My artist friend Jacqueline just placed a big printing order.
Jacqueline found me online a couple of years ago. She doesn’t live in my city, but, thanks to some pretty great Google results, contacted me when she was searching for a printer for her art prints, post cards, and business cards.
There are countless places to order prints online. So why would someone choose a little shop in a little college town in upstate New York? Jacqueline chose me because I had a great online reputation; Jacqueline has stayed with me because she trusts me … and I make it easy!
You see, Jacqueline’s artwork is all different shapes and sizes. But she likes her prints to be a standardized size. She doesn’t know the world of printing–bleeds, trim, stock, coating–nor does she care to. She just sends me her files and I pre-flight them so they’re ready to print. Then I quote her different quantity breaks so she can mix and match for different prints and have them all drop-shipped together to her front door. She’s thrilled with the service, and I’m thrilled with the business. It’s win-win.
I have never met Jacqueline in person, yet she is a very satisfied client and a loyal advocate for my business. She talks me up in her artist circles, and as a result I’ve gained more remote clients and grown my network far beyond the borders of my little city.
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I have another friend, Kusal.
Kusal works with a large company and writes proposals and bids for very large, super important projects. Most of the proposals have to be submitted electronically and in print to meet very strict deadlines. Due to the extremely competitive nature of the bids, proposals can’t be prepared too early. Many times, there are last-minute adjustments done right before the proposal is due.
Every couple of weeks, Kusal will call me in the morning and let me know that a project is on its way. Then I check my email to find his files, along with detailed instructions regarding how packets are to be printed, collated, and stapled, and correlating CDs with files burned and included. It’s meticulous work, but that’s what I’m good at! I review the packets a few times before they’re overnighted, and print custom labels to make them look as top-notch and professional as possible. I follow Kusal’s instructions to the letter, and he is always overjoyed with the result.
Recently, Kusal asked about printing and binding a photo book to give to his wife as an anniversary present. I’m his go-to.
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The beauty of the printing world–and many other profit centers that our members are growing into–is that it can all be done remotely and then shipped anywhere. Our clients are no longer restricted by geography. But we have to find those customers. Better yet, those customers have to find us.
As my online presence grows, I’m getting more and more customers like Jacqueline and Kusal. Most of these are customers that I’ve never met, yet they’re just as faithful as those that I see in person every week.
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For more information on Marty, please visit unclemartysoffice.com.
Source: AMBC Blog