Why your content isn't going Viral (infographic)

After all the thought, time and effort you put into writing that awesome blog, email or Social Media post... You waited, and waited, and waited, but no one shared it and therefore it didn't go very far.

What happened?

Here is a great infographic from Who Is Hosting This that explains it and gives valuable clues that will help you turn your valuable content into sharable and, hopefully, viral material.

If you also would like to support your Social Media efforts with Print Marketing we will be happy to put our fast and reliable Marketing and Event Graphics print production service at your disposal. Call us at 877.990.1616 or visit us at www.marketinkgroup.com


Full Size graphic source:

http://www.whoishostingthis.com/blog/2014/02/18/five-reasons-your-awesome-content-isnt-going-viral-infographic/

10 Time Management Tips That Work

Time. It’s all we have, yet we never have enough. Chances are good that, at some time in your life, you've taken a time management class, read about it in books, and tried to use an electronic or paper-based day planner to organize, prioritize and schedule your day. "Why, with this knowledge and these gadgets," you may ask, "do I still feel like I can't get everything done I need to?" 

The answer is simple. Everything you ever learned about managing time is a complete waste of time because it doesn't work. 

There are only three ways to spend time: thoughts, conversations and actions. Regardless of the type of business you own, your work will be composed of those three items.

Practice the following techniques to become the master of your own time:

1. Carry a schedule and record all your thoughts, conversations and activities for a week. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day and where your precious moments are going. You'll see how much time is actually spent producing results and how much time is wasted on unproductive thoughts, conversations and actions.

2. Any activity or conversation that's important to your success should have a time assigned to it. To-do lists get longer and longer to the point where they're unworkable. Appointment books work. Schedule appointments with yourself and create time blocks for high-priority thoughts, conversations, and actions. Schedule when they will begin and end. Have the discipline to keep these appointments.

3. Plan to spend at least 50 percent of your time engaged in the thoughts, activities and conversations that produce most of your results.

4. Schedule time for interruptions. Plan time to be pulled away from what you're doing. Take, for instance, the concept of having "office hours." Isn't "office hours" another way of saying "planned interruptions?"

5. Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don't start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time.

6. Take five minutes before every call and task to decide what result you want to attain. This will help you know what success looks like before you start. And it will also slow time down. Take five minutes after each call and activity to determine whether your desired result was achieved. If not, what was missing? How do you put what's missing in your next call or activity.

7. Put up a "Do not disturb" sign when you absolutely have to get work done.

8. Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging. Don't instantly give people your attention unless it's absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.

9. Block out other distractions like Facebook and other forms of social media unless you use these tools to generate business.

10. Time. It’s all we have, yet we never have enough. Chances are good that, at some time in your life, you've taken a time management class, read about it in books, and tried to use an electronic or paper-based day planner to organize, prioritize and schedule your day. "Why, with this knowledge and these gadgets," you may ask, "do I still feel like I can't get everything done I need to?" The answer is simple. Everything you ever learned about managing time is a complete waste of time because it doesn't work. There are only three ways to spend time: thoughts, conversations and actions. Regardless of the type of business you own, your work will be composed of those three items.Remember that it's impossible to get everything done. Also remember that odds are good that 20 percent of your thoughts, conversations and activities produce 80 percent of your results.

As an entrepreneur, you may be frequently interrupted or pulled in different directions. While you cannot eliminate interruptions, you do get a say on how much time you will spend on them and how much time you will spend on the thoughts, conversations and actions that will lead you to success. 

With that said, please allow us to buy you some time by letting us handle timely and reliably all your Printing, Banners and Large Graphics projects so you never have to miss a deadline. View our website www.marketinkgroup.com or Call us at 877.990.1616

 source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219553

The prettier side of PMS

Everybody knows what PMS is, right? Well, that is if you are thinking of the syndrome that many women experience every month with their cycle. But few people know the other meaning of PMS, one that professionals in the world of design and printing must deal with everyday, only this kind of PMS is pretty and fun. We are referring to Pantone, a system for matching colors used in specifying printing inks, hence the term PMS = Pantone Matching System. We hope you find this information useful to help you understand the colorful details of Pantone, what it is and how it works. We bet you next time you hear the term PMS, a happier and prettier image will come to mind.

What is Pantone?

Pantone is a standardized color matching system, utilizing the Pantone numbering system for identifying colors. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all reference a Pantone numbered color, making sure colors match without direct contact with one another. The most commonly referenced colors are in the Pantone solids palette. The Pantone Solid palette consists of 1,114 colors, identified by three or four digit numbers, followed by a C, U, Or M suffix. For example, Pantone 199 Red can be identified as Pantone 199C (C= Coated Paper), Pantone 199U (U= Uncoated Paper) or Pantone 199M (M=Matte Paper).

History

Pantone developed the first color matching system in 1963, which consisted of a large number of small cardboard sheets, printed on one side with a series of related color swatches and then bound into a small "fan deck". This system was referred to as the Pantone Matching System, or the PMS system. It's goal was to allow designers to 'color match' specific colors when a design enters production. This system was widely adopted by graphic designers and reproduction and printing houses and is still used today to specify colors for a wide range of industries.

Other Pantone Palettes

Pantone also has a Process palette, which consists of more than 3,000 color variations digitally created with CMYK process printing. Process printing requires the use of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black ink.Work printed using CMYK is also referred to as 4 Color Process Printing. These guides are only suitable for four-color process printing, and are used to design color build using CMYK, in various combinations. The Pantone Color Bridge can be used to convert Solid Colors into CMYK percentages. Process guides can be found on the 4-Color Process and Color Bridge page.

Pantone also has a Textile palette, which consists of 1,925 Pantone for Fashion and Home colors, identified by two digits, followed by a hyphen, four digits, and then a suffix. They also have a name, as a secondary identifier.The Fashion and Home colors are used by fashion, textile, and apparel designers and manufacturers worldwide.

Pantone also has a Plastics palette, which consists of 735 transparent and 1,005 opaque plastic color chips. The plastics palette is used primarily by industrial designers and manufacturers worldwide to specify colors for molded and fabricated plastics. Finally, Pantone has the Goe Palette, which contains 2,058 chromatically-arranged solid colors, and should not be confused with the Pantone Solids Palette. This system is relatively new.

How Does Pantone Work?

The Pantone Solid Colors Palette, with over 1100 unique, numbered colors, was originally devised to help printers and designers specify and control colors for print projects. This is the most widely used Pantone palette, with colors sometimes referred to as 'PMS' (for Pantone Matching System) or 'spot colors', and is used in the graphics, print, and publishing, industries.

We, here at Marketink, live a very CMYK rich life, but we also love Pantone colors because they are all about personalization, just like us. Every print job is done catered to you, your needs and your deadlines. Browse www.marketinkgroup.com or Call 877.990.1616

Source:http://www.colorguides.net/pantone.html

14 Essential Tips for Meeting a Deadline

Regardless of your job title, meeting deadlines is crucial. If you don’t meet them your boss gets mad, the client gets mad, someone somewhere is unhappy.

Your reputation is pretty much the only thing you have to go on -- your bread and butter. And your reputation is generally based on two things: the quality of your work, and how well you meet deadlines.

Today, we'll focus on meeting deadlines. Sure, you can do great work, but if you don't turn your projects in on time, you won't get many repeat customers.

1. Care about deadlines. This is the first step, as many people are very lax about deadlines. You have to be very serious about meeting them, and make them a priority. And make breaking a deadline a cardinal sin in your book. Once you've done this step, the rest is just logistics.

2. Keep a list of projects & deadlines. If you care about deadlines, you'll write them down, and have one place that you check often to make sure you know what's due and when. I use a simple online list, but you could use paper. Which tool you use doesn't matter, as long as you use it.

3. Communicate a clear deadline. Be sure that you and the client are in agreement with a specific deadline, including time of day (and factor in time zone differences as well). If the deadline is fuzzy, you will have trouble meeting it. If the client doesn't give you a deadline, you need to ask for one.

4. Work in a cushion. It's wise to build in a cushion for your deadline. To get a clear idea of how long a project will take, break it down into smaller pieces (see below for more). If you aren't sure exactly how long each of those pieces takes, break them down into even smaller pieces. And for each piece, add a small cushion to your time estimate. Then add up the time estimates of all the pieces, and you'll have a cushion built in. This will allow for delays, and if you finish early, the client will be pleased.

5. Have a clear outcome. You and the client should both agree on a clearly defined outcome. Don't skip this step, or you could be sorry later. If you turn in a project that's not what the client wanted, you'll have to do extra work, meaning that you'll miss the deadline. If you're not absolutely clear what the outcome should look like, ask some questions of the client until you are clear.

6. Break down the project. This is standard advice for any project, of course, but that's because it works. Don't try to tackle an entire project. Tackle one step at a time. Again, you'll want to break it down into smaller steps, give a time estimate for each step. Each step should be small enough that it takes an hour or less, so it's not too intimidating.

7. Focus on the first step. Now that you've broken the project down into smaller steps, just focus on the first one. Don't worry about the rest for now. Give the first step your full attention, and get going. You'll feel satisfied when you complete it, and can check it off your list. Then focus on the next step.

8. Block off adequate time. When you're going to work on a step, be sure to have it blocked off on your day's schedule. If you're not blocking off time for your most important tasks, you're probably not getting the important stuff done. However else you work during the rest of the day, for your freelance projects, block off a good amount of time for each step, and treat it like a doctor's appointment -- you can't miss it.

9. Have a start and complete date for each step. When breaking down a project, give a start and complete date for each step, so you can get a good feel for the timeline of the project, and whether you're on schedule or behind. It also keeps you on track if you know when each step should be started and completed.

10. Communicate with each step. Once you've completed a step, send the completed step to your client if possible. Sure, it won't look like a completed project, but you can show that you're making progress, you keep yourself on track, and you can get feedback communicated from the client. Better to know early on that you're headed in the wrong direction than at the end of the project.

11. Don't overcommit. One of the biggest causes of missed deadline is that we commit to more than we can handle. Learn to say no if you cannot commit to finishing a project on time.

12. Learn from mistakes. If you bust a deadline, take a few minutes to analyze what went wrong and how you can avoid that in the future.

13. Stay up late. If you planned badly, or just procrastinated, and you're up against a tight deadline, do whatever it takes to meet it. That means staying up late and working long hours if possible.

14. Negotiate and meet a second deadline. If you absolutely cannot make deadline (you probably overcommitted), you should contact your client and negotiate a second deadline. It's much better to do this than to let the deadline go by without any communication. Whatever you do, be sure to meet this second deadline. Two missed deadlines in a row is bad news for your reputation.

Hey. Don’t beat yourself up. We all make mistakes. The whole point of life is to learn from our experiences. With 20+ years meeting tight printing deadlines, we have enough experience to help you stay on top of yours. Marketink is your go-to company for Faster and More Reliable Printing, Banners and Large Graphics. View our website www.marketinkgroup.com or Call 877.990.1616

Source: http://business.tutsplus.com/articles/14-essential-tips-for-meeting-a-deadline--fsw-240

Best and Worst Movie Posters of 2013

A film poster is a poster used to advertise a film. It’s a simple enough concept, right? However, creating a striking movie poster is an art. It requires design, innovation, and intrigue. Some feature illustrations of a film scene or an array of overlaid images from several scenes. Other posters have used artistic interpretations of a scene or even the theme of the film, represented in a wide variety of artistic styles.

Some get it right. Some get it wrong. Some hit it out of the ballpark. A great movie poster doesn't just show you who is in the film, but how it will make you feel. Successful posters catch your eye, while misses just leave you scratching your head. Here are our picks for the best and worst posters of the year. 

BEST

1. Stoker

Hand-drawn, equal parts beautiful and creepy, this is vaguely Burton-esque, with its coffins and insect-y plant-life.

A little treasure trove of elements from the film, we could stare and dissect this for hours. What is the purpose of every little detail? Who died? Guess that’s why it’s a great film poster. It catches your attention, and you want to see what it’s all about.

2. Spring Breakers

True, James Franco’s been airbrushed to hell (and back), and there’s something slightly uncomfortable in the apparent exploitation of these bikini-wearing babes.

There’s no denying, though, that this ad campaign was both eye-catching, enticing and massively memorable. It shows the whimsy, the sexiness, the danger, and the personality of the movie as a whole. Say what you will about the film and its themes, but aesthetically, it’s a special kind of candy-cane brilliant.

3. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

Ben Stiller’s latest movie is one of those genre-defying oddities that we love, and the poster makes no bones about the fact that Walter Mitty is almost impossible to pigeon hole.

It’s an enigma in itself, showing Stiller walking up the side of a building. Is he a superhero? Is this Inception 2? Is he daydreaming? We’ll have to watch the movie to find out…

WORST

1. Don Jon

Brilliant film, terrible poster. Failing entirely to capitalize on the sexy subject matter at the heart of Joseph Gordon Levitt’s directorial debut, it’s almost as if this one-sheet is purposefully trying NOT to be sexy.

Which is probably the point, but… what a missed opportunity. A screen grab from one of the film’s atmospheric nightclub scenes would have worked much better. This collage of actors shows the A-list stars but you wouldn’t have any idea what this film is about. Bad. Bad. Bad.

2. Grown Ups 2

It’s Grown Ups 2, so of course it’s going to be rubbish, but the unapologetic sexism in this ad is what really grates.

According to the Sandler universe, all men are adorably fun-loving vagabonds, while their Barbie doll other halves are eye-rolling kill joys. This is 2014, right? Good, just checking. Try a little harder for Grown Ups 3, okay? That is if there is one…

3. The Heat

Melissa McCarthy's totally unrecognizable in this one-sheet, which sort of defeats the point of putting her on the poster in the first place – surely Fox wanted to capitalize on her soaring profile? The film was actually pretty funny so this poster didn’t do a good job of depicting that.

In an era where we increasingly know almost every single thing about a movie before we actually pay for a ticket, movie posters don't quite serve the same marketing purpose that they used to ... but still, there are few pleasures better known to a film fan than walking past a perfectly conceived one-sheet on your way into the theater, that single image as hype-worthy as any two-minute trailer. Which one is your favorite vs. which one causes the most eye sore? Let us know!

Perhaps we can help you create your LARGER than life Posters, Banners and Graphics! Let’s work together to help you produce the BEST poster of 2014. www.marketinkgroup.com

source: http://www.totalfilm.com/features/best-worst-movie-posters-of-2013

Why Not Print More Money?

If the government can print money, why doesn’t it just print some and hand it out? Wouldn’t that be the simplest way to solve problem? Nope. Economics professor Antony Davies explains that we can understand why printing money doesn’t work by looking at why money was invented in the first place.

Prior to the invention of money, people relied on bartering to exchange goods and services. Bartering has two problems. The first is what economists call the double incidence of wants problem. To exchange goods and services, you have to find someone who not only has what you want but who also wants what you have. The second problem with bartering is the retention of value problem. When bartering for goods and services, it is difficult to save up what you produce because items produced may not hold their value. Money solves both of these problems.

Money is valuable only because people will give you goods and services in exchange for money. It derives its value from the goods and services. Printing more money will simply spread the value of the existing goods and services around a larger number of dollars. This is inflation. Ultimately, doubling the number of dollars doubles prices. If everyone has twice as much money but everything costs twice as much as before, people aren’t better off. Having the government print money will not increase wealth.

As always, keep reading, keep in touch, and keep being innovative. Call 877.990.1616 or browse online www.marketinkgroup.com

Source: http://www.learnliberty.org/videos/why-not-print-more-money/

Font Change Would Save Government $400 Million

The choices you make about your printing can significantly impact your business at many levels: Your branding, your credibility, your market share and, of course, your bottom line. Look at this inspiring story as an example, where a middle school student created quite a buzz when he demonstrated how the government could save a staggering $400 million by simply changing the font of their printed documents.

Suvir Mirchandani, 14, first proposed the idea as a way for his Pittsburgh school district to save some cash. But when he applied the formula to state and federal government numbers, the middle schooler realized a small change could reap a big reward.

Changing fonts from Times New Roman to Garamond on all printed government documents would keep some serious cash in the coffers, the science experiment by Suvir Mirchandani, 14, shows.

The middle schooler’s well-thought out plan shows that Garamond, one of the oldest fonts around, is significantly thinner than the default Times New Roman typeface, meaning a switch would provide significant savings on ink — a pricey commodity.

“Ink is two times more expensive than French perfume by volume,” the wise teen told CNN, pointing to the $38 cost of Chanel No. 5 perfume and the $75 an ounce of Hewlett-Packard printer ink will set you back. The feds spend some $1.8 billion in printing costs annually, and have tried double-sided printing and using recycled paper to cut costs. But finding ways to save on annual ink costs of $467 million is a new frontier. Using Garamond would save some 30% on those costs, about $136 million, while if local and state governments followed suit, about $234 million could be cut.

Suvir first conducted his font experiment on a smaller level, looking at the possible savings within his school districts. When he discovered the change could lead to some $21,000 in savings, he took it to the next level and looked at government costs. He submitted his startling findings to the Journal for Emerging Investigators, a journal that publishes research by teens, and the founders of which were blown away by the results.

http://www.emerginginvestigators.org/2014/03/ink-cost-2/

“We were so impressed,” JEI’s Sarah Fankhauser told CNN. “We really could really see the real-world application in Suvir's paper."

It’s unlikely the feds will take action on Suvir’s say so. A spokesman for the Government Printing Office said efforts towards sustainability have already begun — and as more content goes online, less documents need printing.

"In 1994, we were producing 20,000 copies a day of both the Federal Register and Congressional Record,” Gary Somerset told CNN. “Twenty years later, we produce roughly 2,500 print copies a day.”

Suvir, though, says no matter what happens, some things will need to be printed — and that making a change, even for less documents, remains worthwhile.

"I recognize it's difficult to change someone's behavior. That's the most difficult part,” he told CNN. “I definitely would love to see some actual changes and I'd be happy to go as far as possible to make that change possible.

As you can see, being innovative and thinking outside the box can really pay off. Keep in touch and let us help you maximize the benefits of your printing. Call 877.990.1616 or visit us on the web www.marketinkgroup.com

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-font-documents-save-govt-400m-teen-article-1.1738489

Sexy Packaging: A Powerful Wrap

Today’s post is lighthearted yet thoroughly clever. There are thousands upon thousands of brands out there, and it’s nice to know they’ve got some creativity and pizzazz. We want to showcase the most innovative, unique, memorable, and creative packaging design ideas from all over the world. With a creative and appealing package design, you can make your products and services stand out among the rest.

 Design is everywhere you look, including food packaging. Every single item you buy has probably been through a design process. Once a person has already experienced a trustworthy product, he or she tries something new rather unwillingly.  If you already have a successful business but you want to improve it, try creative product packaging designs for limited series of your items.

Clever packaging not only attract potential customers’ attention but also influence the buying decision. So your goal is to make your product stand out. This can be easily achieved if you pay special attention to creative product packaging designs.

The ultimate goal is to make your product stand out. Check out these creative and even provocative packaging concepts. As always, remember us here at Marketink. Get Faster and More Reliable Printing, Banners and Large Graphics. Call us if you need us: 877.990.1616

How to Deal with an Unhappy Customer

No matter how hard you try, not all clients will be happy. No entrepreneur wants his or her customers to be unhappy. Not to mention that it's bad for business. Customers are human beings. Responding to angry, disgruntled and frustrated customers can be very stressful, especially over the phone. However, this is precisely the time when businesses have a golden opportunity to shine.

Listen - It's easy to truly care about them. And once you truly care about them, it's a lot easier to solve their problem. Unhappy customers can be a goldmine for how you can improve your product or service. Listen to them, and see it as a gift. When there is a problem, the first thing you should do is listen and understand what happened from the customer's perspective. Then ask the customer exactly what would make him or her happy.

Apologize - Ask yourself what you would really want in their situation. It's far more constructive to be empathetic and agreeable with customers. Apologize for and explain the situation, issue a refund (if applicable), and offer an additional benefit for sticking with you. Begin with "I'm sorry," then move to "How can we make this up to you?" You'll not only make that person happy, but you'll also learn how to improve.

Learn - When you calm the customer down, you can also potentially learn from them. Prepare to help, ask questions, and convey personal caring. The vast majority of customer complaints are legitimate, so this should always be your first assumption. Writing information down will ensure that you’ve accurately documented the situation, help you find solutions, avoid having the customer repeat themselves, and make it easier to relate the event to others if needed.

The customer may not always be right, but you should always make it right. Remain cool and try your best to problem solve. As always, remember us here at Marketink. Get Faster and More Reliable Printing, Banners and Large Graphics. Call us if you need us: 877.990.1616

source: http://www.inc.com/welcome.html?destination=http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/17-ways-to-deal-with-unhappy-customers.html

The Customer Who Never Comes Back

 You know me. I'm a nice customer. I never complain, no matter what kind of service I get.

I will go into a restaurant and sit and sit while the waitress gossips with her boyfriend and never bothers to see if my hamburger is ready. Sometimes, someone who came in after I did, gets my hamburger, but I don't say a word. If the soup is cold, or the cream for the coffee is sour, I'm nice about it. So nice, in fact, that I leave a 20% tip and thank the waitress for serving me.

When I go to a store to by something, I'm thoughtful of other persons. If I get a snooty salesperson who gets annoyed because I want to look at several things before I make up my mind, I'm as polite as can be. I don't believe rudeness in return is the answer. I wasn't raised that way.

And it is seldom that I take anything back. I've found that people are just about always disagreeable when I do. Life is so short, too short for indulging in these unpleasant little scrimmages for the sake of a dollar or so. I bought a toaster once that burned out in two weeks. The store's "customer service" people, without listening to what I had to say, began telling me that I burned it out from misusing it and it wasn't their fault. All I wanted to do was ask them if they knew where I could send it to have it repaired.

I never kick. I never raise my voice. I never nag. I never criticize. I wouldn't dream of making a scene, as I've seen other people doing in public places. I think that is awful. Besides, I wouldn't want to cause any trouble or upset anyone's day. 

I'm a nice customer! I'll tell you what else I am:

I AM THE CUSTOMER WHO NEVER COMES BACK !!

That is my little revenge for getting pushed around. That is why I take whatever they hand out… I know that I'm not coming back. It's true that this doesn't relieve my feelings right off, as telling them what I think of them would. But, in the long run, it's a far more deadly revenge.

In fact, a nice customer like myself, multiplied by others of my kind, can just about ruin a business. There a lot of nice people in the world like me. When we get pushed far enough, we just go up the street to another store. We send our hard earned money in places where they are smart enough to hire help who appreciate nice customers. Together we do them out of millions of dollars every year.

"He laughs best – they say – who laughs last". I laugh when I see them frantically doing all kinds of things to get me back, when they could have held me in the first place with a few kind words and a smile.

 ---

All of us at Marketink have the utmost appreciation for all of our clients, and we work very hard to provide every one of them with the attention and quality service they deserve. Let this be a reminder for all of us about how precious and important each and every client is for any business, and how we should never, ever take them for granted.

Call us at 877.990.1616 or visit us online at www.marketinkgroup.com 

Is Print Dead? Not Yet

The downfall of paper has been predicted for a century, but the end is nowhere in sight. Is print dead? No. Is it dying?  Kind of. Does it still have life? Yes. This subject has been buzzing around the marketing world since the rush of the Internet and social media. Daily newspapers, which can't compete with specialist publications or the immediate nature of the Internet, are dying a slow death. But is all hope lost for print?

In December, the new owners of Newsweek revealed that the distinguished weekly magazine will return to print after more than a year out of printed circulation. Publishers said the magazine would mainly be supported by subscriber fees, rather than advertising. Clearly they believe that so-called long-form journalism has a place in print.

Counterbalancing that news, New York magazine will decrease its frequency to twice per month. Quoting that because of falling ad revenues, it will no longer run weekly. The print media conundrum remains just that. A conundrum. Some publications continue to survive, while a few thrive.

There’s no magical formula to success. But something has to be keeping print alive. Let’s take a closer look at print media and some advantages it has over its digital counterparts.

Target marketing - A recent MORI study found that newspapers are the best medium for consumers to find coupons, search for ads, compare prices, plan shopping trips, and make purchase decisions.

Ads - A print magazine, with nice pictures and inventive ideas, can still inspire people to do and buy things in ways that the web can't. While many businesses have completely moved their advertising efforts to the web because of its cost effectiveness, exposure potential and convenience, print still maintains its stance as a powerful and necessary component of an ad campaign.

Engagement - Consumers are more engaged when reading printed material, unlike websites, which are often skimmed in as little as a 15 second visit. A study shows that people read digital screen text 20% – 30% slower than printed paper. (Alshaali & Varshney, 2005)

Variety - When you think “print,” what comes to mind? Magazines, books, and newspapers, probably. But print is everywhere. Look around your house: wallpaper, drink bottles, cosmetics, haircare products—all printed.

In reality, print is not dead, it just has competition. Print no longer holds the monopoly on being the first source for information, or the fastest, or the only way to get a message out. However, print does still have a point. It’s a purpose that is different to the one it held originally, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. What do you think? Do you still buy any print media?

As always, remember us here at Marketink. Get Faster and More Reliable Printing, Banners and Large Graphics. Call us if you need us: 877.990.1616

Augmented Reality: A Solid Bridge Between Print And Digital

Word on the street is that augmented reality is the up-and-coming obsession in the technology realm. In a world where people are crazy about smartphones, tablets and wearable computing devices, augmented reality along with image recognition technology add to the depth of the traditional print content. Will you hop on board? If you’re questioning the idea, or simply hope to gain more insight into augmented reality, we have some questions and answers to clear it up. Read on and learn about the future of technology.

What is augmented reality?

Augmented reality (AR) is a live, copy, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a broad concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality.

By contrast, virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one. Augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as the medal count on TV during the Olympics. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulable. Artificial information about the environment and its objects can be overlaid on the real world.

What does this mean?

According to Juniper Research, the mobile Augmented Reality market is set to increase from 60 million users this year to nearly 200 million in 2018.  By providing an interactive dimension to print, can AR technology breathe new life into traditional print media?

However, the revolutionary technology promises to provide a new life to print media including newspapers and magazines. The AR technology is to merge the digital content with print media, making the later dynamic in nature. A number of companies have already started using augmented reality apps in billboards, user manuals and print advertisement.

How is augmented reality used?

AR uses the camera sensors on smartphones and tablets to combine reality (think photographs coming to life in Harry Potter) with virtual overlays for a more dynamic interactive user experience. For example, AR technology can let readers to hold their phone in front of a printed page and see extra content on their handset. This might be a moving version of the static image on the paper, a video, a link to buy products or a game. An AR app (such as Layar, Aurasma or Blippar) searches for images and patterns on a server, validates the image and sends back the associated content.

Who uses augmented reality?

Shreeram Iyer, the chairman and CEO of Prisma Global, the company that is set to change the Indian advertising scenario, said, “With AR, digital medium will no more be a replacement for print medium, but an enhancer. The need to have print medium will be more for technology adoption.”

More than 100 global companies have adopted the mobile image recognition tool of Prisma called Snap2Life. Their client list include automobile brands like Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes as well as major food brands such as KFC, Kellogg’s and Subway. They are using Prisma’s augmented reality technology in their user manuals, billboards or print advertisements.

As with any new medium, AR relies on enhanced content to bring print to life.  Although the shift may take some time, by adding an interactive dimension to print, AR can effectively bridge the print and digital divide. Engaging, high quality print is set to be revitalized and ultimately it will be the application of AR, by marketers and publishers alike, that will help print stand the test of time. The question isn’t if you’ll use AR, it’s when. As always, keep reading, keep in touch, and keep being innovative. Call 877.990.1616 or browse online http://marketinkgroup.com/

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/quocirca-insights/2013/11/augmented-reality-and-print-gi.html

http://www.augmentedrealitytrends.com/augmented-reality/augmented-reality-give-new-life-to-print-media.html

6 Famous Love Letters

Te amo con todo mi corazon. Everything sounds more romantic in Spanish, right? In honor of Valentine’s we have six handwritten love letters by famous people. It’s nice to know that the rich and famous still fall in love too. That’s what makes us human. We love. We marry. We have kids. We cry. We break up. We are human. Happy Valentine’s Day and enjoy these messages from the past…

1: FROM LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN TO AN UNIDENTIFIED "IMMORTAL BELOVED" (1812)

6 July, morning

My angel, my all, my own self — only a few words today, and that too with pencil (with yours) — only till tomorrow is my lodging definitely fixed. What abominable waste of time in such things — why this deep grief, where necessity speaks?

Can our love persist otherwise than through sacrifices, than by not demanding everything? Canst thou change it, that thou are not entirely mine, I not entirely thine? Oh, God, look into beautiful Nature and compose your mind to the inevitable. Love demands everything and is quite right, so it is for me with you, for you with me — only you forget so easily, that I must live for you and for me — were we quite united, you would notice this painful feeling as little as I should…

…We shall probably soon meet, even today I cannot communicate my remarks to you, which during these days I made about my life — were our hearts close together, I should probably not make any such remarks. My bosom is full, to tell you much — there are moments when I find that speech is nothing at all. Brighten up — remain my true and only treasure, my all, as I to you. The rest the gods must send, what must be for us and shall.

Your faithful

Ludwig

Ever thine.

Ever mine.

Ever ours.

2: FROM FRIDA KAHLO TO HER HUSBAND DIEGO RIVERA

Diego, my love,

Remember that once you finish the fresco we will be together forever once and for all, without arguments or anything, only to love one another.

Behave yourself and do everything that Emmy Lou tells you.

I adore you more than ever. Your girl, Frida

(Write me)

3. FROM PRESIDENT GERALD FORD (AND HIS CHILDREN) TO HIS WIFE BETTY FORD SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER (1974)

Dearest Mom

No written words can adequately express our deep, deep love. We know how great you are and we, the children and Dad, will try to be as strong as you.

Our Faith in you and God will sustain us. Our total love for you is everlasting.

We will be at your side with our love for a wonderful Mom.

xxxx

Jerry

4. FROM KING HENRY VIII TO ANNE BOLEYN (WHILE HE WAS STILL MARRIED TO CATHERINE OF ARAGON), 1527

Darlyng thowght I haue scant laysor yet remembryng my pmes I thowthe it go covenyent to certefy yow brevely in what case oure affaires stande as tochyng a loggyng for yow we haue gotton won by my lord cardinall menys the hafe weroff colde nott haue bene fond her abowght for all causys as thys berar shall more shew yow as tochyng oure other affayres I ensure yow ther can be no more done nor more diligente usyd nor all maner off dangers better bothe forsene and unintelligible for so thatt I trust it shall be heraffter to bothe our comforte the specialltes weroff wer bothe to long to be wryttyn and hardly by messenger to be declaryd wherfore tyll your repayre hyder I kepe suyynge in store trusty it shall nott be long to for I haue causyd my lord your fader to make hys prisions wt spede and thus for lake off tyme derlyng I make a nende off my letter wryttyn wt the hand off hym whyche I wolde wer yours

H.R

Nenmoins il nappertiente pas a vng gentylle home pur prendre sa dame au lieu de suivante toute foyse ensuyvant vos desires volen tiers le vous ont royroy si per cela vous puisset revere moins ingrate en la plase per vous choysye qavez este en la plase par moy donee en vous marciant tres cordiallement quel vous plete encors avoire quelque sovenace de moy. B.N.R.I. de R.O.M.V.E.Z.

Henry R.

5. : FROM JIMI HENDRIX TO A GIRLFRIEND HE CALLED "LITTLE GIRL"

little girl…..

happiness is within you….so unlock the chains from your heart and let yourself grow—
like the sweet flower you are…..
I know the answer—
Just spread your wings and set yourself
FREE

Love to you forever

Jimi Hendrix

6. FROM JOHNNY CASH TO HIS WIFE JUNE

Hey June,

That’s really nice June. You’ve got a way with words and a way with me as well.

The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don’t go out there and sing them anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout.

Love John

Some of these letters are precious and heartwarming, while others are practically indecipherable (we’re talking about you King Henry VIII!). We wish you a merry Valentine’s Day. Be it your husband, your mother or your friend, hopefully you can spend time with your loved ones. Have a great day. We’ll see you next week!

With love from all of us,

Marketink

866.245.6723

Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669022/12-hand-written-love-letters-from-famous-people-from-henry-viii-to-michael-jordan