Smarter Media

A DECADE PASSES SO QUICKLY!

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 02:05:00 +0000

Just over a decade ago, Smarter Media opened for business. Just for fun we decided to take a peek back at other events of 2004 (see list below). Hope you enjoy reminiscing and considering how far we all have come since then.

We are very grateful to all our friends, advisers, team members, and especially our loyal customers who have made this a memorable and fruitful decade. We have grown and changed over the years. We originally were part of a franchise network called Business Partner, but went independent in 2006 and relocated to larger facilities in 2009. In many ways we stayed the same, offering our clients easy access to creative designs and products for their graphics, print, and marketing needs. So much more has happened in the previous decade! We weathered a lot of economic and personal storms, and emerged stronger, thanks to you all!

In 2004….

Google stock IPO’s at $85 per share (trading recently at $545).
Social media site Facebook launched in February 2004 (stock IPO famously fizzles in Feb 2012).
Citigroup, AIG, and BP were among the Top 10 Largest US Companies (Absent were Apple and Google who now are #1 and #2)
Martha Stewart went to jail for insider stock trading.
Oklahoma State went to the Final Four in NCAA Men’s Basketball.
George W. Bush defeated John Kerry for a second term as POTUS.
Morgan Spurlock gained fame and 25 pounds by eating nothing but McDonald’s meals for 30 days.
An earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed 2300,000 people in 14 countries.
Terry Nichols was convicted of murder in an Oklahoma court.
Lance Armstrong won an unprecedented sixth consecutive ‘Tour de France’ cycling title.
Michael Phelps won 8 Gold and 2 Bronze Olympic Medals in Swimming.
Shrek II and Spiderman II made movie box office gold.
TV sitcom “Friends” premiered on NBC.
The term “wardrobe failure” entered our vocabulary following the Super Bowl half-time show.

I hope you enjoyed this list. Here's to the next 10 years!

Tim Airhart - Smarter Media

We Are Hiring Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:31:00 +0000

Smarter Media has a full-time opportunity for a Shipping Clerical & Delivery person. Duties include: pulling orders from online systems, daily packing and shipping of products, creating shipping records and invoices, inventory control, deliveries and errands, and assisting in print production areas, as needed.

Must have good basic computer skills (Microsoft products and web-based tools), great phone skills with customers and vendors, clean driving record, and able to lift 40 pounds frequently. Familiarity with graphics and marketing business is a plus. Associate Degree preferred, or someone who is pursuing higher education.

Hours are 8:30-5:30, Mon-Fri, infrequent overtime. Benefits after 90 day probation include health insurance, sick leave and vacation. We are locally-owned small business where you can make a big impact, and be rewarded. Part-time opportunities also available.
See us at www.smartermediaok.com

Synthetic Paper???

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 17:52:00 +0000

New... Menus Printed on Synthetic Paper...No Lamination Needed!

We recently made these menus with synthetic paper for a local client known for being on the cutting edge of design and efficiency, the BOK Center. Look for them on your next visit to a corporate suite.

Paper made from various plants and trees has been around for thousands of years, and has served civilization well. But, it has its limitations when it comes to durability and water resistance. You may never have heard of synthetic paper, but it's coming into more common use. Typically made of recyclable plastic, it can be printed inexpensively using a variety of inks and toners. Unlike biomass paper, synthetics are water-resistant, scratch-resistant, tear-proof, and eco-friendly. No trees are involved, and much less water and power are consumed in making this "paper". It provides all the benefits of lamination, but eliminates the added labor cost and PVC recycling problems associated lamination. Our polyester synthetic papers are readily recycled as type 1 plastic.

You probably have used some products made with synthetic papers without knowing it...wallet cards, event luggage tags, parking passes, key tags, specialty packaging. Our new digital printers allow us to create durable, innovative products, that really POP without bursting your budget.

Smarter Media also has "Stone Paper" Bags and Notebooks made from crushed limestone and recycled plastic. But, that will be the subject of another post.

Contact us at 918-499-0331 or info@smartermediaok.com for more info.

HELP FOR BORING EVENTS & MEETINGS

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:15:00 +0000

Grab their attention and have more fun at your next trade show, meeting, or charity/school fundraiser. Smarter Media has creative ideas to boost traffic and make a lasting impression.

Here's a fun item that we have available for purchase, rental, or free loan to schools and charities.

Our classic prize wheel....

Click here for wheel details

We can custom print the segments, or you can create your own. The segments are easy to swap out, offering flexibility for all sorts of events. There is even a dry erase option.

How about a United Way fundraiser with sections for: T-shirt, Cup Cake, Coffee/Latte, Half Day Off, Pay Double, Lunch with CEO, etc?

Do you have a non-profit or school group? Ask us about borrowing our wheel for your event. We love to help our community! Call us at 918-499-0331 to learn more about the wheel and other fun ideas.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 23:32:00 +0000

Meet our newest team members, Amie Slemaker and

Robert Dorrough.

Amie joins us as Major Account Manager, serving many of our key accounts. Amie has a diverse sales and marketing background in the non-profit and state government sectors. Most recently she was Director of the 27^th Prosecutorial District, Bogus Check and DA Restitution Division. While there she worked with businesses and citizens in several northeastern Oklahoma counties. Amie attended William Woods University in Fulton, MO where she majored in Business Administration. Contact Amie at: aslemaker@smartermediaok.com for prompt creative solutions for your marketing and graphics needs. Or call 918-499-0331 x107

Robert is our inside sales representative. He is a recent graduate of Northeastern State University with a business and marketing degree. He has worked in the construction and automotive services industries, and ran his own online parts business while in college. Robert is available at: robertd@smartermediaok.com or 918-499-0331 x104

Experience our attentive and creative service by contacting Robert and Amie today for your marketing and promotional projects!

How Do You Get Your Team Together? - Tips & Strategies for Team-Building

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Summer is upon us; the season for casual company picnics, hot holiday celebrations, fun runs (and endurance races for the ambitious ones), and sizzling social gatherings. So we thought it timely to ask ourselves at Smarter Media, and you, what are the best ways to get your team together?

As a small business, we work as a close-knit team, with each person involved with, and even overlapping, another member's daily routine. We're all here for each other: to answer questions, pick up any slack, and support the sometimes multiple roles each of us plays in our organization.

While a larger company may have multiple teams, the same principles and strategies of team-building apply, working to develop better communication and cohesiveness among and across departments to make your business more effective and successful.

So how do you do it? How do you encourage better communication, collaboration, and creativity? How do you foster trust, commitment, and job satisfaction? How do you unify your team with your organization and its success?

There may be different approaches to consider, whether you have a specific team or department in mind with a specialized function, or an overall need to enhance your corporate culture. In either case, we’ve found these next steps to be a great place to start: DETERMINE YOUR NEED(S), DETERMINE YOUR PATH, and DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS. And try to keep cool while doing it!

To begin, look at the issues that most affect your members. Some that might arise in your team include: confusion about projects or assignments; misunderstandings or an I’ll-do-it-myself attitude among members; lack of innovation and initiation in solving problems; resistance to change or growth; low participation & decreased productivity; apathy or dwindling morale; and a focus on individual success.

(These issues and more are discussed in full in this extremely informative chapter of the Guide to Managing Human Resources from the University of California, San Francisco.)

In order, the above issues DETERMINE YOUR NEED for:

Communication
Collaboration
Creativity
Trust
Commitment
Job satisfaction
Unification

Of course many of these issues and needs overlap, but by pinpointing your team’s main problem(s), you can effectively DETERMINE A PATH to solving them. Without first making an honest assessment of your organization though, it will be like running a marathon without training; you simply won’t see the finish line. In other words, your team-building strategies must be specific and applicable, or members are likely to lose the lesson and your time will have been wasted.

To get you going, here are a few ideas for team-building strategies that target the above needs:

1. Communication/Collaboration/Creativity: Your team is in “survival mode.” Their boat has just crashed and is sinking, but there is room on the lifeboat for them all, plus 10 items of their choosing to aid in their survival. Add a nearby deserted island, or a designated time of rescue; mix it up and get everyone thinking!

2. Collaboration/Trust: Time to pair up. There’s a mine field of objects that one member must help their blindfolded partner navigate. The mine-walker isn’t allowed to speak. Verbal cues are all they have to get through the field. Make the pairings of team members interesting!

3. Commitment/Job Satisfaction: This is a tricky one, and may not be solved by a simple game. However, team-building itself can facilitate a general feeling of satisfaction and thereby commitment to the job. Focus on generating communication strategies and team-building techniques year-round, instead of just once or twice a year, and you’re likely to see happier team members.

4. Unification: How about a flash mob? A team fun run? Or a group charity effort? Take a day of work to do something fun and rewarding together. Even a plain old company picnic (with families included) will foster a sense of togetherness. You can’t underestimate community when it comes to unifying individuals with your corporate culture. (For even more fresh ideas check out “6 unusual team-building activities” by Matt Hickman.)

These are just a few paths that can help you DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS in building up your team and your business. Consider each team member’s personality, needs, and skills when planning your strategies and activities, and stay away from “competitive” ones. Remember to integrate a team-oriented attitude into your corporate culture for a continuous, year-round feeling of satisfaction and unification.

In our search for effective practices, we discovered that Mind Tools has an amazing array of skill-building tools, including this resource on “Planning Activities that Actually Work.” It has some of the above ideas, plus many more for your perusal.

We at Smarter Media have found these tips and strategies to be useful in our own team-building efforts, and we hope you do too. We’d love to hear what you’ve found success with!

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

Make your team more effective with the best graphics, promos & print here.

www.smartermediaok.com

3 Earth-Friendly Trade Show Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:32:00 +0000

We’ve all had to cut back our event budgets in the past years, but now that our businesses, and trade shows, are seeing growth again, what recession-proof trends will stick around? Sustainable ones. From “green” materials to more “minimalist” booths, these initiatives are good for the earth and great for showcasing your business at your next event.

We’re all “seeing green.” Recycled, recyclable, environmentally-friendly, sustainable materials are increasingly important to your marketing efforts. In a growing but cautious trade show climate, what sets you apart from your competition (or raises you to their level) matters even more. Bamboo is now widely in use for marketing collateral, promotional products and booths. Rock paper, made from ground stone, using much less water and zero trees, is an alternative material for bags and printed items. However you choose to incorporate “green” materials into your exhibit, with this trend, you don’t want to be the one left behind.
Minimalist/modular booths continue to grow in popularity. They were essential in our scaled-down budgets, but they will remain indispensable in a growing economy, as more cost-effective and portable solutions. Less fuel in shipping = more fuel for your business. 10x10 and 10x20 modular, lightweight booths are both highly accessible and functional options for your next event. The use of fabrics, lighting, and other “add-ons” easily transform your exhibit to meet the current, and ever-changing, needs of your brand. And of course, there are “green” options for them all.
Technology and sustainability are now practically interchangeable, for the earth and your business. Interactive technology such as iPads and smartphones, along with social media, allow us to engage with event attendees and prospects year-round, lengthening and strengthening our business relationships. The use of QR codes is another technological trend that is here to stay. Put one on a printed piece, floor graphic, or other display, and send your new prospect to a dedicated landing page or to instantly “like” you on Facebook. These interactive technologies can really give your marketing efforts stamina.

Ask us for our list of upcoming regional trade shows, and start planning how your business will be earth-friendly and eye-catching at your next event.

VISIT OUR NEW PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS WEBSITE!

Make your promotional products more earth-friendly here.

http://smartermediapromos.espwebsite.com

Career Opportunities with Smarter Media

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:21:00 +0000

Sales positions

Smarter Media currently has openings for energetic, customer-focused individuals in outside sales and inside sales support roles.

Smarter Media offers its B2B clients a range of products and services to market & grow their businesses, including graphic design, digital printing, large format graphics, fulfillment services, tradeshow displays, promotional products, signs & banners, brochures, logo wear and more.

We build trusted relationships with our clients and provide dependable, high quality results tailored for their needs.

If you have experience in outside sales or inside sales support, especially in the areas of promotional products, logo apparel, and printing, we want to talk to you. We are looking for talented people with a range of skills and desire for career growth. Outside sales positions are base plus commission. Inside sales support positions are salaried.

Medical/dental benefits, vacation and holidays available for employees.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business or related field preferred, or equivalent experience
• 3-5 years of commercial printing, promotional products or related marketing sales experience.

• Demonstrated success at meeting and exceeding sales quotas.
• Excellent computer skills and use of social marketing tools.

Please email your resume to info@smartermediaok.com to pursue these opportunities.

Learn more about Smarter Media at www.smartermediaok.com.

5 Power Boosts for Your Run-Down Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:31:00 +0000

Your marketing tools can be like your cell phone battery. You start out energized and ready to reach the world. But sometime later, you find that things aren’t working as well as they once did. Your communication isn’t getting through clearly. So, you start to conserve. You don’t transmit as often…you don’t even want to listen. Now you are no longer communicating at all. Sound too familiar?

Here are 5 freshly charged ways to boost your marketing effectiveness!

Wear your Brand Out

You and your employees (even your friends and family) can build your brand awareness with logo apparel and bags.

The most popular items are bags and apparel, garnering the highest numbers of personal impressions. Who doesn't need a trusty, reusable tote?

Even inexpensive t-shirts and caps for a landscaping crew or carpet cleaners set you apart from the crowd and advertises for you.

You, your sales reps, and any employee meeting the client could use nicer polos, dress shirts, jackets, etc.
Name badges are another popular way to stand out at work and can be mini billboards when designed with a color logo.

Studies have also shown that wearing a uniform or name tag keeps employees more work-minded, yielding even more positive impressions.

Take a minute to consider what will be visually appealing and easy for your fans to wear. We always design keeping in mind what your user will want to keep around.

Drive it Everywhere

Get a new car, or make over your “classic” with a full or partial graphics wrap. For small businesses there is no more durable and cost effective option. What other outdoor advertising can last for years and be seen thousands of times per day for no recurring monthly cost?

Whether you have a fleet of vehicles, or just the owner’s work car, you can make impressions all over town. Sign ordinances restrict many businesses, but a vehicle parked out front is not a problem.

Prices are usually based on total square footage of graphic area, but body style and number of vehicles can affect your cost. Even your rear window or tailgate covered in graphics (for typically under $200), is a worthwhile attention-grabber.

Note: You may have to pay more attention to your driving etiquette!

Promotional Product Perfection

The standard promotional items (pens, mugs, calendars) never seem to lose popularity, but give a little thought to where your customers will use the item and which are most likely to be kept.

If you are a high tech company, think about a tech gadget. For a consumer service business, a useful kitchen item might make more sense.

Look to the right for where your customers are likely to keep some common items.

We like to find fun and creative ways to deliver or package promo products for a more powerful impact. Like including a key chain puzzle in a mailing with the solution posted only on your website. Or, announcing your “green” initiatives with recycled promo products, packaged in recyclable paper and twine.

You will leave, but they will remember you and your creativity.

Be Sociable in the Real World

Every industry has events where you can market your business. Think about events where your customers go shopping for your product or service, and also for entertainment and information (fitness events, home & garden shows, motocross, chamber of commerce events, charity races).

If you’ve never exhibited at a trade show or fair, visit some first and observe your competition (or lack thereof). Ask questions of exhibitors and attendees. See what types of graphic displays, literature, and giveaways they use. You don’t want to simply copy the competition, but you can get an idea of your total cost to be an effective exhibitor.

You might find a niche that will separate you and draw traffic to your booth. Events are great places to wear your logo apparel, show off your newly wrapped vehicle, and use the full power of your promotional products.

Be Sociable Online

Use your social media as a platform for engagement, discussion, and learning.

Stay up-to-date and share information you find valuable to your business specifically and your industry as a whole.

Entertain your following with humorous but timely anecdotes & videos. Try to be relevant, but don't hide your personality (you are real people, not avatars).

Join forums and participate in the conversation. Listen to the buzz, and feed it yourself.

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS WEBSITE!

Put more power behind your promotional products here.

http://smartermediapromos.espwebsite.com

How long is a piece of string?

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:31:00 +0000

We get some tough questions regarding our promotional products, such as...

“How much do coffee mugs cost?”

“What’s the cheapest pen I can order?”

“How long do these take to get?”

Sometimes we feel like replying…“Well, how long is a piece of string?” Which is to say: It could take a few minutes to give an answer.

The cost and delivery times are driven by many variables, including...

The product selected… Where you buy… Imprint method…

Quantity ordered… Project deadline… Options chosen…

The product selected – Cost varies with features, materials, workmanship, size, packaging, etc. Some differences are not outwardly apparent, such as a pen that has brass interior parts versus plastic, or a travel mug with a stainless steel liner instead of plastic. The products may look the same, but will not perform the same. Either one may be suitable for a given end user, but it can be a challenge to make an apples-to-apples comparison when buying.

Where You Buy - There are many local and online distributors that have access to pretty much the same sources. Online, out-of-state suppliers can be cheaper, but involve some risks and tradeoffs. Going through a local distributor can save money and time with order tracking, graphic design issues, and problem resolution. Your local distributor can help with product research and creative ideas that ultimately lead to better ROI.

Imprint method – Printing with one color in one location is typical on most products. Complex multicolor logos or multiple imprint areas can require additional set up fees and running charges.

Quantity ordered – There are minimum order quantities and price break levels. It can be advantageous to order slightly over your expected needs to take advantage of a price break point and to lower the set up and shipping costs per unit. Sometimes, you can negotiate free set ups or shipping for larger orders. If you find you need to reorder a small quantity later due to increased demand or losses, the price per unit may be hard to swallow. Many suppliers will allow a “less than minimum” order size, but at a premium price.

For more expensive products and higher end logo apparel, you will find lower minimums (sometimes a low as 1). The general rule is that the cheaper an item, the higher the minimums…and vise versa.

Project deadline – Many products are available in a week or less without rush fees, but we suggest allowing 3 weeks from the time they order a promotional item or logo apparel until the in-hands date. This may sound long, but it allows you to avoid production rush charges and expedited shipping, and pocket significant savings. It’s also less stressful to receive the items well before an event in order to avoid surprises or shipping delays. Of course if money is no object, miracles can often be worked.

Other options – Special packaging, gift boxes, insertion of literature or other items, drop shipping. Any special printing, packing, or shipping steps can potentially add time to the delivery, as well as cost.

How long does it take? Since promotional products are factory imprinted, we often are limited on items available for rush service. As mentioned above non-rush delivery times can be from a week to several weeks. Remember that weekends and holidays do impact production and shipping schedules. When someone quotes you 5 days, it could mean 5 business days for production after art design/approval and shipping time. It could easily translate to 10 calendar days or more. We prefer to give you a firm “in hands” date.

For logo apparel (screen printed and embroidered) we can expedite most orders for a quick turnaround in under 2 weeks. Larger, complex orders take longer. We also have fast in-house capabilities for digital printing such as: business cards, note pads, brochures, tradeshow graphics, signs and banners.

So, what’s the cheapest pen you can buy? It is possible to buy a 25 cent pen, but the minimum order may be 500-1,000, plus set up and shipping costs. Pens costing several dollars or more may only require a minimum of 24 pens. The rule is higher minimums for lower priced items.

Maybe you are buying pens for your local prison and you want ones that are too flimsy to be made into a weapon. In that case, you really care little about the impression you make or how long they will last, you can go for the cheapest pen you buy online. Otherwise, you should think twice and ask for samples before selecting the lowest cost option.

The cheapest pen is the one that makes the right impression. Hopefully, the recipient will use it to sign a nice check for your organization.

Finally..."How long is a piece of string?" Well, I think I know the answer…but it’s only a theory.

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS WEBSITE!

String together some great ideas here.

http://smartermediapromos.espwebsite.com

Smarter Media and Smart Office find recylcing solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:02:00 +0000

Smarter Media and our neighbor Smart Office were featured in a recent Journal Record newspaper article for teaming up to find better recycling options for our clients. Click Here to read the article.

View fun, GREEN PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS by Clicking Here.

BUSINESS IS GREAT IN 2012! WE ARE HIRING

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:49:00 +0000

Smarter Media has an immediate opening for an Outside Sales Rep. Learn more at: http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=2521217&trk=jobs_share_fb

Who controls our time?

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Sunday Nov 4 is the day we "fall back" to regular time in the US. That is unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii or Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They stay on regular time all year.

Of course, many people in our lives control how we spend our time, but who keeps the official time? The U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., maintains atomic clocks that help us measure standard time, but the observatory has nothing to do with daylight saving time (DST).

The Interstate Commerce Commission was initially charged with regulating DST back in 1918. Since 1966, the duties belong to the Department of Transportation. This makes perfect sense given the history of timekeeping prior to the 20th century. Back in the 1800's local towns kept their own time. The advent of railroads required accurate uniform time to be kept , or else trains might run into each other, or at least be unpredictable. To be able to publich timetables, the railroads needed standard time.

In 1883 the U.S. railroad industry established official time zones with a set standard time within each zone. Congress eventually adopted the idea, writing it into law in 1918.

Daylight saving time was practiced during World War II, but didn't gain wider adoption until after the war. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, standardizing the start and end dates, but amended it to allow each state the option of not observing DST. This was desirable for certain states that had territory spanning separate time zones within the same state. Arizona and Indiana opted out, but Indiana has recently begun to observe DST.

Who controls YOUR time and how can you get some of it back? I was just getting around to that...but I've run out of time. Got to makes some sales calls, run some errands, grab a quick lunch, and take the dog to the vet. To be continued....

Recycle and Get Rewarded at Smarter Media

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:21:00 +0000

Banners and yard signs are important marketing tools for many businesses and organizations. But, they typically don't get recycled. In fact, most banners and sign decals contain PVC which cannot easily be recycled due to the chlorine gas released. Even so-called biodegradable materials can take years to break down while taking up landfill space. However, Smarter Media is now offering tough, lightweight banners for indoor or outdoor us which are 100% recyclable! AND...you won't pay more to go green. In fact, we will give you a rebate when you return your banner to us to recycle!

IT PAYS TO RECYCLE YOUR BANNERS...

Smarter Media now uses banner materials made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) material which can be turned into fabrics, water bottles, totes, etc. To help make sure your banner stays out of a landfill, we are offering a generous incentive. Return your banners to us and get a credit toward purchase of any products or services (and we have many to offer).

Example - A 3 'x 8' full-color banner gets you a $15 credit (toward future purchases) when you return it to us for recycling. Larger banners have even greater credits.

We'll print the rebate info and recycling logo on a corner of the banner. This will show your commitment to recycling, and remind you, your staff, or volunteers not to trash it!

PLASTIC YARD SIGNS, TOO.

We also will recycle any plastic yard sign & stake you bring us...no matter where you bought them. But, if you buy your next signs from Smarter Media, we can offer a similar rebate program to the banners. Amount of credits vary based on the dimensions of signs and banners and quantity purchased. Ask us for a quote.

Call 918-499-0331 or 866-499-0331

There is ONLY ONE PLACE in Oklahoma that gives you greener sign options

...AND pays you to recycle...SMARTER MEDIA.

Tim Airhart

Smarter Media

Do Vehicle Graphics provide a good ROI?

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Smarter Media designs and installs graphics of all sizes, but did you know we do vehicle graphics, too? One of the first questions we get is: "What's the Return on Investment with a vehicle wrap?" Consider this...vehicles with mobile advertising can attract up to 600 impressions per mile, that's tens of thousands of impressions every day. And, you get impressions even while parked in front of your business, at your clients' locations, and at retail or dining spots. Many cities have tightened restrictions on outdoor signage, but not on vehicle graphics.

According to the American Trucking Association, 90% of people surveyed do notice graphics on vehicles and 80% remember the product advertised on vehicle wraps. Further, 'Sign Facts' report that mobile advertising leads to 107% increase in sales on average.

More than 95% of Americans are reached by media targeting vehicle drivers and passengers. One vehicle wrap can generate between 30,000 - 70,000 impressions daily. Fleet vehicle advertising boosts name recognition 15 times greater than any other form of advertising.

Typical vehicle wraps have been estimated to cost $0.35 per thousand impressions. That's less than 1/10 the cost of other forms of outdoor advertising and 1/60 that of magazine advertising. Billboards have high upfront & monthly costs, and magazine and print ads have short lifetimes. Vehicle graphics last for years after the initial investment and will spread your brand over a wide area. Smarter Media has creative design ideas and utilizes premium materials and installation practices to guarantee years of satisfaction. Contact us today to learn more.

Small Things...Big Rewards

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:53:00 +0000

"Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising" - Mark Twain

However, the opposite is also true....many large business ideas have been made small by the wrong kind of advertising and promotion. Our next few posts will be about simple steps you can take now.

Keep in touch with your customers

We believe in using Social Media and Email Marketing, but there is still something special about receiving a personalized holiday greeting card. Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and New Year cards are ideal ways to keep your name in front of your customers. It's easy! It's fast! It's affordable! And, it's not too late!
to browse hundreds of designs and place your order today!

The rich and the poor

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:10:00 +0000

Generally speaking, images come in two ways: bitmaps (sometimes called raster) and vectors. How often have you sent your .jpg or .gif logo (the one you simply downloaded from your company website) to the local print shop only to be told the resolution isn’t high enough? Frustrating, right?

First things first…Let’s talk about pixels. A pixel is a dot of light that builds up all the shapes and colors you see on your monitor. If you had a magnifying glass or got really, really close, you can physically see each tiny square. When talking about pixels per inch (ppi) it is referring to a display device, whereas printers use the term dots per inch (dpi) which refers to an output device such as a printer.
Image resolution relates to the amount of detail in a given space. The more resolution (higher dpi), the better quality your image will have. The lower the resolution, the visual print quality is poor. Take for example the company logo you got off your website. Images created for websites are usually 72 dpi. They are considered low resolution and for viewing only. Frankly, they look really ugly when you enlarge them. On the other hand, you may have the company logo in an .eps (encapsulated postscript) format. This is ideal for your local printer and it’s like they’ve won a golden ticket from Willy Wonka.

Bitmaps and vectors each have their own file types and associated software. Bitmaps have the following popular file extensions: .bmp, .jpg, and .gif. Vectors graphics have extensions such as .eps, .ai (Adobe Illustrator) and .wmf. Pdf files can also be vector files, but we will save the PDF chat for another blog.
Bitmaps/raster images support a wide color range. The only restriction is the resolution. A good rule of thumb is if using web or low resolution images, they need to be at 100% of your final printed piece. There is nothing worse for a designer than to be given a two inch .jpg from the web that you want to use on a poster size print or retractable banner stand. It is simply not going to work. There’s no magic wand a designer can wave or fancy program to use that will make your poor .jpg look good. If your poster is 18” x 24” and you have a cute cartoon that you want 9” wide, your .bmp or .jpg needs to be 9” wide. Another way to tell if your image is acceptable is to look at the file size. The smaller the file size, the more likely it will not be good for quality reproduction.

Vectors on the other hand are created with a bunch of mathematical calculations. When you resize a vector, you are simply changing the math, so there is no revamping of the pixels, and the quality stays the same. The only downside is you are limited to 256 colors and you cannot view or manipulate the images unless you have the proper software such as Adobe Illustrator.

Hopefully this helps clear up some muddy waters about bitmaps and vectors. Next time you take your image files to your local printer (that would be us here at Smarter Media), your job will go off without a graphic hitch.

Who is on your A List?

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:04:00 +0000

If you are in business (and intend to remain so), you must recognize your best customers and meet their needs. One valuable exercise is to sort your current customer list into A, B, & C lists. The "A list" contains the clients who are ideal. They account for most revenue, best margins, least hassle, etc. You need to nurture them and aggressively seek more like them. They may be the hardest to catch and all your competitors covet them. It is important to have more than a couple of A list customers, so that losing a a single client won't sink you.

For our company, "A list" attributes include the following:
+ Strong relationship exists with multiple client contact (preferably upper mgmt)
+ Regular recurring monthly spend
+ Good payment history
+ Time spent is good ROI for us
+ Outsources work that we are good at – graphic design, marketing, printing, etc
+ Size matters - meets certain annual sales & employee base criteria
+ They have physical assets – building(s), vehicles, multiple locations
+ They are our FANS! They refer other Class A&B prospects to us
+ We like working them, too!
+ There is potential for more growth with us

Your "B list" includes good clients that you want to attract and retain, but you won't invest as much time as with A list. For our company, some of the attributes are:
+ Perhaps only one solid contact in the company
+ More sporadic and smaller overall spending
+ Company size less important
+ Shows some potential for growth with us

Your "C list" clients are OK for incremental business, but you are NOT looking for more of them. If they seek you out and you can serve them without their becoming time-bandits, be nice and appreciate their business. You never know what they develop into, or who they may know. Otherwise, don't make the mistake of trying to develop relationships here. It will be one-sided and potentially detrimental to your business. Some of our C list attributes are:
+ No significant personal relationships
+ Price is everything
+ Typically a small business, individual, or home-based business
+ Very infrequent & much smaller spend
+ Sometimes slow payers
+ Time spent is not good ROI
+ No real potential growth for us

One last category we call our "T list". T is for Toxic. This is the customer that you can never please and who sucks energy from your organization. They may even be criminals out to rip you off. Don't waste another moment with them and dump them as politely and quickly as possible.

I recognize that your business and goals may be far different from mine. If you own a fast food restaurant or small gift shop, you will have your ideal target customer, but the transactions and relationships will be quite different. What defines a C list client for me, could be your bread & butter. Make your own list of attributes and don't worry if you have to go thru this exercise several times to get it right. It's all about the discovery process.

Now that you have categorized your clients, how do you get more and retain the A&B list-ers? Simple...spend most of your time and resources with them and learn what they want from you! How? Well...that's all I have time for today. Besides, I'm still searching for those answers myself. I'll share more later. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Tim Airhart

NEW LARGE FORMAT GRAPHICS EQUIP

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Smarter Media has recently added new printing and finishing equipment to keep up with growing demand for large format printing and special applications. The equipment and software (manufactured by Mutoh) will be used for large format graphics, such as trade show booths, retail POS displays, banners, wall murals, vehicle graphics,
magnets, and much more. It will also print and cut decals and stickers in a wide range of sizes.

Smarter Media has continued to invest in technology and training to ensure we can exceed our clients' expectations. Whether you have a need for a fine art reproduction on fabric or canvas, or a rugged outdoor banner, Smarter Media is your creative, fast, and cost-effective source.

ORDER ONLINE PRINTING HERE!

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:32:00 +0000

New for 2010…Smarter Media announces a 24/7 online design & ordering tool…the easiest way for you to design and order your business cards, brochures, posters, and other printing. Smarter Media is the source for all your marketing collateral and is known for our personal attention to your projects. This new tool gives you another option to design-it-yourself, edit online, and order full-color printing any time or day. You will be certain to get great value on our high quality, full-color printed materials. And, unlike most Internet bargain printers, we are easy to contact for assistance and eager to rectify any rare problems that may occur. Online convenience…local service. It’s the best of all worlds!

RU LICENSED TO PRINT?

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:29:00 +0000

In Oklahoma, we love our college sports teams, arts, and academics (in no particular order). And, the universities in Oklahoma are some of the biggest brands around. Don’t shortchange your favorite school by buying unlicensed products, clothing, or printed items. Rest assured that Smarter Media adheres to the Collegiate Licensing Company’s rules, ensuring that any items we source have been licensed by the college thru the CLC.

Even if you are an alumnus, student or employee of a college, you are not free to reproduce and use the logo and brands of most colleges…even if you are giving the items away. Licensing is about protecting an image as much as anything. According to the Collegiate Licensing Company’s website, “Licensing is the granting of rights to a third party that desires to associate itself commercially (for profit and not for profit) with an institution through the use of trademarks, names, logos, symbols and slogans.”

Smarter Media is a CLC Restricted Licensee for the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa. This means that we are an approved source for working with these schools and their organizations to produce the products you need while protecting the brands. Our fees help support your school and its image.

GAIN WEIGHT IN 2010 (for your business)

noreply@blogger.com (Smarter Media) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Smarter Media wants to help your business FATTEN UP the bottom line with creative graphic design, web design, digital printing & copying, promotional products, large format graphics, signs, banners and tradeshow displays, and much more.

NEED RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MARKETING FRUSTRATIONS?

You have probably experienced some of the following frustrations when dealing with your past vendors for marketing and document management. You don’t need New Year’s resolutions…you need real problem resolutions!

• Quality control – The finished product has mistakes, typos or wrong colors. Lack of proofing process and physical sample review.
• Missed deadlines or slow turn times – Promised dates not met and no back up alternatives available.

• Inadequate customer service and sales staff – Unknowledgeable, unresponsive or uncaring contact people.

• Hidden Costs – Some companies intentionally do not disclose full costs to the customer such as set up, shipping, or design time in order to secure the deal

• Vendors are too specialized – You have to research and purchase from multiple companies to get complementary items. Example: Outdoor banner and a promotional item for a business’ grand opening.

• Internet Nightmares – It is difficult to get a sample of the product or printing you are ordering on-line or outside the Tulsa area. Communications breakdowns, mistakes, lost or damaged shipments…with no local contact to turn to.

• Artwork Problems – The “print-ready” art you submitted to the printer had to be reworked several times or worse yet, looked different than you expected. Experienced delays and added expense.

• Too light or too heavy support – Big advertising agencies have a lot of overhead and aren’t interested unless you have a big monthly budget. Home-based marketing people, graphic & web designers, and print brokers are often hard to reach and have no back up resources. They leave town and your project stops.

• Lack of Integrity – Not uncommon to see copyright infringement, plagiarism, or licensing issues with some vendors.

If any of these sound familiar, turn to Smarter Media for the resolutions! Our dedicated, creative and friendly team will give your project the attention you deserve. Smarter Media offers you the level of creative support that you need, on your terms. We can be full-service or a-la-carte…your choice.

Frustration results when a problem has no satisfactory resolution. Resolve to chose Smarter Media in 2010 and start gaining!