Braggin' rights!
 You know, I love newsletters ... have since my days at NAU as a journalism major. There was a time I was known as the "Newsletter Queen" because we produced hundreds of printed newsletters every year. But time has brought changes.
My passion for newsletters hasn't changed, it has just crossed over to the internet.
Last year after research of online providers, Mullins Creative became a business partner with Constant Contact. We liked their simplicity, their pricing, their integrity and their absolutely unbeatable customer service. And we have watched the direct connection between our own newsletter and business growth.
This past week I took our relationship with Constant Contact one step further. I completed a comprehensive train-the-trainer course and passed the test that enables me to present "The Power of Email Marketing" to anyone considering email marketing as a tool to grow their small businesses, associations or non-profits.
I will soon be setting up an online calendar of open presentations. But if you would like to get started prior to that, give me a call at 480-941-8202 and I'll see what I can do.
We're very excited about our new relationship with Constant Contact because we know the value it will bring to you! We'll be traveling around the state sharing "The Power of Email Marketing" so hope to see you!
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graphic design & branding
Can your business card pass a basic design test? Three business card design bungles to avoid.
How many people have commented on the
design of your business card? If you're like most folks, it's probably not very many. Although good design means different things to
different people, designers can agree on the following. If your business cards contain any of the bungles listed below, they don't pass, so seriously think about redesigning and printing new ones.
- Too much stuff ... cut down on the clutter. Save the extra information for your web site or brochure.
- Type is too small ... especially the phone number. Make it easy for the recipient to get in touch with you!
- Having a plain white card with black text. With digital printing now so popular, anyone can afford full color.
Check out some of the cards Mullins Creative has created for our clients. Great business card samples.
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email marketing
There's more to email marketing than just newsletters.
Staying in touch with your clients and prospects doesn't mean just sending them a newsletter filled with non-promotional content. Mix up your marketing strategy! While you'll always want to maintain your brand, consider putting together promotions or announcements now and then, too.
What's the difference?
Promotions have limited content, often times utilizing coupons and may feature numerous products. They are more sales oriented. Announcements have a targeted message for a special event, new products, awards, the types of things you might find in a news release.
When using an Email Service Provider such as Constant Contact, each one of these email marketing formats is easy to produce,  easy to brand and, when used together, will keep your message fresh and looking professional. |
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self-publishing solutions
Do you handle the fulfillment of your own book sales? Here's a money-saving tip!
Many authors sell books from their own websites in order to put additional revenue from those sales into their own pockets.
I personally have been doing this for years by purchasing padded envelopes and using Endicia.com to manage and print the postage. I can print out the labels on plain white paper, tape them on the envelope and the mailman picks them up. I never bought label paper nor drove to the post office.
The USPS made it even better! While I still send the single-book sales First Class in a padded envelope, two or more now go via the new USPS Priority Mail. The postage is based on the package size, not weight, and, the post office supplies the boxes and envelopes at no cost (they'll even deliver them to you). Between the reduced shipping rate and no more envelope purchases my shipping expenses have been cut substantially!
Just FYI, although media mail is cheaper to use for single books, I do not use it because of the longer delivery time. For the extra dollar or so, I want my buyers happy with the prompt service.
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professional speakers' essentials
Get yourself hired with a better-branded CD/DVD.
Slap-on CD/DVD labels are out-dated and tacky! Today's technology makes it easy to transfer your brand on to your CD/DVD ... creating a beautifully designed product that sounds and looks like the must-hire speaker you are. 
Here's a CD cover we recently designed for professional speaker Ted Rogers. He needed a product that could be used to promote one specific presentation, a product that reflected his brand and made it easy for him to be contacted. We partnered with Janita Cooper at Master Duplicating who took our design and produced the final audio CDs for Ted. He now has a great marketing tool and will surely stand heads above his competition!
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Mullins Creative Inc.
7520 E. 2nd Street, Suite 5 · Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-941-8202 |
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FAVORITE SITES
Gone are the days of buying expensive stock photos!
 Looking for great, high-resolution photos that are affordable?
Below are the stock photo sites we recommend. At either site you can do keyword searches to find exactly what you're looking for. You can also collect your favorites into custom lightboxes and make your final selections later. If you're not sure what a photo might look like in your project, you can download a free, FPO (for position only) image to get a good idea before your purchase.
Pricing on both of these sites is based on the size and resolution you need. All of the photos we generally purchase range from $4 to $15.
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What are we
up to?
Helping our clients
Avoid Collateral Damage, of course!
Visit our Website portfolio to see new books we've sent to press plus speaker one-sheets highlighting our talented clients.
Click below.
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Word Tripper
by Barbara McNichol
Tolerant
vs. Tolerable
Tolerant means inclined to tolerate, particularly
the beliefs or behavior of others; able to endure adverse environmental
conditions (e.g., a drought-tolerant plant).
Tolerable means capable of being
tolerated; moderately good; passable.
She was tolerant
of her toddler's picky eating habits, but hoped he would outgrow his belief
that no food was tolerable without ketchup.
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