Posts

Showing posts from 2016

How Copyrighting Can Affect Your Print Materials

Image
In a world where everything is made easily accessible through internet searches - it's easier than ever to accidentally break the law with your print materials. As a small business, you're probably trying to balance many hats, so it only makes sense to be your own graphic designer when you need to make posters, pamphlets, and business cards at the Lake of the Ozarks . Unfortunately, many individuals run to Google when they need certain photos, logos, graphics, and even fonts, and those materials are not up for grabs. January first is Copyright Law Day, so we wanted to take some time to dig into copyright laws and how that can affect you as a business through your print materials. The Definition There are three types of legally protected materials that could be important to you, and it's important to know the difference: patents, trademarks, and copyrights. A patent protects an invention, think of things like tools, vehicles, supplies, etc. A trademark protects brand ...

Fun Facts About Printing

Image
Printing has been around for thousands of years, in one for or another. From a homemade ink on leaves to the beautifully finished print products at the Lake of the Ozarks that you can appreciate today. There are some pretty unusual and interesting facts tied to the history of printing, and while we are completely automated and up to date on our printing process, we thought it would be fun to take a look at printing from yesteryear and a few other fun facts! Did you know that Ben Franklin was not the first printer in his family? He was only a teenager when his older brother was publishing the New England Courant. Of course, by the age of 22, Ben was in business for himself and getting the Pensylvania Gazette out on the street. According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the smallest book printed is a 22-page Japanese picture book. It contains mostly flowers, and measures 0.0291x0.0295". You will need a magnifying glass to see the images! Before programs and computer...

Print Services At Lake Printing

Image
At Lake Printing , we offer a variety of services, from printing to mailing. All of these services are available because we know how important it is for your business to make a great impression. We have been located at the Lake of the Ozarks for over sixty years and we look forward to being here for sixty years more. If you're looking for a print company who can meet your needs, big or small - check out our services! Graphic Design Good graphics are a way to make or break your print materials. You can invest your money in high-quality printing and nice paper, but if you don't have a good design, the chances of it catching your customer's eye is slim. Let our graphic designers at the Lake of the Ozarks create an eye-catching piece for you! Printing We use top of the line printers to ensure that you are receiving a high-quality product. From large to small batches, and large to small products, we can do it all. Finishing In order for your print product...

9 Strong Words You Can Use In Print Marketing

Image
While the graphic, colors, and paper all play a role in the success of your print marketing, one of the biggest aspects is the words that you use. A picture may say a thousand words, but there is still a fundamental difference between reading words and looking at images. As you're writing the material for your next print piece, keep these nine words in mind and see how much of an impact they can make. YOU Marketing is always about the consumer, when you use a word that denotes that, you capture the purpose of your marketing. Remind them why they need your product or service. Example: If you aren't seeing the results you desire from your marketing - try delivering your message right to their door. Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) gives you the opportunity to select the ideal market, and tell them exactly what YOU can do for them! FREE Who doesn't love to get something for free? You can quickly grab the attention of your clients when you offer something that they ei...

5 Holiday Gifts Your Employees Will Love

Image
The holidays are approaching quickly - and will be here before you know it, are you ready? As the owner or manager of a business, this is a great time to thank your amazing employees who have worked hard all year long and celebrate successes. Studies show that when a manager recognizes an employees performance, they increase the engagement by nearly 60% - and 65% of American said that they didn't receive recognition during the past year at their work. While there is more to recognizing and appreciating your employees, one great way would be to gift them a gift. At Lake Printing, we can help you give each of your employees a gift, along with the chance for you to personally thank them for their hard work this past year. Here are a few Lake of the Ozarks promotional products that would make great gifts for your employees . Large Window Bag with Chocolate Almonds This recloseable black window bag is filled with Chocolate Almonds and comes with a 1-color hot stamp of your lo...

Marketing Your Small Business During the Holidays

Image
As the holiday season approaches, you may find that this is the best time to promote your product or services. From gift shops that sell products to landscaping companies to provide a service, the holidays are always a good time to promote. If you haven't considered some ways to increase sales during this season, there is still time before the holidays hit. At Lake Printing, we take promoting your company very seriously, and because of that, we're giving you a few ideas on ways you can promote your business this holiday season! Holiday Parades Tis the season for parades, and with parades come floats! Take advantage of this great time of year to promote your company through driving through a parade. There are a few things you'll need to do ahead of time, though, in order to get yourself ready for the event. Every good float needs a banner so that everyone will know who you are. At Lake Printing, we provide the best banners at the Lake of the Ozarks . They come in ma...

Business Banners and Why They Matter

Image
There are many ways to advertise your business, from social media, the radio, television, and print materials. There is one way, however, that can make a huge difference in your company - banners. Vinyl banners may not come to mind as a great way to advertise, but we'd like to submit a few reasons why banners can influence your advertising efforts for the better. Bright & Bold Colors In the past, vinyl banners were a solid color in the background, and then vinyl letters were cut out of a machine and you had limited fonts and shapes to convey the message. That's a far cry from what you can do now with vinyl banners because we provide full-color banners at the Lake of the Ozarks that will help you speak the message you need. There are no limitations on the number of colors, and you can even go as far as using bright colors to show your customers how wonderful your business is. Durability Vinyl banners are made from a high-quality vinyl that can stand up ...

Making GREAT First Impressions with Business Cards

Image
If you thought that your business card was just a way to pass along information - think again! While they were created to serve this purpose, they also are your best way to make a great first impression on a potential customer or client. At Lake Printing, we love to take your basic contact information, and create something truly unique that capture the attention and help convince your potential client(s) that YOU are the best connection out there. Here are a few things you can keep in mind as you make great first impressions with you business cards. Keep a Clear Point When someone looks at your business cards, you don't want them to be so overwhelmed by the artistic flair that they miss the whole point of the card. At the same time, you don't want the design to be cookie cutter so that it doesn't stand out. You can find a good balance between stylish and pointed when you hire a graphic designer. They can combine the artistic design your company needs, while still...

5 Reasons Your Graphic Design Matters for Your Small Business

Image
More than anyone, we're sure that you understand how competitive the business market can be - especially in a small town. Small businesses are always looking for the best way to promote their company, a way that will increase their customer base and boost sales. Today we're going to show you five reasons graphic design will matter for your small business and make a huge difference. A Good Design Sells Studies have shown that when you invest in design, it invests in you. Graphic design isn't just the art of making something pretty, it's about making something appealing. No matter what your business, what you're selling, or what you're providing - when you sell yourself with the right design, you can reap the rewards. Your Packaging Can Affect Impression Packaging affects your sales more than you'll ever know. Have you chosen a movie or book based on the cover? They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but we all know that an eye-catching...

Promotional Products for the Holiday Season

Image
It may seem a bit early to start thinking about the holidays, but when you're ordering promotional products to gift to your employees - you should make your list and check it twice! The holiday season will be here before you know it, and you don't want to be rushing at the last minute. At Lake Printing , we help you create promotional products that are specially designed for your company, and for any season too. Here are a few that are perfect for company parties and more! Silver Holiday Ball Ornament Beautiful silver tone plated holiday ball shaped ornament. Flat ornament, not round. A perfect way to thank your loyal customers or employees! Great for holiday parties, customer appreciation, and fundraisers! Power Bank Flashlight Great for charging electronic devices on the go! Works with Apple tablet and iPhone 4 connector, iPhone 5/6, Micro USB connector, Mini USB, Nokia DC2.0 connector. Capacity: 4400MAH or 5200MAH (Samsung) Battery: Lithium-ion Battery Input Voltage...

Why Green Printing Processes Matter

Image
In a day and age where many are trying to make an impact on the earth through their daily living habits - Lake Printing is no different. We have changed the way we work in the past few years, so that we are using products can be recycled and conserving on products that can't. Have you ever wondered why green print processes matter and make a difference? Here are a few really good reasons: You Aren't Just Reducing Your Carbon Footprint While many individuals choose to go green for the sake of reducing the impact they leave on the earth, in the past it also came with a price to pay. Either it was literally a higher price, or you weren't getting as high of quality in your product - that's not how it is any more! When you choose to go with recycled paper or soy ink, you are actually getting a very high quality product that matches if not exceeds the former, while still making a great impact. It's Not Just About the Earth While we do gain a sense of satisf...