes?

Most nameplates are standard-sized, but you can also get some made in non-standard sizes too. We have seen them from as tiny as 3/8 of an inch to as large as 24 by 18 inches! Don’t let the size of your nameplate limit your creativity.

Engraved nameplates can be used in alternative ways to promote your business and brand. They’re inexpensive, durable, and easy to read which makes them a perfect alternative for many of the same uses as traditional stickers or labels. Get creative with how you use engraved nameplates today!

Do you have a project we can help with? We would love to hear about it. Start by requesting a quote.

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October42017

What Are The Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Social Media

stevenboehlemarketing1,979

What Are The Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Social Media

320,059,368 North Americans use the internet. 263,081,200 of these internet users use Facebook. I think it is safe to say that your ideal customer is online.

It is also safe to say that your business should be using the internet and social media to promote your business. The problem for many businesses, just like you, is managing and updating social media is not your strength. You can continue to try and get the results the marketing gurus promised, or you can outsource your social media marketing. But, is outsourcing social media a good idea?

Social Media Marketing Statistics

Before we take a look the pros and cons of outsourcing social media, let’s get on the same page. Let’s make sure that we know just how important social media is to your business. Here are a couple social media marketing statistics that illustrate the importance of social media.

Instagram earns $595 million in mobile ad revenue per year, a rapidly increasing number.
Despite news of layoffs and executives leaving the company, Twitter’s revenue is up 8% YOY
59% of Americans with social media accounts think that customer service through social media has made it easier to get questions answered and issues resolved.
Over 50 million businesses use Facebook Business Pages.
2 million business use to Facebook for advertising.
Facebook’s total revenue grew 56% in 2016, and advertising revenue grew 59%.
93% of Pinterest users use the platform to plan or make purchases.
39% of LinkedIn users pay for monthly premium accounts.
Pinterest drives 25% of all retail website referral traffic.
More than 56% of online adults use more than one social media platform.
75% of male internet users are on Facebook as well as 83% of female internet users.
32% of teenagers consider Instagram to be the most important social network.
Female internet users are more likely to use Instagram than men, at 38% vs. 26%.
29% of internet users with college degrees use Twitter, compared to 20% with high school degrees or less.
81% of millennials check Twitter at least once per day.
Most Instagram users are between 18-29 years old, about six-in-ten online adults.
22% of the world’s total population uses Facebook.
LinkedIn boasts more than 450 million user profiles.
On any given day, Snapchat reaches 41% of 18 to 34-year-olds in the US.
YouTube overall and even YouTube on mobile alone reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any cable network in the U.S.
Facebook continues to be the most widely used social media platform, with 79% of American internet users. Based on total population, (not just internet users) 68% of U.S. adults (you know, your customers) use it. What are you waiting for? Start advertising on Facebook already!
Instagram receives the silver medal with 32% of users, Pinterest coming in a close third with 31%, and LinkedIn and Twitter at 29% and 24% respectively.
76% of Facebook users visited the site daily during 2016, with over 1.6 billion daily visitors, compared to 70% of daily usage in 2015.
The average LinkedIn user spends 17 minutes on the site per month.
51% of Instagram users access the platform daily, and 35% say they look at the platform several times per day.
Almost 80% of time spent on social media platforms happens on mobile.
Katy Perry has the most worldwide Twitter followers, at 94.65 million.
Over 400 million snaps are shared on Snapchat per day, and almost 9,000 photos are shared every second.
Just 10 thousand YouTube videos have generated more than 1 billion views.
More than half of all YouTube views are on mobile devices.

So, I guess you can say things are getting pretty serious. If your business has tried social media or failed at social media your social media marketing can make a comeback. Your business can still get on the social media bandwagon and start seeing results.

Reasons You Should Outsource Social Media

Outsourcing sometimes gets a bad wrap. We think of sending production of our services and goods overseas to the lowest bidder. Well, I guess you could do that with your social media marketing. However, I would tend to outsource your social media marketing to an expert, not the lowest bidder.

Let’s look at 10 reasons why you should consider outsourcing your social media marketing to a quality marketing agency or freelancer.

Your Brand Message Is Important

The way you post on social media says a lot about your brand. Your social media posts are only going to get a second or two to grab the attention of your reader. Just make sure not to sweat the small things, just ensure that your brand message is in place.

Social Media Is Part Of A Bigger Picture

Social media marketing should be part of a bigger campaign or marketing strategy. If your business is just posting cool cat videos and cute baby pictures, you might get some engagement, but you will not be supporting your marketing efforts. Social media should be part of a holistic marketing plan that drives results.

Focus Your Resources

I know as a business owner you don’t sleep, I know I don’t. Well, that is a lie. As a business owner resources are usually scarce. Putting Gertrude from the front desk in charge of social media is probably not a good idea. Not only is she not computer savvy, but her opinion on being social was heading to the speakeasy for an adult beverage. Focus your resources on the important tasks at hand.

Focus on Running Your Business

Okay, Gertrude is not your answer. “I can handle social media and I will rock.” Mister Business Owner, I like the enthusiasm, but you need to run the business, make payroll, develop new business partnerships, network, and manage employees. Social media is not even number 12 on your priority list. Focus on your business your employees will appreciate it.

Create A Content Calendar

I know what you are thinking, “what the h-e double hockey sticks is a content calendar.” Glad you asked, sailor. A content calendar is a shareable document that will help organize and plan all your marketing activities, including social media. Your outsourced partner should create a content calendar for your social media calendar that aligns with other campaigns.

It’s All About Analytics

“You had me at data.” said no one ever. However, data and analytics might be one of the most important parts of your social media marketing. Only through killer data will you know what types of posts work and what time of the day to post your social media updates.

A/B Test Your Way to Better Results

Do you have the time to create multiple posts, test the posts, and figure out what worked? I figured the answer was no. Outsourcing your social media should allow your business to test different sets of social media ads, posts, and platforms to see what drives results.

Do You Get How Social Media Can Grow Your Business?

“Well, my nephew told me we should be Tweeting on the SnapBook.” If this sounds like you, you might not understand how social media work or more importantly, how social media can build your business. If you do not get how social media can help your business, you should leave it to the pros.

Accountability

I have found that most business owners that do social media for themselves do not hold themselves accountable to getting the results desired. When you outsource your social media marketing, you can hold someone else accountable for posting to your social accounts.

Posting, Posting, and more Posting

Did you know that the internet and social media never sleep or take vacations? That’s right, the internet works more than you Mister Business Owner. A whopping 89% of social media requests go unanswered by brands. The point here is that in order to get the most out of your social media marketing, you need to be on top of it 24/7/365. I say, let someone else handle it.

Reasons You Should Not Outsource Social Media

Wow, there are 10 great reasons why you should be outsourcing social media. Well, before you jump into the deep end, there are some cons that you should consider.

Use For Customer Service

More and more customers are using social media as a way to get questions answered. Customers expect to be able to reach a real person in your company, be it via a website, social media or the phone. Being responsive to those requests is critical! Only your business can deliver customer service the way you do. I would encourage you as a business owner to monitor social media for customer service issues and keep this internal.

Cost

Now, a social media marketing agency is going to cost an arm and a leg. Outsourcing social media just does not align with the budget. I get it, budgets are tight. However, if you look around there are plenty of affordable social media programs out there for your business. Make sure that you get the service and results needed to grow your business.

Connecting With Your Business

As a business owner, you want to be able to connect with your customers and leads. Outsourcing your social media marketing could take this direct connection away from your business. Connecting with your prospects and customers is important.

Lack of Control

As a business owner, it is hard to let go of control of anything. I have worked with clients that needed approvals from the CEO before a blog post or social media update could get out the door. I am also going to say that not letting go of control and trusting your agency, employees, and partners is the fastest way to ruin your business. If you want to grow, you have to give something up.

Being Held Hostage

I have heard stories about agencies and freelancers that would not give up control of social media accounts. This is a concern and could cause problems down the road. Make sure that someone internally has the admin controls of your accounts. This is just best practice.

Posting At The Wrong Time

Outsourcing social media sounds like you are sending it to India and they will be posting at midnight. Right? Well, I hope this is not the case but it could happen. Again, make sure that your social media partner knows when your customers are on social media.

Don’t have The Passion For Your Business

You are the head honcho and you have the passion for your business. I get it. You get up early and build your business around networking and direct mail. How can your social media marketing agency have the same passion for your business as you?

Well, the good news is they don’t have to get up at 4 am, live, and breathe your business. Your social media marketing agency should be able to replicate and show your passion. They should be able to listen to you speak and create content that shows your passion.

Furthermore, social media should educate, encourage, empower, and entertain your end user, not necessarily show your passion for the business. Your passion might even be scaring clients away on social, who knows.

Lack of Spontaneity

Do you have epic office parties that need to be posted on social media? Maybe you should leave those images taken from the corporate accounts. However, it is a good idea to post events that are happening in the office on a regular basis. This can include birthdays, anniversaries, and other business-related events. Unless your agency is in-house, not likely, they might miss these fun times.

That is okay. As the business owner or marketing manager, you should be able to jump on Facebook and do a quick post, you should be able to Tweet a quick Tweet, and post a live video to Instagram. Expecting your agency to do 100% of the posting is probably not the right call for your business anyway.

Working With Other Clients

As a business owner, I know you think your marketing partners are only working on your account 24/7. Well, this is not the case. In fact, there are social media agencies that are working with multiple clients. These other clients could, in fact, be your direct competition.

Now, if this freaks you out, you are probably better off doing social media and all your marketing yourself. I would even venture to say that your social media marketing agency might not want to work with you. Don’t be the jealous girlfriend.

They Hire The Team

Your team and culture are important to your business. Got it. How can you trust a social media marketing agency if you are not doing the interview? The good cop, bad cop interview process has never let an employee in that underperformed. Right? I thought so.

Make sure to find the agency that works with you. Most social media agencies are pretty down to earth and will get along with you. Sometimes, you need to look in the mirror if you are not able to get along. Managing an agency is no different than managing an employee, it is about the relationship you build.

How To Outsource Social Media Effectively

Before we go any further, let me say, “thank you for reading this far. I hope you find this article entertaining and informative.” I also know what you are thinking, “How can I ensure that I make outsourcing social media effective?” Glad you asked.

Hire Someone That You Can Trust

Finding the right person to manage your social media can be hard. Are they going to get the results your desire? Are they going to execute on the social media strategy? These are all items that you need to address before starting an engagement with a new marketing partner.

Don’t Sweat The Small Things

The average lifetime of a Tweet is only 18 minutes. You saw that right, 18 minutes. So, if you are the business owner or CEO that needs to proof everything before it goes out, then you should probably let go a little bit. Let your marketing partners, agencies, and freelancers do their job. If the image is not 100% what you would pick, get over it. Creative and visuals are personal preference anyway.

Listen to Ideas

Here is another pet peeve of mine. You brought an agency or freelancer in to do a job. They are the expert in the industry of social media. Listen to their ideas and let them do what they do best.

Develop a Clear Plan

A clear social media strategy or plan will keep everyone on the same page. The plan is going to be the blueprint for execution. Get on the same page and develop a plan that works.

Agree on Key Performance Indicators

Do you know how you are going to determine if social media is right for your business? Develop KPI’s (key performance indicators) that will help measure the success of your campaigns. Remember, these are not revenue numbers, but metrics that will lead to more revenue.

Share Your Brand Guidelines

Your brand guidelines are written brand rules that need to be followed. These include approved fonts, written tone, approved colors and other branding rules that need to be followed. Make sure to share these with your agency or freelancer. This is going to help them execute faster and more accurate.

Work With Your Social Media Agency

If you are going to leave social media 100% up to your agency or freelancer, you are going to fail. Remember, you need to post the ad hoc parties or events that are happening in the office. You need to respond to the customer service inquiries that come in. You need to do your part if you really want to see the results from social media.

Proactively Watch for Scope Creep

Get to know what your agency is responsible for in the contract and make sure you proactively watch out for scope creep. This will help you keep the relationship intact and avoid any surprise invoices that land on your desk.

Look At Your Analytics and Reports

Your agency should be sending you updates and reports with data. Make sure that you are reviewing them so you know what is going on. Looking at your data and reports will help you understand what is happening and what needs to be changed. Typically, reporting can help create new ideas.

Review The Work Being Completed

Look over the work before it goes out. This is going to help you understand social media in more detail. Just remember not to sweat the small things and let your talent do their job.

Outsourcing Your Social Media Marketing Can Be a Win

Outsourcing social media marketing is going to save you time, get you better results, and help grow your business. Just make sure to ask the right questions of your social media partner and understand what you are getting for your money. There are many different social media strategies that your business can take advantage of.

Just make sure that you are taking advantage of social media so you do not end up on the wrong end of a meme.

August292017

10 Marketing Problems Your Business Will Face

stevenboehlemarketing39

10 Marketing Problems Your Marketing Business Will Face

When I first started my marketing business I thought I was going to rule the world. I was a great marketer in the corporate marketing departments and knew everything. Man, I was wrong. Starting a marketing business was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

If you are like me and planning on going at it alone, I fist say good luck. I also know you are going to do fine as long as you stay motivated, hungry, and customer focused. However, today I want to share with your 10 marketing problems I faced when starting my business.

Not Investing In Marketing

First off, if your read the internet you know that you can market your business with no marketing budget. I mean you are going to blog, use social media, and SEO your way to clients.

Well, the internet is wrong. It has lied to your once again. Yes, you can find clients through blogging, social media, and SEO. However, this takes time and most marketing agencies rely on cash flow to be successful. Without cash flow, you will be looking for that next corporate gig.

You are going to need to invest into marketing to make this thing happen. Trust me, it is not fun to go months without a sales meeting. This can cause you to lower price and get desperate, not a good thing.

Lack of Time

Okay, you are one of the marketing business owners that left their 9-5 with a large contract in hand. Cash flow at the moment is not a problem because you have that one huge client.

Well, now time is going to become a huge factor in the growth of your business. As you are trying to keep your client happy, doing everything under the sun to keep your client, you forget about the marketing for your business.

This becomes a very dangerous proposition. What happens when that great client moves away from your marketing business? In order to build your marketing business empire, you need to fill your pipeline and this takes time. Start now.

Not Selling at All Times

You are a business owner and you should be thinking of ways to drive sales at all times. This is now your role, business development. It can be very hard for many people, including yours truly.

I landed my first large client while talking to a random guy at a happy hour. I was out at a networking event and not feeling the room. So I left the meeting and went into the bar while the event finished. While I was at the bar watching a game, a guy sat down next to me and we started chatting about sports and business.

It turned out to be the owner of a well-established recruiting business that they needed help marketing their services to companies. This conversation turned into a very lucrative deal for my business and we continue to do business.

The point here is to always be looking for new sales opportunities. You never know where your next big deal is going to come from.

Not Adding Value During The Sales Process

Inbound marketing is going to work for your marketing business. Trust me. However, one of the biggest mistakes I see in the inbound marketing process is the lack of value agencies give in the sales process.

“Download…fill in the blank.” The business then delivers a poorly written one-page document that adds very little value. Well, this shows your potential client what you think of them, not much.

Create a whitepaper and guide that actually adds value to the customer. Offer your potential client a “real” marketing audit, not just a couple emails with a generic plan. Audit their current marketing activities and see how you can help them, or give them a free month of service to prove yourself. Adding value is the best sales tool you can come up with.

Not Being Selective

Have you ever taken on a new customer and quickly found out that the project is not going to be profitable? Even worse, have you taken on a client and found out that you can’t stand the guy?

Make sure that when you are marketing your business that you are marketing to the clients that you want to work with. Be selective as your agree to marketing services. In order to be truly effective, you need to ensure that you are working with great clients.

Using Old Technology

We are marketers, we are always looking for new ways to do our job better or more efficient. Well, this is not really the case, I have talked to a handful of marketing agencies that use old antiquated technology.

Do you have a CRM to manage your sales pipeline? No, you are not alone. In fact, most marketing agencies do not have a CRM in place or do not use it. I have even talked to many agencies that have never sent an email from a list of subscribers. You guys, it is 2017.

I know that marketing tech continues to change daily. But, as a marketing business, it is your responsibility to understand the tools to get things done. If you are not exploring new options, you are doing your clients disservice.

Trying To Maintain Your Talent

Finding talent is hard. The recruitment process for top marketing talent feels impossible. All the big companies like Apple and Google snatch the top tier marketing talent. As you continue to find the right marketing talent it is okay to use contractors, freelancers, and even outsource your work.

Using external talent is a great way to lower your overhead and only pay on the jobs you need them for. As a inbound marketing business, it took 2 years before I hired my first blogger because I needed industry specific writers. It was much easier to hire on a job by job basis.

Invest in the right talent when you find it. Great marketers are hard to come by.

Limited Services

I know it is cool to call yourself a “boutique” business and you still can. However, the reality is that most marketing agencies offer a limited service offering leaving money on the table.

It might be best for the business to make a strategic partnership with another business or freelancer that helps expand your service offering. This is a great way to find new leads and build lasting business relationships.

The more you can offer your client, the more valuable your business will become to the client. It is hard to master everything, but your client will appreciate you bringing talent that will help improve marketing and drive a return on investment.

Not Documenting Your Deliverables

This is not really a marketing problem, but it is a customer retention problem that I have been guilty of many times.

Does your business struggle with scope creep? Yeah, we are trying to do what is right for the client and we agree to do more than we bargained for. “Sure, we can create that new landing page and continue to support your marketing automation software. No problem. In fact, we can take your retainer amount down by 25%.”

We do stupid things when we are trying to keep our clients happy. This is why you need to create a clear scoop of work with details about what you are going to be delivered within the agreed upon timeline. This will help you keep your clients happy and on track.

Trust me, in my early days of business ownership, I struggled with this. I would either lose a client or do way too much work.

Customer Retention

You are probably going to argue with me on this point, “customer retention is not part of the marketing process.” Well, I would beg the differ.

If you are retaining your customers while growing your book of business, it gives your marketing business more cash to invest in marketing. A focus on customer retention is also part of the last stage of the inbound marketing process, delight.

Delighting your customer and focusing on customer retention is the best way to grow your business through word of mouth. Let your clients do the selling for you. Customer retention will help your business develop predictable monthly cash flow.

Conclusion

If you are a startup marketing business or a well-established marketing business, I hope you can learn from some of the mistakes that I have made in the past. These marketing problems can really slow the growth of your marketing business.

o what is right for your client and produce amazing work. Don’t be the marketing professional that gives us all a bad name. A true marketer holds themselves to a higher standard.

May252017

Starting A Business Is Hard Work

stevenboehlemarketing57

5 Reasons Why Starting Your Own Business Is Hard

According to the SBA, there are 27.9 million small businesses, 18,500 firms with 500 employees or more and over 60,000 new businesses formed every year. People love the idea to own their own business. From the glamor of calling yourself the CEO to the interesting challenges a small business creates. There are tons of reasons to start your business today!

Starting Your Own Business Is Hard Work

Before you jump in head first, I want to share some of my experiences starting and managing a small business marketing consultant. I also want to tell you why starting your own business is so hard, but also so rewarding.

24/7

Business never sleeps. Right now it is 5:30 am on a Saturday morning and I am writing a blog post (blogging for your business is so important, and making time becomes a priority). I had plans of sleeping in this morning, but the business needed my attention in other areas this week, so before I head out to a wedding this afternoon, I need to get caught up. There are certain tasks that I feel are more important than sleep.

Your business is moving at all times, it never sleeps, it never takes a break. You have to adjust your schedule to meet the needs of the business. No more 9-5 bankers hours. You are going to be attending events, dinners, and networking events at all hours of the day or night.

You are now your business and working 24/7 is now a necessity.

No Vacation/Holidays

When I was in corporate America I thought to go on a vacation was impossible. While you are gone your “backup” did nothing. You come back to days worth of emails, paperwork, meetings, and the one thing your “backup” actually did, now has to be redone because they messed it up. I know the glamorous corporate gig.

Now that I own a business it has become even harder. I recently celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary to my amazing wife (we got married at 22 if you are trying to figure out how old I am). We decided to go to Las Vegas. I know what you are thinking, gambling, drinks, and shows for a couple days. Not so fast, we, or I, decided on Vegas because there was a conference that I wanted to make an appearance at (my poor wife, and this is why she is amazing). Don’t get me wrong, we went to a couple shows, had some great food, and enjoyed our time, but the business dictated when and where we went.

If you are used to the normal summer vacation, well you might have to put that off for a couple years or at least until you can start to “crush it”.

Lack Of Income

You just started your business and the money is going to start rolling in. You are going to meet the CEO of Coca-Cola and sign a huge deal, right? I wish that were the case. There are going to be businesses that generate profit overnight and become the instant billionaires you read about or see on the Today show. It does happen, but I will tell you that it does not work that way for the majority.

In the very beginning of my first business, my business partner and I scraped by. Working out of my garage, eating Ramen noodles, and living like college kids again (hard to do with 3 & 4 kids). Any additional income went back to the business, trying to get it to grow. If we were lucky the mortgage got paid, food bought, utilities and internet checks written. Now, what do we have left over to advertise and keep the business running? I have talked to many business owners from all over that have sold their homes and moved back into their parents home to save cash. Definitely, something you hope not to happen.

If you think that starting your business is going to generate tons of cash right off the bat, you’re crazy and probably starting your business for the wrong reason. “You have to live like most won’t, in order to live like most can’t”. Profit is a long-term goal, but the profit can be tremendous and make all the hard work worth it.

Prospecting New Business

This is one of the things that I dread about owning a business (to this day). I am not a sales person, I know that and if you are, good for you, it is a great skill to have. I have had to learn how to network and ask for sales. I have learned along the way, but it makes me more nervous than public speaking.

When you first start out there are never long lines of new prospects waiting for you. You have to earn them. This is one of the reasons why I blog so much. I hope that by reading the symple_blog, you will see that we are the expert in the field and when your company needs marketing help, we are the first person you contact (in advance, I appreciate your business).

You have to find creative ways to generate new business and it can be hard at times. You are going to have to get out of your comfort zone and do things you are not used to doing. Practice makes better (I don’t believe in perfect).

Wearing Green, Red, Blue, and Even Pink Hats

As a dude, are you ready to put on your pink bedazzled hat (I have two small girls and I have no problem anymore)? Well, you better get ready to wear every color of the rainbow. As you start your business you are doing everything. You are the accountant, the salesperson, the janitor, the cook, the event planner, or whatever is needed at any moment.

There is no cleaning crew that comes in after the office is closed to throw your wastebasket and cleans your bathroom. There is no maintenance crew that comes to move your desk higher or lower because your back hurts. It is you.

If you can afford to get help, great, but most small business owners are wearing multiple hats and those hats are changing color daily, hourly, or even by the minute. So get ready dude, your pink hat is in the mail.

Why The Hard Work Is Worth It

Starting your own business is hard work, but there are so many reasons why it is worth all the long hours and hard work.

Work/Life Balance

As a business owner, I have never had more work-life balance in my life. This is the one thing that I enjoy the very most about owning a business. I am able to wake up early or work late into the night and be there for my family and friends on their schedule, not the schedule my boss says I need to keep. I have been able to make every soccer practice, gymnastics practice, and volunteer at my church. However, if you want to succeed you have to alter your schedule to get things done if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. There have been days that I wake up at 4:30 am and stop working at midnight, but I control it.

Set The Company Culture

As a small business owner, you are able to dictate the culture of the company. I am not a huge suit and tie guy, but I will throw one on when needed. I have set the company up to be as casual as you want. Sandals in the summer (we live in Arizona, so they are a must), shorts in December, I don’t care as long as you are getting your work done and producing at a high level. In fact, we also give all employees a pair of converse when they start, this helps jump-start the laid-back atmosphere. Have fun while you work and you will work harder and longer.

Get Things Done

Do you have a 6-month turn around for any marketing activity? My last corporate job did. You want an email to help jump-start sales, “well we can get that out in 6 months”. The problem is sales are down now. Owning and operating a small business gives you the ability to get things done and get them done fast. That same email to jump-start sales can now be planned, designed, and sent in less than a day. You need a new landing page for a client, let’s knock it out. The lack of getting things done and out the door is what drove me out of the door of corporate America.

You Choose Your Co-Workers and Customers

Starting your own business gives you the opportunity to pick and choose who you work with. I am not just talking about hiring new employees. I am talking about your customer or clients. One of the best feelings is being able to work with clients that you get along with and have a strong relationship with. This helps business on both sides.

It’s only happened once. But I recently had to terminate a contract with a client because they were continually late on getting us needed information and then would blame us for not meeting the deadlines. “Do you have the creative for the email?” The day it was supposed to hit the market we would receive the creative and have to work into the night or miss the deadline. This creates an unhealthy relationship and I finally had enough. My employees are more important than you, mister client. See you, here is a list of other agencies that might be able to help you.

Being able to like the people you work with and work for makes coming to work enjoyable. I do not mind putting in extra hours if my co-workers need help or my clients need something, as long as they are able to return the favor and appreciate the hard work we put in. At the end of the day, we see this as a partnership, not just the buying or selling of services.

The Harder You Work, The Bigger The Payoff

The harder I work the more money I am able to make. One of my biggest complaints in the corporate world was the fact that if I came in early or stayed late, my pay stayed the same. So what’s the point? Now I can control how much or how little I make each year. I am in control of my salary, not some HR rep that says the local pay grade is $xx,xxx, or we offer competitive salaries.

Your Time Is Now!

We know that starting your own business is hard work, but totally worth it. It is also not for everyone. If it was not worth it, we would give up. But we are entrepreneurs, we are the people that drive the economy, and I applaud you and anyone thinking about starting your own business. Get out there are show the world who you are. Your time is now!

Are you looking for quality screen printing, vinyl, or any other print service? Get started by requesting a quote.

May82017

The Importance of Screen Printing For Small Business

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Screen printing has several advantages to business owners who want to market his/her company. Screen printing is a very economical and professional way of marketing a company. With marketing pricing being so expensive, wearing a professional tee-shirt or polo shirt can be a cost-effective way of marketing your company.

If an employee or the owner of the company is wearing a tee-shirt with their logo, company information, and a list of the services provided there is a chance that a person standing behind them in line at a gas station, grocery store, or movie theater will notice the tee-shirt and this could be a possible lead or a sale. So ask yourself the question. “Why not be your own companies walking billboard, and possibly generate new customers just by walking around”?

Screen printing also has advantages for an individual looking for team jerseys for his/her child’s sports team, family event, birthday parties, charity event, and any other event that a tee-shirt may be needed. Tee-shirts are a fun and great way to bring attention to your event and to give the event a very classy look.

Screen printing is the best way to print a tee-shirt or on any garment. Even though there have been new printing techniques introduced over the last 20 years, screen-printing is still the most durable, economic, and best way to print on any apparel item. Screen-printed shirts last for many years and as long as the washing instructions are followed when washing the printed logo will not fade for a long time.

So if you’re a business owner or a person who is looking to have a logo or anything printed on a tee-shirt screen-printing is the best way to go and we at M.A.S Screen Printing would love the opportunity to earn your business and trust. We use the best inks, and shirts in the market and we guarantee you will love the work we do. Please allow us to quote your next job.

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March22017

Pepsi. Superbowl. Microsoft. Inauguration – of our new blog!

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Everywhere you look, a brand or event is marketed in a vast array of design, innovation, and creation strategically delivered and displayed in an effort to captivate an audience. As soon as your idea or vision is nurtured into fruition, there becomes the need for an official message or symbol of your new venture. Whether it is a logo, a mission statement, or a new product, you want these ideas not only implemented online, but also promoted in physical and tangible fashion. Something that can be seen or held or worn with one mission: to be committed to your customer’s memory.

Introducing M.A.S Screen Printing

M.A.S Screen Printing is an Arizona family based business that has been providing quality branding services since 2008.

We provide Custom Screen Printing, Embroidery, Engraved Nameplates, Engraved Badges, Banners, Signs, Vinyl Letter Installation, Business Cards, and Custom Rubber Stamps. Have something else in mind? Ask us!!!

No job is too big or too small!

From a local church, school, non-profit, or small business to large companies, professional organizations, or events, we strive to make you a success. We use quality products, provide superior customer service, and our pricing is very fair. We guarantee that your job will get done right, and you will love the end product.

A face with the name? Yes that still happens!

We know that you may already be using another company to handle your business branding needs, and we know that there are many choices in the valley that you can do business with…

However at M.A.S Screen Printing, we understand the importance of communication and trust in knowing that what you want is what you’ll get, so we come to you in person!!! That’s right; you don’t have to hope a file you uploaded to an online company delivers or deal with another company that will treat you like a number. We take the stress out of taking care of your business branding needs, and we are passionate about what we do.

Please allow M.A.S. Screen Printing the opportunity to quote your next business branding job.

Thank you for reading our inaugural blog and stay tuned for M.A.S.!