We all know what a logo is—the symbol or emblem that identifies a company. But why are they so important and how should you be using yours? Read on to find out.

Your Logo, Your Business

A logo is much more than just an image. While it should represent your company identity or symbolise your business ethos in some way, its most critical job is simply to be recognisable and memorable. Let’s make an analogy: if your business were a person, then its name would actually function more like its job title—it’s what you do. Your logo is the name, and we all know how important it is to remember people’s names. Especially as company names within an industry can often sound similar, coming up with a unique logo is important for being recognised and remembered.

Keep in mind that as your business grows, its reach might extend into the international market. Your company can still be recognised by its logo even if its name doesn’t translate. If your target demographic is children, then a logo is even more important, as it will be the only way kids can identify you until they develop literacy skills. A logo’s visual associations can communicate a lot about what your company is about, so create something that is both clear and interesting. You want to peak curiosity as much as understanding.

A Few Famous Logos

Using Your Logo

Your logo should be everywhere your company’s name appears: the sign outside your building, your office door, your mailbox, your parking spot signs—everywhere your business name is in print, your logo should be right beside it. This includes all your printed materials, too, and of course you can come visit us at Spencer Minuteman Press for the best printing services in Melbourne.

From business card printing to post-it notes, we can help you create professional goods that showcase your logo. We’ve written about the importance of swag in our article on recruiting clients, and it is so important to include your logo on those freebies. Even a ball-point pen should have your logo on it! There is no product too insignificant. The point of your logo is to create familiarity with and recognition of your business, so get it out in the public as much as possible! Decals for laptops, buttons that can be pinned on a backpack or jacket, even stickers are a great way for your logo to do a bit of subtle—but powerful—advertising for your company. The bottom line is that you want to use your logo as much as possibly can.

Creating Your Logo

The obvious question here is, How do I create a logo? Well, Spencer Minuteman Press will be back next week with an entire article focusing on that topic, but here are a few questions to consider before you sit down and create your logo:

• What service does your business provide?
• What product does your company make?
• Who is your target demographic?
• Who is your competition, and what do their logos look like?
• What is your company “identity” or “brand”—that is, what do you want to be known for? What values and characteristics are important to you?

Reflect on these over the next week, and don’t forget to stop by to read our comprehensive guide on creating a logo. Find out how Spencer Minuteman Press can help your business reach its full potential!

Looking for work really is a full-time job on its own. You know that Spencer Minuteman Press is the best place for premium business card printing in Melbourne, but did you know we can help you land the job title printed on the front of that card? That’s right—we offer digital printing with a variety of finishing options perfect for printing your résumé. However, before you send your resume to us for printing, you’ll want to make sure that it’s highlighting your qualifications and presenting your skills and experience in the best possible light.

Format

Let’s start with the basics. First of all, your résumé should be as concise as possible. Ideally it will be no more than two pages; busy managers don’t have the time to read anything much longer than that. Second of all, your résumé should include clearly titled sections for education, work experience, certifications, licenses, awards, accomplishments and other information that is relevant to your field.

Next, remember that a résumé is not an essay—you should not be writing paragraphs or even complete sentences; bullet points look tidy and are easy to read. Finally, always save your résumé as a pdf file. As most people apply online these days, you don’t want the formatting you invested time into perfecting to be lost when a different operating system opens your document. A pdf file is secure, so you can ensure potential employers are seeing your résumé exactly as you intended.

Content

We are confident that you know the basics, so we won’t bore you with an itemised list of information to include. The most important thing to keep in mind when writing your résumé is to focus on accomplishments, not job duties. You want to highlight the projects you completed and the products you created, not your day-to-day responsibilities.

Resume Writing Tips

Furthermore, whenever possible be sure to include data. For example, instead of just saying that you are “results-oriented,” specify that you have increased your company’s productivity by 15% in less than a year. Of course, it goes without saying that you must be honest and should be ready to provide evidence if asked. There are tons of articles out there that talk about the importance of including “action-verbs” in your résumé, but the truth is that nouns are what you should focus on. Your skills and achievements should take centre stage.

Leave Out…

Just as important as what you include in your résumé is what you leave out. You should always use your formal given name and not a nickname. Make sure that your email address and Skype name are professional sounding. Ideally, they should include your last name. Don’t fill up your résumé with adjectives, especially generic ones like “really”, “very”, and “highly”. Keep in mind that your potential employer will read the following phrases on every applicant’s résumé: hard-worker, team-player, strong work ethic, problem-solver. You want to stand out from the pack, so if you can’t bear to delete them, make sure to include supporting details as back-up.

Whether you’re looking for your first job or are changing careers, these tips will help you perfect your résumé. You’ll be landing that dream job in no time!

Business is about building relationships, and we all know how much time and hard work goes into any successful relationship. The most important step is also the most difficult one: recruiting clients. So what, exactly, is the best way to hook new customers for your business? Keep reading to learn tips on each of the three steps of recruiting clients and find out how our business—providing the best printing services in the CBD—can help you grow yours.

Get Their Attention

The first step in recruiting clients is getting noticed. The best way to seek out more business is to build name recognition amongst your target audience. Posters, banners, and billboards are all great ways to advertise your business. Make sure your logo or image reflects your company well and is also appealing to potential clients. Another fun way to grab their attention is by displaying balloons with your company information on them or having employees pass out flyers while wearing eye-catching T-shirts.

Balloons Display

If your company is more traditional, a great idea is to recruit clients by sending out brochures in the mail. Again, make sure you clearly communicate what your business is about by choosing appropriate colours, logos, and images. Come on in to Spencer Minuteman Press to see all of the digital printing options we have on offer.

Be Memorable

You want to make sure that potential clients don’t just notice you, they remember you. There are several good ways to make sure your business sticks in the minds of your potential clientele. First of all, it’s important to have a simple logo and catchy business title or slogan. Next, make sure you have an attractive and easy-to-ready business card. Spencer Minuteman Press is your best bet for premium business card printing services in Melbourne, as we have a wide range of options to suit every need and budget.

Lastly, consider handing out swag. Freebies like pens, post-it notes, mugs, or even hats and Frisbees are not only useful and appreciated by potential clients, they will keep them thinking about you each time they reach for something with your company name and logo on it. You’ll be amazed at the variety of printing services we can offer you; come check out the possibilities at Spencer Minuteman Press today!

Follow Through

The last step in recruiting clients is to continue to pursue that relationship after the initial advertisement or introduction takes place. One highly effective way to do this is by sending a thank-you note after meeting with a potential client. Thanking someone for their time and consideration is a courteous and professional touch that is sure to impress.

Don’t forget that we can take care of your business printing needs; we have many options for stationery, envelopes and special finishing touches. If you didn’t spend one on one time with a potential client, then a thank-you note might not be right. Instead, try sending a postcard. It’s more informal but will still show that you are dedicated to service and always ready to go that extra mile.

There are many things you should take into consideration when preparing documents or images for printing, but file format is probably the most important. If you’re not sure where to start then keep reading to find out more about the most common file types for file editing and sharing.

Let’s get down to the tiny details…vectors vs. bitmaps

Bitmaps are images that are stored as minuscule squares of colour called pixels. A vector is an image created by a mathematical equation that produces lines and curves. Not sure if the image you’re using is a bitmap or vector? Here are a few hints:

It’s probably a bitmap if it‘s a photograph or it’s an image that has a white, rectangular border around it. Its file name may end in .gif, .jpeg, .tiff, or .png.

It might be vector-based if it appears cartoonish or technical, if it includes layers of images and/or text or if its file name ends in .eps, .dxf, .dwg, or one of many software-specific file suffixes.

A bitmap image is the best option for photographs. However, these images are difficult to scale because as the picture is enlarged, those tiny pixels start to become visible. Furthermore, bitmap images have to be rectangular, so for images that are another shape, a white border is unavoidable. That makes it difficult to use a bitmap image on something that has a coloured background.

A vector is the best option for working with logos and designs. Because a vector image is a mathematical equation, scaling is a cinch—the equation is simply adjusted to the new size and the image is redrawn from scratch, resulting in a perfectly enlarged image. Vector images support transparency so they can easily layer with other images, backgrounds and text.

Vectors vs Bitmaps

Now that we’ve briefly explained the difference between bitmap and vector images, let’s talk more about different file formats.

File exchange formats

These file formats can be created in many different programs. They can often be generated using an export or save-as command.

PDF: These files have a fixed layout, which means that they will look the same when opened on different operating systems. There are many PDF readers out there, including Adobe Acrobat. PDF is an Adobe format. For the most part, PDF files are secure and cannot be edited or copied.

JPEG: A JPEG or JPG supports 16.7 million different colours, which means even complex photos come out looking great. However, this is not the best file format for images with text or simple shapes, as crisp lines can blur or shift. That’s because it contains built-in file compression that can result in a loss of detail.

GIF: This file format supports transparency, so it’s a great choice for storing an image that will be layered. GIFs can also be animated. However, GIF files are limited to just 256 colours, so it doesn’t store photos well.

PCT: (sometimes called pict): While these once were quite popular, we are seeing these files less and less. A PCT or PICT file is a Macintosh picture image that was created in a drawing program. PCT files can be used for objects or bitmapped images; they can be either bitmaps or vectors.

TIFF: A TIFF, or TIF, file is a great way to store any bitmapped image. TIFF files preserve layers and support transparency, but they can also produce very large files if they don’t have embedded compression. TIFFs tend to be higher quality than JPEGs.

Software-specific formats

Here are just some of the software-specific file formats Spencer Minuteman Press can work with:

• Multiple (compressed)
• Acrobat (pdf)
• CorelDraw
• Excel
• Fonts
• Freehand
• Illustrator
• InDesign
• Pagemaker
• Photoshop
• Powerpoint
• Publisher
• Work
• QuarkXpress

If you need printing services in Melbourne’s CBD, know that we are expert in a variety of file formats. Just call or e-mail to discuss the best format to use for your project.

Some people have a book, two books or more books in them, waiting to be written. The books might be fiction or non-fiction, children’s books or books for grownups. Sure, many people are using e-readers and tablets for reading these days, but in some ways, e-books still can’t compare to real printed books. For example, it’s possible to read to children from a tablet, but the tactility and vividness of big, bright printed pages wins every time.

On a more commercial note, many businesses can benefit from printed employee handbooks, technical and standards manuals and catalogues. Printed references can easily be passed around the office and everyone will feel comfortable using them. Many businesses find that their customers and clients still prefer printed material. Finally, it’s easy to include a printed book as part of a product package or offer one for sale at a bricks-and-mortar shop or marketplace.

Here are three methods we can use to create a book at Minuteman Printing, whether it’s for a personal project or for business use.

Wire Binding

Wire binding is a practical and inexpensive choice. It’s perfect for references like technical manuals, employee handbooks, cookbooks and really any kind of how-to. With wire binding, small holes are punched along the left margin using a machine. Then, a binding wire is inserted to hold the pages together. The biggest advantage of wire binding is that it allows books to lay flat and open to any page without bending or needing to be held in place. The disadvantages are that it’s possible to tear pages out along the binding line and the wire spine can start to float to the top or the bottom. There is also a limit in how long the books can be. Call and ask to find out if wire binding will work for your project.

Wire Binding at Minuteman Press Spencer Street

Comb Binding

Comb binding is similar to wire binding, but it uses a flexible plastic spine with tongs that are guided through square holes on the book’s left margin. Like wire binding, comb binding can’t be used for very long books. However, pages will generally stay open and lay flat. Comb binding is inexpensive and is commonly used for relatively short books with relatively large pages.

Comb Binding at Minuteman Press Spencer Street

Saddle-Stitched Books

When you picture a traditionally bound book, you’re probably thinking of a saddle-stitched spine. However, in the more modern version of the process we use at Minuteman, each sheet of paper is printed with two pages on the front and two pages on the back. Then, the pages are folded and stapled together in the centre. Ask us about the variations on this method and about the number of pages we can accommodate.

Whether you need to print books or manuals for business, for gifts or to sell, give us a call or e-mail and we can discuss your options in paper size, paper type and binding method. We can also help you with layout and graphics, if needed.

You’ve probably already guessed that Minuteman Press can print high quality newsletters for your company or organisation on time and for a reasonable price. We can offer a variety of paper types and formats, as well. Your newsletter can be a simple fold-over, it can be six pages long and double-folded or it can be a stapled or bound booklet. Whatever format you need, of course we can provide it.

One thing you may not have known is that we can do the graphic design and layout for your newsletter, as well. You can send us your articles and illustrations and we can help you find just the right design. Alternatively, talk to us about using your existing template. Whether your newsletter is a new project or an well established tradition, most likely we can help you out. We can provide both print and online versions of the newsletter, too. Talk to us about file formats and delivery methods.

Newsletter Sample

Business Newsletters

Minuteman Press can lay out and print a newsletter for your business. It’s amazing how, even in a reasonably small company, people aren’t always kept informed of the big picture issues. Keep your employees and customers up to date on new products, new projects, new services, company and employee awards and achievements, advertising campaigns, positive press, new techniques and helpful hints. Improve morale by keeping everyone in the loop.

School Newsletters

At every educational level and in every specialisation, there is a great deal that faculty, staff, students and families need to be aware of. A school newsletter can be just the ticket. Educational institutions from pre-schools all the way to universities can benefit from a regular source of news. Start a newsletter for your department or for the whole institution. Announce special lectures, games, exhibitions and performances. Report on student and faculty accolades. Keep everyone aware of official schedules and institutional goals. Build connections and build awareness.

Church Newsletters

Keep the congregation engaged and connected with a monthly or quarterly newsletter. Keep everyone up to date on the hard work being done by your volunteers and all the good causes you’re supporting. Publish biographies of your senior members while they’re still around to answer questions and enjoy the attention. Congratulate parishioners with new marriages and new family members. Throw in a few quotes and words of wisdom for good measure.

Newsletters for Non-Profits and Community Organisations

Keep your volunteers, contributors and clients up to date with a regularly published newsletter. Announce your upcoming events and celebrate your successes. Welcome new members and acknowledge long-time volunteers, innovators and leaders. Provide information on your core mission or area of concern to help spread the passion and inspire positive change.

Whatever type of organisation you’re with, a newsletter can keep everyone informed and up-to-date. It can help to establish trust, cement brand loyalty, improve morale and even articulate vision and values. Communication is important to every kind of group, whether it’s commercial, educational or community-based. A newsletter could be just what you need to keep people informed and engaged. Send us your text and pictures, and you can work with us to create the perfect graphic design.

Everyone knows that large format printers can be used for posters, but they’re good for much more than that. Here, we’ll focus on jobs that use ordinary paper (bond) and simply need more space than is available with any of the standard page sizes. Many people don’t even consider sending projects like these to the printer, but they should. We can do a great job at a very reasonable cost and on a tight schedule.

1. CAD work

CAD stands for “computer aided drafting” or “computer aided design.” Architects and engineers are the most prolific users of CAD software, and their design drawings are typically much larger than a standard page. When they print their drawings, they use plotters, which are fundamentally large, freestanding inkjet printers.

If you’re an architect or an engineer and you need to send out multiple copies of your drawings, then why not send the print work to us rather than doing it yourself? If you’re a designer or a student who’s working independently and you don’t own a plotter, we can print your drawings for you. If your plotter is out of commission, then we can do your emergency printing.

2. Business planning

Are you a business manager or business analyst? Are your org charts and process diagrams too large to fit onto ordinary paper? Would you like to display them or mark them up at a meeting? Then, have us print them onto large format paper. Just send us your charts in a format such as pdf or jpeg and we’ll be good to go.

3. Scientific presentations

Scientists often need to present posters at meetings and conferences, and those posters are often cobbled together out of individual, small printouts or structured as collages. It’s both easier and more professional-looking to arrange your data, your text and your graphics on the computer and then have it all printed out on a single sheet of paper. Best of all, if your poster is lost or damaged, it will be easy to recreate it. If there’s a mistake you want to correct or a change you have to make, then all you need to do is have it re-printed.

4. Legal graphics

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and this can be especially true in court. If you’re a lawyer or an expert witness, then put your facts into a clear, easy to see format that everyone will be able to understand. Clarifications of technical issues lend themselves especially well to large format printing. You can display enlarged photos, charts and drawings to make sure that your points are clear and well supported.

Legal Graphics for Large Format Printing

5. Maps

Does your job sometimes make you wish that you had a war room, you know, with a huge map where you can mark locations of interest with push pins and post-its? Download a map and mark it with the basics: with your locations, with postal codes or with anything else that’s important to your work. Then, have us print it in a large format. You’ll love having the geographic information right in front of you, where you can see distances and visualise strategy.