Our new, redesigned website (www.graphicartsmag.com) is now up and running. You’ll notice several refreshing changes. It now has a much cleaner look and is a lot easier to read. It’s also much easier to navigate because you can go directly to your specific area of interest with just one click. These categories now include News, Profits & Costs, New Products, 3D Printing, Marketing & Sales, Wide Format Printing, Packaging & Flexo, Creative & Design and Special Features. There are also more articles, more special features and several helpful “how-to” stories on key industry topics. We’re also working on a special video section that will include both product and corporate videos.
Congratulations to our long-time webmaster and magazine designer extraordinaire George Dedopoulos, who spent many hours re-creating the site, along with guidance from our online marketing specialist Greg Turner. Also, our website traffic is still climbing and remains about 45% higher than the same period last year, with average unique visitors currently at 15,000 per month. That’s great news for our advertisers!
Drupa, the world’s largest printing industry tradeshow, is being held this year from May 31 to June 10 in Düsseldorf, Germany. We’ll have a team on the show floor and will provide ongoing coverage on our website and a full wrap-up in our July/August issue.
Online marketing packages
As mentioned here last month, we’ve got some bold, new, cost-effective online marketing packages available designed to generate qualified leads. Already, several current and new advertisers are participating. These new online programs are an opportunity to post your videos, case studies, whitepapers, testimonials and special offers on our website, to reach the prospects you want by employing a ‘Lead Magnet’ strategy. If you’d like more information, please read Greg’s explanation and proposal on page 13, or call me at 1-877-513-3999.
Help with your business
This issue is one of the best when it comes to helping you with the business aspects of your printing operation. Our Print Buyers Report on page 16, from our Ryerson University Graphic Communications Management (GCM) team, examines current trends and client needs, and presents strategies a print buyer should consider for future success. Diana Varma, in her Inspired Projects feature on page 22, reviews Ryerson’s recent Business Plan Expo and examines four highly creative business models from the 27 that were presented by fourth-year GCM students. On page 28, Bonny Koabel reveals strategies to reduce employee group benefit costs.
A huge surprise in our June issue
As you’re reading this, we’re working on a striking new front cover for our June issue, specially commissioned and designed, that will likely incorporate spot varnishing, 3D effects, foil stamping and much more. This will be a total team effort between our group and a renowned equipment manufacturer. Without giving too much away, I can promise you that the three-page feature on the printer itself and the technology involved, will be one of our most interesting feature stories to date. And as far as the cover, well, there’s no better way to showcase what a new press can do like seeing and touching the actual printed product it can generate.
As always, stay positive and stay focused.