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Three ways to use Augmented Reality in print marketing

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Augment your Marketing

The technology for augmented reality (AR) in print marketing is reaching critical mass, where brands have a platform commonly used by consumers to access the content. Marketers should look for ways to implement this feature into their printed materials to be ahead of the curve and standout from 2-D graphics and signs. Below are three ways to use AR in your marketing campaigns.

Augment Reality: What is it?

First, we need to know what augmented reality is. It takes a 2-D image (Trigger Image) and places graphics, (2-D or 3-D), over the trigger for an engaging experience. For example, Lego implements AR in stores to display 3-D renderings of finished products. The Pokémon Go app was based around AR, placing characters over images of the real world. This is not to be confused with virtual reality which creates an entirely new, digital world. Now that we have that cleared up, let’s get into some creative uses.

Business Cards

Everyone’s seen a business card. Name, contact info and your company’s logo. How can your business card stand out from other salespeople and marketing representatives? With AR, you can include animations, text boxes with company information and your previous work as well as a 3-D image of yourself to leave a lasting impression.

Event Signage

AR presents many opportunities to market events such as exclusive rewards, photo ops and pre-event scavenger hunts leading to the event. Getting consumers involved in your event beforehand increases the likelihood of them actually attending the event.

Wayfinding

I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets lost in shopping centers and has trouble getting my bearings on a 2-D directory. Through AR, you can put that map on shopper’s phones, giving enabling them to see the map on a horizontal plane and navigate to their desired destination.

Final Thoughts

The potential for AR in print marketing is seemingly endless. Marketers must be ready with a plan to implement this digital content into their printed materials.

Give us a call or fill out the contact form below to find out how digital and print marketing can be integrated in your marketing plan today.

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Phone: 800-946-2462

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    Four Ways Signs and Graphics can help an Aging Generation

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    Four Ways Signs and Graphics can help an Aging Generation

    An Aging, Active Generation

    Who is the oldest person you know? How old are they? Chances are they remain out and about despite living through their “Golden Years.” No longer are elderly confined to nursing homes and hospital wings as in generations past. The latest generation of silver foxes is on the move, enjoying retirement, family and life savings. Below are four tips to capture this demographic with signage and graphics.

    Wayfinding

    No one likes to feel lost or to search for a location for hours. Include clear instructions with directional arrows and visual landmarks in your signage to reduce confusion. Wayfinding signage should be clearly identifiable from a far distance.

    Answer All Questions

    Provide as much information as possible. Before you have a design in mind, you should think through any and all questions an elderly visitor might have, such as senior discounts, handicap parking and best entrances to use if promotion is indoors.

    Large Font

    Unfortunately, diminishing eyesight is not a thing of the past. To help this generation get all they can from your signs and graphics, use large, plain fonts. Providing a QR code where they can view information up close and in a large font is an added bonus.

    Involvement

    This generation loves to be involved, whether that’s through donating to a charity or volunteering their time. Provide information in your signage on how they can get involved with your organization or business.

    Final Thoughts

    The current senior generation is more active than ever before, business can’t afford to write them off. With money saved and plenty of time and grandkids to spend it on, this is the demographic every business and organization should be targeting.

    Give us a call or fill out the contact form below to get started on signage and graphics perfect for marketing to an aging generation.

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    Phone: 800-946-2462

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      How to Market like Top; Fastest Growing Retailers

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      Three Marketing Lessons

      A 2019 report examined the differences between top companies and the fastest growing companies. While the top companies efforts are geared towards reaching the largest audience possible, the fastest growing companies focus on a small demographic they can target intimately. Below are three lessons and ways for you to implement them in your own strategy.

      Niche Campaigns vs. Casting a Wide Net

      The top companies benefit from an Every Door Direct Mail Campaign (EDDM) where a direct mail piece is delivered to everyone in a given area or zip code. This limits the specificity but reaches those who may not be in a target demographic. The fastest growing companies benefit from direct mail campaign with a targeted list. Using a targeted list saves money from a smaller quantity of mail pieces but goes to people in the target demographic who are more likely to purchase your product.

      Focusing on Loyalty vs. Acquiring New Customers

      Top companies want to find new customers. Out-of-home advertising works well to capture new business. The fastest growing companies want to focus on existing customers on those who have visited their site before but may not be customers. Think abandoned carts. These retailers send text messages or emails to push shoppers to finish their purchases.

      Less is More vs. More is More

      52% of top companies take advantage of cross media campaigns, flooding the market with their branding and promotions. Cross media allows for the customer to find your product in the medium they prefer, whether that’s a mail piece, email or text message. The fastest growing companies prefer to use the promotional medium their target audience values most.

      Final Thoughts

      Both have their strengths and weaknesses and every company should decide which fits best into their business model. But who’s to say the model of the fastest growing companies couldn’t over take the top companies and put an up-and-comer in a top seat?

      Give us a call or fill out the contact form below to find out how each business strategy could benefit your company today.

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      Phone: 1-800-946-2462

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        Are you marketing to the digitally unconnected?

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        We often hear “Print is dead, digital is king.” But is that really true? According to a study by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 27 percent or approximately 33 million, of all U.S. households do not use the Internet. Is your message reaching the audience you want to target or are you missing the digitally unconnected?

        Digitally Unconnected

        Contrary to popular opinion, these households aren’t limited to rural areas. In fact, the majority of the digitally unconnected live in urban settings. As marketers this means we’re potentially missing a wide swath of consumers if we rely on digital alone. That’s where print comes in. Print marketing materials like direct mail or signage can put your messages in front of both digitally connected and unconnected consumers.

        Direct Mail

        With spending for SMS and email marketing rising, one would think these are the best ways to reach an audience. While this is seemingly true, both continue to miss a large portion of consumers. Direct mail, on the other hand, is able to reach your audience and from the moment they open their mailbox until they discard it an average 17 days later. That’s 17 days for your messaging to market to all members of a household in a format with an average 29% return on investment.

        Signage

        Signage is a big way for your messaging to have a big return. In rural areas, where interstate and highway billboard space can be had for cheap, local and out-of-state travelers are influenced by your product. In urban settings with heavy foot traffic, sidewalk signs or building murals are seen by thousands of pedestrians and drivers giving you more bang for your buck.

        The Road Ahead

        The Federal Communications Commission continues to expand broadband access in the U.S, but there’s still a long road ahead. Reach your target audience by incorporating print into your marketing campaigns.

        If you’re ready to reach the digitally unconnected through print marketing materials, call us or complete the contact form below. An Account Executive will reach out and help you plan a strategy for your next marketing campaign.

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        Phone: 501-376-2397

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          Turn heads with out-of-home (OOH) advertising

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          Digital vs. Out-of-Home Advertising

          Has your marketing budget shifted towards digital? Are you relying on Facebook ads and retargeting campaigns to drive traffic to your website? If executed properly, these tactics can be effective outreach tools. But they can’t compare to the return on investment you get from of out-of-home (OOH) or outdoor print advertising.

          According to studies, OOH is responsible for 26 percent of Internet searches from traditional media. Nearly half of U.S. adults search online for products or services they’ve seen in OOH advertisements. In other words, digital media is not as dominant as many marketing gurus would have you believe.

          Unconventional Methods

          Today, OOH has expanded beyond conventional billboards and bus shelter ads because of exponentially increase avenues for marketing . In fact, many brands are now using innovative OOHs such as vehicle wraps and interactive signage to increase impressions. Some are even coupling these signs and wraps with geo-fencing or other digital technologies to create highly targeted campaigns. Because of augmented reality, OOH continues to encourage customers to interact with products, visit new digital platforms or share brands on social media.

          If you want to turn heads, and drive results, with your marketing campaign, then it’s time to reconsider the benefits of out-of-home advertising. Give us a call or fill out a contact form and our Account Executives will work with you to re-imagine your Out-of-Home advertising strategy.

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          Phone: 501-376-2397

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            STOP! 4 Ways to Improve COVID-19 Customer Signage

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            Has your business experienced declining foot traffic since reopening? Are shoppers hesitant to enter or linger in your shop? You may be losing customer because of confusing health and safety signage. According to a recent study, consumers are 80% more likely to shop at locations with clear COVID-19-related signs. Companies without this type of collateral are seeing 40% drops in foot traffic. The good news? You can get those customers back in the door by with these four tips to improve COVID-19 customer signage:

            Set Expectations at the Entrance

            Put customers’ minds at ease by laying out your company’s strict health and safety guidelines before they enter the store. This may include stipulating mask use, symptom checks and social distancing measures. Most importantly, focus on reassuring consumers you are taking the virus—and their safety—seriously.

            Implement Clear Social Distancing

            Now that you have explained your social distancing strategy, it’s time to put it into action. Use floor decals, window graphics and ceiling hangers to make it as easy as possible for shoppers to maintain an adequate and safe distance from others.

            Install Directional Signage

            Follow the lead of Walmart and other international retailers by creating a clear path for customers with arrows, footprints, and safe standing areas. As a result, the stores have reduced overcrowding and are able to keep traffic flowing from entrance to exit.

            Create Contactless Processes

            Many customers now prefer contactless shopping. Whether it’s a QR code for in-app checkout or number for curbside pickup, post signage around and outside your business to give hesitant shoppers additional options to support your store.

            If you’re eager to get shoppers safely in the door, call us or fill out the contact form below today and we will work with you to improve COVID-19 customer signage.

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            Phone: 501-376-2397

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              2020 Back to School Essentials

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              Getting ready for the new school year can be time consuming and, at times, chaotic. With the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding COVID-19, preparations can become even more challenging. Ease the back-to-school transition with these 2020 back to school essentials that will help keep your students, faculty and their families safe:

              Masks

              As the CDC has noted, cloth face coverings are essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19. But they can also help provide a much-needed morale boost for students and teachers when printed with your school’s logo and colors.

              Safety Signage

              School will look different this year. Help everyone follow the new health and safety guidelines by installing informational signage like banners and floor and window decals throughout your buildings.

              Desk Partitions

              Add an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 with desk partitions featuring polycarbonate windows that allow students to see their teachers and safely interact with classmates.

              Sanitization Supplies Kits

              It’s tough keeping your school clean. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the task can feel impossible. Provide your janitorial staff with the proper sanitization supplies to combat germs efficiently and effectively.

              Beginning a new school year is stressful—but even more so during times of crisis. Magna IV is here to help you reopen safely with our 2020 back to school essentials like masks, safety signage, desk partitions and sanitization supplies.

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              Phone: 501-376-2397

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                Marketing for the new normal

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                The coronavirus has sent our nation into a financial tailspin. Mandatory closures have impacted every sector of the economy, but particularly the restaurant, fitness, nonprofit, event and public-facing industries. In order to stay afloat, many of these businesses have been forced to curtail their overhead costs. First up on the chopping block: marketing budgets.

                But is that really the right call? Or should companies maintain some semblance of consumer engagement, even if it’s significantly scaled back? Perhaps now more than ever, brands have the opportunity to have authentic conversations with captive audiences. But they must find the appropriate outreach tactics or risk losing their credibility — or customers — altogether.

                With Magna IV’s experience as a guide, here’s how companies can market for new normal:

                Don’t sell, share. 

                Recent reports showed consumer confidence remained steady in May after a steep decline in April. But that doesn’t mean Americans are in any rush to make non-essential purchases. Instead of the traditional hard sell, businesses should instead focus on building relationships with current and prospective clients. Companies should regularly share relevant and informational content — from live facility tours to virtual product demonstration — through traditional and digital channels.

                Embrace mail.

                With near-constant texts, emails and social media, it’s easy for customers to feel overwhelmed by digital marketing. To help prevent brand burnout, many entities are now considering a switch to direct mail, which offers a high return-on-investment and can be easily tailored for specific audiences with variable data. As a recent industry study showed, households on average keep advertising mail for 17 days and door drops for 38 days. That means companies have multiple opportunities for their marketing collateral to be seen.

                Create an experience. 

                Customers want, and need, a distraction from COVID-19. That’s why there’s no better time to use experiential marketing (i.e., engagement marketing) techniques. Brands can interact directly, but safely with customers by designing and installing unique building wraps, innovative point-of-purchase displays or even Instagram-worthy interior and exterior design graphics.

                Recognize the times. 

                Restrictions are loosening, but Americans are still understandably apprehensive about the spread of COVID-19. Businesses can help alleviate their unease with floor graphics, posters, sandwich boards, banners and other signage that reinforces CDC-recommended health and safety guidelines and hygiene practices. Depending on their budgets, they may also want to consider offering branded hand sanitizer or cloth face coverings to reinforce their commitment to keeping employees and customers safe.

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                Phone: 501-376-2397

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