7 Great Ways to Show Gratitude During the Holidays

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude," writer G.K. Chesterton said.

It's that time of year: The perfect opportunity to show appreciation to those who have helped you this year and those you don't know. It will do your heart and head well to increase your gratitude this holiday season.

So here are some practical ideas.

7 Great Ways to Show Gratitude During the Holidays

1. Volunteer

Help at local hospitals, libraries, homeless centers, nursing homes, animal shelters, churches, or parks.

You can also go much more personal, helping friends in need by babysitting, doing their yard work, or taking them a meal.

Whatever you do, you'll help the community and improve your sense of thankfulness.

2. Count Your Blessings

Make a list of things for which you're grateful.

For example, instead of making a list of items you want for the holidays, make a list of what you have.

Count your blessings and record how you feel about having these things in your life. This also helps instill a sense of gratitude.

3. Perform a Small Act of Kindness

Open the door for someone. Whether you know them or not, a great way to instill a thankful attitude is to show some kindness. 

This holiday season is a great time to focus on the simple things like holding doors for shoppers at the grocery store, at the mall when you're picking up Christmas gifts, or at a restaurant after your meal.

Opening a door for someone may help them feel important. So go ahead and try it.

4. Write a Note

Giving someone a handwritten note can make their day.

It shows you care and provides them acknowledgment that they might not have thought they would receive. It can boost people's spirits more than you think.

Send it in the mail or write it on a sticky note. Think of people who work for or with you. Or family members. Just appreciate people for who they are.

5. Make a Treat

Bring in a plate full of cookies, bars, donuts, or even bagels.

This does a lot to bolster people's feelings of thankfulness. It shows you care and makes people feel loved.

6. Pay It Forward

If you are at a coffee shop, a drive-through, or even a restaurant, try buying a stranger a meal.

Sometimes the holidays are tough on people financially, and this is a great way to help out a stranger or even help a friend or coworker.

7. Unplug     

Turn off your phone when you are spending time with someone.

In today's digitally saturated world, being fully present with someone can be a big gesture. 

Focus on being with the other person without your phone beeping in your hand. This helps make solid connections.

Whatever you decide to do to increase your gratitude this holiday season will boost not only the spirits of others but yours too.

We are grateful that we get to continue to serve you and our community. If we can help boost your spirits with professional printing, don't hesitate to contact us today.

 

To contact Chuck Gherman, Theresa Kauser or Veronica Carter for more information about how Printing Arts Press powered by PROforma can help organizations with their Marketing and Human Resource needs through promotion and print communications please visit www.printingartspress.com.


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6 Steps to Find Your Print Marketing Target Audience

 

When you advertise, you need to know your target audience. And the same is true in print marketing.

A target market is the set of consumers that a company plans to sell to or reach with marketing activities.

A target audience is a group or segment within that target market that is being served in advertisements. The target audience, therefore, is a more specific subset of a target market.

Your target audience is united by common characteristics like demographics, e.g., men, women, teenagers, or children, and interests, like reading, running, or soccer.

To get your marketing message to reach this specific group of people, you need to know the decision maker and who supports them. Therefore, it's vital to examine your target audience, so messages are exciting to the reader. 

This exercise will help define who to target in your marketing efforts. 

6 Steps to Find Your Print Marketing Target Audience 

1. Determine who already buys your product. 

Look at the demographics and patterns of your current consumers.

What age are they? Are they men or women or both? The better you understand the individuals already buying your products, the better you can reach new individuals who follow similar patterns.

2. Watch the competition. 

Look at who buys your competition's products and services.

What are they focusing on right now? It could provide insight into what you should be focusing on at the moment too.

3. Develop personas.

Try to create 3-5 different types of personas—people who would typically buy your product or service.

Figure out what makes them tick. What do they watch on TV? Who do they vote for? What type of food do they eat? Build an entire personality profile of the person who would use your services.

4. Conduct surveys. 

Ask for information from those who buy your product.

You can do this with more formal methods like a paper or online survey, and you can even offer an incentive for participation. You can also take a more informal approach by simply talking to customers about their desires and preferences for your products and services. 

5. Be flexible in who you reach.

Your target audience can change depending on the offer you are making.

That is why it is so important to get specific about who you want to see it. Don't generalize!

6. Use marketing metrics. 

Metrics help you take the guesswork out of knowing if your marketing is reaching the intended audience. 

Over 75% of businesses are already using marketing metrics to report how their campaigns directly influence revenue.

When focusing on your target audience, be specific. And make sure your marketing materials are fulfilling the goals of your customers.

We can help you create engaging print marketing pieces that will catch your customers' eyes and help them take notice of you. Contact us today!

To contact Chuck Gherman, Theresa Kauser or Veronica Carter for more information about how Printing Arts Press powered by PROforma can help organizations with their Marketing and Human Resource needs through promotion and print communications please visit www.printingartspress.com.

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How to Use Color to Impact Holiday Campaigns

 

When you think of the holidays, what colors come to mind?

Red, green, white, or maybe even blue and gold. These festive colors can evoke emotions from consumers by drawing them to colors they might not naturally be drawn to outside of the holiday season. 

Using color theory, the study of how color impacts perceptions and behaviors, we can help get customers in the mood for the holidays and, hopefully, buy your products. Here's what the experts say about the holiday colors we love.

Using Color to Impact Holiday Campaigns

Red

We know red as a warning: fire, stop signs, danger, and so forth.

But it is also a powerful color representing love, passion, importance, and hunger. 

Red can raise blood pressure and respiration rates and enhance human metabolism. We think of things like red berries, Santa, and more. Use this color as an accent, and you'll be doing well. However, if used in abundance, it tends to get overwhelming. 

Green

Green has both the calming attributes of blue and the excitement of yellow.

When used in a design, it is known to have a balancing and harmonizing effect. It also helps balance out red, which is used often this time of year.

Christmas trees can go back to medieval times to symbolize the Garden of Eden. Today, we tend to think of Christmas trees and mistletoe. 

White

Of course, we associate white with snow this time of year. 

But it also is an excellent backdrop for design. Since it is the polar opposite of black, it goes with just about every color and is perfect for minimalist design. In addition, it can soften the often bright colors of the season.

Blue

While blue is sometimes acquainted with sadness, calmness, and responsibility, it is also known for its dependability, peace, and religion.

Especially this time of year, we see that blue represents these last attributes. In times past, blue was connected to royalty as the pigments to produce the die were expensive. 

Gold

Success! Achievement! Luxury! Elegance! 

These are what gold represents, and many individuals associate this time of year with gifts.

Yellow, or gold, is a warm color and represents passion, happiness, enthusiasm, and energy. It's a powerful color, not used in abundance.

When thinking about designing your holiday marketing materials, these colors are tried-and-true, and people instantly associate them with the holidays. 

There are always beachy themes and tropical photos, but that typically doesn't represent the classic feel of the holiday season. Tapping into those warm emotions is easier when you keep with tradition.

The time to start thinking about holiday print materials is now! We can help you pick the right hues and colors for your marketing efforts. Visit our website today!

To contact Chuck Gherman, Theresa Kauser or Veronica Carter for more information about how Printing Arts Press powered by PROforma can help organizations with their Marketing and Human Resource needs through promotion and print communications please visit www.printingartspress.com.

#Print #Directmail #Marketing #Mail #Banners #Publications #Postcards #PromotionalMerchandise #BrandedApparel #Catalogs #HRmanuals