One effect of the advances in graphics software is that all of us have become  creative designers.  Maybe we are not good as the pros – but with the wealth of templates etc we can produce well balanced and well laid out
documents. 

So how do we stand out from the crowd, in an ever
increasingly competitive market?   The quality of , reprinted documents must be one way.  Here are some suggestions using the products from opusalbum.com – documents you can design and print yourself with limited investment.

Photographers, graphics designers and artists – professional or amateur are in a great position.  Making arresting pictures is part of your life.  Well presented, well printed they can be of financial benefit to you or your company.

Here are some of the applications that we describe in further detail in our main blog:  See  http://www.opusalbums.com/more-effective-marketing

1. Present your proposals and reports in professional looking covers.  This is the first impression.  If the ticket item warrants it, have a printed hard cover tailored  for your client.  It is not that expensive.

2. Use high quality paper.  Inkjet printing on to photo/rag or archival photo paper has far more impact.

3. Provide an A2 wall poster of one of your best photos and a sales message.  Encourage your client to display it.

4. Use a greeting card or postcard for volume mailings.

5. Use a photo accordion to great effect – product summary, aide mémoire, summary of presentation etc.

We are in challenging times -economically, socially and politically.  The more effectively you can get your message out, the better.

You need not be a loser in the recession – OPUSalbums is helping many businesses through its many ideas.  You have your ideas too – we can even share them, especially if they use some of the products from the portfolio you are getting to know well.

Personally, I like to work with
our many clients to help them grow their businesses – can I help you grow yours too. 

Posted by

Daniel Roberts
Director, Incartek (ink Cartridge Technologies Ltd)

www.OPUSalbums.comwww.OPUSalbums.com – print-your-own albums, digital photographic and creative papers and the best album/scrapbook software for digital photographers

www.printalot.org – Paper, Albums, Software and other consumables – guaranteed quality, guaranteed service, guaranteed price – for people who print a lot.
www.u-printit.co.uk – Albums and papers to make printing elegant, productive and fun
www.photo4.biz – A great source for graphics software – under development
www.incartek.com – an great resource for digital photographers and anybody interested in digital printing.
Octopus Blogs on WordPress: – an ever increasing wealth of ideas, tips etc fro digital photographers

eBay Shop – Photo4BizOPUSalbums.com’s paper, albums and software – Buy now of make offer
Ecademy Club Leader – EBay Sellers Forum

Ecademy Club Leader – Silver Ecademists
Networks Ecademy BlackStar;++ Linked-in ++ Naymz ++ Ryze ++ Xing Plaxo ++ Twitter ++ Friendfeed
Senior Consultant – Excelsis Enterprises Ltd” _ Practical help for business

Pointer to: The One and only Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ
Author of “What day is Brand Freedom Day?”

I originally wrote this for ICFBA’s Advance e-Magazine in 2006. Now in 2008 its message is even more apposite.

With the current economic conditions it is even more important not to waste money on “names”. Quality is even more important – products need to outlast the latest trend; services must deliver real value? Can you get this without depending on the ‘big names’ Of course – through social networking we can get access to the best advice free – to lead us to those suppliers – small companies – unknown names – that deliver real value.

Daniel Roberts -July 2008

But what are you paying because of the bondage to the brand phenomenon? Modern consumerism is brand brainwashed. Your boy wants the latest Nike trainers, your daughter just loves Next, your wife is addicted to John Lewis, you – despite all your professional objectivity, stick rigidly to Hewlett Packard. You come home – order a meal from Pizza Hut – and go off to shop at Tesco’s.

I don’t deprecate these organisations. They are meeting a need and maximising their return on capital in doing so. That is good business. But that need is that of the lemmings who

- buy an item because of its brand, when a lower cost one would give the same or better value.
- buy from a higher cost channel, where a lower priced one would give the same or better service at a lower price.
- buy a higher spec and therefore more expensive article than is needed for the job.

Look at the unnecessary costs you are paying for: the enormous publicity spending, the large company overheads and the optimisation of profits. Sometimes perceived ‘better’ is just more standardisation – same sized potatoes – or more packaging or more additives. Manufactured goods probably come from the same factories in China – not always supplied at a low cost – due to the ‘special demands’ of the ‘prestigious customer’. I could get controversial by citing the use of ‘fear, uncertainty and doubt – FUD’ to make you go for the ‘safer bet’ – “Using this cartridge could void your warranty” – note could – not would. Even more political, is the misuse of patents and other intellectual property to heighten the entry threshold to a market.

In business it may be worse. Most readers are executives/directors of small or medium businesses. You have that position in the market because you supply value. People trust you. You would not let your hard won customers down by shoddy goods or inferior service. You do not have the resources to conduct studies into consumer demand so you use your experience to guide you and price your wares at cost plus a reasonable return. What’s more you are battling against those mighty corporations who even relish the bureaucratic regulations which inhibit your development.

I was analysing the expenditure of a public agency on the top 50 business supplies – computer supplies (40%), copier and other paper (25%), filing products, stationery, janitorial supplies and even tea and coffee. I took the price that typically would be spent by buying branded product from a leading business supplies chain. I then priced the goods on unbranded – or unpromoted branded goods – of sound quality from smaller reputable channels. I saved over 25%. On a business supplies budget of £20,000 that is £5000.

That is £5000 on to the bottom line.

© Daniel Roberts
daniel@incartek.com

Daniel Roberts
Director, Incartek (ink Cartridge Technologies Ltd)

www.OPUSalbums.comwww.OPUSalbums.com – print-your-own albums, digital photographic and creative papers and the best album/scrapbook software for digital photographers

www.printalot.org – Paper, Albums, Software and other consumables – guaranteed quality, guaranteed service, guaranteed price – for people who print a lot.
www.u-printit.co.uk – Albums and papers to make printing elegant, productive and fun
www.photo4.biz – A great source for graphics software – under development
www.incartek.com – an great resource for digital photographers and anybody interested in digital printing.
Octopus Blogs on WordPress: – an ever increasing wealth of ideas, tips etc fro digital photographers

eBay Shop – Photo4BizOPUSalbums.com’s paper, albums and software – Buy now of make offer
Ecademy Club Leader – EBay Sellers Forum

Ecademy Club Leader – Silver Ecademists
Networks Ecademy BlackStar;++ Linked-in ++ Naymz ++ Ryze ++ Xing Plaxo ++ Twitter ++ Friendfeed
Senior Consultant – Excelsis Enterprises Ltd” _ Practical help for business

Pointer to: The One and only Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ
Author of “What day is Brand Freedom Day?”