King Printing's e-mail newsletter, Printer@Work, is delivered directly to your inbox. Each issue is filled with tips, ideas, and a few laughs too. We think you'll love it!

Don't miss another issue...subscribe now! Enter your information below to subscribe to Printer@Work, or update your existing subscription.

Subscription information:

First Name
Last Name
Company
E-mail Address
Send graphic-formatted e-mail, as shown below
Send plain-text e-mail
Your e-mail address is safe and secure with us. We will treat it with respect and won’t release your e-mail address to any other parties.

Please take a few moments to enjoy the most recent issue of Printer@Work below before you
Return to kingprintingonline.com.

KING PRINTING PRESENTS
JUL
2
PRINTING IS OUR PASSION.
WELCOME TO TEN MINUTES OF GOOD NEWS AND FUN STUFF FROM YOUR FAVORITE PRINTER!
MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
Message
A Message from Jana King
The Way I See It
 

Dear Friends of King Printing,

First, I want you to know how grateful we are for your support during these unusual times. Please know that we will continue do everything possible to make it easier for you to do business with us. Call in with your orders (814-238-2536), e-mail us (sales@KingPrintingOnline.com), send a message or place an order on our website.  When the order is ready, you may pick it up safely, just let us know if you want us to bring it to your car. Or give us instructions to follow when we deliver the job. No need to come to our office if you do not want to! You, your health, and safety are our priority.

I read a story about a man who was looking for an easy way to strike it rich during the gold rush. He purchased some equipment with hopes to mine gold. After a few days without finding any gold, he became frustrated and tired. He sold his equipment to another man who resumed mining where he left off. This man was ambitious and determined to succeed. He worked tirelessly for days on end and struck gold a few weeks after taking over, not far from where the first miner stopped digging.

Here’s the way I see it: J. Calvin Coolidge said it best, “The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.”

As printers, this slogan has a special place in our hearts, but it holds true regardless of industry or task at hand. So, friends, do “press on” despite these unsettling times. And, if we can help in any way, let us know. We will be happy to chat even if it has nothing to do with printing!

Wishing you Happy 4th and a sunny summer. Stay safe and healthy.

MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
Idea
Idea of the Week
Is a Bleed Right For Your Print Project?
OVER THE EDGE PRINT

The way you set up your print project can make all the difference in the final look and feel of your marketing piece. One of the most effective, yet simplest ways to change things up is by using a bleed in your design.

If you’re unsure what exactly a bleed is, how and when you should use it, and the potential challenges with adding a bleed to your project, keep reading. We’ll dig into the bleed concept and provide some best practices to make your print project look amazing every time.

What is a Bleed in Print?

A bleed is a printing technique where your design is printed bigger than the final product’s finished size and then cut down to size. It eliminates any unwanted white space or borders around the edge of your design.

Bleed, No Bleed

To put it another way, have you ever seen a printed marketing piece where what’s printed runs all the way to the edges, while other printed pieces may have a white border where the printing stops? That’s a bleed.

The Pros and Cons of Bleeds in Print

Now that you understand what a bleed is, there are times that you may or may not want to go in this direction.

Magazine on counter

Here are some things to keep in mind when considering a bleed:

  • Bleeds work well if your design has a full-colored background.
  • If you have letters or images that you want to run right to the edge of your piece without the risk of being cut off, a bleed allows for that freedom.
  • A bleed can be slightly more expensive depending on the sheet size. (Remember, the image is printed larger and cut down to your desired finished size.)
  • If you’re printing a booklet or something that is going to be folded, you almost certainly want bleeds along interior borders, so it doesn’t look as though the project is unfinished. You want it to flow cleanly from one page to the next, and having the colors “meet in the middle” of the folded area is the best way to do that.
  • Bleeds are also great if you’re going to cut your project down to a smaller size, while you may want to skip the bleed if you’re creating a project with an exact border.

Understanding the Bleed Marks on Your Proof


Marks on Magazine

Once you’ve decided to use bleeds in your print job, you’ll want to understand the markings on your proof when you receive it. The trim marks are generally seen as corner line markings just inside the printed content and ensure that when your pages are trimmed, you will see the full image on the page with no white border. Fold marks are generally dashed lines indicating where you fold an 11" x 17" sheet in half, for instance.

Fortunately, using the default values within your graphic design software often provides the best option. It is still helpful to understand how bleeds, trims and folds work to create the most professional print project possible.

See more great ideas like this!
Click here to visit the King Printing - Ideas Collection.
MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
MARKETING
Marketing Tip
Boost Your Marketing with a Plan
A MARKETING PLAN IS JUST AS VITAL AS A BUSINESS PLAN

A marketing plan is just as vital as a business plan. Depending on your budget, your marketing plan can be elaborate or relatively simple. Here are a few things to consider when creating or updating a marketing plan:

  • Define and describe your niche or target audience. This could include age, sex, location, job title, or more. For example, your audience could be homeowners between the age of 30-65 who live within 30 miles of your business.

  • Create a list of the benefits that your products or services provide. For example, if you are selling window well covers, they provide safety for pets and family, protect your home from intruders, keep the elements out (snow, rain, leaves, etc.), and add beauty to your home.

  • Identify key ways that your business is different from your competition. Perhaps you source all products in the USA, offer a lifetime warranty, or a price match guarantee. Use these unique selling propositions in your marketing efforts.

  • Make a wish list and prioritize content you’d like to create and/or update, such as print marketing materials, paid advertising, direct mail campaigns, signage, videos, social media engagement, your website/online presence, newsletters and blogs, tradeshow displays, customer loyalty or referral programs, and more.

  • Increase your business exposure by offering customer training or workshops, write industry articles and/or speak at conferences, increase press release announcements, and boost your networking efforts in your community and overall industry.

  • Set attainable sales and marketing goals for the upcoming year, such as increasing your online sales by 15 percent, and social media followers by 20 percent. Track the results and use this data to tweak and improve your marketing efforts.

  • Most importantly, update your marketing plan frequently. Markets and products evolve, economy changes, and customers come and go, so your marketing plan should be flexible and have the ability to change as needed.

MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
PRODUCT
Uncommon Product
Fundraiser Flyers
SPREAD THE WORD AND PROMOTE A FUNDRAISING EVENT

Printed flyers are a great way to spread the word and promote a fundraising event. Here are a few reasons why you should consider fundraiser flyers:

  • Flyers are affordable and can be printed on low-cost paper. The more you order, the cheaper they are!

  • Most fundraiser flyers are single-sided and have a speedy turnaround to print.

  • Fundraiser flyers are easy to distribute. Flyers can be handed out in person, folded and mailed as a self-mailer, or posted on bulletin boards. Flyers can also be left at the check-out counter of local businesses and be folded and added to existing mailings to save postage

  • Physical flyers have staying power because they give people a tangible object to hold and look at. This is an important experience for many people (especially an older audience).

  • Fundraiser flyers can act as a teaser that encourages people to visit your website or social media page for additional details and information.

  • For added exposure, digital versions of your flyers can be shared on social media or posted on your website to boost marketing efforts.

If you’d like help designing a fundraiser flyer that is sure to get noticed and remembered, give us a call today! And remember, other printers may be nearby, but no one comes close.

MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
TECH
Tech Tip
Link Excel into Word
MAKE YOUR MICROSOFT WORD REPORTS MORE POWERFUL AND PROFESSIONAL

Did you know that you can make your Microsoft Word reports more powerful and professional by linking Excel data into your Word document?
Here are easy instructions on how to link Excel data in a Word document:

  1. Open your Word document and place your cursor where you want the data to display.

  2. Then open Excel and copy the cells you want to include. If you plan to expand columns or rows, select the entire worksheet by clicking the triangle in the upper left corner where the rows and columns meet.

  3. Return to Word and click Home>Paste>choose the dropdown options, and select “Link & Use Destination Styles” or “Link & Keep Source Formatting.”

Because you are linking the spreadsheet, data editing must be done in the original Excel worksheet. This info will automatically update in Word every time you change data in Excel. If the Excel file is moved, the link to the Word document needs to be re-established. And if you plan to transport the Word file or use it on another computer, the Excel file must be transported along with it.

If you’re looking for helpful tips to save time on your next printing project, we’re just a click away!

MESSAGE >
IDEA >
MARKETING TIP >
PRODUCT >
TECH TIP >
Printer@Work Newsletter is available via e-mail on a free subscription basis.
You can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time. For more information about King Printing, visit kingprintingonline.com.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023
King Printing, 1305 W. College Ave., State College, PA 16801 814-238-2536