A new tool allows users to estimate the data privacy risk of using a website based on how it handles their personal tracking data.
Privacy Score has so far analysed 1,461 of the most trafficked websites and ranked them on their collection and use of personal data, scoring them out of 100.
It also shows how many third-party companies may be tracking people via each site. The tool gives points breakdowns for various activities, such as sharing personal data (names, email addresses and phone numbers) deleting data promptly when an account is closed, and notifying users if government agencies request user data.
Major sites such as Google and Twitter have been graded 85 and 95 respectively, reflecting their concerns for users’ rights and privacy. American retailer JC Penney, on the other hand, got just 50 points, and electronics store Target, 48. The average score across all sites graded so far is 71.
Jim Brock, founder of Privacy Score, says, “We show this to websites and the first question they ask is, ‘how do I get my score up?’ We tell them, you have to talk to the people who track on your site and tell them, you need to delete data, and be more explicit about what you do with data.”
Brock says his service is provided “to help solve a big problem for web users: how to understand the privacy risks they take every day online”. Transparency of this kind can only be positive, allowing users to see your trustworthiness, and helping you to show it.
byG. Brown
www.leaflet.ukprint.com
johnny Danquah

Barclays launches mobile payment transfer app

Barclays has launched Pingit, a free mobile app which will allows its customers to send money by keying in the recipient’s mobile number.
The app, available to download for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry handsets, allows users to send money without disclosing their bank account number. Instead, transfers are protected by a five-digit security code set by the user.
People don’t need to download the Pingit app to receive money but they do need to register for Pingit by giving Barclays their mobile number.
Barclays claims transfers will be as safe as normal internet banking ones. It expects the service to be most popular among friends and family sending money, as well as sole traders receiving payment for services.
Discussing the marketing campaign behind the app, Guy Herrington, interim marketing director for Barclays UK retail and business banking, said: “Barclays Pingit is a fantastic proposition that, by its nature, lends itself to the social and digital spaces driving word-of-mouth recommendations and viral growth.”
Industry analysts believe Barclays’ entry into the mobile payment market will be followed by the introduction of similar payment solutions from other banks, as well as retailers and big brands.
by G Brown

www.leaflet.ukprint.com
johnny danquah

Work your business card harder

Work your business card harder

Don’t just plonk on a logo and contact details. Think of your cards as a ‘micro brochure’ and follow these tips …

1. Use the reverse – it’s crying out for attention.
2. Pop a map on the back and directions on the back.
3. Ask a direct question that only you can answer.
4. Blast on a picture of your website.
5. Splash up striking images of your product.
6. Highlight some of your killer benefits.
7. Leave them in restaurants and bars.
8. Stick them up on noticeboards in stores.
9. Stick them inside magazines at the dentist.
10. Give two at a time – one for them, one for a friend

by Nick West

Top Tips for Advertising in a Recession

Here’s today’s brief but useful input on your advertising spend which is often (mistakenly) the first item people cut:

1. Don’t stop. As rivals retrench, you’ll gain a greater ’share of voice’ by promoting yourself more. In the recession of the early ’90s, with new car sales in freefall, Renault boosted its profits with the Papa/Nicole Clio ads.
2. Change your focus. Replace gimmicks with a concrete promise of value and reliability. Reassure your customers: show how you can meet their needs.
3. Know your customers. How are they responding to the downturn? What are they spending and, most importantly, what do they want? Your existing customers will look to trusted brands - don’t lose them.
4. Cut through the gloom. Showing the confidence to invest in promoting your brand sends out the message that you’re in it for the long haul.
5. Use your budget wisely. Perhaps swap bigger, longer ads for smaller, more frequent ones to maintain your presence. Try to create word-of-mouth buzz with online activity, from social networking to blogs. And shop around - ad rates should now be more competitive.
6. Measure it. When budgets are tight, your advertising has to do the job. Consider online ads, direct marketing, coupon promotions and point of sale, all of which show tangible results.
7. Keep it going. A recession may be a choppy part of the economic cycle, but the same basic business sense applies. An approach that works during a recession will fare even better when things pick up.

(Courtesy of www.managementtoday.co.uk)

Many people forget that your Business Card is your silent salesperson - it carries on your job, long after you’ve gone home. When the memory of your beautiful face and winning personality begins to fade, only your business card is left to represent you!
Here are some tips:

The bottom line is
Don’t let it harm you – like the thin card in the video which looks like it was run off on a home printer before the breakfast meeting.

Don’t buy cheap cards that look cheap
If you are going to buy cheap cards, buy cheap cards that look expensive. Use at least 350gsm card. Most of our cards are 400gsm.

Let a designer design it
A fabulous quality card with an unprofessional design looks unprofessional. It doesn’t take much time for a good designer to create a really professional design.

Do something different
Work it harder by adding a cut-out shape, a spot varnish (a ’shiny bit’) on the card. Double your selling space with a folding card, use raised print or if you’ve got a reasonable budget, try foil blocking.
visit www.leaflet.ukprint.com
by Nick West

Why Invest In Design?

It makes commercial sense.

We could have chosen to print a big picture of a mighty oak tree and the symbolism of a tiny little acorn. Or we could have written some really lovely things, using fluffy words and clever language. There’s a good chance that would have persuaded you that design is worth investing in. But no. There's a good reason why you should invest in design and it’s measured in one thing. Cold. Hard. Cash.
The Design Council conducted a national survey of firms and identified those where the use of design had made a direct impact on a number of measures, such as competitiveness, market share and turnover. They called these businesses “design alert” and here’s what they found...

Who Do We Design For?

People just like you.

Our clients come from all over the place. Some are big, some are small, some are “extra-medium”. We work with a diverse range of businesses, charities, not-for-profit organisations and individuals. They’ve all got one thing in common. They all have a need — a need to promote an event, an activity or simply themselves. And we help them. Eyes left. See what they say about us.
You’re reading this because we'd like to work with you. You fit our profile. We could make beautiful design together. So what do you say? How about it?

How Much Does Design Cost?

There’s really two questions here.

The first: how much does BAD design cost? The answer is sadly, an awful lot. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. People judge you. If you present yourself well, they’ll trust you. If your marketing looks amateur, you’ll turn them off. They’ll make an instant impression of what you’re like to do business with.
In this economic climate, we all need to make sure we’re not missing out on valuable opportunities, just because we’re putting potential customers off.
The second question: how much does GOOD design cost? That’s a lot more straightforward. Our main Buying Guide is packed with loads of fixed price printing deals. Find the item you’re interested in and look for the little artwork logo next to it. Then simply check the price in our Creative Services and Artwork Package Guide. That’s the starting price we’d expect to charge and will depend on what you’d like to achieve — give us a call to chat through the options.

What Could We Do For You?

Whatever you’d like us to.

Some clients send us their artwork files ready to be checked. Others are happy to write their own copy and organise their own photography — they just send us all the bits electronically and we assemble them, following their detailed design brief.
Some clients have been using the same marketing material for years... and getting the same results. They ask us to take a fresh look at what they’re doing and suggest improvements. Take a look at some of the “before” and “after” shots on the left.

Posted by printing.com

Leaflet Masterclass

Leaflets are so versatile, it’s no surprise so many of our customers find them an essential part of their marketing. Whether they’re being popped through letter boxes, inserted into newspapers, posted out or propped up on the counter – they look great in glorious full colour and are incredibly low cost.
Many things will affect the response you’ll get from your leaflet campaign. Answer these questions and make your leaflets work harder for you:

Who’s Your Target Market?
Who are you trying to reach? Are you selling to consumers or businesses? Where do they live? What industry are they in? What age group? If you can’t answer these questions, you’ll find it a bit trickier to find the right way of targeting your market.

What’s Your Point, Caller?
Presumably you’re investing in marketing to win more business. We do it all the time, so there’s no need to be shy. Think about what makes you different or special. What problem can you solve? What need can you satisfy? What’s your Unique Selling Point – your USP? Why should they buy from you?

What’s In It For Me?
We’ve seen leaflets which are no more than business cards – a name, a number and maybe a list of stuff they do. When you get a leaflet like that, what do you do? Save it or bin it? The most effective leaflets use time-bound offers. Maybe “half price this month”, “free teddy with every quote” or “free consultation during November.” Think really hard about offering an incentive – and the level of it. “5% off” may be enough to get some interest… but what would “25% off” do to the response?

What Do You Want Me To Do?
What’s the next step? You don’t need to close the deal there and then (although, if you can, do it!) Tell them what you want them to do next. “Call now for a free sample”, “Bring this leaflet to…” or “Email us for a quotation.” Spell it out. Make it easy for them to buy from you.

How Will You Reach Me?
There are many ways to get your message out. First or second class post is highly targeted, but quite pricey. Try inserts in a local free newspaper, or pay some local kids to do a leaflet drop. For a more targeted approach try an insert in a magazine read by your target market. Selling crochet saddles? Put an insert into ‘Your Pony Magazine’.

What Will It Look Like?
We’d recommend that you spend at least 30% of your budget on design. Design can mean the difference between success and failure. A badly designed leaflet may do more damage than you think. There’s no such thing as a second impression, so get it right first time. We can help. Design is our business, after all. Talk to us.

When’s The Best Time?
This will depend on what you’re selling, although according to the Direct Marketing Association, October is the prime time for inserts. You’ll probably get a lower response in summer months, since your recipients may be sunning themselves in Benidorm or Barbados. At Christmas, your message will have to work harder to compete with all the others.
Anything Else?
Leaflets are a wonderfully effective marketing tool… when they’re used correctly. We want you to be successful for selfish reasons – you’ll invest more with us if you are. Let us help you succeed – get us involved from the start. And, good luck! by Nick West