MAGNA IV BLOG

Direct Mail Solutions that Save You Time and Money

Direct Mail Solutions that Save You Time and Money

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Direct mail campaigns remain a popular way to reach a large audience of current and future customers. One of the biggest obstacles companies have with direct mail is having the resources to execute the design and mailing of the direct mail piece. Magna IV consults with you about your desired results and then determines the best USPS method to achieve your marketing goals including Informed Delivery Interactive Campaigns (consumers get a preview of your physical direct mail piece before it arrives) and EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail allows you to send your direct mail piece to each house on your target route). Because we know how to handle the complex, and sometimes confusing, rules and regulations of USPS direct mailing solutions, we save you time and money while making sure your direct mail marketing message is delivered quickly and efficiently to everyone on your target mailing list.

Direct Mail Services for Businesses of any Size

Here are just a few of the direct mail services we offer:

  • First-class mailing for direct mail campaigns that need to be delivered within a certain time frame
  • Non-profit direct mailing solutions including printed pieces that engage donors and online strategies to increase response rates like URLs and personalized landing pages
  • Every Door Direct Mail to ensure your direct mail piece is delivered to every home in your targeted area
  • Informed Delivery Interactive Campaigns let consumers preview the actual direct mail piece via a colorful and interactive digital image
  • Procuring, and mailing to, specific mailing lists
  • Mail tracking so you can see when the direct mail piece enters the various stages of the delivery cycle
  • List segmentation that allows you to break your mailing list into segments such as active, inactive and prospective customers

Direct Mail Campaigns that Work for Your Budget

Direct mail still makes a powerful impact on customers because they enjoy being able to hold a physical direct mail piece they can refer to at any time, day or night. One way we recommend ensuring you have a cost-effective and efficient direct mail campaign is to use address lists from your CRM versus buying one from a list broker. We’ve found that building your list helps to ensure you are targeting your desired audience instead of casting too wide a net with names and addresses that might not be relevant to your services. Once you have your list together, design and refine your direct mail piece so you are delivering the marketing message you desire as opposed to wasting time and money on unfocused and unsuccessful direct mail campaigns.

Contact our experienced design team today about direct mail solutions that achieve your desired ROI when it comes to time and money.

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Phone: 501-376-2397

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    New Year New Trade Show Displays

    New Year New Trade Show Displays

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    Here at Magna IV, we’re always looking for ways to ensure our customers stay ahead of the current trends in the printing industry. Below are a few of the trends that have taken over the trade show circuit that will be the perfect way to update your trade show displays in the new year.

    • Unique Floor Graphics
      • Enticing and appealing floor graphics go further than you realize. The trade show is a massive, expansive space and can be overwhelming to take in. Having purposeful and creative floor graphics can help guide consumers to your trade show booth. Don’t be afraid to add vinyl or printed flooring, it’s a cheaper and more creative alternative to carpet inlays.
    • Ceiling danglers in place of traditional signs and banners
      • Ceiling danglers offer maximum visibility and stand out in a crowd of trade show displays. Traditional signage goes a long way but adding an option that floats above the competition will only get more eyes on your booth. Unique danglers are a cost-effective and customizable way to captivate someone from afar.
    • Dye sublimation on tension fabric
      • Custom table covers, full backdrops, flags, and so much more. All of these large-format trade show staples can now be done using stretch fabric. This process produces trade show graphics that are easy to install and takedown saving you valuable time. Because of the dye sublimation process, the color and design of your product don’t fade over time.

    How to Create the Perfect Trade Show Environment

    Now that we’ve gotten the customers into or around your booth, how do we get them to not only stick around but enjoy their experience with your trade show display? While there are many ways to accomplish the perfect trade show environment, we’ve listed a few of our favorites below.

    • Make it interactive. Offering up a product or virtual experience helps customers get a break from the normal meet and greet grind of the trade show circuit. Implement touch screens around your booth. This allows users to experience your product in their own unique way.
    • Make it an experience. Visitors want to be awed by what they’re experiencing. If applicable, use multiple video walls showing off various aspects of your product. Games are becoming more and more popular as well. Find fun ways to tie in your product to a game, this allows trade show guests to have fun while learning more about what you have to offer. We’ve even seen booths go as far as offering a smoothie bar!
    • Don’t forget comfort: Show attendees are on their feet all day. Providing a place for them to sit for a minute or two is mutually beneficial. The same can be said for charging stations. Providing the opportunity for an attendee to rest both their feet and their electronics allows you an extra few minutes to talk with them.

    The new year is the perfect time to step up your trade show displays. Contact our team to get started.

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    Phone: 501-376-2397

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      Jefferson Regional Unveils New Interior & Exterior Branding

      Jefferson Regional Unveils New Interior & Exterior Branding

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      Jefferson Regional has long been recognized as a healthcare leader in south Arkansas. Since the medical center opened in 1908, the hospital has continually strived to enhance the patient experience with state-of-the-art services and facilities. As part of its ongoing renovations and expansion, Jefferson Regional recently unveiled its new logo and tagline, “Your Life. Our Commitment.”

      To introduce its new branding to the community, Jefferson Regional looked to the marketing experts at Magna IV. With its in-house large format equipment, Magna IV created temporary, yet durable, signage for the hospital’s buildings that was affordable. It produced and installed oversized banners on the outer walls of each location, including an impressive 10-foot by 35-foot banner for a parking deck. It also printed new logo panels for Jefferson Regional’s existing directional signage and elevator wraps for its main campus, professional centers, I-530 clinic, and White Hall location.

      The interior and exterior signage from Magna IV was so well received that Jefferson Regional now plans to expand the graphics into other areas of the hospital with street light banners, sky bridges, and more. If you’d like to create eye-catching signage that reinforces your brand, contact Magna IV at 800-946-2462.

      “With its high-quality signage, Magna IV helped Jefferson Regional refresh its brand and reaffirm our ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of our patients, employees, and community.”
      – Clay Mercer, Director of Marketing

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      Phone: 501-376-2397

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        How Do I Make Print-Ready Files?

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        Print ready files save you time and allow your print project to be produced in a fast and efficient manner. One of the first steps in making a print ready file is creating a print ready PDF with some of the most commonly used design programs.

        It’s an easy process using Adobe PDF Preset (in InDesign or Illustrator) or Conversion Settings (in the Adobe PDF menu that is available in many apps). The settings also have an impact on the size of the PDF file that will be created:

        • The Standard option is best if you plan on posting the finished files on a website.
        • High-resolution printing needs to use a commercial printing option such as High-Quality Print that will leave the color unchanged and can be used on high-quality desktop printers.
        • Press Quality Print converts a document to the CMYK color model for print production and it also sets color working spaces.

        In addition, print layouts can be converted to print ready files using such programs as InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Print layouts can be converted into a PDF from a word document in Windows or using the Acrobat tab in MacOS.

        Design Program Settings For Print-Ready PDFs

        Follow the steps listed below to create a print-ready PDF:

        • Adobe InDesign Print-Ready PDF – Start with File>Export. Set the format to Adobe PDF and click Save. Use the High Quality Print Adobe PDF preset and then click Export.
        • Adobe Illustrator Print-Ready PDF – Convert all of the text to outlines (Select>All. Type>Create outline). File>Save as. Set the format to Adobe PDF. Click Save. Start with the High Quality Print Adobe PDF preset and then click Save PDF.
        • Adobe PhotoShop Print-Ready PDF – Check that the file is in CMYK mode (Image>Mode>CMYK color). Flatten the design using the layer palette drop down menu to click Flatten image. Image>Save as. Then, set the format to Photoshop PDF before clicking Save. Use the High Quality Print Adobe PDF Preset and then click Save PDF.
        • The first step with Windows is opening the file. Go to the Acrobat tab and then go to Preferences to find High-Quality Print. The last step is clicking the Create PDF button.
        • There are no preference settings in the Acrobat tab in PowerPoint for MacOS. Instead, click the Create PDF button and then specify where you want the file to be placed.

        Popular Print Layouts

        Not all PDFs are created alike which means there are different layouts available to you. Each print layout listed below requires a high-resolution PDF with crops and bleed for it to be ready to use as a print ready file. In addition, two-sided postcards or sheets need to be sent as a two page PDF or simply as two separate PDF documents that are labeled in the manner in which they should be grouped.

        • Postcard – One of the most popular options is an 8.5’ x 5.5’ postcard. Please note that postcards that will be mailed need to comply with all current USPS regulations including a blank area for the address information and the barcode.
        • 8.5” x 11” sheet or Tri-Panel Brochure – The PDF document will be a bit larger than 8.75″ x 11.25” because it will include the 8.5″ x 11’ size of the document as well as the bleed and crop marks. To be safe, none of the text should be closer than .25″ from the document edge.
        • Standard Business Card – The PDF document will be a bit larger than 3.75” x 2.25” since it includes the document size and bleed and crop marks. Plus, the text images should be closer than .125” from the edge of the document unless it is an item that is supposed to bleed off the document.

        Also, for even more tips on how to create print-ready files.

        Still feel a little unsure of how to create print-ready files? If so, check out our Do’s and Don’ts List for creating print-ready files or feel free to contact us directly!

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        Phone: 501-376-2397

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          Strategic Direct Mail For The Holidays That Work

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          As hard as it is to believe, the holidays are upon us which also means direct mail is an ideal option to deliver your marketing message. Consumers make it a habit to check their mail during the holiday season for discounts, promotions and information that arrives during this busy time of the year. Take advantage of the power of direct mail by following the tips below:

          • Use the 40/40/20 rule to find the right balance of your target audience, This means 40% of the direct mail campaign success depends on finding the right audience, 40% on giving people a great offer offer and 20% on creative elements.
          • Use 3D direct mailers to take the direct mail campaign to another level. 3D mailers, such as tubes or boxes with teasers on the outside, are only 50% more expensive than standard mailers. However, they perform 250% better which increases your ROI.
          • Make the envelopes part of the direct mail marketing message by having text on the envelope that makes people want to open it. You can also provide incentives such as CTAs that offer a discount, promotional items, samplers or special offers for first-time customers.

          Holiday Direct Mail Marketing Ideas

          Make your holiday direct mail marketing ideas work by using these ideas:

          • Direct mail postcards stand out in a sea of holiday catalogs. Focus on a single marketing message that looks festive and has a personal touch to it that calls attention to the postcard.
          • House mailing lists target customers that are likely to respond to your direct mail marketing ideas when they receive the direct mail piece.
          • Food makes everything memorable so think about including a treat with your direct mail package as long as they individually wrapped for safety.
          • Many people are out of the office during the holiday season. Focus on a marketing message for the New Year when everyone is back in their regular routine.
          • Since more people are paying attention to their mail during the holidays, combine email with your direct mail campaign to get a better response rate.

          Eye-Catching Direct Mail Campaign

          Direct mail campaigns work best when they have an eye-catching design that makes the piece stand out from regular, daily mail. Use direct mail pieces with colorful graphics and text to get the attention of consumers. Direct mail with personalized messages helps people notice your marketing materials. Utilizing an eye-catching design for your direct mail campaign offer works best during the holidays because consumers are looking for special offers that help them save money or get something free with their purchase. Getting the attention of consumers is a key first step that is accomplished by eye-catching direct mail campaign materials.

          Increase your marketing reach this holiday season with strategic direct mail materials. Contact our experienced team about designing and executing your holiday direct mail campaign.

          Contact Us Now for More Information

          Phone: 501-376-2397

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            How Cross-Media Marketing For Banks Connects With Customers

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            The attention of customers is divided each day as they go on social media, check emails and find other ways to consume different media. Cross-media marketing takes all of these various marketing methods into account when designing a good media mix to target and connect with customers that banks want to reach. The various channels of communication are combined to find the most effective balance to reach the customer. In many ways, the media mix is designed so it seems like the bank is everywhere at once. The more places that customers see the marketing message for the bank, the more likely they are to engage with the bank thanks to the unified marketing campaign.

            Media Mix For Financial Institutions Targets Your Audience

            The media mix in cross-media marketing targets the audience of your financial institution with these components:

            • Email marketing combines a low cost with unlimited targeting options to reach customers. In addition, banks can increase their email response rate with generic or personalized urls that create a call to action.
            • A recent report shows that 76% of consumers trust direct mail when making a purchase decision. Variable data printing allows banks to personalize their direct mail pieces with different graphics, fonts and colors that grow the direct mail response rate.
            • Cross-media marketing efforts can include a variable data map that allows us to map the address of the recipients to their nearest bank branch.
            • Consumers spend about a third of their time on social media. Banks can capitalize on the power of social media to effectively target different demographics and create multiple customer lists.
            • It’s been reported that 97% of all text messages are opened within three minutes. Banks can use text messaging for instant and effective ongoing customer outreach.

            Drip Marketing Campaigns For Banks & Financial Institutions

            Drip marketing campaigns for banks and financial institutions are conducted using a series of emails that are sent out on a schedule. Drip marketing campaign emails can be created in advance and then sent out on a schedule determined by the bank. Before starting the drip marketing campaign, it is important to set realistic goals that can be achieved with cross-media marketing. Create content using a media mix that can achieve the desired goals using a call to action in the emails. Banks should be prepared to make necessary changes along the way depending on the rate of response and other key performance indicators.
            Put cross-media marketing to work for your bank or financial institution by contacting our expert marketing team today.

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            Phone: 501-376-2397

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              Why Are Marketing Portals Vital For Consistent Branding?

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              When it comes to promoting a business, the marketing message needs to be consistent to avoid any customer confusion. Online marketing portals help your business achieve consistent branding by allowing you to order all of your print and marketing materials in one location.

              Branding is what identifies your goods and services from the goods and services of other companies. Branding gives you a distinct identity in the eyes of consumers and makes you top of mind to customers. Marketing portals allow you to customize and order all of your online and print materials from one convenient location. By using the same location to create and order these materials, the web-to-print process ensures that the same colors, logos, and dimensions are used for all of the materials which provide a level of consistency to the finished product.

              How Online Marketing Portals Function

              Take a look below to see how online marketing portals function:

              • The first step in creating marketing portals is building the portal so it includes the logo, branding colors and other creative elements.
              • Next, designated users are given secure access to the online marketing portal so they can easily find, and use, the approved marketing materials. This makes ordering the needed products easy and convenient for authorized users.
              • Finally, users are able to proof the materials they requested before placing their final order online. With Magna IV, the order goes directly into our workflow.

              Web-To-Print Digital Storefronts Save Time And Money

              Web-to-print digital storefronts save time and money by offering centralized billing and reporting. This allows online marketing portal users to view the project cost as well as the expected time frame before the final product is ready to ship. Marketing portals also allow companies the chance to edit or customize materials, along with ordering inventory, within the portal. This step saves valuable time as all tasks can be accomplished in the online marketing portal instead of being routed to another department before the project can be executed and placed before customers.

              Find out how to get your marketing portal active and working for your business when you contact us today.

              Contact Us Now for More Information

              Phone: 501-376-2397

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              Convenience Store Signs & Graphics Are Critical For Sales

              Convenience Store Signs & Graphics Are Critical For Sales

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              The goal of any convenience store is to attract customers and convert sales from those who enter the business. Convenience store signs play a big part in selling your products. Convenience store graphics attract the attention of customers before they even enter a store. In addition, convenience store signs that are designed and created by professional printing services set the tone for the store and play a large role in the overall C-store experience. Convenience store graphics deliver the information customers need to know in order to make an informed purchasing decision. Convenience store graphics create foot traffic and contribute to overall profits.

              Types Of Convenience Store Graphics & Displays

              Some of the most common types of convenience store graphics and displays include:

              • Posters and signs that are placed near the entrance of the store share your marketing message with customers as they enter the building
              • Special events are a big source of revenue and banners that highlight sales and other events bring attention to spotlighted products and sales that are being promoted for a limited time
              • Floor graphics greet customers as they walk in the door and lead them to targeted merchandise and sales displays
              • Convenience store signs such as wall graphics give the C-store an updated and fresh look that also transforms the perception customers currently have about the business

              Professional Printing Services For Convenience Stores

              Professional printing services for convenience stores create a story and help to set the mood for customers as they enter the store.

              In addition, eye-catching convenience store signs and graphics such as Point of Sale displays (POS) create brand awareness for certain products that your store is trying to get customers to notice and purchase.

              Professional printing services include the product copy and interactive elements that, combined with convenience store graphics, make your C-store top of mind when it is time for consumers to purchase products you carry or services you provide.

              Contact us today to learn how to increase foot traffic and grow sales with professionally designed and installed convenience store signs and graphics.

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              Phone: 501-376-2397

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                Official Corporate Gifts Guide For Employees And Customers

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                Corporate gifts serve a number of purposes during the holiday season. They can be business gifts for valued customers as well as gifts for employees to thank them for their service. It also lets them show their pride in working for their employer.

                Before sending any corporate gift ideas or promo products for the holidays, take the time to know your customers and employees. They would much rather receive a gift that has a personal meaning than an impersonal item like a paperweight. Include a handwritten card or note that gives your gifts a personal touch. In addition, make sure your corporate gifts fit within your company guidelines of gift giving as some companies have limits on spending and type of gifts you can give to others. Plus, there is a chance that the gift might be tax-deductible at the end of the year so keep that in mind when deciding what corporate gifts to give this year.

                Gifts for Employees & Business Gifts Do’s & Don’ts

                When deciding on corporate gifts and gifts for employees, keep these “do’s and don’ts” in mind:

                • Ask for a volume discount – The more items you buy, the larger the discount you get from the gifting company.
                • No promotional inserts – Don’t include brochures or pamphlets advertising the gifting company. Simply include a sticker with the name of the promotional company on it.
                • Personal notes – Don’t send corporate gift ideas or promo products with nothing more than a return label on the package. Include a personal note to let the recipient know how much you appreciate their business or hard work.
                • Tracking and Reporting – Make sure the promotional company tracks the delivery of the items and keeps you updated with reports on the progress of the delivery. If this is not part of their services, make sure they give you the tracking information for the delivery.

                Powerful Corporate Gift Ideas & Promo Products

                Looking for some powerful corporate gift ideas and promo products? If so, here are some ideas for you this holiday season:

                • A Moonbow Wireless Light-Up Speaker allows the person receiving the gift to enjoy music wherever they go on sales calls or while enjoying a day off.
                • Things get hectic at events and company outings and a custom selfie stick helps to capture memories and gives clients and employees something fun to share with each other.
                • Enjoy some privacy thanks to a Private Eyes cover lens that covers the camera on a computer so hackers can’t monitor your every move.

                Get ready for holiday gift giving season by contacting our experienced team of corporate gift givers today.

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                Phone: 501-376-2397

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                  Powerful Interior Graphic Design For Architecture & Construction

                  Powerful Interior Graphic Design For Architecture & Construction

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                  When customers are trying to decide which architecture or construction company to use for their next project, they often examine the interior graphic design of the company they are considering. Powerful interior graphic design can make a big impact on consumers and give them confidence in the skills and abilities of the company in question. The opposite is also true as an architecture or construction company that does not invest the time or resources into showcasing their interior graphic design results will not gain the trust of someone looking for a skilled and experienced interior graphic design company. Consumers in the market for interior graphic design services want to grab the attention of the public thanks to powerful interior graphics provided by the architecture or construction firm.

                  Types Of Interior Graphics

                  Here are some powerful interior graphics for architecture and construction companies:

                  • Wall graphics can turn a blank wall into a branding tool that showcases your products, logo, services or mission statement. A mural can be an artistic statement as well as a representation of the goals and values of the company.
                  • Window graphics are seen from the road and are an easy way to get the attention of consumers. The graphics can include logos, pictures of your products or services and fun, artistically rendered graphics that share your company hours or social media channels.
                  • Floor graphics give customers something to look at as they glance at the floor to see where they are going. Floor graphics can showcase the interior graphics of a company and lead customers to areas where companies what them to go to learn information about the powerful interior graphic design services they offer to the public.

                  Magna IV Interior Graphic Printing Services

                  The interior graphic printing services offered by Magna IV cover both residential and commercial graphic design and printing services. Our interior graphic printing services build brand recognition and customer awareness of a company. Interior graphic printing covers a variety of services including wall murals, floor graphics, banners and signs, window graphics, lobby signage and exhibits and displays. We also do more than simply design interior graphics for businesses such as architecture and construction firms. Our expert team also handles the printing and installation of the interior graphics to ensure they are mounted correctly so they will be a long lasting display that companies will be proud to showcase to their customers.

                  Learn more about the impact made by powerful interior graphic design when you contact us today.

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                  Phone: 501-376-2397

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