I am so excited to have our new website launching this coming week! We have spent several months designing a site that is not only attractive, but one that also provides a positive user experience. Keeping it simple is our tag line, and we wanted our website to live up to that saying, and it does!
We have built Ag Printers on the basis of always doing the right thing, and that is reflected in each person we have on staff. The website gives you a chance to find out a little bit more about each of the people you have formed relationships with over the past 9 years.
Personally, I want to publicly thank Sara, Ginny and Chelsie for all the hard work they have put in on this new website. Countless hours have been spent creating the proper flow, proofing and testing all of the back end functionality. I am truly blessed to have such a great group surrounding me each day.
Keep coming back and checking the blog too! There is so much to share with all of you about our upcoming vision for Ag Printers and the amazing product lines that we are launching and improving. I would encourage each of you to get your marketing calendar created soon, as your selling season is upon you already. If you need guidance on the creation of a marketing calendar, give us a call or read through the blog posts!
Finally, I don't get to say it enough, but THANK YOU! Thank you for allowing us to serve you, support you and help your company to keep growing as our market segment continues to transform itself daily. We will continue to help you stay ahead of the curve by keeping it simple!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
How to Overspend on Marketing!
A sure way for you to go over budget on marketing this year is to not have a marketing plan created. You have probably heard the saying, that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. This is especially true when it comes to marketing plans.
Going back ten years to when I started Ag Printers, one of the most common frustrations of seed companies was the lack of time available to create and implement marketing programs. While I would not argue that time is scarce, I push back on the validity of that statement. Anything that is given priority has enough time to pursue and complete.
Maybe it is a lack of the perceived importance of marketing in general. "Our products and service level speaks for itself. Right?" Wrong. We live it a world of instant information, persistent distraction and attention spans shorter than...(sorry, the phone rang and I got an email. Where was I?)
I challenge you today to carve out two hours to create a simple plan that will not only get your message out to your customers more, but will save you money on marketing. Imagine the freedom you would have when one of the many advertising reps call you, or the local high school asks you to advertise in their program, and you can simply and politely decline, as they are not in this year's marketing plan, but they can submit their proposal for next year and you can review it at your leisure!
For your plan, simply create a spreadsheet with the following elements.
1.The product or service you want to promote
2.The offer you are going to communicate (Message)
3.The specific user group you will target (Market)
4.The vehicle(s) you will use to communicate your offer to your target(s) (Method)
5.The proposed date you want to launch the program
6.The proposed date you need to begin planning and production to hit the launch date
Granted, this is a bare bones, stripped-down plan, but it will get those of you who have never done a marketing program started. You will add to this as the years go by and you want more detail. The dates will give you accountability. Share them with your staff and keep each other on track. I would also suggest putting the dates into your digital calendar and have alarms or reminders set on your computer and your mobile devices!
When it comes to making and implementing your marketing plans, give us a call. It is our passion to help you grow your business!
Steve
Going back ten years to when I started Ag Printers, one of the most common frustrations of seed companies was the lack of time available to create and implement marketing programs. While I would not argue that time is scarce, I push back on the validity of that statement. Anything that is given priority has enough time to pursue and complete.
Maybe it is a lack of the perceived importance of marketing in general. "Our products and service level speaks for itself. Right?" Wrong. We live it a world of instant information, persistent distraction and attention spans shorter than...(sorry, the phone rang and I got an email. Where was I?)
I challenge you today to carve out two hours to create a simple plan that will not only get your message out to your customers more, but will save you money on marketing. Imagine the freedom you would have when one of the many advertising reps call you, or the local high school asks you to advertise in their program, and you can simply and politely decline, as they are not in this year's marketing plan, but they can submit their proposal for next year and you can review it at your leisure!
For your plan, simply create a spreadsheet with the following elements.
1.The product or service you want to promote
2.The offer you are going to communicate (Message)
3.The specific user group you will target (Market)
4.The vehicle(s) you will use to communicate your offer to your target(s) (Method)
5.The proposed date you want to launch the program
6.The proposed date you need to begin planning and production to hit the launch date
Granted, this is a bare bones, stripped-down plan, but it will get those of you who have never done a marketing program started. You will add to this as the years go by and you want more detail. The dates will give you accountability. Share them with your staff and keep each other on track. I would also suggest putting the dates into your digital calendar and have alarms or reminders set on your computer and your mobile devices!
When it comes to making and implementing your marketing plans, give us a call. It is our passion to help you grow your business!
Steve
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Bulk Box Signage
We develop new product lines as often as needs arise in the seed industry. Not every one makes it through the process and makes it to market, thanks in great part to our customer feedback.
I still remember Erich Albers coming up to me in 2006 and handing me a bag tag and asking me if Ag Printers made tags. I didn't even know what the tag was, but after we looked not only at the process of manufacturing them, but the process of designing them with compliant information and the process of ordering and fulfilling the orders, we brought them to market. Now we are blessed to produce several million tags each season.
Recently, we have been approached by a group of our customers (friends) and asked if we had a good solution for bulk box signs. After researching what is in the market currently, the only option out there seems to be thin-gauge steel signs. As we know, these boxes are expensive and need branded not only to make sure they return to your facility, but to solidify your brand in the marketplace.
My first question when it comes to most things in the seed industry is "why do we do it this way now?" and my second question is "how can we make this product and process better?"
I believe we have these questions answered very well for this application, but I need your help in determining if we are truly on the right track to a new product line.Would you please answer these questions by leaving a comment below?
1. Do you currently use 24 x 16 inch signs on your bulk/pro boxes?
2. How many do you order each year?
3. Would you be interested in a sample of our new sign on our new material?
If you answer yes to #3, please email me so I can get you a sign. You would be doing us a favor also by being a test site for us as we continue to develop this great product. My email is steve@agprinters.com.
Have a great week!
Steve
I still remember Erich Albers coming up to me in 2006 and handing me a bag tag and asking me if Ag Printers made tags. I didn't even know what the tag was, but after we looked not only at the process of manufacturing them, but the process of designing them with compliant information and the process of ordering and fulfilling the orders, we brought them to market. Now we are blessed to produce several million tags each season.
Recently, we have been approached by a group of our customers (friends) and asked if we had a good solution for bulk box signs. After researching what is in the market currently, the only option out there seems to be thin-gauge steel signs. As we know, these boxes are expensive and need branded not only to make sure they return to your facility, but to solidify your brand in the marketplace.
My first question when it comes to most things in the seed industry is "why do we do it this way now?" and my second question is "how can we make this product and process better?"
I believe we have these questions answered very well for this application, but I need your help in determining if we are truly on the right track to a new product line.Would you please answer these questions by leaving a comment below?
1. Do you currently use 24 x 16 inch signs on your bulk/pro boxes?
2. How many do you order each year?
3. Would you be interested in a sample of our new sign on our new material?
If you answer yes to #3, please email me so I can get you a sign. You would be doing us a favor also by being a test site for us as we continue to develop this great product. My email is steve@agprinters.com.
Have a great week!
Steve
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Bells and Whistles!
Product catalogs will be in production over the next few months and the question arises, "Do I spend more money this year making my catalog stand out by using added design elements like UV coatings, die-cuts, metallic inks or embossing?"
This is a legitimate question, and we are happy to go down this road with you. The first thing to know is that we can certainly offer you all of these services (and many more). The second thing is that the answer is a matter of personal opinion. So, in order to help you (which is what Ag Printers is known for) let's examine the questions below and come to a conclusion together.
1. What am I spending now, per customer, on my catalog? Start with a baseline.
2. What is my bottom line profit per customer?
3. What is my sales growth goal for the coming year?
4. What is my margin goal, per customer, for the coming year?
5. What additional amount am I willing to spend per customer?
6. Will the additional amount I spend on the catalog return the investment times 3?
(i.e. will a $10,000 investment yield a $30,000 return?)
7. Does the additional time needed to add design elements outweigh the potential for standing out more from other catalogs?
Is it important to differentiate yourself from your competition? Absolutely! The question becomes, is your catalog THE place to spend your money in differentiating your seed company from the others?
Again, there is NOT a solid right or wrong answer here. It depends on your overall sales and marketing program goals and your personal opinion of how crucial this marketing piece is to reaching those goals.
The bottom line is, whatever road you want to travel down this season, we can get you there.
Before starting Ag Printers I was in the commercial printing industry for 8 years. Our printing company produced some of the highest-end catalogs and annual reports for the largest and most profitable companies in central Indiana. Some of the best work came from a designer at a pharmaceutical testing facility, so I hired her first and Sara now heads up our design teams.
If you have an idea, let's discuss it. If you want to analyze your marketing strategy, let me know. We are here to help keep it simple, but also to give you so much more!
Please take 10 seconds to answer the poll to the right of this post so we can get a feel for the overall opinion on this subject!
Have a wonderful spring (should it ever warm up)!
Steve
This is a legitimate question, and we are happy to go down this road with you. The first thing to know is that we can certainly offer you all of these services (and many more). The second thing is that the answer is a matter of personal opinion. So, in order to help you (which is what Ag Printers is known for) let's examine the questions below and come to a conclusion together.
1. What am I spending now, per customer, on my catalog? Start with a baseline.
2. What is my bottom line profit per customer?
3. What is my sales growth goal for the coming year?
4. What is my margin goal, per customer, for the coming year?
5. What additional amount am I willing to spend per customer?
6. Will the additional amount I spend on the catalog return the investment times 3?
(i.e. will a $10,000 investment yield a $30,000 return?)
7. Does the additional time needed to add design elements outweigh the potential for standing out more from other catalogs?
Is it important to differentiate yourself from your competition? Absolutely! The question becomes, is your catalog THE place to spend your money in differentiating your seed company from the others?
Again, there is NOT a solid right or wrong answer here. It depends on your overall sales and marketing program goals and your personal opinion of how crucial this marketing piece is to reaching those goals.
The bottom line is, whatever road you want to travel down this season, we can get you there.
Before starting Ag Printers I was in the commercial printing industry for 8 years. Our printing company produced some of the highest-end catalogs and annual reports for the largest and most profitable companies in central Indiana. Some of the best work came from a designer at a pharmaceutical testing facility, so I hired her first and Sara now heads up our design teams.
If you have an idea, let's discuss it. If you want to analyze your marketing strategy, let me know. We are here to help keep it simple, but also to give you so much more!
Please take 10 seconds to answer the poll to the right of this post so we can get a feel for the overall opinion on this subject!
Have a wonderful spring (should it ever warm up)!
Steve
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