How to Get the Most from Your Printing Company
Working with a printing company and/or database agency can help you expand your consumer base and boost your ROI on your marketing efforts. When your business outsources its advertising and marketing, it’s critical to develop a good relationship with your printing provider and database agency for optimal results. If you’ve ever wondered how to get the most from collaborating with other enterprises, we recommended implementing the following tips.
Foster a Collaborative Environment
Collaboration—from the team within your organization to the staff of agencies you work with is a key factor in maintaining an efficient, motivated environment. Developing rapport between your internal team and the collaborators with whom they work out-of-house can help streamline communication and nurture an environment ripe for productivity.
Communicate Openly and Transparently
Keeping your printing company and/or database agency in the know is a wise use of your time. Voicing concerns with production and deliverables along with budgetary issues can help your agency respond to your unique needs as quickly as possible. Open and transparent communication sets the stage for problem solving and managing expectations. It’s best to implement an open communication policy from the get-go. Before the work starts, schedule a meeting with your agency and your internal team so that you can discuss expectations, budgets, and project timeframes well in advance.
Solicit Opinions
If you want to bring a fresh perspective to your efforts, soliciting opinions from within your organization and from printing companies can help revitalize your marketing campaigns. Asking questions like “what could we do differently?” or “how do your other clients approach this obstacle?” can help you gain useful insight from industry experts.
Know that Context Matters
Your enterprise likely has its own unique challenges. Your needs may not be the same as your competitors. When you inquire about production, budget concerns, or other issues, providing context can help your agency find solutions that meet your specific needs. Providing the “why” behind your query can help your agency best serve you.
Limit Communication Confusion
When a database agency or printing company is working with your team, it’s important to reduce the possibility of confusion. If multiple people from your team are providing input to your agency of choice, be sure to inform your agency who the ultimate decision makers are. While collaborative input is certainly helpful, confusion can occur when multiple parties provide input—particularly to outside agencies.
Be Forthright with Your Goals and Objectives
Giving an agency a window into your long-term goals and objectives beyond a specific campaign can help outsiders see the bigger picture. Providing information on your specific goals such as customer retention, expansion, or value-added products can help your agency make the most of your short-term campaigns that align with your future goals.
Streamline Internal Communication
Streamlining your internal communications and ultimately the signing off of projects can help reduce confusion or superfluous conversation between your team and your agency. Having set procedures for your internal staff can eliminate hiccups in production and excessive rounds of feedback, which reduces labor costs and ensures that your projects stay on track.
Pel Hughes provides database services and printing to businesses and organizations in a range of industries. Our mission is to deliver high-quality support with excellent client service. We offer direct mail, campaign automation, graphic design, and cross media marketing. You can request a quote by clicking here or call (504) 486-8646 to speak with one of our experts.
