Postcards Still Rule In A Digital World

On our website, PrintReady.co, I briefly discuss 5 Ways To Use Postcards in a Digital World and while writing the article, I further convinced myself just how much postcards remain an awesome marketing tool even during a time of Facebook, email and e-cards. There is a difference between a tangible postcard in a potential customer’s hand and an image on a computer screen.

I don’t have to tell many of you that. We print over a hundred thousand postcards each month, so it’s obvious many of our clients already understand just how powerful postcards can be.

PrintKEG offers seven sizes for postcards including the standard 4 X 6, 5 X 7 and 6 X 10, and introducing the raving 4 X 3. We offer the appropriate sizes for mailing purposes and those that are proven to be most effective.

PrintEKG offers three durable card stocks for postcards. Our most popular card stock would be the “Glossy Front & Glossy Back (110lb)” since it is durable and cheap. This high quality paper is our cheapest postcard stock since we order it in bulk. We also offer a “Glossy Front & Uncoated Back (110lb)” for easy handwriting on the backside. For a more elegant “matte” appearance, we have hand-picked an “Uncoated Front / Uncoated Back (100lb) card stock; a wonderful choice for a sophisticated, yet understated finish.

This week (until Feb. 3rd 2012) you can purchase 500 postcards for as low as $19.

Our Posters Are Amazing

I’m proud of all the prints that ship out; however, our large posters (also referred to as wide format printing) are simply amazing thanks to our high-end inkjet production machine designed specifically for the graphics arts industry.

Our posters are top quality and perfect for photographers and museums. Since our posters are also affordable, we’ve printed thousands for schools, churches, films and events.

Part of the quality lies within the paper too. Our Satin Glossy Photo Paper is optimized for photographic and high resolution prints resulting in vibrant colors and superior fade resistance.

To better demonstrate our papers, we’ve been working a new video series. On the above video, you can visualize the quality of our large posters as Adam, PrintKEG’s new Youtube star, provides more details.

Also check out this video’s bloopers.

We’re Finally On Google+

The first time I looked over Google+, I liked it and wanted to start a business page for PrintKEG. But at that time, Google recommended brands not to participate yet so we didn’t. Not to mention, Google already had a string of misfires including Google Buzz.

But yesterday morning, I decided we might as well get started. Maybe I should have started a Google+ account sooner because only hours after my PrintReady.co post, Mashable reported that Google+ will begin carrying into search results.

With Google+, we can not ignore the possibilities of being integrated into Google’s search, especially as an online company. For now, we’ll basically provide a comparable experience as Facebook and let users decide which method they prefer to follow us. In the future, we’re hoping to provide a unique experience through Google+ like we do other social networks.

Here’s our Google+ page. Enjoy!

PrintKEG is on Instagram!

Yippie! We love social media so we’ve started posting pics on Instagram, the popular photo sharing app.

With any social network we participate in, we like to provide a unique experience. For instance, we typically post daily deals on Twitter only, show off samples on Flickr, offer huge sales via email and engage freely with Facebook…

Sure we mix it up a little. You may find amazing daily deals posted on Facebook once in a while, or an Instagram post on Twitter, or some of our blog postings on LinkedIn, and that’s okay. We just make sure that following us through multiple channels remains beneficial and worthwhile.

We have a pretty decent mobile website, but in 2012, we intend to step up our game. With Instagram, we look forward to growing our brand and revealing a little more about ourselves as a small business in a fun way. Enjoy! @printkeg

Extreme Testing of Packing

Our shipping department always searches for methods of packing that is easy to open, secure and cost effective.

When packing our large posters we wrap and secure them inside super strong tubes. Next, we insert that tube into a shipping box doubling the protection. This is why its strange to us when we receive that occasional complaint of bent posters.

A few of our playful packers aggressively tested the tube’s strength.

They actually threw, slammed and just straight up abused this tube (even more than shown). The two posters inside showed zero signs of abuse. No rips, tears, wrinkles smudges….nothing. And when we ship, we still put this tube in a box so we can’t imagine what UPS does to some of these packages.

It rarely happens, but if your posters are not in mint condition we will reprint them at no cost to you.

Low Prices For Everyone, Not Just New Customers!

Have you ever seen that Ally bank commercial where the new kid receives and eats ice cream right in front of another kid who represents current customers? Well, unfortunately, that is exactly what many companies do: Charge current customers premium rates while offering new customers ridiculously low prices. In my opinion, this just isn’t right.

You know what I’m talking about. Wireless carriers offer amazing rates for expensive phones for new customers while current customers are stuck in a two-year contract with little hope of affording a newer model. Numerous companies implement the practice of converting “trial users” into premium paying customers, especially online companies, including many print companies. Its a common practice, and I don’t like it. PrintKEG won’t do it.

We prefer to build a model of trust where new and current customers can depend on low prices consistently. If we have a deal, we offer it it to everyone so that current customers don’t feel like they’re being treated unfairly. Maintaining customers is key to any company’s growth and attracting new business with deals unattainable to current customers is just not fair.

This is why our prices are cheaper than anywhere else across the board. We earn repeat business by offering amazing prices backed with a 100% guarantee. Whether you’re a new customer or have been with us for years, we’ll stand behind our prices and products. In the end, we like to think we treat all customers the same, but if I could choose, I’m giving the best deals to current, and loyal, customers.

If you haven’t worked with us yet, rest assured. You’re about to be part of a print company that cares about you.

Chris Mullen
co-founder

The above image is an example of a new customer who purchased stickers, rack cards, postcards and business cards.

Transitioning PK to HTML5

The web designer in me wants to stay up-to-date on our coding style, so we’ve upgraded our site to HTML5 (we were XHTML). Our main goal was to ensure we’re conforming to the new standards, but because we’re browser-conscious, we’re not even scratching the surface of what HTML5 has to offer.

There are still a couple patches we need to address, but we’re almost totally valid.

What’s HTML5? HTML5 is a language for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web, a core technology of the Internet. It is the fifth revision of the HTML standard (originally created in 1990 and most recently standardized as HTML4 in 1997 and as of August 2011 is still under development. Its core aims have been to improve the language with support for the latest multimedia while keeping it easily readable by humans and consistently understood by computers and devices (web browsers, parsers, etc.). Learn more.

Farewell Nathaniel

This is our production manager’s last week, and we’ll all be sorry to see him go. There’s no doubt that he’s been a huge asset to this company. Its tough to lose a key staff member, but we must carry on, continue to grow and pray we can find another person as high caliber as Nathaniel.

If we haven’t said it already Nathaniel. Thanks for everything!

Printing For Chick-Fil-A

Just seeing that Chick-Fil-A logo got me hounding for a spicy chicken sandwich, salty waffle fries and yummy sweet tea. Today we printed some posters and flyers for a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Florida which I thought worth mentioning. I’m swinging by there first thing after work!

PrintKEG Reviews

Every PrintKEG customer receives a satisfaction survey about ten to fifteen days after ordering which plays a pivotal role in our company self-improvement. We greatly appreciate customer reviews and feedback. In the “About Us” section of our website, we also offer many more testimonials.

“Those prints are beautiful! Delivery was what I expected from coast to coast, no extra delay. I can recommend you to the rest of the family for prints of this chart. Thanks!”

“I believe you are doing an outstanding job in a most professional manner. I recently had a printing problem and it was resolved in a most friendly and curtious manner. Thank you.”

“I wouldn’t use another printer for my printing needs. You provide the best quality, the lowest prices, and the fastest turnaround in the business.”

“You guys are awesome…so glad I found you!”

“I was VERY happy when I received my photos and have referred you to my friends for their poster needs.”

“I wish shipping was not so expensive for just one item. But the total is still cheaper than my local printer and faster…they require a minimum five day turnaround and I ordered and got my prints from you in I think 3 days.”

“This was our second order with PrintKEG and we are very impressed with the quality of print and the friendliness of the Beaufort, SC staff. We look forward to placing all of our print orders with this company in the future. Thank you!”

“At first I was skeptical because of the low prices, but after receiving my prints, I was stunned, they looked fantastic and the quality was astounding. I will definitely be continuing my business with you guys, Thanks!”

“A big shout out to Chris who put the “satisfaction” in Customer Satisfaction.”

“I was VERY pleased with all aspects of the transaction/product! PrintKEG is MY source for large/heavy format print jobs!!”

“My first order was a “trial run” of your service. i was so pleased , I placed a “real” order, almost immediately! Great product, Service, and Price!”

“Your print quality, prices, service, people I email with for proofs, willingness to print small quantities - all are absolutely awesome and I recommend you all the time. Most of my clients are not local, so using your service works out wonderfully.”