Showing posts with label business promotions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business promotions. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

A Step-By-Step Guide to Custom Scratch Off Card Production

So, you’d like to order a custom Scratch Off Card, eh? Here at My Scratch Offs, Custom Scratch Off Cards and Labels are our bread and butter! Whether you have a very specific vision for your project or you’re starting the creative process from scratch, our team is primed to step you through the full process from design to production. 

Let’s start at the beginning and I’ll walk you through the “what to expect” when ordering a custom card from My Scratch Offs! And so it goes…

  1. For most folks, the custom design process begins with direct communication (either via phone or e-mail) between the client and an MSO customer service representative. Throughout this preliminary communication, our team will gather the following information in regards to the specifications of your project:
    • What size Scratch Off Card would you like?
      For economy purposes, most clients prefer to produce a 2” x 3.5” standard size business card, but we offer additional production sizes of 3” x 4”, 3” x 5”, 4” x 6” postcard, 5” x 7”, and 6.5” x 8” as well. 
    • What quantity of Scratch Off Cards do you need?
      This one is pretty self-explanatory…how many total Scratch Off Cards do you need?
    • What type of print production would you like?
      We can print either a single-sided or double-sided design for you. Print options include 4:0 one-sided full color print, 4:1 double-sided, full color front with a black and white back, or 4:4 double-sided, full color front and full color back.
    • How many different promotional variations will your project have?
      We use the term “promotional variation” to describe the different prizes or messages that your card recipient will scratch to reveal. For example, if you would like your cards to scratch to reveal “Winner” and “Try Again” then you would need two promotional variations.
    • How many Scratch Off areas would you like on your card?
      The most common answer to this question is one, but depending upon the specifics of your project, we can accommodate as many Scratch Off areas as needed (up to 40-50 Scratch Offs per card in some cases!).
  2. Once we have established the “specs” for your project, our customer service representative will turn the discussion towards the details of your design. When it comes to the design of your Scratch Off Card, you have one of three options! You can either:
    • choose from one of the pre-existing designs in our design gallery (all of our pre-existing designs can be personalized using your own logo and color theme!),
    • you can choose to work directly with our professional designer who will start with a blank screen and will create a completely unique design specifically for you (a one-time $19.99 fee per design will apply),
    • or you can provide us with your own formatted, print-ready artwork for the project!
  3. At this point, many of the project specifics will have been hashed out and we would want to establish the timeline for your project. MSO’s standard timeline for custom production is a maximum 21 calendar days. This timeline allows for about three days to be spent on a custom design (if applicable), 10-14 days for printing and Scratch Off production, and up to five days for delivery transit. Do you need your cards in a hurry? No problem! We will happily expedite production and delivery of your project. Please keep in mind, however, that premium services come at a premium cost. The addition of express printing will increase the price of your project by $49.99 and pricing for express shipping services will vary based upon the weight and volume of your order and the delivery location.
  4. Now that we have gathered details in regards to design, production and timeline expectations, our next step would be to provide you with a vendor quote which would not only sum up all of the information that had previously been discussed, but would also provide specific, itemized pricing for your consideration. 
  5. By this juncture, the ball is smoothly rolling and you’re ready to place your order! One of our customer service representatives can assist you with placing your order either securely online (via PayPal) or over the phone. 
  6. Once your order is paid, any and all details that were discussed with a customer service representative during the preliminary communication process will be forwarded onto our designer for reference. We would also ask that you submit by e-mail any digital files of images or logos that you would like to incorporate into your design. We will also request information in regards to the color and font preference, verbiage, promotional variations and Scratch Off Label preference at this time.  
  7. By this point (and throughout the remaining portion of the production process), you will be communicating directly with our in-house designer. After your order is paid, you will typically receive communication from our designer within one business day; either requesting additional information or providing you with a first design proof. You can expect that the subsequent day or two to be spent perfecting your design and once it is exactly as you had envisioned, you simply give final print approval and we handle the rest from there! Our designs are 100% satisfaction guaranteed and if for any reason our designer is unable to create a final design that is to your liking, we will happily offer a full refund prior to the final print approval. Please keep in mind that once a final print approval is given, the order becomes final sale.
  8. Now all that is left is to sit back and wait patiently as we get moving on the final production of your project! Once you have given final print approval, you can expect an additional 10-14 day lead time until you have your custom Scratch Off Cards in your hands and ready to distribute to your recipients.
With endless possibilities to create and reveal, the production of a custom Scratch Off Card might seem a bit daunting…but have no fear! The team at MSO is here to step you through the process and turn your vision into a reality!

Do you have an idea for your own custom Scratch Off Card? Contact our office today and a customer service representative will happily provide assistance right away!

Happy Planning!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

How To Boost Your Business This Holiday Season!



Only 23 days until Christmas

Christmas is only 23 days away and now that Black Friday—the unofficial start of the shopping season—has come and gone, holiday spending is in full swing!  We at MyScratchOffs.com would like to help you (and your business) to be fully prepared to reap the benefits of the holiday shopping season…both throughout December and beyond. 

While we know that shoppers will not be in short supply during the month of December, once store-goers have reeled in their holiday spending, many businesses can experience a New Year “slump.” One way to combat the slow in sales that you may experience at the start of the New Year is to capitalize on your holiday season traffic volumes and invite your Christmas shoppers to return to your store after the holiday shopping season has concluded. A sure-fire way to beckon your consumers back to your business is by offering a discount incentive! 

Bring Them Back with a Scratch Off



Whether you are promoting a service or a product, our Scratch Off cards are a great way to wish your consumers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year…and invite your customers to shop with you again after the holiday season has wrapped up.  Consider offering every holiday shopper a Scratch Off card worth a discount or free gift that is redeemable (exclusively) after Christmas. Not only will you be rewarding your consumers for their loyal patronage by providing them with a generous incentive, but you are also ensuring their repeat business!

Already this season, we have completed custom Scratch Off holiday products for: Party Save The Dates, Corporate Holiday Party Favors, in-store Business Promotions and internal Employee Recognition. What kind scratch off product can we create for you?

Check out our website  for more FUN holiday ideas. Our design team is standing by to customize a promotion that best suits you and your business!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Top Business Promotion Ideas




Top Business Promotion Ideas – What Will You Reveal?

When a customer approaches me with an interest in creating a Scratch Off business promotion, I always ask a few starter questions to get the ball rolling:

  •     How will you be using your Scratch Off cards?  
  •   What are your card specifications (size, quantity, print formatting)?
  •   What promotional message do you want to reveal under the Scratch Off Label?
Typically, the first two questions are fairly easy to answer. Most individuals have a clear vision of how they would like to use their cards and how they want their cards to look before making their initial contact.  But, in my experience, the promotional message is where project creativity can start to slump.  I am often asked, “What do you suggest?...” What kind of business promotions do other [insert appropriate business here] do?”. 

Revealing Your “Promotional Variations”

Before I go any further, let me clue you in on our lingo. We use the term “promotional variation” to refer to the promotional message or specific information that is contained beneath the Scratch Off Label (if you’d like additional information on how our Scratch Off Labels work, I will refer you here). In some cases, the card issuers want to include very ambiguous promotional variations (“Winner” or “Try Again”) but more frequently, our customers want promotional variations that are specific to their products and/or services.

While there is no right or wrong answer, we do find that certain industries favor certain types of promotions/incentives. That being said, here at My Scratch Offs, we put our brains together and compiled a “Top Business Promotions” list by industry based upon our past custom projects

Top Scratch Off Business Promotions by Industry

Service Industries  


Food & Beverage
o   $ off Purchase
o   % off Purchase
o   Size/Quantity Upgrade
o   Free Food Item (i.e. Free Appetizer, Free Dessert, Free Beverage)
o   Buy One, Get One Offer
Hospitality
o   Complementary Room Upgrade
o   On-property Restaurant/Bar Comps
o   In-room Dining Comps
o   % off Stay
o   Free Nights Stay

Entertainment/ Amusement
o   Free Game Play/ Game Tokens
o   Free “Prize” Upgrade
o   Free Concession Item (i.e. snack, beverage)
o   Buy One, Get One Offer


Professional Services

Accounting/ Banking
o   % off Annual Tax Prep or Service
o   $ off Annual Tax Prep or Service
o   Free Gift with New Account
o   Account Contribution Match

Real Estate & Home Inspection
o   Free Gift Upon Closing
o   % or $ off Inspection Services
o   % or $ off Radon and Mold Testing

Medical/Dental/Vision
o   Free Consultation
o   Free Product with Service or Treatment
o   $ off Service or Treatment
o   % off Service or Treatment

Veterinary
o   Free Nail Trim
o   Free Grooming Services
o   $ off Service or Treatment
o   % off Service or Treatment

Health & Beauty
o   Free Product Item
o   Free Service Upgrade
o   % or $ off Product
o   % or $ off Service


Retail

General
o   $ off Purchase
o   % off Purchase
o   Free Gift (i.e. product or service)
o   Complementary Product Upgrade

Jewelry
o   Free Jewelry Inspection
o   Free Jewelry Cleaning
o   Free Gift (i.e. bracelet, jewelry charm, jewelry cleaner)
o   Complementary Stone Upgrade
o   Free Professional Sizing or Repair (if offered)
o   % More for your Gold or Sterling Silver (if offered)

Automotive
o   Free Auto Detailing
o   Free Gas for a Year
o   Free Service (i.e. oil change, tire rotation)
o   Free Window Tint
o   $ off Vehicle Purchase
o   $ or % off of Service

Employee Rewards

o   Cash Bonus
o   Extra “PTO” Time
o   “Boss For A Day”
o   Free Promotional Products

When it comes to planning your promotional variations, the possibilities are (literally) endless and as mentioned, there is no right or wrong way of doing things. This list of “Top Business Promotions” is simply a conglomeration of our past experience and is meant to springboard your own creativity! So now that you’ve perused our list of business promotion ideas, what type of promotional incentives do you think would work best for your industry? Please feel free to share your comments below or on Facebook!



Tuesday, October 7, 2014

5 Black Friday Tips For Your Business



5 Black Friday Tips For Your Business

Black Friday. It’s the annual Olympics of retail shopping. That once-a-year event where red-eyed shoppers coax themselves out of a tryptophan-induced lethargy in order to brave the 2 A.M. masses in hopes of snatching up the latest Playstation model…for a $1!  According to Bloomberg News[1], last year, over 140 million people shopped the day after Thanksgiving. For businesses that opt to embrace our nation’s biggest shopping “holiday,” Black Friday can be a traffic and sales gravy train!

While the year’s biggest shopping day may still be nearly two months away, now is the time to start planning and promoting Black Friday incentives to give your business a leg-up in the very competitive retail market. Here is a compilation of ideas to inspire your own successful Black Friday efforts.

The Early Bird Catches the Sales
Did you know that over a third of men and women (32 percent and 35 percent, respectively) venture out into the early morning crowds on Black Friday[2]?! Don’t miss out on your share of these prospective shoppers. Consider offering your customers extended, early morning business hours the day after Thanksgiving.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Good Old Fashioned Coupon 
Over half (53%) of shoppers say they would use a coupon when making a Black Friday purchase[3]. In addition to offering your customers a savings, an added perk of offering coupons is that you are organically increasing brand visibility. It’s a 1-2 punch!

Go Digital
We live in a digital age. Show you’re tech savvy by offering your customers web-based access to exclusive Black Friday savings and discounts. Create a special QR code for shoppers to scan in-store that will provide them instant mobile access to a coupon/savings flier that is specific to Black Friday use. Does your business primarily function online? Create a banner ad on your homepage or a specific landing page within your website to organize and indicate your Black Friday savings to customers. 

Spread The Word
Leave no potential customer untouched!  Compile a list of your most effective means of reaching your target audience and promote, promote, promote! Use every opportunity at your disposal to remind your customers of your fabulous Black Friday savings, whether it be by word of mouth in your brick-and-mortar or a carefully executed online marketing campaign.  Consider reaching your customers by:

  • Direct Email: Send an Email to your established customers announcing your Black Friday Deals and Savings. Not currently using a newsletter service? Be sure to familiarize yourself with how to keep your e-mailing CAN-SPAM Compliant[4].
  • Employ the Power of Social Media: Don’t forget to utilize social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc., to promote within your current customer network and target promoted ads to seek out a new customer base.
  • In-Store Distributions: Consider including a leaflet or small flier to advertise your Black Friday deals in every customer’s  bag/shipment throughout the months of October and November.

Bottom line…Start early and promote across as many platforms as possible and often. Remember, repetition sells!

Bring Them Back
Think about offering your customers an incentive to return to your store after Black Friday has come and gone. Take advantage of the unusually high traffic volumes that November 28th will provide by offering attractive savings to draw customers into your store on Black Friday and then reward them for their patronage by offering a discount card with each purchase to be used at a later date. A Scratch Off Game Card is a great way to encourage your customers to shop with you later in the holiday season, too!

I hope that this information will help inspire your own successful Black Friday plan of attack. There are endless possibilities to engage your customers and lead them through your doors this Black Friday, and who knows your customers better than you?! Plan promotions that will excite and motivate your target audience to ensure that you get a slice of that Black Friday pie!



[1]  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-02/black-friday-weekend-spending-drop-pressures-u-s-stores.html
[2]  http://www.valpak.com/media/press-releases/2012/holiday-spending-survey-2012.jsp
[3] http://www.valpak.com/media/press-releases/2012/holiday-spending-survey-2012.jsp
[4] http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2137957/getting-staying-can-spam-compliant