Now that counties are opening up we all know it's imperative to get re-engaged with your customer base, safely. One of the most tried and true methods is direct mail. It has always been an important part of any marketing strategy, but even more relevant in this current era of digital overload and social distancing.

Not sure where to start? We have a few tips!

- Direct mail is particularly effective now while people are “working at home” or just returning to the office. They read more and are hungry for outside contact. Direct mail is a perfect way to reach them.

- Align with sales prospects. Because postage is the costly part of a direct mail campaign, businesses should work with their sales team to identify the best candidates to receive a direct mail piece.

- Create a clear call to action. Do you want them to call you for an appointment? Visit the website? Go to a contact form?

- Customize your audience! If you have multiple customer channels, write to each particular segment. What you say to someone in healthcare is different than what you would say to someone in education. Divide your customer list and write the BEST message to the correct audience.

- Personalize your message! Phoenix Media can use variable tags and other information like the client’s name, company name and even sign each letter with your company’s appropriate account executive.

 - Create a follow-up plan. If your sales team has input into who is getting your direct mail piece, make sure they are ready for follow up. Follow up and a call to action for your client is the best way to turn a direct mail campaign into a success!

- Have fun. Be creative. Be bold.  Toothless, boring campaigns won’t get the results you want. Ask yourself the question: “Would I open and read this mailer?”

Here at Phoenix Media, we can print your promotional piece, address each item, sort and remove duplicates from your list and even update mailing addresses if your potential client has moved. For businesses wanting to reach a new potential customer, we can print and mail to every home in a zip code or even a mail route within a zip code. In other words, we can get you re-engaged with your customers on a very tangible level, fast!

If you can imagine it, we can create it and get it into your customers hands.
 
Give us a call to get started.

 

 

I tried to start a hot air ballooning business, but it never took off. 

 

Corny, right? Turns out, jokes like these are good for business, especially when you’re trying to lead a team, a company, an organization or even your kids. The ability to find the funny in your circumstances and make people laugh is an often overlooked but valuable trait.  

 

Humor builds harmony. 

Think of the leaders you’ve followed. Perhaps a coach, teacher, professor or even a peer. Who were you closest to? More than likely, they were the ones who didn’t mind telling a joke or two—or twelve. Using humor in your business and personal communication builds up your rapport among those around you. It helps to make you relatable, engaging and even trustworthy. 

Humor can also help to build connections with people across cultures, languages and age ranges. If it’s used appropriately, humor brings people together and makes you appear as a comfortable, connected and captivating leader. 

 

Humor strengthens your team.

When you’re leading a team and use humor as part of your style, it can have a bonding affect on your team members. First, it relaxes them.  Second, laughing and having fun with one another stimulates a sense of communal culture, establishing team members often as more than just coworkers, but also friends. Use humor in your leadership role and watch as it breaks down barriers between team members, who can then engage, connect and collaborate well with each other. 

 

Humor makes people like you.

Everyone enjoys someone who can make them laugh. Not only does humor help to build your reputation and friendships, but it makes people like you. And when people like you, they’re most likely to support you, more likely to help you out and more likely to follow you in any leadership roles you may take on. It’s not about being the class clown; it’s about finding humor where you can and using it in appropriate ways to make people feel more comfortable. Laughter naturally takes down people’s defenses. 

 

 

Humor puts things in perspective.

Sometimes life can be tough (looking at you, 2020). However, using humor can help destress things sometimes and help people laugh at circumstances that might otherwise feel overwhelming. Case in point: How many quarantine memes have you seen throughout this year? Of course, you want to lead with sensitivity and know the right time to make light of a situation or crack a joke—if you use humor in the wrong situation, you can come across as insensitive. But if you’re smart about it, helping people find the humor in life can be a great quality. 

 

Humor can break the tension.

Last but certainly not least, humor can break the tension in high-stress situations.. Sometimes conflicts may arise both in and out of the workplace, and humor can actually help to diffuse a tense situation. It can act as a “reset” button, help de-stress things and allow everyone to relax and restart on a lighter note. Of course, again, you have to know when the time and situation is right—sometimes humor can be seen as a way to skirt around serious issues, and not all conflicts are laughing matters. But when it’s appropriate, humor can help melt an icy situation and help everyone get in sync again. 

 

If you’re in a leadership position or hoping to be one day, try implementing humor into more of your interactions. Even if you’re not the funniest person in the world, you may discover a witty side that’s able to put people at ease and make people chuckle.

 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, employees are looking for more when it comes to their workday, especially when many are working from home now. Not necessarily more money or more benefits (although those are important), but more fulfillment. It’s normal for an employee to want to know their work matters; to feel valued and like they’re making a difference.

How can your business offer that when your only interaction is through a Zoom meeting? By reinforcing a strong company culture that exceeds the walls of your office. Your culture sets you apart from other employers, either in a good way or maybe not-so-good way. How can you ensure a company culture that has employees (and clients) sticking by you? Here’s five ways.


1. Reestablish your values.
The culture is what defines your company. Within that culture lies your core values; however, unless you’re following through with them, they are worthless. The only thing worse than a company with no values is one where the values are meaningless. Share the things that mean the most to your business with your employees. Show them why these things matter and illustrate how they, as an individual, fit into the mix.


2. Listen to your current employees.
Given the current situation, it’s important to retain the employees you already have. Try sending out staff questionnaires or surveys about the current culture to see how team members are feeling, then (drum roll) listen to what they actually say.

If you prove to your employees that their opinions matter, they will be more likely to stay with the company, enjoy their work and recommend the business to others. Not only that, but the positivity from an employee who feels valued will contribute to a positive company culture overall.


3. Build a team mentality.
It can be so easy for employees to lose motivation, especially while many are in the confines of their own homes for what feels like forever. How can you counteract this? Develop a goal that your entire team can get excited about. Build up the idea of “we’re all in this together” (think High School Musical). You are all part of the same team, with each member doing his or her part towards the ultimate goal.

Every person wants to feel important to the organization. By building up a team mentality for your company, you create a culture of unity and community. From here, you will be able to see who’s a team player and who’s not, by those supporting the company and fellow coworkers.


4. Check on your team.
It can be easy to assume that, since your team is working from home, their workday is a breeze. While some of them may be thriving, there are others that may be struggling. Especially your extroverts. Have regular chats with your team and figure out how they are feeling and be prepared to help with any struggles.

By having regular communication with your team, they will feel that they’re appreciated and cared about. It’s also a great way to stay in touch with everyone while social distancing and working from home are the norm.


5. Have some fun.
You heard that right. Have some fun! While this may look different for every business, don’t be afraid to shake things up a bit every now and then. Now matter what you decide, there is always some way to encourage employees to engage in activities that feel less like work and more like a day off. Whether it’s a virtual happy hour or a Netflix party, a little relaxation can go a long way in building a consistent company culture.

When it comes to furthering your business, there are few things that are more important than the employees who work for it. Hold on to your talented employees and create an employee-friendly environment that is shared between the physical office and the home. Your company culture is your saving grace even during these unusual circumstances, but when your culture thrives, so will your business.

For the last two years, we have been proud to sponsor and table at the Oregon Small Business Fair. We really love this event! It’s a great opportunity for small businesses to network with other businesses and access valuable resources to help start, grow, and sustain your business. In 2017, the OSBF offered the following workshops:

Do you have a stack of holiday postcards that you need to mail out still? Or, maybe you just started a small business and would like to send out some promotional materials to the households within your zip code? Whatever the case may be, at Phoenix Media we understand how difficult it can be to find the time to get to the post office.

Our bulk mailing service is equipped to handle all aspects of your job:

• Class Certification
• Presorting
• Tagging
• Inkjet Addressing
• Delivery to the post office

And the best part is, you don’t even have to leave your home! You can do all of the ordering through our site: phoenixmedia.com

Whether or not you realize it, business cards are one of the most powerful (and economical!) tools you have to market yourself and your business.

Think about it.

Simply put, they represent YOU (or your business). The colors you choose, the design, the size–they’re all reflections of your own personal style and the type of business you’re running.

At Phoenix Media, we feel that it’s important to take advantage of the freedom you have to create your own business card. It’s a first and last impression among your peers and clients. Especially in this economic climate, being able to stand out is crucial to the survival of your business.



Most importantly, business cards are MEMORABLE. Exchanging contact information can get sloppy and phone numbers that are added to a cell phone can often be forgotten about. By handing someone a business card, they’re much more likely to put it in their wallet or purse, which will inevitably make the card more visible.

And, although business cards come rather cheap these days, spending a little extra on them goes a long way. In the words of viral video superstar and pitchman, Joel Bauer, “if it looks like crap, IT IS crap!”