This e-newsletter covers printing, writing and Web sites. If there are topics you would like us to cover in the future, please let me know.
Five Questions to Ask Your Next Printer
We know how important the interviewing process is when hiring an employee. But have you considered interviewing prospective printers to find the one who best suits your needs?
Here are five questions to pose:
In which areas do you specialize? Just as people have particular skill sets, so do printers. Match the type and size project to the printer who does that work on a consistent basis.
Will you share your expertise with me while I'm planning a project? Making slight modifications in the design process or overall dimensions of a piece will sometimes save you money. Printers charge different rates depending on which press your project will run.
Is the price you quoted for this project comparable to what I'll pay in the future? Or is this a special one-time price for new customers? Being consistent with pricing helps us stay within budget and eliminate surprises.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, is my deadline achievable? A missed delivery date will affect when your project can be mailed or distributed.
What quality control processes are in place to ensure my project will be completed to my satisfaction?
Find a printer who can translate your creativity into a first-class piece that effectively communicates your message. It's worth the time!
Say What You Mean
Whether you're speaking or writing, what do the words you choose to use say about you or your organization?
Do you talk to your audience or at them?
Do you punctuate your talk with acronyms that are unfamiliar to your listeners? Avoid jargon when talking to lay people.
Do you use a $10 word when a 10 cent one would work equally as well? Write to be understood - not to impress.
Do you use the "you approach?" People want to know what's in it for them.
Do you look up problem words and phrases in a dictionary or thesaurus? Is it ensure or insure?
If your organization has a style manual, do you follow it?
Check out the Visual Thesaurus. The Tournament Spelling Bee is a fun exercise. The more words you spell correctly, the higher your score will be.
If you need writing assistance, please let us know. We recently completed an annual report assignment from Ace Hardware Corporation.
Is Your Web Site Helping or Hurting You?
Did you know that Internet users spend 69 percent of their time looking at the left side of a Web page and only 30 percent viewing the right side? Are you making the best use of your home page layout? Here are some tips from usability expert Jakob Nielsen:
Keep navigation all the way to the left.
Put the main content a little further in from the left.
Place the most important information between one-third and half-way across the page.
Keep secondary content to the right.
Using a conventional layout works well because people expect to find the information they are seeking in expected locations. Make it easy for them to navigate through your Web site. You will be more successful meeting your business goals.
Sylvia Small Communications & Marketing works on long- and short-term projects. Check out our Web site to learn more about our company capabilities. Follow us on Twitter: @peachtreepro or @atlskyline.
Sylvia Small Sylvia Small Communications & Marketing LLC
We know how important the interviewing process is when hiring an employee. But have you considered interviewing prospective printers to find the one who best suits your needs?
Did you know that Internet users spend 69 percent of their time looking at the left side of a Web page and only 30 percent viewing the right side? Are you making the best use of your home page layout? Here are some tips from usability expert Jakob Nielsen: 