As indicated in last month’s edition of The IBS Independent, we’ve just moved offices. It's not far - in fact, it's only a hop, skip and jump away from our old premises. Please update your records to reflect our new address:

IBS Design Resources
Unit 8
12 – 20 Lawrence Drive
Nerang QLD 4211

All our other details will remain the same.

The reason for our move is that we need bigger and better premises for all our new equipment, which is very exciting! This has been a lot of work and we feel we made the transition a very smooth one with no interruptions to our operations.

March is traditionally a good month for the print industry and we’re expecting this month to be no different. Therefore we urge you to prepare yourself now, promote this month’s special offer to your customers and of course, if you need assistance, call us any time on 1800 062 550.

Have a great month,
The team at IBS Design Resources.

Imagine you are in a room crowded full of people, all speaking at once. The volume in the room is rapidly rising, as everyone tries to ensure their message is heard above everyone. Suddenly, one person in the room uses a written message to communicate. Immediately, their companion absorbs the message and responds by writing back. What has been achieved is cut-through.

Rather than suggesting you write everything down, today’s suggested marketing activity is about websites and the capabilities of the online environment. While I am not an expert in this area, I do believe in the power of the internet, particularly in businesses having their own website, even if they’re a ‘one-man band’, as it can achieve cut-through.

There are several benefits to having a website, including:
save money on advertising – a website conveys more information than radio or television advertisements
online stores can make money
it’s easy to change the content - it provides a professional image of your business
save time by providing information online – such as FAQs, sales terms and conditions and problem solving information. This shows your business is thoughtful and helpful in knowing what your customers need
gain exposure to new and global customers - automate your business
increased ability to communicate and serve your customers
save money on sales staff
allows your business to stay ahead of the competition - it’s accessible anytime, anywhere by anyone with the internet
it works for you when you’re not there – by taking messages, making sales and gathering data
allows your customers to research before buying
your business becomes a resource for information – giving credibility and enticing prospects that may otherwise not hear of you
gather data about your customers, including getting details from newsletter subscriptions to advertise directly by post or email

By looking at these benefits you may already be identifying elements that you could or should be including on your own website. Remember that websites do not have to be complicated; a couple of pages outlining your services and products, any special offers or discounts, FAQs, an e-newsletter, perhaps some testimonials or examples of previous work and your contact details will suffice.

To quote a UK web designer, Russell Freeman, “Nobody can guarantee that you will instantly become rich from adding a website to your strategy but not having one guarantees that you lose one possible channel for success.”

I look forward to expanding on this topic when we discuss email marketing.

Gift tags
Nothing screams professionalism more than a company-branded gift tag on a corporate gift. Perfect for smaller businesses that want to make a big impression, gift tags are easy to create, simple to use and incredibly successful at painting a certain impression!

Traditionally, retail businesses such as florists or those selling gourmet hampers would use gift tags on the products they sell. However any type of small business can use gift tags, even on a bottle of wine, to subtly brand the gift. In fact, we’ve heard of a landscaping business using personalised gift tags on fertiliser that he leaves with new customers. Any type of business can copy this idea though; you just need to suggest it to them when they order their business cards!