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Die Cut Stickers vs Sticker Sheets: Which Option Is Better for You?
You know stickers are valuable promotional tools. You know you can get whatever design you like, and whatever size you prefer. But now you have a problem. You’re not sure whether to opt for die cut stickers or sticker sheets. In fact, you’re not even sure of the difference between them. In this article, we’ll look at the two types of stickers, as well as when to use them. Understanding the Difference Between Die Cut Stickers and Sticker Sheets Sticker sheets are, as their name pretty clearly states, sheets with multiple stickers on them. These sheets can feature all the same sticker or multiple sticker designs, depending on your preference. Essentially, what happens is that the designs are printed on a sheet, and then, when the cut is made, it’s only made through the sticker itself and not all the way through to the backing. So, what you end up with is a rectangular sheet of backing material and vinyl on which the stickers have been printed, and only the latter has been scored so you can peel the individual stickers off the sheet. This type of cut is referred to as a kiss cut, seeing as the blades only lightly “kiss” the vinyl, and don’t go all the way through. They can be cut to any shape you choose, including along the contour of the design if it’s not a standard shape. Conversely, die cut stickers have been cut out of the sheet completely, usually along the contour of the design but they can also be cut out as standard geometric shapes, if you prefer. These tend to be slightly more expensive than sticker sheets, but are great at making an impact. How to Decide Between Sticker Sheets and Die-Cut Stickers In terms of which one is better, the fact is that it depends on the situation. Sticker sheets are more suited to some applications, while for others, die-cut stickers are more appropriate. Determine the Application The first step in figuring out whether to get die-cut stickers or sticker sheets is to determine what you’ll be using them for. Below you’ll find a few examples. Package and Product Stickers If you are going to be using the stickers to put on your packages when shipping to customers, then you’re probably better off with sticker sheets. It’s a more cost-effective option and since you won’t be handing them out individually, it doesn’t matter how many stickers are on a single sheet. Keep in mind that they don’t have to be identical to one another, so even if each label has a custom message on it, you can still get them on sheets. Another advantage to sticker sheets is the ease with which you can peel them off the sheet. It might not seem like a big deal, but if you have a large number of packages to brand, anything that makes it easier and less time-consuming definitely helps. Stickers for Customers When you’re giving out stickers to your customers, you should probably stick to die-cut stickers, even if you are sending more than one. Yes, a sticker sheet would be more efficient if you are sending out a few stickers to each customer, but the fact is that die-cut stickers look more professional. The last thing you want to do is to make your customers think you’re cheap. So, investing in die-cut stickers is definitely more beneficial to your reputation in the long run. Plus, if you sent multiple die-cut stickers, your customers can also hand them out to friends and family, further promoting your brand. If you take the sticker sheet route, this would be a lot more difficult for your customers to do, meaning you’d be missing out on a valuable promotional opportunity. Remember, you want to make it as easy as possible for your customers to be your advocates and recommend you to their friends and family, so send them die-cut stickers. Promotional Stickers If you will be putting up promotional stickers in your area, or at an event, you’ll probably want to go with sticker sheets. Once again, it saves time as peeling them off is much easier. Furthermore, it’s a lot easier to transport 500 stickers, for example, when they are still attached to a sheet, than when they are loose. There’s also less of a chance of losing them because it’s easier to notice a whole sheet flying off than it is a 2”x2” sticker. Consider the Design When deciding between die-cut stickers and sticker sheets, you also have to take into account the design. If it’s a very delicate design with lots of “bits” sticking out, a contour die-cut sticker might not be the best option because it’s easier for those areas to get damaged. For example, if you have a ribbon waving in the wind, it’s more likely to get bent or even torn off, despite the additional strength the backing material provides. However, when the same sticker is on a sheet, it won’t be exposed so there’s less of a chance of accidents happening. Don’t Forget Your Budget Budget is certainly a consideration, despite how cost-effective stickers are in general. So, if you are sending out multiple stickers to your customers, you might opt for a sticker sheet as it will be slightly cheaper. However, remember that you’ll be missing out on a great opportunity to increase brand awareness because your customers won’t be able to hand out stickers to other people. Plus, there’s also the risk that you’ll seem cheap. It’s often a better idea to get fewer die-cut stickers than opting for sticker sheets when trying to make your customers feel special. Die-cut stickers and sticker sheets are both popular options, but the approach you choose really depends on your circumstances and how those stickers will be used. In some cases, a die-cut sticker is mandatory if you want to put your best foot forward and really impress your customers. In other situations, like when you have 300 packages of your homemade cookies to brand, you want to go for sticker sheets to make your life easier.
Learn more6 Ways to Use Promotional Stickers for Businesses from Stickerbeat
Stickers are a great way to promote your business because most people don’t perceive them as advertising. In fact, most people really like stickers and when you give them one, even if it just features your brand, they’ll consider it a gift rather than an ad. And people like using stickers, which is where the power of this marketing tool comes in. When someone places a sticker featuring your brand on a personal item, they are telling the rest of the world that they support your brand. Few forms of marketing generate the same level of results that word-of-mouth marketing does, which is why stickers are so powerful. Furthermore, when you are giving out stickers to your customers, you are also promoting loyalty. They feel special because you’re giving them a gift, which will endear your brand to them even more. Below, you’ll find a few more ways to effectively promote your business with stickers. Include Fun and Interesting Messages What’s someone more likely to stick on their laptop? A sticker with just your brand on it? Or a sticker with your brand on it that also features a fun, quirky, or even inspirational message? The latter, of course. So, if you want to increase the chances of people using your stickers on their belongings, and getting as many eyeballs on them as possible, get a little more creative than just slapping your brand on them. You could even have stickers printed with blank areas where people could write in their own messages. However, keep in mind that a professionally printed sticker with the message already on there is more likely to get used because it’s more convenient. Give Out Useful Stickers People love stickers, so they’ll put them on everything and anything, as long as they like the brand. But what if those stickers were more than just fun ways to spruce up laptops, phones, cars and more? What if they were actually useful? Well, people would be even more likely to use them. While they might not show up everywhere, you can be sure people will remember your brand even better when the stickers you hand out have a useful purpose. For example, you could print attractive labels for organizational purposes that include your brand. People could use them on everything from their jars to their in and out trays at work. Yes, these stickers wouldn’t be seen by as many people, but they are just as effective at keeping your brand front and center for the person using the sticker. Send Them to Your Customers When sending out orders, always include a few stickers in the package. Not only will customers love the extra little “gift” – that’s what they will perceive it as and not as a promotional tactic – they will also end up handing them out to friends and family, as long as they’re well designed and attractive. So, make sure you don’t miss out on this great opportunity to make your customers feel special, but also to turn them into advocates. And that’s why you should always include more than one sticker in each package. If your business is service oriented, you can still send out stickers with a thank you card to your best customers. They aren’t all that expensive, and neither will the cost of mailing them be all that high. The result will be very grateful customers who feel valued, which will help build loyalty. Put Them on your Packaging Simple packaging is definitely cheaper than getting it specially branded, but it certainly isn’t as effective at promoting brand awareness. Stickers are a great middle ground as they’re much more cost-effective than getting specialty packaging, but they still offer the benefits of more interesting packaging for your customers while promoting your brand. And since stickers can be cut out in a variety of shapes, you can get really creative and get some stunning stickers made that will impress your customers. Spruce Up Those Store-Front Windows Store-front windows are valuable promotional real estate that can be used to great effect with some great quality stickers and decals. Whether you’re running a sale, or simply want to let customers know your opening hours, putting up stickers on your windows is a great way of doing it. So, whenever you have a special offer or get new products in, put stickers in your windows to let people know. It’s just as effective at drawing in foot traffic as having someone standing outside handing out flyers. Put Them on the Floor Floors aren’t often used as advertising space, which is why placing a series of stickers on the ground is such a great way to draw attention. People won’t be able to help but notice something they’re stepping on, so it’s definitely a great way to promote your brand using stickers and decals. Like with any other type of sticker, the more creative you get, the more you’ll draw people in. You can do things like advertising sales out in the parking lot or sidewalk, with arrows pointing to your store, and more. Regardless of where or how you are using these stickers, remember to always include contact details. At the very minimum, you want to have your web address on the sticker. This way, people who see the sticker and want to learn more about your brand don’t have to go to too much effort to do so. On larger stickers, like those you use in shop windows and on floors, you can even include QR codes, which make things even easier. On those types of stickers, also make sure to include a call-to-action. Where smaller stickers that you send out to customers and hand on the street are more about building brand awareness, large stickers or decals should have a call-to-action so you can increase conversion rates. At Stickerbeat, we offer a wide range of high quality stickers that you can use to easily promote your brand. We even offer a free graphic design service so we can help you turn your highly creative idea into reality. So, get in touch and let us help you promote your brand with stickers.
Learn moreHow to Make Marketing Package Inserts That Stick
It’s common knowledge that existing customers are more likely to buy from you than a new prospect. In fact, Forbes Entrepreneurs tells us that you only have a 5% to 20% change of getting a new prospect to make a purchase, whereas with an existing customer you have a 60 to 70% chance. In other words, any tool that will allow you to connect with your existing customers and strengthen the relationship is invaluable. Marketing package inserts are a powerful tool to help you not only build a stronger relationship with existing clients, but also to increase your sales. The have a very high open rate because people are usually eager to open the package you sent them. There’s also the advantage that people are more open to your marketing materials when they’ve just received a product from your company, especially if the entire experience was positive. So, how can you create effective marketing package inserts? Get to Know Your Customers This goes for everything you do in regards to marketing, including creating package inserts. The better you know your customers, the easier it will be for you to figure out what will work best. Some things work better for certain audiences than others, so you have to make sure you know as much as possible about your customers. Be Personal Personalization is the name of the game nowadays, and that holds true for package inserts as well. Regardless of what you choose to use as a package insert, you have a much better chance of getting it to stick if you personalize it. For example, use the customer’s name on the message you send, and even consider including what they purchased, to really show that you are paying attention. Also, sign off with your name rather than a generic customer service team, which feels cold and impersonal to most people. Compare the two messages below. Which do you think will work better to build customer loyalty? “Dear Sally, Thanks for buying the Abracadabra green widget. We really hope you enjoy it. Jillian of Abracadabra Widgets. ” …Or… “Dear customer, Thank you for your purchase. Customer service team, Abracadabra Widgets.” We guarantee you that the first message will have a much greater impact and stick with the customer more because you aren’t sending out an impersonal message that they know everyone else will be getting too. Pick Up a Pen Writing a note or a thank-you card by hand will do wonders to impress your customers, especially if you personalize it like in the previous tip. Seeing a handwritten note is extremely rare nowadays, thanks to the internet. So, if you write out your notes by hand, it will have an impact. A big one. If writing out all your thank you notes by hand isn’t feasible – like if you send hundreds of packages every month – another option would be to print the notes but sign them yourself. Another option would be to mix it up. Send a handwritten not to your best and most loyal customers, and send a printed version to everyone else. For example, Brandon Eley, the founder of 2BigFeet, personally writes out a thank you note and sends it, along with a coupon for a future purchase, to all the company’s best customers. Offer Them a Discount If you really want to see your sales figures go up, then a discount offer along with a thank you note as a package insert is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. First of all, it’s a brilliant opportunity to cross-sell your customer on other products they might like and thereby increase awareness, but it’s also a great way to generate more business, even if you offer a generic discount on their next purchase. Most people simply can’t pass up a discount, especially if it’s from a company they already buy from. Even if they had no plans to make another purchase any time soon, if you include a discount coupon, their plans will change, especially if it’s a limited-time offer. And if you take it a step further and personalize the offer – for example, offer them a discount on a product in their wish list – it will stick even more because people like to feel special and cared for and nothing says “I care” like showing you took the time to find out what they’re interested in. Include a Small Gift People love gifts, no matter how cheap they are. And they love it even more when they get a little extra in their package that they didn’t order. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and you don’t need to spend a fortune. Something small and simple will not only please your customers, but it’ll get them talking all over social media about how great your company is. For example, Ryan French, the founder of GameKlip, included a small bag of candy in every package. Soon after, everyone was talking about the awesome surprise they received all over the net. If you ran a search at the time, you would have found tens of thousands of results of people mentioning the candy they received. Not only does this approach build loyalty, but it also tends to encourage people to spend more money with you. Two experiments were conducted in 2002 on how receiving a small gift affected the tips servers received in restaurants. In the first experiment, it was discovered the customers left a larger tip when receiving a small piece of chocolate with their check compared to customers who received nothing. The second experiment found that the size of the tip differed based on how much candy the customer received, as well as the way the candy was given. It’s the principle of reciprocity. If you reward your customers for doing business with you in some way, they will feel the need to do the same. Remember, marketing package inserts are a highly powerful and cost-effective tool if used right. They can build and cement customer loyalty, increase your revenues, and improve your bottom line substantially. All you have to do is make them personal and show your true appreciation by making your customers feel special, which will earn you their loyalty for life.
Learn more10 Creative Packaging Ideas for Shipping
Product packaging is a critical component in the buying process, with 64 percent of consumers stating they will sometimes buy a product, even if they had no prior knowledge of it, due to the packaging. Furthermore, a Pro Carton study found that one of the most essential elements in a marketing campaign to consumers is the packaging of the product. According to Dotcom Distribution’s eCommerce Packaging Study 2016, 40 percent of consumers are more likely to purchase the brand again if it features gift-like packaging, 68 percent feel it makes the brand look more upscale and 61 percent are more excited about getting the package. So, clearly, getting your product’s packaging to stand out and look good is critical. Here are 10 ways in which you too can set your packaging apart. 1. Understand Your Target Market The first step to setting your product’s packaging apart from the crowd is to really get to know your target market. Putting together an awesome design that will draw eyeballs isn’t as hard as you might think. There are plenty of very creative and imaginative designers who can create wonders. But if the packaging is drawing the wrong eyeballs, what’s the point? For example, if your product is aimed at children but your packaging is sleek and sexy, looking more like something designed for a corporate executive, you can be sure it’s not going to be attracting the right people. So, the first step to getting your packaging right is to understand who your audience is and design with them in mind. 2. Apply the KISS Principle Keep it simple, stupid. The U.S. Navy coined the phrase in the 1960s in an effort to remind that simple systems worked better than complicated ones. Well, this design principle also applies to packaging. If you overload your design with too many elements and colors, you could end up with something that is a little too strange for your customers. Instead of overdoing it, stick to a simple design that’s attractive and is in line with what’s expected of your industry. Remember, you want to draw eyeballs, but you don’t want people pointing out your packaging as the weird kid on the block everyone avoids. 3. Go for Professional over Easy Printing a label at home or using a stamp on a box might be easy and cheap, but it won’t attract customers, no matter how great your product is. It might be an extra investment, but getting your packaging professionally designed and manufactured will pay off in the long run as it will attract many more buyers. 4. Use Imagery Effectively Keeping it simple is essential but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use imagery effectively. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, and when you’re dealing with only a few seconds that consumers take to look at a shelf, you definitely need to come up with something that draws them in quickly. A wall of text won’t attract them, but a relevant image that sends the right message definitely will. 5. Establish an Emotional Connection A person will make a purchase when the brand elicits some form of emotional response. If your packaging makes someone smile, or creates a warm and happy feeling, people are going to buy your brand. Another good approach is to have someone making eye contact on your packaging, because people can’t help but investigate further. 6. Make Sure Your Packaging and Product Match You can have the most amazing packaging in the world, but if it’s not relevant to your product, you’re wasting your time. For example, a humorous label on a high-end perfume won’t cut it, just as a stylish, sleek label isn’t exactly appropriate for a bag of potato chips. It establishes the wrong expectations and customers can’t help but be disappointed. So, always make sure that your packaging meshes with your product. 7. Make Your Packaging Reusable If you really want to set your product apart, then make the packaging useful. Not only will it attract consumers because they can reuse the packaging, but it will also keep your brand front and center, even after they’ve used the product. For example, if you sell cosmetics, you could use branded makeup totes to package sets of products, which customers can then reuse. Or, if you sell homemade kibble, you could package it in tins or stiff ziplock bags that people can keep storing dog food in. 8. Make It Memorable and Easy to Identify You want people to associate your packaging with your product. Just like whenever you see a shiny red can with a white stripe, you know it’s a can of Coca-Cola, you want your customers to have the same reaction with your product. So, it needs to be memorable. Also, Forbes states that packaging needs to pass the five-year-old test. Essentially, this means that you should be able to describe the package to a five-year-old and the child will be able to pick up precisely what you want. For example, tell a five-year-old to get the blue package with a cookie and milk on it and you can be sure she’ll come back with a pack of Oreos. This also ties in with being memorable but also simple. 9. Use Top Quality Materials Packaging has a massive impact on how people perceive your brand, and if you’re using poor quality materials, it will send the wrong message, no matter how stunning the design is. People will eventually handle the packaging, whether it’s to take a closer look or to put it in their cart, and if you’ve used cheap cardboard, for example, you can be sure they’ll put it back. Cheap materials send the message that the product is cheap, which is precisely what you don’t want. 10. Choose the Right Colors The impact of color on people’s buying decisions has been studied for a long time and it has been repeatedly proven that different colors attract different people and affect people differently, as well. So, take your time to pick colors that are relevant to your target market and will elicit the right emotions. Packaging can make or break your product. Poorly designed packaging using low quality materials will keep your product on the shelf, no matter how great it is. Packaging that looks just like everything else on the shelf will lead to your product going unnoticed. So, follow the above advice and don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous too. Sometimes being different pays. But make sure that you’re not so different that people have no idea what your product is.
Learn moreWhy Big Companies Use Promotional Stickers in Their Marketing (and Why You Should Too)
Promotional stickers have been around in some shape or form since the 1800s, so it’s definitely an old-school type of advertising, especially when compared to digital, TV and other channels available today. But that doesn’t mean they don’t work. In fact, stickers are more effective than ever. Read on to find out why stickers are such a powerful marketing tool. Stickers Help Brands Stand Out Online marketing is highly effective, without a doubt, but it’s a pretty crowded space and is slowly becoming overly saturated to the point where people are developing ad blindness. The advantage with promotional stickers is that they help you stand out from the crowd. While everyone is running to grab people’s attention online, you can take advantage of the now less crowded offline space. People Like Stickers People just like stickers. There are a multitude of reasons. Some of us like to let our inner child out to play, and promotional stickers are the adult version of My Little Pony, Transformers or those always coveted gold star stickers. Some of us want to support causes or make a statement, while others want to let the world know what they’re into. Regardless of the reasons, the fact is that people really like stickers, and if your stickers are creative and attractive enough, and mesh with what your prospects and customers want, then they’ll be sticking them on anything and everything they own, especially since they have a high perceived value. Stickers Are Like a Personal Recommendation When someone applies a promotional sticker on something they own, they are, essentially, endorsing that brand. In other words, anyone who sees the sticker will see it as a personal recommendation, turning the sticker into a form of word-of-mouth marketing. Considering that, according to Nielsen, 82% of Americans rely on recommendations when making a purchase, while the Keller Fay Group reveals that 90% of word-of-mouth takes place offline, you can see why stickers are so powerful. Stickers Make Life Easier for Your Advocates Those loyal customers who are more than happy to recommend your brand to their friends and family are worth their weight in gold. However, many people don’t go out of their way to “promote” your brand, which is understandable. If someone asks them, they will recommend you, but won’t necessarily be proactive about it. Stickers, on the other hand, make it much easier for your loyal customers to advocate your brand proactively. All they have to do is apply the sticker onto something they own, and you have a walking, talking advertisement in the shape of word-of-mouth marketing, which is even more powerful. And the best thing? No one will feel as if they are acting as an advertisement for you, because, as we previously said, people just like stickers. Stickers Have Evolved If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know that stickers have come a long way since the days of those large, white rectangles applied to bumpers that encouraged you to vote for some politician or other. Nowadays, you can get them in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and they can be applied to pretty much anything, from windows, walls and floors to buses, phones and even people. Want a sticker to cover an entire shop window? Not a problem. Whatever your mind can dream up, it can be made. The great thing about this is that it’s easier than ever to come up with a memorable and fun sticker design, which people will remember. Stickers Allow for a Lot of Creativity There aren’t many other mediums that allow for the level of creativity stickers do. It’s so easy nowadays to come up with a design that attracts people’s attention like moths to a flame. For example, UNICEF created stickers that looked like landmines on the bottom, while the top was self-adhesive and mimicked the floor they were placed on, making them invisible until someone stepped on one. When removing the sticker from their shoe, people found the picture of the landmine with a message explaining that in some countries, they would have ended up really hurt. Another interesting example comes from Pedigree. They put down stickers on the floor around pet stores and supermarkets that looked exactly like dog food bowls filled with kibble. These stickers had been sprayed with an essence of the food, which meant that every dog ended up licking the sticker, attracting their owner’s attention to the brand. Stickers Are Cost-Effective Compared to many other promotional mediums, stickers are highly cost-effective. Not only is the investment itself reasonable compared to other advertising tools, but the way they are perceived by customers and prospects makes them even more valuable. When given a sticker, people see them more as a gift than a promotional tool, which helps to lower their defenses. So, instead of being irritated because they feel they are being sold to aggressively, the psychology changes to wondering where they can apply the sticker, or who they could make happy by passing it on as a gift. It certainly acts as a great reminder of your brand and most people will make a mental note to interact with your business in the near future. Stickers Increase the Effectiveness of Other Marketing Campaigns Stickers significantly increase the effectiveness of other marketing campaigns. For example, if you want to build an online subscriber list, offer people free stickers for their email addresses. Want to increase the open rate of your direct mail? Include a sticker (and let people know about it beforehand, of course.) Add QR codes to your stickers to increase awareness of online campaigns and improve conversion rates for your online store. These are just some of the ways you can use stickers to enhance your other marketing efforts. With a little creativity, you can do so much more. Stickers continue to be a powerful marketing tool that brings together more traditional advertising methods with highly effective word-of-mouth marketing, all while being non-intrusive. Due to the general perception that stickers are something fun rather than an ad or sales tool, they promote a high level of engagement while minimizing the automatic defenses that go up in customers when faced with a more traditional advertisement. Combined with their cost-effectiveness, stickers are a powerful promotional tool every business should be taking advantage of.
Learn moreFundraising Ideas For Sororities And Fraternities
Getting a higher education isn’t cheap. If you want to live the Greek life as well, you will need to be creative with your financing. Fundraisers are one of the better ways for sororities and fraternities to raise money. In order to help you keep member fees down, Stickerbeat is pleased to offer a few fundraising ideas for sororities and fraternities. Fundraising Ideas For Sororities And Fraternities Sell Advertising Space If you have a well-designed website and a good newsletter, you can sell advertising space to any business that caters to students. Restaurants, retail merchants, and car dealerships are a few that come to mind. Auctions And Sales One of the easiest ways to raise money is by selling stuff. There are thousands of potential customers on campus; all you have to do is find a few products that people want to buy. Additionally, weather conditions can create unique selling opportunities. For example, sports fans will gladly pay two dollars for a modified trash bag to keep them dry during a sporting event. Host a Tournament A golf tournament is easy to organize and it can bring in thousands of dollars. Golfers love competitions and you don’t need to spend a fortune in prizes to make it attractive. Host A Benefit Dinner One of the more popular fundraising ideas for fraternities and sororities is to host a benefit dinner. You can either host a diner that is elegant and sophisticated or one that is based on standard fare. In addition, you can kick it up a notch by making it theme-based; a murder mystery theme goes well with the high-end offering while a celebrity dunk tank is guaranteed to make a fun night with the standard fare crowd. Stickers And Decals For Sororities And Fraternities Stickers and decals are an effective way to brand your fraternity or sorority. They also make great items that can be sold or raffled off to raise money. Think of a few cool designs that students would like to have and order in large quantities to keep prices down and profits high. Why Use Stickers And Decals For Sorority Advertising Businesses make extensive use of stickers and decals for advertising because they’re effective and affordable. When made with bright colors and a catchy design, your stickers and decals will make you stand out from the crowd. Professionally made stickers and decals don’t cost much. Leave the homemade option for the groups with less ambition. If you make your stickers and swag with a unique logo and a cool slogan, your fellow students will be glad to paste them on lockers, laptops, backpacks and car bumpers. Select the format of sticker or decal you want and upload your artwork to Stickerbeat. All you have to do is ask, and our professional designers will work with you at no charge to make sure your materials really stand out. Wrap Up – Fundraising Ideas For Sororities And Fraternities You need to get creative to be successful at raising funds for your student organization. Hosting events that are fun and exciting will help you raise money and make belonging to your group a source of pride and achievement. Any of the fundraising suggestions in this article will help you raise money. Each also presents an opportunity to sell your branded stickers, decals and swag. Stickers and decals are the best way to boost awareness of your sorority or fraternity. Automate Your Social Turn off
Learn moreHow To Be A Better Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for ways to boost their performance and maximize personal output. Suggestions such as better time management, delegating tasks and improving physical fitness, are useful for getting better results now. However, your strategy on how to be a better entrepreneur should also include long-term tactics. You Don’t Need To Be An Expert As an entrepreneur, you don’t need to be a bona fide expert at something in order to use the knowledge to your advantage. In fact, you can make tremendous gains in any area or discipline if you work at it regularly for an extended period. How To Be A Better Entrepreneur Business philosopher Jim Rhone advocated, what we become in life is more important than what we get out of it. Focusing on what we are becoming leads us to be more creative and more inspired. As a result, getting more comes naturally. Which new skill would make you better at what you do? Are there any holes in your professional background that need to be filled to make you more competitive? Take the time to do a personal SWOT analysis and start working on improving yourself in the area that needs it most. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Embrace The 5-Hour Rule The 5-hour rule is the practice of putting aside one hour each day, or at least five hours each week, to practice something that will help you grow. You must use the time for deliberate daily practice of something that will ensure your personal improvement. Where do you find the time? Take your daily to-do list and pull out those items that belong in a 20-80 list based on the Pareto principle. Try to delegate the rest. Ruminate Ruminating helps you gain perspective on the lessons you’ve learned and it allows you to assimilate new ideas. It helps develop hunches that lead to creative breakthroughs. Some like taking walks alone to process these insights. Others prefer deliberating with conversation partners or in groups. Find what works for you. Set Aside Daily Reading Time Most successful people read a lot. They read news, industry articles, how-to books and biographies. They read to gain knowledge, improve their mindset and to better their mood. Beyond reading, successful people study. They study trends in their industry and beyond. Wrap – How To Be A Better Entrepreneur There are always more things to do in a day than you have time for. That’s why it’s important to focus on what matters most every day. You should have two lists on your desk: a to-do list and a 20-80 list based on the Pareto Principle. As an entrepreneur, you need to focus on the 20-80 list, and delegate tasks that are on the other list whenever possible. Track Clicks & Actions Turn off
Learn moreIt’s Canada’s 150th Birthday
On July 1, 1867, four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) became united as the Dominion of Canada. That makes 2017 Canada’s 150th birthday. Canadians can be proud of many things including hockey, innovations in medicine and science and significant contributions to arts and culture. And let’s not forget beavertails and hosers eh :) How To Celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday There are a lot of things going on all across the country this year and we’re just going to touch on a few of them. Visit The Nation’s Capital First on the list is the Nation's Capitol. The city of Ottawa has events planned throughout the entire year to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. If you plan to be in the Nation’s Capital, you might want to coincide with the celebrations. Ottawa has a website that covers all the festivities here. Enjoy Canada’s Wilderness Because it's a special year in Canada, visitors can obtain a free pass from Parks Canada. The Discovery Pass will allow you to enjoy national parks at no cost. The pass also applies to marine conservation areas and historic sites across the country. You can get your Discovery Pass here. Brush Up On History With Library And Archives Canada Finally, Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) heritage collection is highlighting a significant event with a series of vignettes called discover today-in-history, every day this year. Visit Canada.ca/OnThisDay to read the stories. You can also subscribe to LAC’s Facebook and Twitter pages or use the #Canada150 and #OnThisDay hashtags. Celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday If you have a business in Canada, or a business in the U.S. that caters to Canadians, this celebration could be the best marketing opportunity of 2017. Canada’s 150th birthday is a celebration that will last until the end of the year. What makes this such a great marketing opportunity for business? The Canadian Government is allowing the use of the Canada 150 logo for free, even for commercial use! Some professional designers are disappointed in the logo because they feel it lacks professionalism; that’s understandable as it came out of an amateur competition. The good news is, you can make your own version and have it approved by the Canadian government within seven to nine days. How cool is that? Here’s where you can get more information about using the Canada 150 logo. Get Free Help With Custom Graphics At Stickerbeat We’re all about marketing here at Stickerbeat and we do everything we can to help you get the most out of your marketing efforts. That’s why we offer free help with your custom graphics to all our clients. Show us what you’ve got, tell us what you want and our pro designers will work with you free of charge. Stickerbeat makes stickers and decals that ROCK and we want yours to look great too. Wrap – It’s Canada’s 150th Birthday Anniversaries are about remembering all the things we have to be grateful for and for creating new memories. They also give us a chance to take a break from our busy lives, have fun and enjoy quality family time. Canada’s 150th birthday provides a great opportunity for everyone on both sides of the border to do just that. Happy 150th Canada! Automate Your Social Turn off
Learn moreHow To Boost Your eCommerce Revenue in 2017
The trend is set. Online sales are growing and retail sales are shrinking. While a good blog and paid-for ads will drive traffic to your site, you need to convert some of those visitors into customers to generate revenue. Here’s a hint on how to boost your eCommerce revenue in 2017: it’s easier and more profitable to double your conversion rate than it is to double your traffic. How To Boost Your Ecommerce Revenue in 2017 Have A Mobile-Friendly Website Twenty-five percent of eCommerce sales were placed on mobile devices in 2016. But twice that many shoppers visited on mobile first and returned on a desktop later to make the purchase. That’s why it’s important to present a consistent presence across all platforms. Additionally, your site should have a mobile-friendly mega menu. It makes it easier for mobile users to navigate the site and it also decreases page load time. Have A Shopper-Friendly Site First-time visitors have no idea whether they’re going to do business with you and it’s easy to scare them away by trying to capture their email too soon. Generally speaking, it’s best to give them a chance to explore the site first. Check your logs to see how long the average visit lasts and time your email capture to load at an opportune time. Provide A Shopper’s Wish List Tool A shopper’s wish list tool is an effective way to get shoppers invested in your site. It’s also the easiest way to turn them into repeat clients. Once they’ve built the list, you can ask them for their email address so they can save the list for later or share it with someone else. Always provide value to the client before asking for their private information. Even a small gift will be more effective than a ‘sign up to our email list to be notified of future posts’. Provide A Save-the-Cart Feature Most online shoppers are comparison shoppers. It's not uncommon for them to have several browser windows open as they compare prices of similar products. That’s why it’s important to let them save carts. How To Boost Your Ecommerce Revenue in 2017 The easiest way to boost your eCommerce revenue is to reduce cart abandonment According to a 2016 study by the Baymard Institute, over two-thirds of shopping carts are abandoned during checkout. That means you could double your sales by reducing cart abandonment by fifty-percent. Here’s the breakdown of why shoppers abandoned their carts: - Extra costs too high (shipping, taxes, fees) 61% - Didn’t want to create an account 35% - Checkout process too long or complicated 27% - Total cost not visible early on 27% - Website malfunction or crash 22% - Didn’t trust site with credit card info 18% - Delivery takes too long 16% - Unsatisfactory return policy 10% - Too few payment options 8% - Credit card declined 5% note: those who were just shopping and not ready to buy were removed How To Reduce Cart Abandonment - Offer free shipping - Disclose all costs up front (especially shipping charges) - Offer a guest checkout option. Forcing users to register is responsible for thirty-five percent of abandoned carts - Simplify checkout and have a clear checkout progress indicator - Have a money-back guarantee that inspires confidence in shoppers - Use Trust Logos from Mastercard, Paypal, Verisign, Thawte etc. - Offer several payment options - Provide an easy way to navigate between the shopping cart and shopping pages Wrap – How To Boost Your Ecommerce Revenue in 2017 Imagine a bricks and mortar store where two-thirds of shoppers abandon their carts and walk out without buying anything. That’s the state of online retail right now. While cart abandonment will probably always be higher in the digital world, it shouldn’t be as high as it is. Check your site against the list above and make changes wherever you can. What’s your biggest beef with your online shopping experience? Track Clicks & Actions Turn off
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