 Welcome new member Northwest Graphics! WSPA is thrilled to welcome new member company Northwest Graphics from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. To learn more about this 31 year-old full service printer, visit www.nwgprint.com
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 It's Official - First Quarter Stunk!
If you had the feeling that 2014 started off with less than a bang, your were not imagining things. As our recent Flash Report revealed, performance on the economic front was decidedly bad early in the year, as total economic activity (inflation-adjusted gross domestic product or GDP) turned down unexpectedly during the first quarter. On a seasonally adjusted annual basis, the economy dipped by 2.9%. A portion of the decline can be attributed to the extreme winter of 2014, but since the numbers are already seasonally adjusted, the decline was genuine and significant. Indeed, should the economy continue to sputter with a continued decline in the second quarter, the pattern could be labeled another recession. However, signs point toward a return to positive growth in the second quarter. In terms of printing shipments, the dip was 4.7 percent year over year.
If you would like to receive regular, free economic Flash Reports from Printing Industries of America, contact Ron Davis at rdavis@printing.org.
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 New Algorithm Good For Printers?
While search engine optimization (SEO) isn't everyone's cup of tea, recent changes at the world's largest search engine may offer opportunities to printers, according to industry consultant Pat Whelan ( pat@greatreachinc.com).
Google has changed its search algorithm. "Hummingbird." as it is known, is not merely an update but a complete replacement which could affect 90 percent of all searches. Google as shifted away from keyword search and moved to conversational search, also referred to as long tail keyword search. By analyzing all of the words in a search query, Google gets a more accurate feel for the intent of the search and seeks to match it up with the true intent of content on websites. Hummingbird levels the playing field by seeking out meaningful content that need not be optimized with lots of keywords and phrases. Content that is relevant to a printer's services and their clients' needs will almost always naturally contain the key phrases and words that Hummingbird looks for. If the intent of your content is to provide your audience with meaningful information relating to your expertise, then it will match you up with people seeking this expertise. Going forward, having updated, relevant content and sharing them out on your social sites (search is now social), including a G+ page (yes Google plays favorites) will provide an adequate level of SEO. Posting links to mass distributed, third party attributed articles will not help. Whelan recommends printers start a blog on their website, add content on a consistent basis and communicate frequently on social networks. Bottom line is that you no longer have to be an SEO expert to get results. At the same time, if you ignore the need for good SEO, you risk falling behind competitors who, because of its ease, will be quick to take advantage of these changes.
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 Networking can make you smarter! As a business owner or exec you're probably already plenty aware of the benefits of networking. Getting out and meeting new people can get you access to new talent, new markets or new partnerships. Now research shows this activity can actually make you smarter! Go figure. So take advantage of your membership in trade associations like WSPA and NETWORK!
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 Reminder - Meet Jeff Ekstein, National PIA Chairman of the Board.
Speaking of networking, a reminder that on Thursday, September 4, 2014, the Chairman of the Board of Printing Industries of America, Jeff Ekstein, will be in Phoenix to meet with WSPA members. In addition to touring a number of facilities, Jeff will join PIA President and CEO Michael Makin, to present a snap shot of the new Western States Printing Alliance (WSPA), including many membership benefits you may not be aware of. The presentation will also highlight what profit leaders are doing to grow their business in our challenging industry.
Jeff will be traveling all the way from Ontario, Canada for the visit and we hope as many WSPA members as possible will come out to show their support!
This FREE member event will be jointly sponsored by Prudential Overall Supply and Ricoh and held at Ricoh's Phoenix offices at 1910 W. University Drive (Tempe) from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Learn how you can improve your bottom line and what services you may not be taking advantage of at this event. A similar presentation will be made in Denver in October (date and location to be determined). To register click here.
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 Quote For The Week "There is only one failure in life possible, and that is not to be true to the best one knows."
George Eliot
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