123Print's Tips for Your Small Business

06Jul 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 Ways to Increase Your Productivity When You’re Dead Tired

It's a relatable scenario: You're so exhausted that you feel like you can put your head on your desk and go to dream land, but you've got important deadlines to finish. Whether you stayed out too late for happy hour or watched your favorite TV show until 2 a.m., being tired can really slow you down at work. However, it's possible to increase your productivity by following these five tips:1. Create a To-Do List When you are running on little sleep, it's imperative to have made a to-do list on Post-It notes before you start your work. One of these lists will keep you organized and prevent you from getting off track. Rieva Lesonsky, CEO and founder of GrowBiz Media, suggests putting no more than three items on your to-do list."Limiting your to-do list…

02Jul 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Is Your Business Partaking in a 4th of July Parade?

Marketing

One of the great Fourth of July traditions across America is the city parade. This fanciful affair often includes firetrucks, police cars, floats from local businesses and organizations and even a marching band or two. If your business is partaking in a parade this Independence Day, consider purchasing these materials to ensure parade-goers remember your company long after the Fourth:Patriotic Banner Whether you've converted a trailer into a stylish float or your staffers are simply walking the parade route, you'll need a way to let people know what your company name is. Why not do so with a red, white and blue banner? For just $29.95 you can personalize this 29-by-52-inch banner with your business name, what you do and how to get in contact with you. It's a great way to…

30Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

On Advertising With Magnetic Car Signs

Marketing

If you're running a small business, your advertising and marketing efforts are likely never far from your mind. Small businesses and startups depend on early marketing efforts to generate new client leads and drive customers' engagement with the brand. So, too little marketing and advertising and you may not be able to get your company off the ground. While you're probably very familiar with some types of advertising, including those on social media or through TV and radio spots, there are others that may be right for your company that you might not have considered yet. One of these is magnetic car advertisements. Here's more on magnetic car signs and their benefits:Who Should Use Magnetic Car Signs? In general, companies can target prospective customers in two ways: Through their demographic information or…

30Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Tips for Finding a Business Mentor

Starting a new business

When you are looking for tips on how to run your business, where do you turn? You probably check websites like Forbes and Inc, and maybe even turn to our blog. While these are helpful, you may also benefit from having a business mentor. This person should have experience in your industry and some time to spare in order to be helpful to you. Here are some tips for finding the right business mentor:Ask Around While at networking events or visiting with other professionals in the industry, ask around to see who others consider their mentor. You may be able to also meet with that person to talk business. See if you can get their phone number or email address, or even have lunch with them. Once you meet, you can decide if you click…

29Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Improve Your Company’s Customer Service

Customer Retention

Having excellent customer service is one of the most crucial parts of running a successful company. When your customers and clients feel appreciated and know they can count on you, they are likely to return to you for the goods or services you provide. They're also likely to spread the word about their great experience, which is a very helpful (and free) marketing technique. Here are some ways to improve your company's customer service:Be Friendly If you've ever been in an office where someone was grumpy, you probably didn't want to ask them for help or even talk to them. This is how your customers will feel if you are in a bad mood or even have a neutral tone of voice. One of the most powerful tools of customer…

25Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 Real Reasons You Should Take a Vacation

Office and Homeworking

'Tis the season for warm weather and sunshine, but, surprisingly, not a lot of Americans actually take advantage of that to give themselves a well-deserved break. In fact, Americans (who already receive very little vacation time compared to other countries) forfeit over $50 billion worth of vacation time each year, according to Market Watch. While this means spending more time in the office, and presumably getting more accomplished, a lot of research shows that taking breaks is necessary, not only for your own personal health, but also for your work mentality. Here are five very real reasons you should take a vacation this summer:1. To Boost Your Creativity Running a small business requires a great deal of creativity, whether you're designing car magnets for a new marketing campaign or developing products.…

24Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Does Your Business Need an App?

Marketing

According to a 2015 survey from the Pew Research Center, a record-breaking 64 percent of Americans now own smartphones, which is nearly twice the number of smartphone owners just four years ago (in 2011 the amount was 35 percent). Clearly, consumers are using their smartphones more and more. That's why so many businesses are incorporating mobile campaigns into their marketing efforts. Traditional marketing methods, such as direct mailing custom postcards or encouraging word-of-mouth advertising, are still valuable tools for generating new leads, but digital and mobile marketing are now essential for effectively engaging with customers, both current and potential.While you're likely already building your brand online through your website, blog and social media, your business may also benefit from its own mobile app. If you aren't sure whether you really need…

23Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

6 Business Supplies Every Home Office Needs

Starting a new business

Whether you're starting a home-based business or just need a space outside of your workplace that you can get stuff done, creating a home office is more involved than you might think. Things like the furniture, lighting, setup and overall design are important aspects of building a comfortable yet professional space, but there are a lot of smaller items you'll need to think about as well. Office supplies, for instance, are going to be an important part of your space - you won't be very productive if you don't have everything you need at your fingertips. To that end, take a look at these six types of business supplies you should have to get your home office up and running:1. The Right Equipment Of course, some of the most important items in your office…

23Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Keep Your Millennial Employees Happy

Starting a new business

In a world where startups are a dime a dozen and young, savvy workers are becoming more and more valuable, businesses are starting to have to make some changes. Millennials, more so than people in other generations, are more likely to switch jobs often and to do so for different reasons than you may expect. In some cases, this can lead to high employee turnover, which is extremely expensive for companies, whether they're new startups or large corporations. So why are millennials moving around so much, and what can companies do to keep them?A recent survey conducted by Atenga Inc. discovered that millennials are more likely to leave because of job dissatisfaction, including reasons like not having enough mentorship or not feeling fulfilled, than they are for financial reasons. That said,…

22Jun 2015 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

The Benefits of Yard Signs

Marketing, Starting a new business

You may have seen eye-catching yard signs for construction companies, political candidates or even more personal matters such as birthday or graduation celebration. Here are a few benefits of creating a custom yard sign:Spread the Word When you are first starting a company, and even after the business has been around for years, it's important to do some marketing. One way of getting involved is by placing a yard sign on your lawn. Your friends and neighbors will see the sign and want to know what your business is all about. Depending on what your company does, you may also be able to put your signs up on your customers' lawns. For instance, if you are involved in construction, it is a great idea to make signs to put up during the…