Marketing and Custom Sticker Blog

Business Logo Stickers - 5 Design Tips

2012-01-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

A good promotional sticker for your business or company starts with a good logo. But, having a good logo does not guarantee a strong, identity building promo sticker. There are many factors to consider when transferring your logo to a custom sticker product that best represents and advertises your business or organization. Here are 5 things our designers at Websticker.com consider when preparing logos for custom stickers, decals and labels.

Custom logo, die cut business card sticker

1. Where will the completed logo stickers ideally be applied and how long do they need to stay there? Is the logo for application to a particular product? Cars? Laptops? Shipping boxes? Cell phones? Walls? Gas Pumps? Clothing? Is sticker for a temporary promotion or a long term outdoor labeling and signage?

The answer to this question will help determine the best material, print method and size of the completed logo sticker.

2. How will the logo sticker be distributed? Will the sticker be handed out at trade shows? Sold in stores? Hung as a hangtag on products? Mailed in an envelope with other materials? Or, already be applied to bags, boxes, or products when people receive them?

The answer to this question will help determine size, style and if any added features such as hole punching, shrink wrapping, face slitting, etc. are needed.

3. What other information is needed on the sticker besides the logo? Will the logo stand alone on the sticker or will there also be a URL, slogan or other info? Will there be a coupon, ad or information on the back of the sticker? Will there be multiple stickers grouped on one sheet?

The answers here will again help determine optimal size, shape and style of the sticker and if a special die is needed?

4. Based on the specific logo and answers to above questions, what is the best size, shape and printing method for the sticker? Does the logo fit well in a Websticker stock size/shape? Would the logo sticker work better with or require a custom die cut? Does the logo work on white vinyl or would a clear polyester, brushed chrome, paper or other material be better? Depending on the number of colors and required outdoor lifespan, should the stickers be printed digitally, screen, offset, or flexographically printed?

Answers to these questions will determine the ideal product at the best possible price for specific client needs on each sticker project.

5. What can we adjust or change graphically to improve the overall power and look of the sticker design? Would adding a border help frame the logo? Would changing the color scheme or reversing out logo on solid colored background have more impact? Would using a different material or background colors add perceived value? Is design cluttered? Is everything legible and the most important elements "pop"?

Answering these questions and exploring alternative design/layout options will ensure the final printed sticker meets all needs and is the best identity building marketing tool possible.

At Websticker.com we work closely with clients to answer questions, fine tune designs and review options. We specialize in outdoor quality, identity building logo stickers – your stickers should build awareness, strengthen connections, and encourage word-of-mouth marketing. Our slogan summarizes our mission and hopefully reflects our much deeper desire to personally help each client stand out in the crowd, so remember... Websticker.com - when you want your name to stick.

State Of The Sticker, 2012 - from Jeff Nicholson

2012-01-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

I started the year with a trip to the PPAI Show, the big Promotional Products Tradeshow for distributors, and followed that with a trip to several of the largest sticker production factories in the U.S. I jotted down a few thoughts about our sticker focused business and the state of the sticker world as I traveled.

I was reminded at the PPAI Show in Las Vegas that “stickers” really are a different animal from other promotional products. Most promotional products are used to make an impression on one recipient. Pens, mugs, gift baskets of food, luggage, etc. are items meant to make an impression and be held onto by the individual user. Stickers and labels on the other hand are used as signs and labeling, to “brand” unbranded items and to be stuck in places that make impressions and encourage word-of-mouth to thousands of viewers/users.

Most changes and improvements in the sticker realm involve digital printing. The quality and vividness of outdoor, digitally printed sticker and decals has made huge strides in the last few years. This progress affects the quality and options in regard to short runs, variable data work, and full color (4CP) printing on outdoor quality stickers and decals.

In 2012 there are many more options for custom stickers – more printing methods and more businesses hanging out their “custom sticker” shingle. So, it is more important than ever for buyers to communicate with suppliers what their stickers are being used for and how long they need to last. While outdoor digital printing has come a long way it still doesn’t compare with the quality and long-term durability of screen printing. “Digital printing” is also a fairly ambiguous term covering everything from label sheets run through your desktop printer to the latest industrial, top of the line presses being used by a select few factories. Getting sticker samples, comparing prices, factoring in future needs and being well informed is more important than ever.

At Websticker.com are refocusing our efforts on customer service and quality this year. With all the options available to businesses and consumers looking for “custom stickers” I believe it is more important than ever to communicate more information and personally consult with our clients to assure the best sticker/decal/label product for their needs at the best possible price. We may no longer be at the top of the search engines for certain keywords but we do still have an exceptional customer service team, vast knowledge base of designing, producing and marketing with stickers, and the very best production resources available in the U.S.

I’ve taken a close look at the “latest and greatest” printing methods, and though they may be the best options on some sticker projects, often the high quality of older tried and true methods are still superior. The same can be said, I think, of websites and businesses selling custom stickers – just because there are more options to automate connections and the buying process with clients does not mean this is an improvement on getting customers exactly what they need at the best price. Old school customer service can go a long way. And that, in fact, is how Websticker continues to grow despite a poor economy and increased competition.

Promotional stickers themselves are a marketing medium that is “old school” but still tried and true. There may be nifty new technologies to stay in front of, connect and communicate with prospects but a basic bumper sticker was social media before there was “social media”. Promotional stickers are “posted” by fans, build identity, and start conversations – sound familiar?

I’ll be discussing maximizing the promotional power of your stickers, new digital printing options, and thoughts on stickers as “social media” in future blog posts, but till then… “When you want your name to stick”, I hope I can be of help.

Related:

What is Best Promotional Product?

Digital Printing For Small (short) Run Stickers

Promotional Sticker Design Tips

Three Types Of Marketers - Which One Are You?

2012-01-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

Marketing is a vast field of advertising, communication, sales and relationships. The variations in style and execution are endless. Marketing can not be simplified into any sort of one-size-fits-all programs or plans because every business is different and advertising and marketing techniques continually change. But, I’ll try to simplify things down for you. There really are only three main types of marketers with everyone falling somewhere in between on the overall spectrum. Knowing where you stand on this marketing spectrum can help you move forward and make a world of difference in your sales.

Marketing styles - who's winning and who's losing?

If we think of the population of Marketers on a continuum, the majority are in the This-And-That Marketing category. The unspoken mantra of this type of marketer is “I’m not sure if this is working but I’ll keep trying a bit of ‘this and that’ and hope you buy from me and I can stay in business”. This style is all about not rocking the boat and marketing-by-numbers. Most Marketers do what is expected and easy, covering the bases that everyone else covers – run some ads, have a decent sign, maybe have a website, business cards, brochure, etc.

On the less ethical side of marketing, marketers become more self-centered, or Hit-And-Run. This category of marketers base their business model on the premise that “I’m never going to see these people again so I will do everything I can to extract whatever money I can, now”. The customer almost always ends up feeling ripped off as there are no pricing or ethical guidelines. But, the businesses owner knows that repeat business is highly unlikely and negative reviews or bad word-of-mouth probably are not a factor for future “extractions”. A Hit and Run marketing style may be the most profitable (though immoral) option.

On the extreme, the Hit-And-Run marketer is an outright thief or scammer. As the population increases towards common marketers, you will find high pressure sales people or businesses ignorant of creating a positive relationship and just trying to “make the sale”. Not all marketers on this side of the spectrum are necessarily unethical. They may just follow a short term and self-serving style of marketing their product or service.

Moving the other way from the mainstream marketing style is to have a more positive, relationship based approach, or Group Hug Marketing. This marketing style is all about building communities and relationships. The mantra for Group Hug Marketers is “invite people in, make them comfortable, and do everything possible to meet their needs”. It’s that easy – 1, 2, 3. Well, not exactly.

Looking at a graph of marketing relationships we can see that a transaction where both the marketer and consumer are winners is almost as infrequent as the lose-lose scenario of an imprisoned thief on the far end of the spectrum. But, on the path towards marketing and sales relationships where everybody wins are relationships when the marketer gives up or wastes resources in their quest to “invite people in, make them comfortable and do anything they can to meet their needs”. This is the main reason so many businesses and marketers are comfortable in the murky middle of This & That Marketing – fear of wasted efforts and money in their quest for more customers and better relationships.

What type of marketer are you? If you are reading this article chances are you are a This & That Marketer with a desire to move towards the more exclusive win/win Group Hug scenario. There are definitely ways to help build your customer relationships without breaking the bank. The foundation, of course, to building positive relationships is to listen, care and be genuinely interested in others needs. It doesn’t cost anything! However, without a strong interest and passion for what you do and sell, it won’t matter how much you market and advertise you won’t build win-win relationships.

Another essential factor in fearlessly moving your marketing efforts towards the Group Hug category is to experiment with your advertising, and not be afraid to fail. Stick with marketing and advertising methods for which the effectiveness can be monitored. If something doesn’t work (given a reasonable test period), stop doing it. If it’s working, do more of it and continue to test. Remember, the majority of people are stuck in the This & That approach and not tracking results.

The amount of on-line and off-line marketing options can be quite overwhelming. But, it simply makes no sense to be spending any money on something that is not working (or you’re not sure is working). So, with a new year upon us let’s commit to getting back to the core of successful businesses everywhere – building sincere relationships, cleaning out the closet of questionable advertising and marketing practices, and moving fearlessly forward testing quantifiable marketing and advertising.

Jeff Nicholson is the founder and marketing director of Freely Creative, Inc. and Websticker.com a company that specializes in promoting businesses, organizations, people and ideas with custom printed stickers, decals, labels and magnets. When you want your name to stick - think Websticker.com.

Penzeys Spices Sprinkles Kindness With Stickers

2011-12-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

Penzeys Spices has created some of the largest, most ambitious sticker campaigns we have had the pleasure of helping produce at Websticker.com. Their strategy of using stickers as gifts—not as advertisements—is a perfect example how to enhance product offerings and spread goodwill while strengthening their identity.

One simple, yet powerful, positive sticker message can be seen with the “Kind Heart” sticker which comes as part of their Kind Heart Gift Box. The gift boxes, with four jars of spices, are an inexpensive gift product. Penzeys also has a “Teachers Care” bumper sticker which is part of their Teachers Gift Box. The low cost stickers enhance the value of the gift products while also putting a bit of the Penzeys culture into the receivers hands so they can spread the love (and discover Penzeys on-line catalogue).

Another successful promotion is the “Love People, Cook them tasty food” sticker—a favorite amongst chefs and cooks alike. According to the Penzeys team, "So much good happens when people cook for each other. We like to encourage everyone who cooks to be happy and comfortable with whatever their cooking interests and experiences might be. So we share a simple, yet important message to love the people in your life by cooking them food just the way they like it. The bumper sticker is just a little way to help people remember what's important."

Penzeys also takes advantage of the precious space on the back of the sticker. They print the company logo and encourage visits to their e-commerce website. Plus, by stating that the sticker is removable, and will not damage paint or leave residue, they further promote a positive message and image. Perhaps most importantly, the “damage free” message helps to ensure that their stickers get stuck! There are thousands and thousands of Penzeys stickers being driven around the country today. The stickers aren’t billboards or ads, just messages of kindness, love and cooking that support what their brand is all about.

Penzeys’ positive messaging through promotional stickers should be an inspiration to all of us. Do you have a product that can be enhanced with a simple sticker? Do your fans and best customers have an easy way (promotional sticker) to show their support for your organization and encourage word-of-mouth advertising? Websticker.com is here to help with ideas, designs and production of a custom sticker product that can best spread and build your unique identity.

http://www.websticker.com/maximize-exposure-with-stickers.php

http://www.penzeys.com

*Penzeys Team quotes courtesy of Savvy$hopperToday.com

The Two Most Important Things You Can Do To Improve Your Business and Your Life

2011-12-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions. If something is important to your growth and success why wait for the end of the year? With bad habits the sooner you break them the better. With good habits, they only become habits if you put time aside and do it… then do it again the next day. With that said, I have a resolution I am going to start working on right now. It involves what I think are the two most important habits of successful individuals – reading and writing.

I’m not talking about having the ability to read and write (although obviously that is a helpful prerequisite), I’m talking about the habit of doing the reading and writing consistently. Reading exercises the mind, feeds ideas, builds knowledge and to many can be relaxing. I think it is important to balance reading selections with both work and play – enjoying both the fiction and “fun” reading and the non-fiction and reading related to your professional or business interests. Great ideas often come from unexpected places.

For many, like myself, reading is much easier than writing. At any given time, how much easier is it to pick up a book or a magazine than to sit down and write in a journal, write an article, or just outline thoughts and ideas. I outline and "write" a lot of great stuff in my mind but I lack the habit of consistently writing down thoughts and ideas that later can become interesting blog posts, articles, stories, songs or perhaps are just introspective musings.

The act of writing can be therapeutic in and of itself. I have an incredible amount of respect for writers. Not necessarily published writers or people who write as part of their occupation, but any writer who is in the habit of catching thoughts down on paper (or computer) before they float away. I’ve always believed writing consistently in a journal is the most powerful way to grow as a human being.

So, why have I only written in my journal a couple times in the last month? Why have I failed to capture those deep thoughts or those brilliant song lyrics? I think the answer is simple – I’m a bit disorganized, sometimes lazy and writing is not enough of a habit. It’s not that I don’t know how important, enriching and beneficial writing more would be for me and my business, it’s just that it’s, well… hard. Sound familiar? Just like those New Year’s resolution to eat better, exercise more, quit doing this or start doing that... habits are hard to break and hard to make.

So, my plan (resolution) is to set aside time each morning (before I’m caught up in the minutia of the work day) to write. I won’t specify what that writing will be, perhaps just anything I’m thinking about or working on, but I’ll write with no distractions. Perhaps I can get back on track with my goal of a blog post each week, more articles on stickers and marketing and maybe even one of the book projects I keep meaning to start. I’ll keep reading at night and avoid TV. I know with more reading and writing will come a healthier mind, more great ideas and more success in the different facets of my life.

Will you join me in setting aside more time for reading and writing? Don’t think to big – no need to tackle writing a novel, just write, outline, or revise a little something every day. The more you read and write the easier it will get, the more it will flow, and the healthy habit will grow. So, here’s to a good book, a well-worn journal and our continued success in 2012.

Jeff Nicholson is the owner and marketing director for Freely Creative, Inc. a company focused on marketing with stickers, sticker production, and directing people to appropriate sticker, label and decal resources. Currently he is working on a new sticker website, NedQuest.com, which will be an ongoing sticker design contest, sticker store, and sticker development community. Jeff is also a songwriter and working on improving his overall writing habits.

New Customizable Stickers - Sticker Hands

2011-10-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sticker Hands are positive hand gestures that can be personalized and made to order in any die-cut size using the latest on line digital technology. Designed to discourage road rage and encourage road love, this line of stickers is designed to spread messages of love, peace, hope, hanging loose, rocking on, and more with simple hand gestures. Drivers can express their individuality and positive gestures as loudly or subtly as they choose while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

The development of Sticker Hands was based on 15 years of sticker production records, sticker trends and customer feedback. Bumper stickers and other car stickers can traditionally be very partisan, overly personal or commercial. People display stickers like badges of honor for what they love, what they brake for, what politician they support (or hate), where they live or where they’d rather be. These personal statements can lead to a chuckle, indifference, or on the darker side can lead to road rage. A study done at Colorado State University in 2008 showed that people who displayed stickers and decals on their cars were 16% more prone to road rage. The reasons came down to drivers being territorial and most stickers adding to defensiveness about their personal space.

But, all car stickers don’t need to be about the driver’s opinions, preferences and personal space. The most popular car sticker of the past decade is undoubtedly the Euro Sticker. Many drivers prefer the smaller oval shaped decals to larger traditional bumper stickers and the subtle letter abbreviations to the direct screaming of a belief or endorsement. Based on these trends towards stickers on cars being smaller, die-cut and messages becoming more subtle Sticker Hands were developed as a way to send a subtle personal gesture. The stickers can be further personalized and made to the preferred size of who ever is designing, ordering and displaying the sticker gesture.

The stickers were developed at Websticker.com and utilize the technology of StickerYou which allows visitors to build, customize and order single sheet of outdoor quality, vinyl stickers on-line. According to Jeff Nicholson, owner of Websticker, “till now we’ve never seen this level of customization and sticker quality accessible to any internet user for very small quantities of die cut stickers. One customized packed sheet of car stickers in full color is less than $9.”

Jeff added, “we developed StickerHands to not only capitalize on the latest sticker printing technology but to offer a fun, cool sticker option that can be as subtle and personalized as an individual desires. Putting your abbreviations or copy in a ‘thumbs-up hand’, a ‘peace sign hand’ or a ‘rock-on hand’ sticker is just way more cool then a coded oval or a big old school bumper sticker.”

Freely Creative, Inc. may be on to something, as Sticker Hands are starting to appear on car windows & bumpers, skateboards, notebooks and many other locations (some unauthorized) across New England. Whether the trend will catch on like euro stickers, family stickers or traditional bumper stickers remains to be seen.

Check out StickerHands.com

Two Websticker Employees Arrested

2011-10-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Last year one of our Websticker.com employees was hauled away to "jail" and this year two employees did time. The offense... "Having a big heart".

John DeRienzo and Brian Neilson took part in the local MDA Lock-Up to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Between the two of them they raised over $1130. for Jerry's Kids that will support ongoing research and sending kids to a special summer camp.

There were Warrant's for their arrest as well as these great shots of John and Brian behind bars. The only thing missing was a bumper sticker saying "I Did Time For Jerry's Kids". Maybe next year.

At Websticker.com we support many important causes and continue to offer free custom promotional stickers to a worthy cause every month through our Sticking With You Program.

Though John and Brian are now out of jail, and back at their desks working hard to make stickers the best they can be, they'd love to have a few more donations go to MDA. You can support John or support Brian by clicking on their name and going to the Join MDA website. Supporting Jerry's Kids is what it is all about.

New Sticker Fulfillment Options – WeMailStickers.com

2011-10-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

So, you’ve created awesome promotional stickers (hopefully through Websticker.com) and you are doing all the right things to get them out on the streets; handing them out at tradeshows, sending with any mailings, including with products and other guerrilla tactics. But, how do you handle it when people e-mail or call looking for a free sticker?

A new web based company, WeMailStickers.com now makes it super easy to take care of free sticker requests right on your web site. The cost is no more than you doing it yourself but takes away all the hassle and interruption of someone handling it in-house.

According to Colin at WeMailStickers.com “The concept is simple and to the point. Mail some of your stickers to our warehouse, add a code/widget to your website, and We Mail Stickers processes all the requests. The mailing fees are simple and completely transparent. We charge you $0.52 per envelope, which is equivalent to a $0.44 stamp, $0.07 envelope and $0.01 for ink. There are no other fees.”

You can also send more than one item if you have a few stickers, a coupon, or a letter to go along with it. They are super flexible with what they can and are willing to mail and are happy to work with you if you already have a system in place. Don’t forget you can print back copy on some of your stickers for ads, messages, coupons, QR codes if you want to save on printing costs. You could also hold a special sticker giveaway on your site or tie in a sticker giveaway with a new product introduction or special event.

We love this free sticker distribution idea as we are always looking for ways to make it easier to do your job and get more stickers out to anyone who will display them. When producing stickers Websticker would also be happy to send a portion of your freshly printed stickers directly to the WeMailStickers warehouse. I highly recommend all our clients (and any company that understands the power of promotional stickers) check out WeMailStickers.com. If you have questions you can also contact Colin Ruddick in Sales directly at 541-280-9996 or e-mail colin@wemailstickers.com

Stickers for Vermont Flood Recovery

2011-09-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Most people have heard that Vermont was hit hard by the rainy remains of Hurricane Irene. The outpouring of support, benefit shows, cleanup labor, and people opening their homes, hearts, and wallets has been inspiring. There is still a lot of work to do. If you are interested in helping there is a guide to what you can do Here.

I'd like to thank all the Websticker.com clients and customers who called to see how we got through the disaster. We were lucky in Stowe and had limited flooding and damage. I'd especially like to thanks Chris Bucci at HeartSticker.com for literally giving back. We print stickers for Heartsticker and when Chris heard about the troubles in VT he packed a box with stickers, t-shirts and pins and sent them back to us to sell for flood relief fundraising and giving to volunteers. We handed the materials on to a local FEMA office. Check out Heartsticker.com - Chris is someone who's heart really is in the right place and he's got a lot of great products for you to show where your heart is.

At Websticker.com we have tried to do our part in the best way we know how, making custom stickers. We are producing any stickers that benefit flood recovery or any farmers or businesses effected by the floods at our cost as well as some sticker jobs for free through our Sticking With You Program. Stickers are making a difference! Let us know if we can help you in any way and thanks for your support of Vermont and everyone effected by natural disasters.

Do You Want Fries With That Custom Sticker?

2011-09-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

We often assume that when you hire an "expert" in a certain field that the work will come at a premium price. After all they are the best at what they do, they have specialized equipment, they are in demand... they must cost more. In some cases this is true but often it is far from the truth.

We recently bid out a project at my house - we needed a fence built, trees removed, some driveway work, some wood cut and moved and other assorted groundskeeping tasks. I was very tempted to hire a capable friends business who could do all of these projects with his hard working crew. But out of interest for other opinions (and frugality) I got separate estimates from a fence builder, a professional tree service, and a gravel road contractor. All the prices from the specialized services came in well below my friend's estimates for the different tasks needed.

The fence done by Gallup Brook is now complete (and is awesome), and came in below the estimate, despite them taking down a few trees along the way themselves. When the tree service comes in that project will be easier or can be expanded to include some additional work. The thing we often forget about specialized services is how much more focused and efficient they can be. No need to rent equipment or figure out how to use something. No down time coordinating extra workers - just attacking the job that you do every day and getting it done well.

In our sticker business we often get asked; "do you guys do t-shirts?" or "can you do my business cards?". Our reply is usually "unless it's a sticker business card or a sticker with a t-shirt on it, no" and we'll try to direct them to someone else that can help. At Websticker.com we focus on things that stick (stickers, decals, magnets, labels). Over the last 20 years we have been able to focus on improving our systems, our design and the value of our finished products. We have had opportunities to sell other promotional items and other design services but we've made the choice to stay focussed and do one thing (stickers) extremely well. Does dealing with the sticker experts cost more? No. Just like the fence maker who cranked out a beautiful fence on our property, we add value-added services (like design and marketing), work efficiently with the best factories and equipment, and use our years of experience to get the best product for our customer's needs at the best value.

So, remember, you don't always get what you pay for and often the best value is in using the most experienced and niche focussed expert for a given job. Of course reputation, recommendations and reviews are always important as there are many self proclaimed "experts" and "specialists" that may cause more damage than just being a bad value. Do your homework, check your references but don't be afraid to spend money with the most reputable and knowledgeable experts - that is probably your best value over the long run.

The Sticker Mobile Is Born - Now That's a Promotional Vehicle!

2011-08-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our new Freely Creative/Websticker.com company car. We're "adding fun to the fun" by creating the ultimate "promotional vehicle". To kick things off, we applied almost 300 stickers produced for clients this last year, to the Sticker Mobile hood. Then we went to the back bumper and trunk and added 200 more. The roof is next!.

In past years we have mailed Thank You Postcards to our clients highlighting the best stickers from the previous year. After over 15 years it seemed time to reach beyond a limited postcard mailing list and showcase our stickers to our community and beyond. We don't just design and produce promotional stickers, we're making them part of a larger work of art, creating a buzz and having a great time doing it.

If you're not a client of Websticker.com, it's easy to join in the fun and harness the promotional power of stickers. Just contact Websticker with any sticker related questions, for comparative pricing, or if you need help designing/developing a powerful sticker campaign. Remember, any ideas (or businesses) worth spreading are stickers worth making! And, as an added benefit we will feature them on The Sticker Mobile.

Let's keep those stickers rolling and promoting! Have a great end to your summer. Want to keep up with news, stories and the development of the Sticker Mobile? Follow us on Facebook and subscribe to this Blog.

It's A Perfect Day... For Stickers

2011-07-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

We see hundreds of sticker ideas come through Websticker.com but none had been used for a wedding proposal till now. The folks over at It's a Perfect Day developed a sticker with a dry erasable surface to fill in what it is a perfect day for. Danielle, a Websticker.com employee arrived home to find a different kind of custom sticker proposal.

We love when people follow their dreams and produce products "full of inspiration and positivity". Interestingly enough, Satya (the founder of It's a Perfect Day) had his epiphany to make major changes in his life after seeing a refrigerator magnet that read "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life". I'm constantly touting the power of promotional stickers for businesses but it's awesome that stickers and magnets also work on an individual level changing lives and spreading positive messages.

Congratulations to Danielle on her wedding engagement, and to Satya for following his dreams and creating products that help people think positively and spread the love.

Check out the products at It's a Perfect Day and remember as their slogan says everyday is perfect for something™

Covering Things With Stickers is Cool

2011-06-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Owning a sticker company for over 20 years means having a lot of cool stickers lying around. Often these stickers end up decorating wastebaskets in the bathroom or becoming personalized wall art. We even custom made a hat and tie. But my dream has always been to create an outrageous, eye catching sticker mobile. We reserved the URL StickerMobile.com years ago but still have yet to find the right car and right time to really go for it. I'm not talking about "wrapping" a car but completely covering it with individual stickers.

The idea often pops up again when I see other cars covered in interesting ways with stickers. My most recent desire to have a sticker mobile was fueled by this blog post about a special new 2012 VW Beetle made by CFC in Germany. Now, this is done as a wrap job with the images of stickers digitally printed on larger vinyl sheets. But still, how cool is that? I'm going car shopping again and then breaking out my box filled with all my favorite stickers that have come through the office over the years.

I also note that this sticker trimmed car costs an extra $5000 (according to blog post). If anybody wants to set up an appointment and bring their car in to Websticker.com for an extreme makeover, let me know. I'll do the job for $4500 complete with personalized stickers and art to make the sticker mobile completely yours. I'll even throw in the StickerMobile.com URL for an extra $1000. Secure a few sponsors and affiliate partners and you've got yourself a new sticker business ripe for PR and social marketing success.

Stickers For Camp Trunks and Other Summer Gear

2011-06-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when kids will be heading off to camp. And the coolest camp trunks are always the ones decked out with stickers and decals. A couple years ago I did this video of my son preparing his trunk for the trip to camp. Of course, it might not just be a trunk you want to customize with stickers - you may want to do a bike, helmet, skateboard, tacklebox or any other essential summer equipment.

A couple years ago I did not recommend an awesome place to get small quantities of custom stickers so I just plugged our Websticker.com site. But this site does nothing to help kids plaster their trunks and equipment with cool stickers in the short run (unless you're the son of the owner). What's needed are limited quantities of a vast array of stickers, personalized if possible. StickerYou is the place. StickerYou allows you to create pages of die cut stickers. You can personalize, adjust sizes, choose from thousands of possibilities and order up a sheet or two of stickers that will make that camp trunk stand out from all others. You can even upload your own designs or pictures and make your own custom stickers. Very Cool!

Check out Sticker You!

Boobies Sticker Saves Life

2011-05-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Feel Your Boobies Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit organization) gives away thousands of free stickers as part of its ‘reminder campaign’ to encourage young women to give self breast exams to detect cancer. Many of the stickers have directly resulted in early detection of breast cancer and have saved lives.

Nicole, age 28 from Atlanta Georgia, shared her story, “I went to pick up my friend Kate and she saw the Feel Your Boobies stickers on the back of my car. She thought they were funny but said she would do a self-exam when she got home later that day. Kate called me two days later, crying, and said she found a lump and had it confirmed on a mammogram. She was only 27 and we were both scared. We have been friends since we were kids and I couldn’t stand the thought of not having her in my life. The biopsy showed that she had stage-two breast cancer and that in another two months it may have been too late. She is now on her final round of chemo and doing great! All because of my Boobies stickers, Kate has a second chance.”

To fund its Feel Your Boobies® “reminder program” the foundation relies on donations, funds raised through its product sales and the occasional partnering with corporations. One such company, Websticker.com has been supplying stickers and magnets to the campaign since 2008. This spring, Websticker.com is donating 10,000 stickers to the Spring Free Sticker Campaign.

"Feel Your Boobies® is excited about working with Websticker.com for our Free Sticker Campaign because stickers are a perfect way to reach young women with our life-saving, proactive reminder,” founder Leigh Hurst said. “Our campaign has saved lives! The work we do would not be possible without support from partnerships like this one."

Likewise, Websticker.com owner Jeff Nicholson wholeheartedly supports Feel Your Boobies®. “Stickers are meant to be fun, artistic and thought provoking – that’s how you grab attention, start conversations and build identity for your product or campaign, Nicholson said. “The Feel Your Boobies Campaign is a perfect example of the power a simple sticker can have. When you hear stories of stickers saving lives, the proof of the power of stickers is obvious. My mantra: ‘An idea worth spreading is a sticker worth making’ and Feel Your Boobies® is an idea worth spreading.”

Feel Your Boobies® was founded in 2004 after founder, Leigh Hurst, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. She found her lump simply by “feeling her boobies”, not through a formal breast exam. It originally started as a few fun t-shirts she designed to remind her friends to “feel their boobies”, but she quickly realized that her mission was much larger than t-shirts alone.

Since that realization, the Feel Your Boobies Foundation’s “Are You Doing It? ®” Reminder Campaign has given away nearly 200,000 stickers for free, resulting in many testimonials crediting the stickers with how a woman found their lump.

More Info:

Websticker: Sticking With You Free Sticker Program

Feel Your Boobies Organization

Free Feel Your Boobies Sticker

Niche Sticker Directory Makes Searching Faster and Easier

2011-04-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Search engines cannot do it alone. Search engines can prompt, list, narrow or focus on local results but are not industry experts. Freely Creative, Inc, an organization with a focus on ‘everything stickers’, has launched the niche directory AllAboutStickers.com to support the “sticker” industry by streamlining the search process.

Need stickers, decals or labels?

On Google, there are an overwhelming 220 million search results for the term “stickers” and another 196 million for “labels”. Even when search terms are narrowed the choices are overwhelming and don’t include many sticker sub-categories such as: custom bumper stickers, paper labels, transfer decals, vinyl cut lettering, car wraps, free stickers, sticker collecting, etc. AllAboutStickers.com was developed as a one-stop directory narrowing the search for “stickers” or “decals” so people don’t have to dig through results or understand all the industry-specific terminology.

Though directories exist for many industries, not all are put together by industry experts and often are cluttered attempts at compiling as many links as possible and selling ads. AllAboutStickers.com is nicely designed and easy to maneuver. It efficiently assists searchers in determining what it is they really want and then directs them to the appropriate resource. AllAboutStickers.com lists companies based on product offerings, reputation in the industry, tested products, price and quality - information not readily available in a basic on-line search.

If visitors can’t find what they are looking for - a quick click from any page connects them to a real person for referrals, quotes or advice.

One company listed in the directory is Websticker.com, a custom sticker designer/supplier. According to owner Jeff Nicholson, their site is entered each month via 300-400 different keyword combinations. He adds, “We find that people don’t necessarily know the proper search terms as the language is vast for stickers, decals and labels. Or, they are uncertain exactly what product they actually need. Being listed in this Directory greatly improves the quality of the inquiries we get and thus, the conversion of visitors to clients. We also recommend the AllAboutStickers.com to customers and visitors all the time to better direct them to sticker products we don’t make or sell. The bottom line is better leads and more sales for Websticker.com, and a better, faster user experience for searchers.”

For more information go to: AllAboutStickers.com

Stickers Raise Cancer Awareness

2011-04-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Over the years, Websticker.com has produced thousands of custom stickers, labels, and magnets for a wide range of campaigns. When we first view the art, the cause can sometimes be difficult to decipher and might require a Google search or a visit to the organization's website to understand what cause the design promotes. In the strongest designs, the cause is obvious and the campaign message is communicated clearly upon first glance at the sticker. Over the last few years, we’ve produced stickers and labels for a campaign with a design that shouts its cause loud and clear: a cartoon tumor with its tongue sticking out and the text “TUMORS SUCK!”

A visit to mAsskickers.org will expand upon the origins of this crusade against tumors. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2005, Eric Galvez started a Facebook page called “TUMORS SUCK” to connect with others in his situation, and as the page grew, he realized that he was relating to people with all sorts of tumors. On the Facebook page people post pictures of the “TUMORS SUCKS” stickers and labels stuck on people, places, and things. As awareness grew, Galvez founded mAss Kickers Foundation in 2008 with the mission to “provide support and motivation to all newly-diagnosed patients, family, and friends affected by tumors or cancer.”

The goals of mAss Kickers Foundation are powerful and admirable. Amongst other things, they strive to “Promote Unity among ALL cancer/tumor types and between patients and their loved ones through a common “pugilistic” attitude". What’s a better way to promote unity 7 days a week, 365 days a year, than with a sticker campaign? The “TUMORS SUCK” stickers fuel awareness by catching people’s eyes and directing them to the mAss Kickers website, which is full of useful articles, profiles of survivors, and special events. There’s also a store when you can purchase stickers and join the movement against tumors. The stickers scream a message that can be verbally challenging to share with the world. If you’ve ever had a tumor, or have been close with someone who has, you can relate to the message and connect to the person who has stuck it out for the world to see.

Boy "Invents" Static Lego Stickers

2011-03-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

I love a good story about someone having a good idea and starting a new business. Especially when stickers and kids are involved. This story has it all; young boy has creative idea for enhancing his Lego creations - entrepreneurial family kicks into gear designing, selling and marketing.

Greyson MacLean
Photo: Angela Peterson

The product is called BrickStix and they are sheets of static decals that can be applied (and removed and reused) on Lego blocks. I wouldn't call this an "invention", but it is a creative new application for an existing product. And we are reminded that there is plenty of inventive uses and potential business ideas using stickers and decals. I've blogged (negatively) about static stickers before - but in this case static stickers were the perfect product solution for what appeared (to an 11 year old) to be an obvious problem.

Read the whole article from the Journal Sentinal Here.

Need Just a Few Custom, Color, Vinyl Stickers?

2011-03-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

At Websticker.com we often hear from people who only need a few custom stickers. I've blogged in the past about where to get small or short run vinyl stickers and decals. There are many options for digitally printed custom vinyl stickers with sign shops and printers but they usually involve minimum charges to make it worth their while. There are options at Cafe Press and Zazzle for one or two custom printed bumper stickers. Cafe Press also has a 3" X 5" oval (euro sticker). But, there's a new Company / Website on the scene that opens up many more options to make a few of your own stickers and decals.

Sticker You has an on-line sticker maker to which you can upload logos and art and layout and design your own stickers on digitally printed vinyl sheets. The big difference and advantage from previous on line sticker making options is that these vinyl stickers can be custom die cut in any shape. The current cost for a sheet of die-cut, full color stickers is $7.99.

StickerYou.com is an exceptional option if you need just a few quality vinyl stickers. The size of the sheet is 10.5" X 9" so as long as your desired sticker(s) are smaller than that you are good to go on bumper stickers, circles, ovals and any custom shaped sticker. For a 2" circle you could get 20 of them on a sheet - that's twenty full color vinyl stickers for only $8. Need forty? Get two sheets for $14.

Sticker You is still adding to and improving their product options, templates, stock art/images and the usability of their on line Sticker Maker but as it stands now this is the best option I've found for small runs of quality color vinyl stickers.

Whether Distributed as Art, Fun or Promotion - Stickers Have Power!

2011-02-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

The slogan for Freely Creative, Inc., the parent company for Websticker.com is "The Power Of Stickers". I like the simplicity of this statement and wholeheartedly believe in its sentiment. I'm in the sticker business because I firmly believe that promotional stickers are one of the most cost effective marketing tools available. As I have often stated over the years, custom stickers build identity, advertise, support and enhance overall marketing programs, and can also make profitable stand alone products.

Mr. Brainwash

Recently I've been digging further into another side of stickers - their role as street art. This of course is also promotion, just of a different sort. Promoting individuals, ideas, causes or just prompting reactions from viewers. I just saw Exit Through The Gift Shop a documentary film produced by Banksy a well known street artist. I do highly recommend this film as a peek into street artist's lives, graffiti and an exploration of the question of what "art" is. Regardless of whether this is a true documentary or "Banksy prank", it still is a great piece of art and entertainment.

My favorite quote in the film regarding stickers and delivered by Shepard Fairey is;

"Even though the Andre the Giant sticker was an inside joke and I was just having fun, I like the idea of the more stickers that are out there, the more important it seems… the more people wanna know what it is, the more they... (talk) and it gains real power from perceived power."

I love it. Whether promoting something, making a joke or starting a worldwide movement, behold, the power of stickers.

Screen or Digital Printing for Outdoor Stickers?

2011-02-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

When it comes to printing promotional stickers for outdoor use there is nothing better than screen printed vinyl. Screen printing provides the thickest layer of ink and provides the most vivid, long lasting outdoor decal.

But, there are situations when screen printing does not make the most economical sense. For full color designs or small quantity runs digital printing on vinyl can be the best option. Today's digital print cut technology by companies such as Roland and Mimaki allow for 4-CP printing and die cutting on small run jobs.

At Websticker.com we now have digital printing capabilities for small quantity runs of quality, full color, die cut, vinyl stickers. A great option, when your sticker size is less than 9” X 10.5” and you need 1-25 stickers, is StickerYou. We’ve set up a Sticker Maker on our site so you can upload art and set up your own sheets of custom stickers. There are still some kinks in this system but it's fun to fool around with and an excellent option when you just need a few durable stickers.

Digital print/cut technology by Roland

When quantities and sizes are a bit larger, we now offer full color digital printing and die-cutting options. You can check out the sizes and quantities of when this becomes a better option than screen or offset printing at this new Digital Price Page.

As always, drop an e-mail, comment on this blog or give me a call if you have sticker related questions or need help with sticker designs or choosing the right product and print method for your project. When you want your name to stick - stick with Websticker.com

Internet Marketing and Roll Labels

2011-02-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

I just heard from a client over at Brick House Fabrics. They buy all their paper roll labels for the business through Websticker.com. I very much appreciate hearing from customers regarding how they are using stickers and labels to help market and sell their products and, of course, wanted to check out what they had to say about us on a Squidoo len's created about Internet Marketing.

Although, I've heard of Squidoo, I can't say I've looked into it before or read a "lens". So, my visit to this article (lens) at Squidoo on Internet Marketing was of great interest. Yes, I'd like to think I know a bit about Facebook and Twitter but selling platforms like Etsy, E-Bay, Bonanza... haven't gone there. Should I? Maybe, maybe not but it certainly is helpful to read other people's stories and realize there are a vast amount of options that can be explored. One size doesn't fit all but when it comes to a rapidly evolving and changing Web and social media, in order to market a business effectively we need to constantly be paying attention, exploring and experimenting or risk being left behind.

So, what do inexpensive paper roll labels have to do with internet marketing? Well, there still needs to be offline marketing pointing people towards an online store, website, and the conversations and information regarding a product or business. Whether you are making stickers or labels for product markings or promotional reasons, you will always want a URL as part of the art layout to point people towards your online offerings. Effective branding should not just promote your name but also your location or a call to action.

Inexpensive custom roll labels (flexographically printed) can be used on packages, mailings, paperwork, invoices, clothing, products... anywhere (other than outdoor locations - screen printed vinyl is best for that) that you want your name (and URL) to stick.

Websticker.com Welcomes Danielle McAllister

2011-01-31T06:42:00.000-08:00

Websticker.com clients may have noticed a different voice on the other end of the phone or signature on their e-mailed quotes and questions. We are very excited Danielle McAllister has joined our Team at Websticker.com. Here is the official Release:

Danielle McAllister

Websticker.com, the Internet division of Freely Creative, Inc., that designs and produces custom promotional stickers for companies and organizations nationwide, has added a new staff member.

Danielle McAllister, who has extensive experience in customer service and leadership roles for such companies as the Hilton, The United Way and others, has been hired to manage Websticker.com’s customer service and email sales.

McAllister grew up in Hyde Park, VT and attended Lamoille Union High School and Green Mountain Technology Center for Business Administration where she received BA Certificates I and II and was elected Vice President of Future Business Leaders of America. McAllister was awarded a Future Business Leaders Scholarship to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina where she earned a degree in Business Administration before returning to Vermont.

Freely Creative, Inc. has been based in Stowe since 1990 and opened the Internet division Websticker.com in 1997. For information: www.websticker.com, 802-253-2011

For those wondering what has become of Brooke Kaltsas who was previously handling these customer service duties (in an exceptional way), she is still with Freely Creative, Inc. and will help start and head a new division of Freely Creative, Inc. Yes, we are expanding and exciting changes, new products and services are right around the corner. Stay tuned.

Sticker Adhesives - Ultra Removable to High Tack

2011-01-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

I've talked before about ongoing misconceptions that bumper stickers may damage cars. The fact is there are not only many different sticker materials and sticker printing methods, there are many different types and strengths of adhesives. Here is a quick run down on commonly used adhesive types at Websticker.com. The type of adhesive (combined with material type) used on any sticker project should reflect the desired longevity, the most common application surface and the desired ease of removability. When ordering custom stickers always inform the manufacturer or distributor of the intended end use.

Static Cling - Static decals do not have any adhesive but utilize static electricity to hold very temporary or movable graphics to the inside of windows or on smooth product surfaces.

Ultra Removable Adhesive - We use it on most bumper stickers, short-term promotions and removable window decals.

Removable Adhesive - Used on many custom bumper stickers, promotional stickers and any job where removing the sticker as one piece with no residue left behind is important to advertiser or end user.

Permanent Adhesive - Equipment stickers, helmet stickers, product decals, signage... permanent adhesives should be used for stickers meant to stay where they are applied for as long as possible.

Rough Surface Adhesive - For moderately rough or textured surfaces this adhesive (together with a flexible vinyl) conforms and molds for stronger adhesion.

High Tack adhesives - Used with special polyester materials this adhesive adds extra grip on smooth, flat surfaces.

For security applications destructible acrylic and tamper-evident polyesters are also available. The materials combined with a permanent adhesive are designed to be either extremely difficult to remove completely due to break up of material or leave "tamper evident" material behind when removed.

Review your specific applications with manufacturer and if the level of adhesion is important to your project make sure you test materials and adhesives. Ask for samples. Different manufacturers may have differing versions of "removable" and "permanent" sticker/decal products. Remember the #1 question that needs to be addressed from a manufacturing/printing stand point is where are the stickers, decals or labels being used and applied. Contact Websticker.com about any custom sticker questions or needs.

Here's a humorous video making the point that different sticker companies can make varying degrees of "removable" bumper stickers.

Cheap, Cheezy Bumper Sticker Book

2011-01-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

Cheap and cheesy notebook sticker from
mis-named, Ultimate Bumper Sticker Book

My son received a gift for Christmas called "The Ultimate Bumper Sticker Book". Great idea - 96 stickers with various sayings (mostly obnoxious) in a convenient tear-out book format. Though I don't mind the content and I'm sure everyone could find something fun they might want to display (my wife especially liked; "TV Is Gooder Than Books") I do have one big problem with this book. They aren't bumper stickers!

To me a bumper sticker is a sticker that can go on, of all places, a bumper... a car... somewhere outside. These stickers are printed in China - on paper. The back of the book states, "put them in your office, in the kitchen, or anywhere you'd like to make a statement". Well, hello... if it's a "bumper sticker" I'd like to make a statement on my car - that's what bumper stickers are for.

It's cheap stickers like these that give true bumper stickers a bad name. This is why people still worry about taking paint off their car, leaving paper and residue behind when they try to remove them, or having the sticker fade and fall apart. Quality, screen printed bumper stickers have been available with removable adhesive for over 40 years but still there are misperceptions - mostly due to cheap over laminated paper stickers like the ones in this book.

Whether buying a bumper sticker to display or ordering custom bumper stickers for your own promotion or retail item make sure they are printed on vinyl with inks that won't fade or chip. The outdoor durability of a sticker should be guaranteed for years. Screen printing is the best print method for a bumper sticker, laying down the thickest coating of ink, but other print methods using long lasting UV inks can work as well. Here at Websticker.com we offer screen printed bumper stickers on vinyl with 3-5 year outdoor durability. "Ultra removable" adhesive is now standard on all stock custom bumper stickers.

Stickers, Stickers and More Stickers

2011-01-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

My New Year's resolution for 2011 is to think, talk and blog about stickers more often. Yes, I already think about stickers a great deal, but this year I'm really going to crank it up a notch. Custom stickers, die cut stickers, bumper stickers, promotional stickers, designing stickers, selling stickers, analyzing stickers, answering questions about stickers, sticking stickers... there's much to do and much to talk about. And I do of course include "labels" and "decals" in my obsession and efforts - after all, they are stickers too.

The State of The Sticker in 2011 is better than ever. Promotional stickers are being used by many companies to link off-line viewers with on line social efforts and sales. The expanded use of 2D barcodes / mobile tags make it easy for the public to point and click their way from a sticker on a store window to a website, video or promotion. Yes, stickers are becoming links to the virtual world but they still are a tried and true guerilla marketing tool affordable to anyone wishing to building a network of fans, maximize exposure and generate buzz off line as well as on.

It's going to be a great year! I look forward to answering your questions, keeping you updated on interesting sticker products, news and marketing tactics. Please give a shout if you have sticker related questions, need referrals or have sticker related news or stories you'd like passed along. Have a fantastic Year.

Let your stickers start the talking,
Jeff
jeff@freelycreative.com

"A picture may say a thousand words, but a sticker can make a thousand impressions"

Sticker Campaign Gone Bad... or Not?

2010-11-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

A series of Blog posts caught my attention this past week. It seems an advertising company stuck fake $25,000 bills on sidewalks around San Francisco as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign. The 4000 decals might have gained the advertiser some media coverage but the Ad agency and their subcontractor had to pay. After the city spent $1700 removing some of the stickers the Ad Agency had to remove the rest and pay the City $45,000.

The question becomes was the fine enough or was this a great deal for the advertiser. What's to keep other advertisers from defacing cities as well if they think the publicity and exposure is worth any possible clean-up costs or fines?

We know stickers are a great, low cost promotional tool but they are at their word-of-mouth promotional best when they are voluntarily displayed by fans and users of a product. They also stay displayed much longer and don't invite possible arrest or fines. There may be great exposure by illegally placing large stickers in front of as many people as possible on public sidewalks and buildings but the bottom line is it's vandalism. I'd like to think there is also damage to the brand in the long run?

I wonder how big these decals were and why they didn't at least use a removable adhesive? Doesn't look like a very good print job either judging by this picture. Though it also looks like it had been walked on quite a bit... making perhaps thousands of impressions to passing pedestrians. $45,000? Maybe they did get off easy? Hopefully it's not the start of more vandal advertising to come.

Here is a link to read more about the story and some of the subsequent chatter and comments:
SFGate - City Insider; Mafia takedown! (well, not the real mafia)

Shepard Fairey And Sticker Promotion

2010-10-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

I just started reading (and attempting to digest the thousands of images) in a new book called Stickers, From Punk Rock To Contemporary Art. There is an introduction by Shepard Fairey which I found of interest. Most of it is based on an essay you can read here. Any one with an interest in the history of stickers, stickers as art, street art or Shepard Fairey will find this of interest. I will get into more thoughts on the "Stickers" book by DB Burkeman in a later post, but for now, I'll just point out some highlights from the Shepard Fairey intro/article/essay.

Shepard Fairey sticker that started it all

As a child Fairey "wanted stickers as badges of my culture" but later wanted to create his own stickers and... "ponder the sticker as a means of expression and communication for an individual, instead of just representing a band, company, or movement". The "Andre the Giant has a posse" stickers started the ball rolling for Fairey in Providence, RI. and "once the first domino fell, I was addicted and had my sights set on world domination with stickers" said Fairey. He hand screen printed and cut over a million stickers between 1989 and '96 before he started using a professional printer.

Here are a few key quotes from Shepard Fairey on stickers relevant to sticker marketing:

"Repetition works, and stickers are a perfect medium to demonstrate the principle."

"People... seem unable to resist the urge to stick them on their belongings, car, stereo, skateboard, guitar, and the list goes on... they manage to make their way into every nook and cranny on the planet"

"stickers are the most effective promotional tool possible for the price"

The once separate worlds of 'stickers for promotion' and 'stickers for expression and art' are merging more than ever. This is not only the result of changing demographics and marketing techniques but also print technology. It is more affordable then ever to print stickers - even low quantities, full color and for long term outdoor use.

Have an idea (or need ideas) for stickers to help with your own "world domination" of an idea, a band, a company, a cause, or just a thought provoking piece of art? Websticker.com can help or point you towards someone that can.

Too Many Stickers On Laptops

2010-09-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

On this Blog I've waxed on and on about the power of promotional stickers. Usually, I am talking about handing out (or distributing) stickers - allowing people aligned with your company products or ideals a way to show their allegiance. People, freely choosing to display a companies promotional sticker will always be better marketers and supporters.

But as I've been reminded of in a series of recent blogs/articles about stickers on Windows Laptops, sometimes promotional stickers are not presented or displayed by choice. Like a roadside billboard, a magazine ad, or an on-line pop up ad, sometimes a sticker is there just because someone paid big money to put it there.

Obviously a sticker is more effective when it is displayed out of love and loyalty as opposed to ad dollars. Apple does not put stickers on their laptops preferring to give people just what they paid for - a sleek, clean, stylish computer. Do we really need to be reminded what's "inside" every time we open our computer? As David Pogue wrote on his blog, "it’s like buying a new, luxury car — and discovering that it comes with non-removable bumper stickers that promote the motor oil, the floor mat maker, the windshield-fluid company and the pine tree air freshener you have no intention of ever using"

Yes, with a bit of effort the stickers (and their adhesive gunk) can be removed. But should this really be necessary? Is it really worth the promotional value for these companies (Windows, Intel, Skype, etc.) to degrade the look of a laptop some one just paid good money for?

A.M.D. is even trying to capitalize on peoples distaste for the added sticky graphics on laptops by discussing eliminating their stickers from laptops or utilizing removable adhesive so they can be easily removed. But let's face it, AMD doesn't want you to remove their sticker and they are probably only fanning the flames on this issue because they are getting good PR out of it.

If you use stickers for promotional purposes this may be a good time to review a few basic questions:

• Does your sticker or label add to or detract from the perceived value of the product it is stuck on?

• If you are paying for distribution or exposure of your sticker/brand, is the presentation clean and in keeping with the identity you want to present?

• Are there more ways to encourage voluntary sticker displaying - keeping your promotional stickers as endorsements instead of a paid "ads". Endorsements will create much more word-of-mouth marketing.

• Could your sticker be a different style or design that could add to perceived value and/or feel like less of a billboard? Perhaps doming, a smaller size, holographic, textured plastic or other styles could blend better with products or surroundings.

Perhaps, with more forethought fewer stickers would be removed... or would be left on, but hated? Perhaps promotional stickers should be offered to customers to apply at their discretion - by their own choice - not glued in front of them as an advertisement. At Websticker.com we work every day to help clients create promotional stickers that are displayed by choice, encourage word-of-mouth marketing, and build identity.

Related Articles and Posts:

Laptops Look Like Race Cars - And Not In A Good Way

AMD doesn't like stickers on notebooks - Intel stickers that is

Using Custom Laptop Stickers For Advertising

Maximizing The Power Of Promotional Stickers

Printed Bumper Stickers - Screen Printing Still Best

2010-09-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

There are a number of different methods used for printing bumper stickers. A bumper sticker can be digitally printed, flexographically printed, offset printed, or printed in a number of other ways and overlaminated to lengthen outdoor life. It may not be the newest or most high-tech method but screen printing is still the most vivid and longest lasting way to print bumper stickers. Why? Put simply screen printing lays down the thickest coating of ink.

Here is a recent video that John at Websticker.com put together to give you an inside peek into a large scale screen printing operation. Not all manufacturers use this method for bumper sticker production and not all screen printers are using the same presses, materials and inks but this will give you an idea of how the screen printing process works.

Other print methods may be more appropriate for small runs, full color stickers, variable data, indoor products, etc. but for larger quantity, spot color, outdoor bumper stickers, screen printing is still the best value and print quality. What is best for your project? Contact a company like Websticker.com that has access to all the top print methods and a sincere interest in getting you into the most economical and best quality sticker product to fit your needs.

"Cheap and Custom Stickers Are Purposeful"... Huh?

2010-08-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today I was reading a daily run-down from Google Alerts for the term "custom stickers" in the news on-line. I follow certain keywords in my industry to keep up with what's happening, who's claiming what, what's creating a buzz, etc. I was reminded of two important marketing insights I'd like to share with you.

First of all, everyone should be using Google Alerts or a similar service to keep abreast of what's being said about their specific industry and the keywords that matter to their business and marketing efforts. Secondly, whether it's free or not, putting out press releases stuffed with keywords and having no value at all to a reader is silly and counter productive.

Here are some headlines from the last couple days I received in my e-mail updates from Google Alerts and Social Mention (a similar service but for social media): "Cheap and Custom Stickers Are Purposeful Products"; "Vinyl Sticker Printing Makes a Big Difference", "Sticker Printing Provides Good Items To Attract Your Attention", High Demand of Funny Car, Custom; Die-Cut Stickers", "Stickers Efficiently Fulfill Your Modern Day Needs / Cheap".

All but the first of these links resulted in an error message or went to a advertising stuffed site having nothing to do with "custom stickers" or "sticker printing". This is a side effect of these update services in that you need to sort through a lot of junk. The first headline links to a press release offered by a printer, software developer, and SEO company. To me, they've just raised a huge red flag on using any of their services. Perhaps software they developed automatically wrote the press release? Yes, maybe their site and services are legit but they lost all credibility in my book when they put out a press release with ridiculous copy like; "One of the most implausible aspects of full color gummy stickers is that they have their four properties which are typically known as exclusive concepts, succinct contents, startling designs and perfect quality prints." Huh? That's just worthless blather.

Remember, keep the copy on your web site, on your blog, in your press releases and in your social media posts real and of value to customers and prospects. Marketing is about building relationships and offering information and products of value that help solve problems. Everything you write and present to the on-line world reflects on your identity and ability to take care of customers. And if you are looking for custom stickers make sure you review what other services the company offers and whether their pitch feels honest, sincere or even from an actual person. I know one company I won't be using for SEO (search engine optimization)... or any printing services. But, I thank them for reminding me to only write press releases, send e-mails, and post to this blog if I have something of value to share with customers and prospects.

Promotional Magnets... or Stickers?

2010-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

When is it appropriate to order magnets instead of stickers for promotional reasons? Due to higher prices and more limited display options, my answer would be “not often”. But, whether an outdoor car magnet or an indoor fridge magnet there are times when promotional magnets are a good promotional option.

Car signage magnets are appropriate when that signage needs to be temporary, moved, or reused. Perhaps a vehicle is only used part time for business reasons and the rest of the time needs (or owner wants) it to look clean. Perhaps magnets are moved to different vehicles occasionally or put on a rental car. But if vehicle is mainly used for business, more powerful and professional looking graphics using stickers, vinyl decals and wraps are always a better option.

As far as smaller promotional magnets for customer vehicles I think a custom sticker or decal is always a better option. Why pay more to have a medium that isn’t displayed as long on cars and can’t find it’s way to other surfaces like windows, snowboards, notebooks, etc? I discussed this a bit in regard to static stickers in an earlier blog post – with the availability of removable adhesives it doesn’t make economic sense to use a promotional product which costs more and has less visibility.

Indoor, promotional fridge magnets are another story. Fridge magnets make sense for businesses or people that want to be… on the fridge. Save The Date Magnets for weddings and special events, pizza or food delivery services, diet or nutrition information or resources, magnet photo frames, emergency phone numbers, sports schedule and calendar magnets… these all make sense to keep in front of people when they are in their kitchen (often a hub of the house). But for many businesses it may not be appropriate to try and claim space on a customers fridge door - for them money will simply be wasted as the magnets won’t be useful or entertaining and therefore won’t be displayed.

As with all promotional products, one size/product does not fit all. The key is utilizing a product that is useful to your target market or offering your logo/message in a format that your customers are most likely to display where others can see it. Promotional magnets have their place for certain vehicle situations or businesses targeting people in a kitchen setting but for the majority of businesses there are other options worth considering to maximize visibility and impressions.

The Truth About Bumper Stickers

2010-07-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

I just read an article about a lecture given by Yale Professor and Author Stephen Carter. The article was entitled “Books, Not Bumper Stickers”. Like many people, Mr. Carter can’t stand bumper stickers. His main issue seems to be with bumper stickers reducing complex issues into “cute little slogans” and damaging democracy. According to the article, “the bumper sticker phenomenon not only denied the complexity of issues, it denied that reasonable people might differ, and undermined serious debate. The real essence of democracy, he said, was not the right to vote, but the practice of deliberation and debate, conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect.” What we need according to Stephen Carter is more books. What books offer that bumper stickers can not is “heft, weight… that you can hold in your hand… ideas need space”.

I agree that traditional bumper stickers are often oversimplified and advertise more about the person displaying them then they do about specific issues. But, bumper stickers can encourage debate and more complex thoughts. And if books are the place to give ideas more space and spur deeper thought and discussion then a serious book on bumper stickers is just the place to dig in a bit deeper on bumper sticker philosophy and what particular bumper stickers say about the displayer, and the world.

I just finished reading If You Can Read This – The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers by Jack Bowen. As far as I know this is the only book written that thoroughly explores bumper sticker wisdom… and bumper sticker ignorance. Hopefully Jack has sent a copy of the book off to Stephen Carter so they can start a dialog. I highly recommend this book for bumper sticker lovers, haters, displayers and no-wayers – though for displayers you may discover your bumper sticker is screaming something to the world other than what you may have intended.

I think the back jacket of If You Can Read This sums the book up quite nicely, so I’ll repeat it here;

Long before blogs and tweets, people were telling the world how they felt through bumper stickers. Even now, whether they’re political or religious, passionate or proud, controversial or corny, these brightly colored, boldly lettered mini manifestos are declarations of who we are, where we stand, and what we’d rather be doing. But as best selling author and noted philosopher Jack Bowen reveals, there’s much more to the pop-culture phenomenon than rolling one-liners—no less, in fact, than a wise, funny, poignant, contentious, and truthful discourse on the human condition.

Jack Bowen does not hold back from sharing his opinion, or the known facts regarding hundreds of popular bumper sticker slogans. He takes on Reality, The Self, Values, God and Religion, Ethics, Politics, and ultimately the Meaning Of Life. This is not a book to read in one sitting - I found it needed to be chewed on and swallowed in small portions for proper digestion. I’ve never taken a philosophy course but feel as though I just finished Philosophy 101 with this book, and it was an excellent introduction. As a producer of bumper stickers I've always enjoyed having a finger on the pulse of what is happening in our nation. Sometimes humorous, sometimes hopeful, sometimes downright scary, bumper stickers say a lot about the people that create them, buy them, and display them. After reading this book, apparently they say more about us than I ever realized.

As Jack points out in the Book introduction (and I’m sure author Stephen Carter would appreciate), “Like a picture, a good bumper sticker may also be worth at least a thousand words, but any important issue merits much more than that.” In today’s society the sticker you choose to put on your car can lead to tickets, being fired, rudely gestured at, and according to one controversial study may even make you more susceptible to road rage (you! not the other guy). May I suggest taking a deep breath, reading If You Can Read This, and engaging others in respectful discussions before sticking that cleverly tailored slogan/opinion on your bumper.

More: Here's a good interview with Jack Bowen about his book.

When Marketing Becomes Littering

2010-06-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Press releases need to be newsworthy. Press releases need an “angle” that catches the eye of a reporter. Every company should be putting out press releases we’re told, and if they are lacking interesting news or an obvious “angle” they should create it. But why? Why add more unnecessary words to the pile of “stories” and “news” on an Editors desk? Most of it ends up in the trash anyway. In the same vein, why add more unnecessary words, bits and content to the Internet. Unlike our own desktops you can’t throw away all the useless information and it just keeps piling up. Yes, some companies (like Google) will profit by helping sort out the valuable from the garbage, but why encourage so much garbage and store it for people at no charge in the first place.

With all the benefits of technology and the Internet in distributing information far and wide often businesses don’t notice the growing littering problem or the fact that they are contributing to it. Anyone, anywhere can now write an article, a press release, a blog, a Tweet, an update on Facebook, an e-mail… and publish it instantly (and free) on-line for the world to see. The quality of the writing and whether anyone is looking for the information doesn’t seem to matter. As a business this communication bonanza can be the equivalent of printing up thousands of ad flyers and throwing them out the window of your car as you drive along the highway. Sure, someone might pick one up off the ground and read it but it’s still littering, and it’s still perceived as garbage.

Websticker.com is a small business and like every other business we’re told we should be Tweeting, writing articles, and distributing press releases. But, we need to consider the value of our time and value of the news and information we want to share. I write this Blog and think it is an excellent exercise for me to consistently research, write and think about our field and products. I also think the Blog is of value to readers and people interested in more information about marketing and promotional stickers. Sometimes my writing may lead to an article idea, Facebook comment, or even a press release. But writing, publishing, e-mailing, talking… for the sake of just keeping our name out there without any new or valuable information is counterproductive in the long run and adds to the clutter of a cluttered Net. Yes, we have a story to tell (everyone should) about who we are and what we can do, but that story can be undermined just as easily as it can be supported by social media, articles and communications.

I have absolutely nothing I need, or you need me, to Tweet right now. I currently don’t have any breaking news or controversial ideas worthy of catching the eye of the press. When I have something of value to say I can do it on this Blog or our website. In my opinion Facebook has made it so easy to connect and “like” stuff they are diluting the overall value of all communications – they are creating more virtual garbage. Facebook and Twitter run the risk that at some point people look around and realize they no longer are more connected with friends, family and communities they are actually standing in a dumping ground of useless information. More badly written press releases and articles piling up on the Internet that no one wants to read creates a similar virtual dumping ground.

So, how do you write and distribute information on-line without adding to the noise and “garbage”? Write as much and as often as you can and publish the best of it on a blog. Use a Facebook Page or similar social network for quicker thoughts, news, and links relevant to your industry. From consistent writing will come ideas for articles worth publishing, press releases of value, and even books. Just don’t force writing out onto the Internet through every available channel for the sake of name “visibility” and search rankings. As has always been the case, you need to create valuable and helpful content to start a relationship and conversation with readers and searchers. Mass producing keyword content that you throw anywhere and everywhere on the Internet is not smart marketing - it’s just littering.

“Rules Are What The Artist Breaks” - Bill Bernbach

2010-06-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I need a bit of marketing and advertising inspiration the easiest thing to do is tap into the philosophy and words of a master. Here are some quotes from Bill Bernback, the founder of Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) ad agency. 7 pages of his quotes can be downloaded at the DDB site. These are a few that caught my eye as I sit here in the middle of the night pondering promotional stickers, my advertising, and marketing truisms. Perhaps some will push you to take a creative look at your current advertising materials? Here's Bill;

“If your advertising goes unnoticed, everything else is academic.”

“It’s not just what you say that stirs people. It’s the way that you say it.”

“Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.”

“Be provocative. But be sure your provocativeness stems from your product. You are NOT right if in your ad you stand a man on his head JUST to get attention. You ARE right if you have him on his head to show how your product keeps things from falling out of his pockets.”

“Playing it safe can be the most dangerous thing in the world, because you’re presenting people with an idea they’ve seen before, and you won’t have impact.”

“The difference between the forget-table and the enduring is artistry.”

“There is practically nothing that is not capable of boring us.”

“To succeed an ad (or a person or product for that matter) must establish its own unique personality, or it will never be noticed.”

“Word of mouth is the best medium of all.”

“Find new symbols, even though in time those symbols will grow old and die. The most freshly sculptured phrase will eventually become a cliché.”

“An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the talent that rubs against it.”

“You’ve got to believe in your product ... you’ve got to believe in your work. Only a deep belief will generate the vitality and energy that give life to your work.”

“If you stand for something, you will always find some people for you and some against you. If you stand for nothing, you will find nobody against you, and nobody for you.”

There are definitely a few quotes and reminders here that can pertain to promotional sticker design and distribution. Your stickers should be provocative, unique and fresh for maximum attention and impact. To turn a sticker idea into magic get help from the right talent. And if you believe in your product and work, get your promotional stickers out there so you can capitalize on word-of-mouth, "the best medium of all".

7 Biggest Mistakes Made Ordering Custom Promotional Sticker

2010-06-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick list of what I view as the most common mistakes people make when buying custom stickers. They are in no particular order of importance, and by no means, the only “mistakes” made.

1) Thinking the stickers will be stuck “everywhere”. We hear this ambitious dream a lot when working with clients at Websticker.com. The first order of concern should be that your promotional stickers are stuck “somewhere” and that the design, size and style is tailored to promote application in certain targeted locations (like cars, or helmets, or lockers, or ?).

2) Not considering how you will distribute the stickers. If you are going to include your sticker in mailings, you wouldn’t want a size that didn’t fit the envelope (or needed to be folded to fit). Costs may go up – effectiveness of presentation may go down. If you are hoping to distribute through partnerships with stores or other businesses you may want to consider back copy printing or coop advertising before going to print. Knowing how most of your stickers will be distributed along with where you want them applied is essential when creating the perfect tailored sticker for your needs.

3) Buying custom stickers from a machine not a person. I think it is important to know who is responsible for the quality, design and delivery of your custom printed product. A real person may have tips on saving money with some simple changes or increasing the power of your promotional sticker with design assistance. It is also easier to trust and form a relationship with a person – someone who you know will take care of problems, questions and future projects.

4) Designing the sticker your self. This ties into #3. Most sticker printers offer design help at no charge – why not get assistance and tips from people that do sticker design everyday and know the medium inside and out? It may be fun to use an on-line design tool or play around with your design vision on your own computer, that’s fine. But, have a professional fine tune and polish off the final design. Promotional stickers (just like advertisements, billboards, logos, brochures, etc.) are reflections of your identity and integral to the power of your overall marketing – make them as effective and professional as possible with available resources and budgets.

5) No guarantees on delivery time and quality. Make sure there’s a written (and verbal) guarantee, especially if a certain quality (e.g. it has to stay stuck “here” for “this long”) or delivery on a certain date (e.g. we leave for a trade show “this day”) is essential. Here's our Websticker.com Guarantee

6) Paying to much, not checking for price breaks. While there is not a lot of haggling or negotiating of prices in the custom sticker printing world, there are factors you should review in order to optimize value. Check prices at more than one company and make sure you’re comparing apples to apples (and that you are also comparing the trust and experience factor for each company). If you have followed my advice in #3 and are dealing with a real person, make sure you find out if any slight changes to size, shape, material, or quantity would alter price. Sometimes going a bit smaller may put you in a different price bracket. Perhaps there is a stock size or product that can be utilized with a few art adjustments? Perhaps you can drastically cut the per piece price by paying just a little more and hitting a quantity price break?

7) Getting wrong quality for job – Going “cheap”. I said that these “mistakes” were in no particular order but this, I believe, is the most important. If you don’t get the sticker product needed to do the job (be it promotion, equipment tagging, temporary advertising, etc) then you are wasting money. If going with the “cheapest price” sacrifices longevity, impact, delivery dates or overall effectiveness, you overpaid. That is why the most important information you can pass along to a printer or supplier is what the stickers will be used for.

Hopefully this quick-list of common mistakes helps you in creating and ordering the perfect promotional sticker for your individual needs. The staff at websticker.com is happy to help recommend products, review designs (or develop new designs) and answer any additional questions you might have. And if you have questions or want immediate help from a “real” person, feel free to pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-802-253-2011 (9-5 eastern time).

Other helpful links:

#1 Question Video

Sticker Design Tips

AllAboutStickers.com

Creative Floor Graphics and Decals Make Powerful Impressions

2010-05-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

I often talk about the low-cost high impact power of promotional stickers for cars – thousands of mini-billboards making impressions on the masses. But, we shouldn't forget that all promotional stickers are not small or printed by the thousands. Thinking "beyond the bumper", floor graphics / decals (and wall decals) can also be used creatively to make very big impressions.

With today’s digital technologies and multiple options for materials and adhesives almost anything is possible. You’ve probably seen busses, trucks, and even buildings covered with full color graphics and scenes, but floor and wall decals don’t need to be that large to have a huge impact. Check out these pictures of a street sticker used to promote Pioneer Suspension. Or, this simple Duracell Sticker used to create the illusion that their batteries were powering an escalator.

Check out this series of themed wall stickers put to work for an employment website creatively pointing out that "life's too short for the wrong job". And, how about this campaign by a South African Ad Agency effectively warning about the effects of drunk driving? These stickers are applied to both wall and floor and very effectively get the point across through realism in well placed locations.

Can you think of any "illusions" for walls or floors that could grab attention about your business or product? Or maybe some giant pictures or graphics that could enhance the theme or fun of your store or office? Floor graphics and decals are available with non-skid surfaces and removable adhesives. Wall decals also have a removable adhesive for temporary campaigns or display. If you need to flush out ideas or check pricing please contact Websticker.com or your ad agency of choice.

Marketing Tip: Read This Book, Free

2010-05-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished an easy to read e-book called The New Profit Rules - 8 Rules You Must Know To Prosper In The New Economy, by Charlie Cook. This is a great book filled with straightforward ideas, examples and "Action Steps" to improve your marketing and increase profits. Oh, and it's free - You can sign-in and download here.

It is amazing how much valuable (yet free) consulting, and thought and idea provoking information is online. Are you taking advantage of it and moving your life and your business forward? Yes, there's a lot of junk out there and often "free" offers are designed to sell something else. That's marketing (and according to Rule #1 in Charlies book "FREE Is The New Business Model). There is no reason not to take advantage of free (or purchased) information and keep steadily moving forward in life and business by finding the blogs, newsletters and books that keep your ideas flowing and knowledge (and profits) growing.

"The key to success, to making it big, no matter what you sell is in taking action right away, trying out proven marketing ideas, and continuing to improve your marketing. Put simply, in this economy and this decade, market leadership and profits will go to those savvy people who apply the right marketing strategies and tools."
- Charlie Cook

Logo Sticker Hall Of Fame – Sugarloaf USA

2010-05-12T01:40:00.000-07:00

There are certain promotional stickers that are recognizable to millions of people – logos that build identity day after day, year after year. In the ski industry, Sugarloaf, a ski mountain/resort in Central Maine has been very effective in spreading their simple logo with promotional stickers for over 50 years. There are Sugarloaf stickers stuck on all seven continents and all over the world. This one sticker design is making an impression on millions and millions of people daily.

So, what’s the secret to this identity-building phenomenon? A long-term identity building campaign built on simplicity and consistency. Here’s a quick plan for others trying to dominate their industry with an enduring promotional sticker:

1) Start with a strong logo that reflects who and what you are. Keep it simple. Incorporate a specific color and shape to enhance overall recognition and impressions.

2) Make thousands of custom (screen printed) stickers every year and distribute them liberally to anyone who wants one (or five).

3) Continue. Don’t change logo. Don’t stop distributing.

Of course, for this to work you need a great, consistent product/service so that there are always enthusiastic people to help spread the word – and the stickers.

For help in creating a promotional logo sticker legend in your area, industry, or the world contact Freely Creative, Inc., a company focused on custom stickers for the action sports industry.

Links of Interest:

Sugarloaf Sticker Photo Page

Article on Sugarloaf Logo and Stickers

Sticker Design Tips

Freely Creative, Inc. - Custom Promotional / Logo Stickers

What Is "The Best" Promotional Product?

2010-05-07T02:49:00.000-07:00

Promotional products and merchandise is an over $18 billion industry. Any product with a logo or advertising message on it can be considered a promotional product. What products are “the best” is open to debate and also, of course, depends on the specific advertiser and their target market.

PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) did a study in 2009 confirming promotional products as a very effective advertising medium. I recommend you review the results of this study as it does provide insight into consumer perceptions of various promotional products. But, it is important to point out that this study really only addresses a one-on-one marketing relationship between the product and the recipient. It is inappropriate to study the effectiveness of pens, calendars and MP3 players in the same way as t-shirts (wearables) and promotional stickers as the impressions of other people and subsequent word-of-mouth marketing are not worked into the equation.

According to the PPIA survey a gift basket of food is the promo product most likely to motivate a particular action; MP3 players, luggage and digital picture frames are most likely to be held onto the longest; And pens have the greatest advertiser/message recall due to usefulness. So, some might say “pens” (followed by calendars and coffee mugs) are “the best promotional products” for the money. And perhaps they are - based on making an impression on one prospect. But, the marketing strength of promotional stickers is in making impressions on thousands of prospects for a fraction of the cost of those other products.

Stickers may not be acknowledged as “useful” or “long-lasting” by the PPIA survey recipients but if you consider the total cost per impression once stickers are applied in visible locations, the potential and value of a well done promotional sticker becomes evident. A promotional fridge magnet may be the best promotional product for a pizza delivery service. A calendar might be best for a travel company. A bank might do well with coffee mugs, pens or picture frames. But as far as building identity and encouraging word-of-mouth, being on vehicles driven around for years is going to maximize exposure. It's not the "best" option for every company, but it is the best promotional value for many businesses and certainly should be considered in your marketing mix.

Helpful resources:

PPIA Research Results

Promotional Stickers - Special Report

Websticker.com - Product List

14 Million Impressions With Stickers And Wraps

2010-04-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, getting data and research on the number of impressions for promotional stickers on vehicles is difficult. But, we can look at some research from a closely related advertising medium, vehicle wraps/graphics, to shed light (and data) on promotional sticker visibility.

A study done by 3M and the American Trucking Assoc. revealed that 91% of people notice words and graphics on trucks and 75% of those people form impressions of the product or company advertised. Wrapped vehicles and large mobile graphics make up to 14 million impressions per year in a metro area. Daily impressions may be 30,000 to 70,000 per day. Another study by the Traffic Audit Bureau estimated 1-4 million impressions monthly on local routes.

Of course the visibility of one small bumper sticker compared to graphics on the side of an 18 wheeler is going to be substantially different. One may not want to spend over $3000. wrapping company vehicles and larger graphics are limited to company owned vehicles or paid campaigns. There are other less costly mobile marketing options like vinyl cut graphics, car/truck magnets, and custom promotional stickers. Each of these mediums can be effective in it's own way under different budget constraints. Here's another bit of research I found stated on Speedgraphics.net, "The average vehicle driven 15,000 miles a year will pass in front of nine million vehicles." That's good news no matter what the size of your car graphics, sticker, or magnet.

While large magnets, wraps, and vinyl cut graphics are an excellent, highly visible option for company and fleet vehicles, promotional stickers are mini billboards that can be spread and displayed by everyone else. The impressions attained by the loud, attention grabbing spectacle of a wrapped company vehicle can be equaled by the versatility and volume of a well designed smaller promotional sticker. There is excellent marketing value from a well structured sticker campaign – lower costs, higher volumes, larger distribution (by volunteers and fans) and less likelihood the promo stickers are perceived as advertisements by the millions of people that see the sticker each year.

Do everything you can to take advantage of powerful unique graphics on your company/fleet vehicles but do not forget that for a very low cost you can turn other peoples vehicles into mobile mini billboards as well. There are many cost effective ways to stick your name and message in front of prospects and the public.

Helpful links:

Custom Vehicle Magnets

Vinyl Cut Graphics

Vehicle Wraps and Large Format Printing

Sticker Design Tips

Marketing Article: Boredom Can Be Good For Business

2010-04-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

“Greed… is good,” said Gordon Gekko in the movie Wallstreet. While that may be the case sometimes in business, it has also become quite clear that greed is often not good. But, I’d like to look at a different aspect of successful business people and write about “boredom”. I say, “Boredom, for lack of a better term, is good”.

Too often in business, government, or daily life boredom is viewed as an evil, unproductive state -- to be avoided at all cost. Governments often need to be seen as “doing something”, regardless of whether it will actually help solve a problem, and businesses are no different. Sometimes the best solution may be to do nothing, to quit, or to head an entirely different direction. Being “super busy” or “working really hard” doesn’t necessarily mean you are headed in a profitable or meaningful direction.

Studies have shown that boredom can be a gateway towards increased creativity and problem solving. There are many articles and studies related to this (Google “benefits of boredom”) but none talk about it from a business perspective. In you or your child’s daily life it may be obvious that filling time with mindless TV, video games and constant Tweets and IMs is not as developmentally productive as reading, playing an instrument, or even staring at the clouds. But, in our everyday work and businesses we can lose sight that similar distractions are hindering our business development and success.

By eliminating distractions and pushing through boredom we can get a clearer picture of where we need to go and creative directions for getting there. Have you ever been on a vacation, a sabbatical or just doing yard work at home or standing in the shower and had a great idea for your business or work place? Often stepping away from a situation or pondering business from a different perspective can produce creative solutions and insight. “Boredom” can be a teacher helping individuals figure out what they really should be doing – helping discover where the passion lies. It is in that self-awareness that in turn the direction of your working life or business is guided.

When you are really, really bored what is it that you wish you were doing? What do you think about? One of the most productive weeks of my life was spent on a Vision Quest sitting in the woods alone, without food and with absolutely nothing to do. When you filter out the noise, the program, the plan, the Man, and the everyday distractions of life and business what is most important? What seems trivial? Where does “boredom” and passion point you?

If you can’t afford or believe you don’t have time to travel or get away from it all, here is a quick, easy exercise you can do to help take a look at whether you are optimizing your work day and business activities. Or whether you are filling time – busy with tasks that keep boredom at bay, perhaps keeping the discovery of your true passion and business “success” at bay as well. Make two lists. Label list one: “What are my negative distractions?” Label list 2: What are my positive distractions?” Then write down whatever comes to mind (TV, need to make money, food, worrying about _____, family, my boss or employees, reading, tennis, etc., etc.) in its appropriate column. You may find that some things belong on both lists, that’s ok... put it all down.

This is a simple brainstorming exercise to help you move forward… or back… or sideways. The goal is to maximize positive distractions, limit negative distractions, and reexamine your handling of distractions that can be either positive or negative. This shifting and examination can lead you to a life better lived and in turn, a more successful organization. It is very healthy, helpful and important to step back (or away) and review what is interesting, meaningful, profitable and possible. And sometimes boredom is just the state of mind to help pull you through to the creative flow of possibilities – to your passion and to your contribution.

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I am currently working, thinking, traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with my family in Florence Italy. I started writing this when I was bored one day and went to the park to sit around.
Jeff Nicholson - Websticker.com

Mobile Tagging With Stickers and Labels – The Ultimate Websticker

2010-04-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

Way back in the mid 90’s when the internet was commercially really getting rolling we registered the URL www.websticker.com and trademarked “websticker”. Our original idea was that businesses would need to update signage, vehicles, paperwork, advertisements, etc. with their new domain names as they were acquired. A “websticker” would be a sticker sign or label pointing people towards specific on-line websites and info. Little did we realize, that less than 15 years later, a “websticker” could do much more then point to or suggest websites – it now can actually be the hyperlink to the content. With mobile tagging (2 dimensional barcodes) anyone can now just point their smart phone at a bar coded sticker or tag and with one click connect to info, specials, video clips, music downloads, buying a product… “virtually” anything.

While this technology has been around for more than 8 years it has only really been prominent in Asia… mostly Japan. Back in 2007 in Japan you could go into a McDonalds, point your phone at your hamburger wrapper and receive nutritional info on your phone. But, the technology has not become mainstream in various countries until software comes standard on cell phones. Delays in the US have been due to smart phones not coming with necessary software already installed.

Mobile tagging is now building up steam in the US on many fronts. 2010 Sprint Smart phones come equipped with the Scanlife Reader and other partnerships are in the works. There are many different types of codes out there and each has its pros and cons for different uses. More information on the different code types and various business uses can be reviewed at Wikipedia here. The QR Code seems to have the most commercial potential and it is what we are starting to see on promotional stickers and in media advertising.

Mobile tags can be used commercially on everything from business cards to billboards. The custom sticker and label applications are two fold for the mobile codes; one, to add codes to existing print media like business cards, products, brochures, posters, media kits, etc., and two, to create a medium to stick the mobile codes on storefronts, vehicles, equipment, and integrate with promotional campaigns.

Try it out... download reading software or create your own 2D bar codes at ScanLife.

Any of the various codes can have logos and graphics incorporated in sticker/label designs as long as a required “quiet space” is respected. For design and campaign ideas for this new 21^st Century Sticker Hyperlink, Websticker.com has the expertise to help further connect you to your prospects and customers with this medium. Whether it’s tagging your products with paper labels that link to more information, or creating virtual outdoor links to video, websites, music, information, etc... Websticker.com can help. "When you want your hyperlink to stick" contact (or point and click your phone on above bar code) Websticker.com.

Best Location on Vehicles For Bumper Stickers?

2010-04-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

I recently got an e-mail from Steve at Steve's Biz Blog wondering about the best placement (to maximize impressions) for a bumper sticker on a car. It seems a colleague involved in a political campaign had gone to a workshop and been told that the best location for a political sticker was the front, driver’s side bumper. Both Steve and I definitely disagree.

As I mentioned before in a post about bumper stickers getting votes, research and data on sticker’s and graphic’s exposure on vehicles is difficult to find. There are just too many variables to accurately quantify the number of impressions for a moving promotional sticker. Besides location on the car; sticker size and design, vehicle type, driving style, roads traveled, places parked, other stickers on car… all are going to play a role in the visibility, legibility and exposure of a sticker.

Common sense would tell us that the best location on a vehicle for a graphic or bumper sticker is where the most eyeballs are apt to be naturally looking for the longest spans of time. To me, the back of the vehicle as close to the average sight line of other drivers and pedestrians is going to be the optimum location. When a vehicle is parked, passed, followed, stopped at light, etc. the visibility is always better from the rear.

So, my final advice for the optimum location for a bumper sticker on a car to maximize visibility is: Top of back window, driver’s side. Results will vary. I welcome others comments, experience and research data on this sticky issue.

Visit Websticker.com for further sticker design tips, considerations, and help producing the most economical and effective promotional stickers possible.

Using Custom Laptop Stickers For Advertising

2010-03-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

I harp constantly on the need to think beyond the bumper when creating promotional stickers. If you are looking to maximize impressions and impact you want stickers that are versatile and can be stuck in any number of locations (indoor and out) - especially where your target market will see them. For ski areas, being on cars is nice but being on helmets and equipment is essential as well. For bands, you want to be on guitar cases, equipment, bathroom walls, etc. (as well as cars). For business to business advertising you ideally want to be on laptop computers.

Don't think that having a promotional sticker on a laptop is worth much? Check out this article about Cameron Herold selling sticker space on his laptop for $2500. a pop. He sold space on his cell phone as well. Obviously, in the right locations displayed by the right person there is a lot of value in putting a logo/sticker in front of a targeted market. I'm not suggesting you sell space on your laptop (though maybe you should consider it if you do a lot of travel and high profile speaking engagements) or that you pay to be on someone else's laptop. What I am recommending is to be aware of the best locations, events, target audiences... and design promotional stickers that have the best chance of showing up, being seen, and being talked about - for free.

Websticker.com recently worked on the creative and design for a sticker for Business Beware. Business Beware helps raise awareness of difficult to please customers, helps resolve payment issues, and offers a location for businesses to not just complain but do something about problem customers. A typical bumper sticker or car sticker would be of absolutely no promotional value in this case. We needed to create a sticker that had the best chance of getting in front of business owners, peeking interest and starting a conversation. So, we went with the custom laptop sticker angle - a small sticker that could go on notebooks, laptops, office equipment... places business folks would likely apply it and other businesses associates would see it.

We didn't just make a sticker of the Business Beware logo, instead we used one of their mantras, "The Customer is Not Always Right" as the main design element to get business owners attention and draw them into the conversation (and the businessbeware.biz website). In my view this promotional sticker will have much more mileage and garner more attention than a larger logo sticker ever could.

For helpful promotional sticker design tips visit our website. I also have a special report; Maximizing the Power Of Promotional Stickers that may be very helpful in helping you fully realize the potential of promotional stickers for advertising. As always, Websticker.com is here to help with creative and design. Spread the word and stick with it!

Most Political Campaign Products Are Not Delivering Votes

2010-03-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

STOWE, Vt., March 20, 2010 – Do a search on-line for “political campaign products” and you’ll get thousands of results. But, open the door to any of these linked resources and take a closer look. You’ll find that most are selling the same products, showcasing the same layouts, and there isn’t a friendly face anywhere in sight to offer assistance. If winning elections and campaigns requires standing out from the crowd and communicating a unique message, then why do so many candidates and campaigns settle for bland, cookie-cutter graphics and products?

According to Jeff Nicholson, owner of Websticker.com the reason for the abundance of generic, outdated looking campaign products is twofold, “Most candidates and organizations don’t realize the true marketing potential of certain custom campaign products and if they do, they mistakenly believe that high level custom design and creative work are financially out of reach. Not all custom campaign products are created equal but at Websticker.com we help separate the good, the blah, and the totally awesome, and offer free design services to maximize effectiveness. It’s unfortunate that many candidates and campaigns are not capitalizing on the full exposure and advertising capabilities of professionally designed and produced promotional products.”

Nicholson adds, “Many people mistakenly still think advertising is all about the number of impressions. In politics, pure name recognition still definitely counts. But, Making a good impression and encouraging word-of-mouth, that’s what can really make the difference in a campaign”.

Marketing and advertising have changed tremendously over the last twenty years. Now, more than ever it is about standing out from the crowd and being talked (tweeted, blogged, commented…) about that creates buzz. People no longer have the patience or attention span to be force fed advertising from strangers. So, what does this mean for Political Campaign Products? How can candidates and campaigns stand out?

According to Nicholson, “Campaigns should focus on the main custom campaign products that generate word-of-mouth (are seen by a lot of people) and are viewed as testimonials, not paid ads. That means yard signs and, the most important, promotional stickers. I don’t say “bumper stickers” because I’d encourage people to think beyond the bumper – beyond the same layout, colors, shape and size as everyone else. Once your identity is established on these two essential products the design components can be utilized on other needed campaign products like banners, lapel stickers, buttons, door knob hangers and other custom political products dictated by what best fits the individual campaign. Give supporters the tools they need to spread the word.”

Websticker.com has a webpage showcasing recommended political campaign products but also recommends you contact them to go over personal goals and needs. They also share many design tips and ideas at their website which can be helpful when contemplating more powerful design layouts for your campaign products.

Freely Creative, Inc. was founded in 1991 and launched its online presence as Websticker.com in 1997. Websticker.com offers free consultations, free design work and top quality products for “When You Want Your Name To Stick”. To learn more and meet the staff, visit http://www.websticker.com

Promotional Sticker Advertising - You Couldn’t Pay Me To Put That On My Car!

2010-03-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

What if someone gave you a car? The only hitch, you’d need to drive it on certain routes, in certain cities, at certain times and it’s totally wrapped with blazing graphics. If you were paid $100. per month, what then would you be willing to display on your own car? Or, what if all your gas was paid for? There are many companies out there doing innovative things with mobile advertising and there's probably plenty of room for more. But, is this the most cost effective use of stickers for marketing? Is this the future of marketing with custom stickers and vinyl graphics? I don’t think so. We don’t really need more locations for ads - we need more locations for referrals and more word-of-mouth advertising from Fans.

In Seth Godin’s book, Idea Virus, (which I’m currently reading on Vook) he states, “We live in a world where consumers actively resist marketing. So, it is imperative to stop marketing at people. The idea is to create an environment where consumers will market to each other.”

Promotional stickers are a very cost effective marketing medium but there is a huge difference between what someone chooses to display on their car and what one is paid to display on their car. Not only will the sizes and styles vary greatly but often one is viewed as a recommendation from a “fan” and fellow traveler and one is viewed… well, as just another in-your-face advertisement. I am fascinated by what people put (or are willing to put) for free on their cars as statements, decorations or for support for an organization, place, or lifestyle. And, where exactly is that line between a sticker advertisement and unsolicited recommendations from loyal, excited fans? How far can you push and encourage (perhaps even bribe a little) volunteers to turn a low cost promotional sticker into a mini-billboard driving sales, traffic, building identity and generating word-of-mouth advertising for your business?

I’ve talked about this question a bit before in a Blog about promotional stickers on employee vehicles. Do all the employees in your company have a logo sticker on their car? What about friends and family? What minimum effort would it take for your company/organization to be getting this low-cost exposure?

I just read about a politician that asked a room full of people something to the effect of, “raise your hand if you would not put my bumper sticker on your car” when no hands were raised he sent his staff out to the parking lot to make sure every car got his political campaign bumper sticker. That’s a bit questionable and thank goodness for removable adhesive, but you get the idea. People (preferably fans) can certainly be encouraged and at a minimum asked to support you by displaying a sticker on their car.

Here’s a quick review of building up person-to-person marketing in your organization:

Step 1: Have a great organization. Be trustworthy. Offer great products and/or services. Be unique – have an identity you can be proud of and that customers/clients/members can latch on too. Have a story worthy of spreading.

Step 2: Give people the means to spread your story. Be active in social media. Make sure your site and ideas can be bookmarked and spread. Make fun, informative videos. Write articles and press releases. But, don't forget inexpensive, high exposure off-line marketing as well including giving people (offer for free, include with all products, send in mailings, etc.) a well-designed promotional sticker.

Step 3: Encourage people to spread the word… the uniqueness… the logo/slogan of your organization. Don’t just put together a Facebook page or have free stickers available at your shop and leave it at that – Offer incentives, have contests, make it worth their while to be part of the conversation and one of the 'people in the know'. Yes, your greatness should suffice in having people want to be associated with you and recommend you to their friends and the world, but most people need a little push.

Step 4: Keep moving forward. Keep innovating. Keep working on your unique story, telling your story and building your “fan” base. Enjoy yourself. Keep reading and listening and learning. Make your business meaningful. Repeat.

There are many effective pieces to today’s marketing puzzle. Promotional stickers are just one piece encouraging consumers to naturally market to each other. Promotional stickers advertise, build identity, and support promotions. Are you maximizing the effectiveness of this low cost marketing tool? Websticker.com / Freely Creative, Inc. is here to help design and produce the most economical and effective stickers possible. The rest is up to you.

The "Coolest" Type of Sticker – Sticker Hang Tags

2010-03-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

At Websticker.com and Freely Creative, Inc. we are often asked “what’s the ‘best’ sticker you’ve produced lately”, or “what’s the funniest…” or “what’s the coolest design”. We print a lot of great, funny and cool stickers and decals and staff opinion (as well as public opinion) will definitely vary depending on who you ask. But, if we needed to agree on what is the coolest “type” or style of sticker we design and produce, we’d have to point towards the Sticker Hang Tag.

Like custom Sticker Postcards and Sticker Business Cards, custom Sticker Hang Tags are special in that they perform multiple functions, are quite versatile and are an exceptional marketing value. They’re not just a sticker – they are a sticker tag that attaches to product, can include sizing, barcodes, and/or information (on back), and they are a convenient size that can later be applied almost anywhere. Building identity and encouraging word-of-mouth advertising is the name of the sticker marketing game and sticker hang tags allow for easy and direct distribution to the people (loyal customers) most likely to display your sticker and spread the good word about your product and company.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when designing and producing custom sticker hang tags:

• Don’t make them too big… but don’t make them too small either. There is an ideal size and shape depending on your product that will limit damage from handling when hanging but not be so small it goes unnoticed later when applied.

• Make sure stickers are screen printed or digitally printed on vinyl for long term outdoor use. The quality of the sticker reflects on the quality of your product and company.

• Make sure the customer knows it’s a sticker. It’s a shame to spend the extra money for an adhesive vinyl sticker but not have the end user know it. A face slit, an arrow and some basic copy like “peel here”, "peel and stick" or “stick it” will do the trick.

• Make sure the hole isn’t too big or too small. A hole size that may work for hanging stickers on a display rod will be too large for the tabs attaching them to clothing. Inform any manufacturer of the specific use and how they will be displayed or attached.

• Follow general sticker design tips to maximize value and exposure. Remember you’re not just creating a hang tag, you're creating an identity building mini-billboard as well.

Though this custom sticker product is most often used in the clothing and apparel market there are creative ways to attach or include promotional stickers with almost any product. Tags don’t always need to “hang”. For information on how you can build identity with custom promotional stickers contact Websticker.com for ideas, designs, information and pricing.

We Can't Do It All, But...

2010-02-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Your business or website most likely targets a specific niche market. People are finding you based on a search for specific products and/or services. We all know that a business can't be all things to all people. Even Amazon, that seems to sell absolutely every product imaginable, does not attempt to warehouse and fulfill all sales themselves. They have affiliates/partners that help out. Even in the case of a niche market that seems quite narrow there will inevitably be products or services not covered where help, partners, and/or referrals are needed.

Take the market niche of designing and printing custom stickers. At Websticker.com and Freely Creative, Inc. we sell custom printed bumper stickers, custom labels, vinyl cut decals, magnets - we attempt to offer every type of printed product that "sticks". But, we can't cover it all and inevitably people find us that are looking for something we don't offer. For instance, it does not fit our printing or sales systems to sell very low quantities (say one or two) of a custom sticker or label, so we have small run resources available to which we can refer those requests. We do not handle slide on transfer type decals; we do not send out free stickers; we do not sell sticker/decal equipment and materials to make your own; and we don't sell specific preprinted sticker products. But, that doesn't mean we can't try to help every single person that contacts us or visits our site by pointing them in the right direction. If we can have recipricle arrangement with other companies/sites for reciprocal leads, links, or affiliate options that perhaps earn us a few bucks, everyone can win.

This is not to say that putting Google Adsense on your site, making a bit of money and calling it good is the way to go. Why would any business (selling a product or service) want to showcase competitors or offer any encouragement or opportunity for someone to click away from their site (before confirming site doesn't have what they need)? At Websticker.com we created an entire directory to help people that might search for stickers, decals, or labels in general search terms. This directory, AllAboutStickers.com, allows us to not only filter out visitors we can't help before they arrive (say, kids in search of free stickers) but also an excellent collection of resources to refer people to. It is of course, important to keep the directory resource fresh, organized and impartial if it is going to have legitimate value for visitors.

The philosophy we go by at Websticker.com is "do everything we can to help the people that contact us, whether it directly helps our bottom line or not". In my opinion, businesses with a culture of helping when ever they can, not worrying about profits, and giving a bit of extra effort whenever possible for customers, visitors, or even confused strangers will be of great benefit in the end to the business, visitors and society as a whole.

10 Tips - Guerrilla Marketing With Promotional Stickers

2010-02-12T02:24:00.000-08:00

I've been saying it for years, but now more then ever, promotional stickers and decals really are a marketing and advertising medium that just can't be ignored. If you have a business, organization or message to promote you can not ignore the power and incredible value of this often overlooked and under-utilized promotional marketing product. "Stickers" aren't just for kids anymore - they're powerful sales and identity building tools that need to be a part of your marketing program.

I recently put an article together called "10 Tips For Guerrilla Marketing With Promotional Stickers". In preparation, I found myself going directly to the Sticker Design Tips page at Websticker.com. There is some great information there and I highly recommend you take a look at the 10 tips which basically constitute a class in Promotional Stickers 101. Covered briefly are these recommendations:

1) Leave enough time to design and order. 2) Think about your purpose in producing promotional stickers. 3) Look around and do some research. 4) Keep it simple! 5) Bigger isn't always better. 6) Consider Die Cutting. 7) Think in reverse. 8) Consider back copy. 9) Making it clear? 10) How sticky do you want it? These are general considerations that can lead to much more powerful and effective sticker marketing and advertising campaigns.

To summarize; review your goals and target market; have a plan for distributing the promotional stickers & decals; and get design / layout assistance (Websticker.com can help for free) to best maximize sticker popularity before, and after, application. If you are considering designing and/or producing promotional stickers I highly recommend you head over to the Websticker.com Tips Page and spend just a few minutes reviewing.

Charity & Non-Profit Promotional Stickers - For Free

2010-02-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

For over 15 years Websticker.com has been helping design and produce custom stickers for non-profits, charitable organizations, schools, fundraising efforts, and many personal causes and efforts all over the world. For all these organizations we offer free design and exceptional quality stickers for the best possible price.

In 2008 we also formally started an additional charitable sticker program to give back to worthy clients who might need financial help with a run of promotional stickers. We call it the "Sticking With You" program and offer one organization per month their sticker design and production at no charge. Times are tough for many non-profit organizations and for the dedicated staff at Websticker.com this is a call to offer more help, not less.

We’ve printed free custom stickers for Climbing for Spina Bifida, 350.org, 911 Police Aid Foundation, Reading is FUNdamental, UGA Heros and many more. Visit the Charity Stickers Page at our website and see a list of organizations who have received promotional stickers from us at no cost.

Do you have a worthy cause that can benefit from promotional stickers? Simply follow the application details on the Charity Sticker Page and submit a request to us. Although we can’t produce free sticker jobs for everyone, we can offer free design and special discounts to all worthy causes that apply for the program. We hope we can be of help and are impressed and amazed at the amount of great selfless work being done around the country and world. Stick with it!

What is the difference between a sticker and a decal?

2010-01-29T02:32:00.000-08:00

I just got an e-mail (through AllAboutStickers.com) asking what the difference is between a sticker and a decal. We often get this question at Websticker.com and I thought it was about time I tried to address it. There is no absolute answer as different people will often use the terms interchangeably to describe similar products.

Looking for a definitive answer over at Yahoo Answers won’t help clarify differences: “decal is a more professional word for sticker”… No; “I would think of a sticker as say a white label and a decal as clear”… No; “Usually a sticker is paper, example an Avery label and not durable and a decal has a permanent adhesive and is more durable”… No, no, no!

Let’s go to the New Oxford Dictionary and try to break it down. Then, I’ll let you know how we at Websticker.com (seller of custom stickers, decals, and labels) tend to define these product categories.

sticker n. an adhesive label or notice, generally printed or illustrated.

label n. a small piece of paper, fabric, plastic, or similar material attached to an object and giving information about it.

decal n. a design prepared on special paper for transfer onto another surface such as glass, porcelain, or metal.

As you can see, it’s fairly obvious why we also get asked the question; “what is the difference between a label and a sticker?” A sticker can be a type of label… labels with an adhesive are also stickers. At Websticker.com we use the term “sticker”, as in “bumper sticker”, “die cut sticker”, “window sticker”, etc., to define more heavy-duty labels/stickers that can be used outdoors and hold up to the elements over an extended period of time. These are printed on a vinyl or polyester material with durable outdoor inks.

We generally use the term “label” to describe adhesive products printed on papers or foils with inks not suitable for outdoors. “Address labels”, “shipping labels”, “lapel labels”, “foil seals”, etc., these tend to be supplied on rolls or sheets for use (indoors) on packaging, paperwork, clothing, products, etc.

The term, “Decals” on the other hand, is often used interchangeably with other outdoor sticker products. But, as you can see in the New Oxford definition, “decals” are more associated with a “transfer” from one medium to another. "Decal" is short for "decalcomania" and usually is a more decorative type design. Thus “slide-on transfer decals” in the model building world, or water-slide ceramic decals (Transfers) for tile and ceramic uses are an accurate use of the decal term.

Where the decal-or-sticker confusion usually lies stems from vinyl cut lettering and graphics.These are for long term outdoor use and are supplied with a pre-masking sheet, so upon application are transferred from one sheet/medium to another. Unlike a traditional “sticker” which is removed from it’s backing paper and stuck where-ever, these vinyl decals are being transferred (often in multiple pieces) from the masking sheet to a smooth surface. So, at Websticker (and many other companies) vinyl cut lettering and graphics are referred to as “decals” and all other one-piece, outdoor printed vinyl or clear polyester as “stickers”. Decals are a type of sticker, however, so you'll hear and see the term "vinyl cut stickers" as well (like in this informative video on how vinyl cut decals are made).

I hope that drawn out answer helps. It is always best, regardless of the terms you use, to tell a manufacturer exactly what you are trying to accomplish with this sticky medium and where you want the sticker/decal ultimately to be applied/stuck. What ever you are trying to label, decorate, or promote, if you want your name (or message, or graphic) to stick, Websticker.com can help clarify and design the best custom product to meet your needs.

Five Questions For Brian

2010-01-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

Brian Neilson is the head of Graphic Design for Websticker.com. Every day he works back and forth with people creating effective sticker layouts and optimizing and improving existing artwork. I asked him a few questions so customers and visitors can get to know him a bit better.

1) What’s the best part of your job at Websticker.com?

The best part of my job is getting to use Illustrator all day. I get to design new ideas, improve existing ones and I am always learning new shortcuts and tricks that this incredibly powerful program has to offer. I also really enjoy talking with people from all walks of life, from all over the country.

More important than enjoying my daily tasks, is the work environment that Websticker provides. Flexible hours, great benefits and working with people that are more like family than co-workers make it an ideal place to work.

2) You design a lot of stickers, everyday - do you like stickers?

I have always liked stickers. My friend’s parents owned a ski shop and would always come back from ski shows with hundreds of stickers for us to pick through. That is where my sticker collection started. The thing with me and stickers was that I would need to find the perfect place for a sticker, because after it was applied to something, I could no longer include it in my collection. I still have most of the stickers from my original collection because of this quirkiness.

Since I started working at Websticker I have set aside the stickers I find most relevant and appealing which has significantly increased my collection. I think it may be time to finally start putting my sticker collection to use and create a collage to compliment the other sticker montages in the Websticker office.

3) Have you seen stickers you’ve designed or Websticker has printed out in the world?

One of my favorite things to do on road trips is to pay attention to all of the stickers on cars. I see a lot of stickers that we have produced. A lot of ski areas, such as Sunday River, Alta, Stowe, Jay Peak, Wachusett, and the list goes on.
“No Farms, No Food” has been showing up a lot recently. Chris Bucci who owns heartsticker.com out in Portland, Oregon has a sticker that is die cut to the shape of Oregon with a green heart in the middle. I have started to see those on cars right here in Stowe, at the other end of the country. Others I see frequently are Flylow Gear, Innova Champion Discs, Skier Shop, Turtle Fur, iRide, and hundreds of various Euro stickers that we have produced.

4) You’re in Stowe, Vermont. What’s the place all about?

I was born and raised in Stowe and am very fortunate to have grown up in such a wonderful town/community. I still play hockey at the rink I grew up playing on and ski on the slopes I learned to ski on. There is something very special about that. The majority of the people I grew up with, have moved on to cities and other states across the country, but whenever they come back to visit, it is evident how much they miss their hometown. Stowe is a unique community full of support and great, active people.

5) Any final thoughts custom stickers.

It’s amazing how prevalent stickers are in our society. I never made this realization until I started working here at Websticker, but stickers are everywhere... and with good reason. From bands to large corporations and everything in between, stickers are an integral part of getting your name, brand and website in front of as many people as possible. It is amazing how a piece of vinyl with adhesive can be so powerful. Whether it is used to get an unknown name in front of a large audience, to revolutionize the way people think, or to just make someone laugh or smile, stickers are limitless in their ability to grab people’s attention. It is exciting being part of the promotional sticker world and knowing what can be achieved from helping create an effective sticker.

A Land With No Bumper Stickers

2010-01-18T03:35:00.000-08:00

In my travels I have noted that other countries and cultures do not have the same tendencies as Americans to advertise their opinions, affiliations and product preferences on their cars. What I didn’t realize was there are places with no car bumper stickers, no car window stickers, no car magnets and no screen-printed promotional stickers at all. Zero.

I just got back from a weekend in Venice, Italy. There are absolutely no bumper stickers in this city of 63,000 people because there are no bumpers – no cars at all. There are vinyl cut graphics and lettering for boats and for shop windows but that is as far as you’re going to get with vinyl and adhesives used for promotional and marking purposes.

I loved the city of Venice! I also love screen-printed bumper stickers as a low cost, high impact promotional tool. But, businesses use the tools they have at their disposal and can make the biggest impact for the best price. And for individuals wishing to share their opinions, interests, and affiliations with the world – you use the mediums available. Car bumpers are not available in Venice and that may mean more flyers and handouts, more art, more local partnerships, more sandwich boards, etc. One uses the tools at their disposal. I certainly saw a lot of graffiti in Venice.

Vermont is one of only four states in the US that doesn’t allow billboards on its roadways. At the same time there are many, many bumper stickers on cars in Vermont? I think this is a great thing – less force fed “advertising”, more individual expression and art. The idea of a well-done promotional sticker isn’t to add to advertising clutter and noise, the idea is to encourage word-of-mouth and make a small impression via average people that care. Identities, movements, campaigns, slogans, companies and ideas are built and promoted with steady and continuous impressions not from paid salespeople and billboards but from fans, friends, enthusiasts, members, etc. – people that know and appreciate you and/or your product and can offer referrals and testimonials.

In Venice, bumper stickers aren’t an option. In much of the rest of Italy and Europe I’d say bumper stickers and promotional stickers are a very underutilized marketing tool. I’ll be looking into this further in the coming weeks. I’d love any feedback people might have of other cities and towns without cars (I want to go there) and the propensity to display things on personal vehicles in other countries and cultures.

Political Bumper Stickers On Cars Equals More Votes

2010-01-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

At Websticker.com we're always on the look out for actual data on the promotional power of stickers. Solid research and studies are hard to find. One can assume hundreds and thousands of impressions are made from large vinyl graphics on the sides of vehicles, bumper stickers on the backs of cars, and even small die cut stickers on helmets, bikes, notebooks, etc.. But depending on where the sticker is applied, the size and design of the sticker, and the travel routes and visibility of the sticker, there are just too many variables to get any accurate data on visibility and influence.

So, a short video interview caught my eye today of Kevin Ambler, state representative from Florida, who visited The ASI Show in Orlando. In the video Kevin mentions, as an elected official, vinyl bumper stickers are his favorite promotional product. He further states;

"The bumper sticker - based on the research that we have shows that if you put [a sticker] on the car of one of your constituents, it is worth between three and six votes."

That's incredible! I'm not sure what "research" he based that statement on, but there it is. If accurate, even if you paid people to put your political or promotional bumper sticker on their car it would be more economical than any other advertising medium.

The key, of course, is getting a high percentage of your promotional bumper stickers applied to vehicles out making impressions (or earning "votes"). To optimize that promotional power you need the optimum size, optimum product, and optimum design at the best price. That's where Websticker.com excels. We are all about design, service, and optimization. When You Want Your Name to Stick - Websticker.com

Custom Domed Decals

2009-12-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

Domed decals can add an elegant, high-end look to your products. These distinct stickers have a poured polyurethane coating adding a 3-D effect. This can increase the perceived value and image of your products, equipment and/or overall brand.

There are a lot of interesting things going on at once in a large sticker/label factory but the doming process is one of the coolest. Check out this short video of how polyurethane doming is added to sheets of custom printed stickers, decals or labels

When You Want Your Child To Stick?

2009-12-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

I've got a picture of my son, Eric literally plastered up next to my desk. It catches people a bit off guard when they enter our office. This life size wall sticker is the end result of a recent video we made of Eric running across a school gym, bouncing into a wall and becoming flattened into a sticker.

The original idea was to make two videos. One titled, "The Hard Way To Make Stickers" which would feature this experiment with a kid flattening into a wall... and hopefully be amusing. The second video would be "The Easy Way To Make Stickers" and feature someone calling or visiting Websticker.com. I thought it was a clever idea. Nothing ever goes completely as planned but hopefully the video is entertaining and spreads around a bit. Check it out and pass it on!

Though custom wall stickers and decals are not one of our biggest selling products at Websticker.com - we do custom print and sell these decals (in quantities over two) for promotional purposes to various companies. If you want just one or two wall decals of your child flattened to a wall (or any photo you want blown up onto a wall) we have resources at our site as well as links to hundreds of stock wall decals.

How Do I Protect My Great Sticker Idea?

2009-12-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here at Websticker.com we sometimes get contacted by people with a "great idea" for a sticker product. They don't want to tell us what the idea is as, I guess, we may be overly tempted to steal it, begin production immediately, and make a million dollars. Though, we are certainly willing to sign a non-disclosure form, it isn't necessary - we don't have any interest at all in launching a new business or product based on other peoples ideas. We (and most creative companies) have our businesses to focus on and pile of great ideas we'd pursue if we needed to go a new direction or had the time.

Think you have a great sticker idea or t-shirt idea? Check out the TypeTees section over at Threadless. Hundreds of tee shirt ideas (that could be fitting for stickers as well) are submitted and voted on every day at Threadless. Submitting ideas and getting feedback can be an eye opener.

Currently, there is no shortage of people with ideas. But, there will always be a shortage of people who care. Everyone thinks they have great ideas - I've had at least 3 great ones today. Executing the idea... distributing the idea... profiting from the idea - that is the tricky part. If you've got a great idea for a sticker product Websticker.com would love to help flesh it out into the best copy, design and product it can be (at a great price). But we can't help sell or distribute that product for you. Spreading the idea (product) is your job.

Don't worry about sharing ideas or protecting them. Share the idea, flush it out, and if it seems to resonate with people, get help making it the best it can be.

In a recent blog post Seth Godin (marketing guru) stated:

So, how to protect your ideas in a world where ideas spread?

Don't.

Instead, spread them. Build a reputation as someone who creates great ideas, sometimes on demand. Or as someone who can manipulate or build on your ideas better than a copycat can. Or use your ideas to earn a permission asset so you can build a relationship with people who are interested. Focus on being the best tailor with the sharpest scissors, not the litigant who sues any tailor who deigns to use a pair of scissors.

I recommend you read Seth's whole post, How To Protect Your Ideas In The Digital Age

as it has some good information to think about regarding trademarks and copyrights.

We cover some more information about protecting (or not protecting) your ideas and possibly selling/distributing sticker products in the questions section of our website: I've got a great idea for a sticker! How do I protect it, sell it, or make them and distribute them for profit?

So, share your ideas freely, get feedback, do your homework on similar ideas or products, and if you decide to start a small business based on your idea be prepared to do the work.

Do Bumper Stickers "Damage" Cars?

2009-12-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

STOWE, Vt., Nov. 19, 2009 – Though many screen printed bumper stickers have utilized a “removable” adhesive since the 1960’s, persistent myths about bumper stickers damaging cars continue. Bumper stickers have come a long way since the 1940’s when people tied cardboard signs to bumpers with wire. Today's adhesive choices for custom printed stickers range from “super tac” to “static” and everything in between.

Websticker.com, a company specializing in custom bumper stickers and promotional stickers for almost 20 years, still battles misconceptions about sticker adhesives daily. According to owner Jeff Nicholson, “we sell a large number of custom car magnets and static decals even though they cost more and are displayed for shorter periods of time than a vinyl sticker. The reason is often that many customers or end users are still worried about the risk to vehicle paint jobs.”

Removable adhesives on stickers have been offered for almost 50 years but still people are willing to pay more, in some cases double, for the piece of mind that the material will definitely come off a car without damage. Adding to the general misconception of damaging adhesives are cheap paper stickers that can be difficult to remove and do leave glue residue. Says Nicholson, “when buying custom bumper stickers, stickers, labels or decals it is important to verify that the material, adhesive and print quality are suitable for your purposes. Make it clear how long you want stickers to hold up outside and how difficult, or easy, they should be to remove. Then get a guarantee that the proper product is delivered.”

“We’ve all seen people with stickers scotch taped to the inside of their car windows”, says Nicholson. “And just yesterday a woman buying magnets proclaimed, ‘I would NEVER put a sticker on my car’. While it’s fine to be aesthetically or philosophically opposed to stickers on your car, it is important for sticker buyers to know the facts. Custom printed stickers can be profitable products or strong, economical promotional tools for companies. Misconceptions about adhesives should not get in the way of maximizing the power and profitability of this medium.”

And, if you are having trouble getting an old vinyl sticker off a car? According to Nicholson, “before you get out the paint thinner, sandpaper, razor blade, or other specialized removal product I’d suggest using a blow dryer and heating up the sticker. The heat will soften the adhesive and will be the best bet for peeling the sticker off in one piece.”

Freely Creative, Inc. was founded in 1991 and launched its online presence as Websticker.com in 1997. The company sells custom stickers, bumper stickers, decals, magnets, labels and other promotional products that stick. Websticker.com offers free consultations, free design and top quality products for “When You Want Your Name To Stick” (or lightly stick). To learn more and meet the staff, visit http://www.websticker.com

Marketing Article - Sincerity: The 'Secret Sauce'

2009-11-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Though this is usually a blog about custom promotional stickers, it also is about effective marketing. The following article really resonated with me. I should have written this... but Judy beat me to the punch. Thanks Judy for the reminder about what really matters as we market our various products and organizations. - Jeff

Sincerity: The 'Secret Sauce' for Effective Marketing
By Judy Murdoch (c) 2009 Highly Contagious Marketing

A couple years ago, I was talking with someone who was, for me, a very challenging client. I'm all about cultivating relationships that result in opportunities to sell.

This particular client seemed allergic to cultivating relationships for reasons I never really understood.

I remember one such meeting, I was trying to explain to my client the wisdom of first creating trust and credibility before trying to get a sale. And my client was blocking me at every turn with reasons why relationship development would not work for their business.

It was maddening.

Finally, I cried with exasperation, "Well, why the heck do you want to keep working with me since my approach doesn't work for you?"

"Because you're sincere," the client replied.

"Who cares" I thought to myself since it didn't seem to be helping my client grow their business.

Since that time I've changed my mind about the quality of sincerity. I think it's impossible to have sustainably effective marketing without sincerity.

The Importance of Being Sincere
The word, "sincere" is derived from the Latin word, "sincerus," meaning whole, pure, genuine.

When you think about today's business climate, sincerity isn't a quality that comes to mind. But it's a quality human beings need to perceive to be willing and able to buy.

The Place of Sincerity in Your Marketing
First, it's important to remember the real role of marketing in your business.

Marketing is NOT about making a sale. Marketing is about creating a relationship based in trust and safety so that a sale can occur.

Regardless of public sentiment towards business, people and companies still have problems that need to be solved and stuff that has to get done. Your prospective customers still need to
buy stuff.

They want to be able to trust you because they need to buy what you sell.

The marketing you do is all about establishing visibility and credibility so that there's enough trust for the purchase to happen.

For example, if you regularly keep in touch with prospects via an ezine, you're not doing it to "bug" your customers. You're sending out that ezine because:
• You can remind them that "Hey, I help people just like you solve these kinds of problems."
• You can offer examples and helpful information about the kind of problems you solve ("Here's an example of how I helped a customer")
• Or you provide helpful information for your prospects to better understand what they need to do to improve their situation.

Once prospective customers feel accepted for where they're at and trust you can actually help, they can then take the next step.

It's About Sustainable, Effective Marketing

Now there are also some relatively good-hearted entrepreneurs out there who use hard-sell tactics in their marketing. You subscribe to their ezine and get barraged with multiple emails every day telling you about some amazing program you "just gotta check out."

Here's what's important: there is no rest with this kind of marketing. You must work very, very hard to generate this level of noise.

And if you're spending so much time and energy with your own marketing, it's tough to put much time or effort into where--in my opinion--we should be making the difference: helping clients and customers get results.

That, to me, is why hype-centered marketing with or without a good heart fails. If you want to market your business in a way that brings in a steady stream of ideal customers without burning yourself into a crispy critter, sincere, heart-centered marketing is the way to go.

Keys to Developing Sincere, Effective, Sustainable Marketing

#1. Ask yourself, "what's my highest intention for my business?"

What's the best possible outcome for you, for your business, and for your customer?

Example: the highest intention for Highly Contagious Marketing is when we help clients create marketing that grows their client base and their bottom line.

When that happens, satisfied clients send us referrals which helps Highly Contagious Marketing succeed financially and there are more successful businesses in the world making a positive difference.

#2. Look at how your intention is reflected in your marketing?

Thinking of the many different ways you market your business, how is your intention showing up?

Example: In all the activities to promote Highly Contagious Marketing, I want to:

(1.) Provide information, a how-to, or a resource that gives the person who gets the marketing a little added value

(2.) Provide an offer and a clear call to action for anyone wanting to take the next step and get more help from us.

#3. Ask what one change can you make to your marketing to express your sincere desire to serve customers and make a difference?

Some specific actions you can take to show more sincerity in your marketing include:

(1.) Make your marketing message truly focused on your customer and their current problem. The first half of your message should be about your customer and their situation. If you're talking about yourself--your solutions and qualifications, your marketing
is not focused on the customer.

(2.) Look for ways to leave anyone who encounters your marketing a little better off than they were before the encounter. Marketing that informs, coaches, inspires, even entertains all
leave recipients a little better off.

(3.) Make sure your marketing reflects your values and if not, make changes. If you loathe hype in other marketing but use hype because "that's what everyone says I have to do," stop using hype. Create marketing that gets results without making you feel like you sold your soul.

Bottom Line

Remember, marketing is all about cultivating trust-based relationships so prospects can buy. And sincerity is a critical factor which enables trust to grow.

Can you market your products and services without sincerity? Sure. But you will have to work a lot harder to sustain sales because you won't be creating the quality relationships that give your marketing real momentum.

To create marketing in which sincerity shines through, take some time to remember what your business is in service for and take action so that your marketing better reflects what matters to
you.

================================================================
Judy Murdoch helps small business owners create low-cost, effective marketing campaigns using word-of-mouth referrals, guerrilla marketing activities, and selected strategic alliances.
To download a free copy of the workbook, "Where Does it Hurt? Marketing Solutions to the problems that Drive Your Customers Crazy!" go to http://www.judymurdoch.com/workbook.htm You can contact Judy at 303-475-2015 or judy@judymurdoch.com
================================================================

Sticker Testing & Outdoor Durability

2009-11-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

Websticker.com just completed some extensive sticker testing using Accelerated Weather Testing Equipment at our factory. We compared flexographic printing, offset printing and screen printing durability. We also compared different sticker companies products. We're still sorting through results but it became apparent that the comparative photos and data just aren't that exciting. So, we came up with an idea to do a series of random, unscientific, durability tests.

Check out this video of my son Eric set loose with a screen printed vinyl sticker on his shoe. It's very doubtful that anyone would ever need a sticker for this purpose but it was much more fun and quick to test in this random manner. Frankly I was amazed it stayed stuck to the flexible, rough surface of his shoe.

Why are some outdoor sticker products 3-5 year outdoor durability when others may begin to fade after a year? Why won't an over laminated paper label hold up outside? Why will fluorescent inks begin to fade in direct sunlight after just 30 days? These are all good questions and we answer them all the time. It is important for consumers to know details of print methods, materials and the projected (or guaranteed) life span of any custom sticker product you may be considering. I talked a bit about the top questions that should be asked by a sticker printer or sticker distributor in a previous video - What is the sticker being used for? Where will it ideally be applied? How long does it need to last? The bottom line for Websticker.com -We want to produce the most effective and economical sticker possible for your specific needs.

Websticker.com welcomes your questions, ideas for further random durability tests, and samples are always available for testing your own desired applications.

Euro Stickers - Americans Still Stuck On Simple Oval Sticker

2009-10-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

Euro stickers are an interesting phenomenon. You know, those basic black and white ovals printed with two or three basic block letters like VT, OBX, and it seems any other letter combo or graphic possible? It’s been 40 years since the United Nation came up with large oval stickers printed with country codes as a way to determine a vehicles point of origin. About 15 years ago the stickers jumped to the US, shrunk a bit, and have been used ever since to showcase the origin of (or pride in)… anything imaginable.

At Websticker.com, these custom printed ovals have consistently been one of our strongest selling products. I must admit, I really thought euro stickers were a fad that would fizzle out (or morph into something different) after a few years. I was wrong. There are now hundreds of web sites dedicated to selling euro stickers and these simple oval stickers made up almost 15% of our custom car sticker sales last year at Websticker.com.

I don’t know whether it’s the simplicity, size, shape or subtle coded nature of these stickers that keep them so popular but it would seem they will be sticking around for a while. Euro stickers make excellent retail products as they are inexpensive to produce, have high profit margins, and are an excellent impulse purchase that can be stuck in many visible locations. Unlike large traditional bumper stickers, the euro sticker offers a less intrusive, subtler method of showing pride or support in a place, organization, interest, etc.

Websticker.com sells several sizes of stock euro stickers and other popular oval and die-cut sticker sizes. They can be reviewed on our Bestseller Page. We also sell vinyl cut graphics, custom bumper stickers, custom labels and custom magnets. A related article that may be of interest for sticker trends and sticker marketing is Beyond The Bumper Sticker - Small Promotional Stickers Gaining Big Exposure For Businesses.

Marketing Tip: Stickers On Employee Vehicles

2009-10-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Do all your employees have a sticker with your logo on their cars? Whether it's a small promotional sticker that you hand out or sell to the public, or a giant sticker or vinyl graphic exclusively for company and employee vehicles there is no reason you shouldn't utilize the readily available, low cost advertising space.

What type of incentive would it take to have all employee's take part in an identity building sticker program? Hopefully, it wouldn't take much for employees who are excited and happy about where they work. Maybe it's as simple as just asking. Maybe a small cash incentive? Perhaps just a big thank-you-lunch at the end of a certain period of "sticker exposure" time.

With the high cost of billboards and other print advertising the low cost, high exposure potential of promotional stickers is more powerful than ever. Remember, stickers aren't usually viewed by the public as "advertising" but as testimonials and signs of support. There is only so much you can do to encourage customers to place a sticker in a visible location (like being a great company and offering a well designed, "cool" sticker). But, with employees, you already are paying them to promote and support your company so why not encourage them to take that support out on the road?

Websticker.com is here to help design and produce the most economical and viral stickers possible - big or small, for the public, or for company signage. Visit our design tips page or our special marketing report for more tips and ideas to maximize the promotional power of stickers.

Woops! Stickers Don't Stick.

2009-10-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

There are times a 100% guarantee on service and quality come in handy. Check out this article about recent batches of registration and inspection stickers in New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/nyregion/13inspect.html?em

Around 20% of 22.5 million stickers aren't sticking. Woops. That's an extremely high defective rate. And oddly enough two completely separate companies were involved.

This is another reminder to work with a trusted supplier/manufacturer and be very clear about the application (adhesive strength / material durability needed) of your stickers, decals and labels. Though you should never expect any faulty product, mistakes do happen, so make sure there is a clear guarantee of replacement if there are any problems at all.

Here's our philosophy and guarantee at Websticker.com. We're serious about our slogan - When You Want Your Name To Stick

Made in The U.S.A. - 100%

2009-10-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

Websticker.com is headquartered in Stowe, Vermont (Check out the view in our backyard). Our production facilities are in the Midwestern US. And all materials used in the production of our custom stickers, labels, decals and magnets are made and purchased in the USA.

We're encouraged to buy local whenever possible. If we can’t keep business within our own town and state we do everything we can to support the U.S. economy by keeping business in the country.

We certainly are not the only sticker company 100% U.S. based and US consumers are lucky to have many great local printing options. We hope our dedication to customer service and the pleasure we take in where we live and what we do shines through.

As a reminder, Websticker.com also sells (and gives away free) high quality U.S. flag stickers and decals. You can get 250 outdoor flag decals for just $50. smaller packages are available as well as high quantity discounts.

Websticker.com Profile - 5 Questions For John

2009-09-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

1. Why do you work at Websticker.com/ Freely Creative?

Well, it’s s more than just the money, lol. This is not just “work” for me, this is truly my career. Work is where you go to just collect that paycheck, I love going to the job and living where I do. I work here because I enjoy helping people, I like creating something and seeing it produced. Plus, I get to do I wide range of activities from graphic design to shooting and editing video for the web.

2. What’s the oddest request for a sticker that you’ve received?

LOL, I don’t want to talk about it... I think I’m still a bit scared. But it had to do with where the stickers were going to be applied.

3. Do you identify more with the “freely” or the “creative” in Freely Creative?

Now you are going to get me in trouble with the boss! I like to go above and beyond to help out our clients. If I could, I think I would throw in the kitchen sink. Everyone here though is on the same page. We all identify with giving clients that extra amount of care and service (freely). I think that everyone here is creative. Sometimes we have competitions making up a new design – everyone gets involved. It’s always a lot of fun here.

4. What does your family think of your job?

Are you kidding! I think next to ice cream, stickers would have to be everyone’s favorite. (well… maybe tied with chocolate)

5. Have you ever made a sticker for yourself?

All the time... stickers and magnets. I’m very involved in many local organizations. I’m a Volunteer Fire Fighter and I’m in charge of Fire education... I’m involved with the local theatre, my church, sports teams, the schools, the list goes on and on. Stickers and magnets are truly a great way to get your name out, as a reminder of events, phone numbers, or as a thank you to people who support you.

Thanks John!

Brian Explains (and Shows) How Vinyl Cut Graphics Are Made

2009-09-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

We just finished a new video at Websticker.com on Vinyl Cut Decals. Brian Neilson explains what a vinyl cut decal is, how they are made, and some of the limitations with this style of decal.

There are two main production methods for vinyl cut graphics. One is with a plotter. This is the "computer cut" method used by most sign shops. For smaller runs this would be the production method of choice. At Websticker.com we are usually making bulk quantities of the vinyl cut decals and for this we generally use a magnesium die.

Watch the process and review if this product may fit your promotional sticker needs or create a high end decal product.

Beyond The Bumper Sticker - Small Promotional Stickers Gaining Big Exposure For Businesses

2009-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

STOWE, Vt., Aug. 31, 2009 – In the last 20 years bumper stickers have gone through tremendous transformations. While, the average size of a bumper sticker has been shrinking, the power of stickers for promotional marketing has steadily increased. Today’s promotional bumper stickers may not actually be “bumper” stickers at all.

Websticker.com (http://www.websticker.com), a company specializing in custom promotional stickers, has been at the forefront of marketing with promotional stickers for almost twenty years. “When we got into the sticker business,” owner Jeff Nicholson says, “stickers were regarded like all other promotional product handouts with a logo or name on it. But as the marketing/advertising potential for stickers has increased and been realized, promotional stickers have become an economical and essential tool in many marketing campaigns.”

“What’s important to remember about promotional stickers”, says Nicholson, “is that although they are basically mini-billboards, they are not perceived as ‘advertising’. Stickers applied in visible locations are personal recommendation and literal ‘signs’ of support for a business or organization. Supplying the right type of sticker to customers and fans takes advantage of practically free advertising space by turning those customers into a no-cost sales force and encouraging word-of-mouth advertising.”

For a business to take full advantage of this marketing medium promotional stickers need to be a size and design that is appropriate and attractive to it’s target market so that the customer is more inclined to apply them in visible locations. Here in lies the reason larger traditional bumper stickers have been shrinking and/or disappearing. Smaller promotional die-cut stickers can be stuck on helmets, bikes, skateboards, windows, water bottles, lockers… anywhere. Smaller die cut stickers are not only more versatile than traditional bumper stickers they are more subtle. Exposure increases as people willingly spread a name, logo or statement into a much vaster public arena.

Companies and marketing directors have become increasingly savvy arming their customers and supporters with promotional stickers. “At Websticker.com”, says Nicholson, “we have seen a steady increase in sticker hang tags, sticker postcards, sticker business cards, sticker sheets and other creative formats for delivering long lasting, identity building stickers and decals”. Custom stickers are not just an inexpensive, trade show handout anymore. The marketing world is now finding creative ways to get these mini-billboards into the hands of everyone who can help spread the word.

Websticker.com shares many tips and ideas as well as a special report loaded with information on maximizing the power of promotional stickers at their website. Freely Creative, Inc. was founded in 1991 and launched its online presence as Websticker.com in 1997. The company sells custom stickers, bumper stickers, decals, magnets, labels and sticker-based marketing pieces. Websticker.com offers free consultations, free design and top quality products for “When You Want Your Name To Stick”. To learn more and meet the staff, visit http://www.websticker.com

Websticker.com Profile - 5 Questions For Brooke

2009-08-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

1. What’s your favorite sticker that you’ve seen produced at Websticker.com?

That’s a tough one, as I see thousands of stickers come through here every year. My favorites are usually small, die cut, white vinyl stickers, with only a few simple colors. I particularly like a series of stickers made by Songbird, which feature their icon (a cartoon bird) in various rolls; rocking out on a guitar, hugging the earth, analyzing a ruby, ect. I have them plastered amongst some other black and white stickers on one of my monitor stands.

2. What you like most about working at Websticker.com?

The stickers! I grew up in the ski scene in Southern Vermont and collecting stickers from various ski companies was a hobby that my siblings and I took very seriously. The more stickers you had, the more leverage and power you had as an 8 year old in our house.
Other perks:
-The view out my window. Click here and see for yourself
-Bringing my dog to work!

3. What is the #1 thing that people say when you tell them where you work?

Without a doubt, the most frequent response is: “I’ve always had this great idea for a bumper sticker…” Some are ideas that people have brewing are really good and deserve their spot on the back of a car. Here’s one that I like:

4. Do you have stickers on everything you own?

Not EVERYTHING I own, but they do wind up all over the place: my car (of course), travel mugs, and dog food bin (Truckie picks those) to name a few.

5. Besides working at Websticker.com, what else do you do with your time?

I try to take advantage of all that Stowe has to offer- plenty of skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. My new passion is photographing dogs. Truckie is my top model!

Thanks Brooke! Brooke Kaltsas has been working at Websticker.com since 2006 and is usually the first person people meet when getting a quote or asking questions. She also stars in the welcome video for visitors filling out our quote request form Check it out. If you've got a question about custom stickers, labels, magnets or dog photography contact Websticker's #1 greeter and pricing master.

Size Matters

2009-07-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Brooke from the Sales/Quoting Department

Not sure what size sticker you need? We can help! The size field on our quote form frequently stumps potential customers. I can sympathize to this baffling question- before I started working at Websticker.com, I didn’t have a sense for standard sticker sizes either! It took me a few weeks of seeing actual samples of various sizes in the office to really get a sense for what sizes work best for customer’s varying needs.

There are a few things to consider when selecting a size/shape. Here are a few suggestions to help with the decision:

1. Where are these stickers being applied (see previous blog entry or Tips Page for more on this subject!)? If your intent is to have the stickers be placed on back windows of cars, you probably don’t want something that’s going to take up a lot of real estate on the window (driving hazard). Think either long and skinny, or not much bigger than a CD. If you want your stickers to be stuck everywhere from water bottles to ski lift towers, consider a smaller size that doesn’t limit the surface space possibilities. Think the size of your palm or smaller. Small is beautiful, and more universal.

2. If you have a logo, what is the shape like? If your logo is an obscure shape and it measures roughly 2” x 3”, it’s probably not going to look all that great in our 3” x 11.5” bumper sticker. We would suggest putting your logo into a size that fits better proportionately and minimizes wasted space, like a 3.5” circle. A strong composition makes for a strong statement. See this example (made by me- thank your lucky stars I’m not in the art department).
3. Still clueless? I had a photo shoot with a ruler, a dollar bill, and a bunch of our stock vinyl sizes to help you visual things a little better. Check out this Size Example page on our website. When looking at the sizes, think about what you personally like and how the sizes would fit best on the places you would stick the stickers. Look around your room or office, or go take a walk out to your car with a ruler (or a dollar bill). If you don’t have an exact size nailed down, you can at least let us know an approximate size so that we can help guide you in the right direction!

Looking forward to quoting you… happy sizing!

Your #1 Question When Buying Custom Stickers

2009-07-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you are shopping for custom stickers or labels the most important question that the manufacturer can ask is; where are you using the stickers? Where will the stickers or labels be stuck? If you are handing them out to customers, where do you ideally want them to apply the stickers? Answers will help determine proper product, printing process, material and adhesive.

At Websticker.com we have a fill in section of our Quote Form that asks; Where it will be used (applied)? This helps give us an idea of what product is needed and possible issues to consider. At Websticker.com our number one priority is getting you in the best possible product for your needs at the lowest possible price.

Some other questions and factors to consider when you are designing and/or ordering custom stickers can be found on our Design Tips page.

The History of The Bumper Sticker

2009-07-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Who invented the bumper sticker? Where and when did bumper sticker printing begin? We at Websticker.com are interested in this history as we sell millions of custom stickers per year. We thought perhaps some other people might be interested in this sticker history as well.

I travelled down to Gill Studios (long associated with early sticker printing and still one of the biggest manufacturers in the U.S.) to talk with Chairman Mark Gilman to get the story behind the bumper sticker's origins. This is the first part of a video discussion with Mark touching on the development and early years of the "bumper sign". Forest Gill is credited with "inventing" the bumper sticker. Here's the story behind Forest Gill, Gill Studios and the first bumper stickers.

Only Need One or Two Custom Stickers?

2009-07-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

At Websticker.com we are often asked about printing just one sticker. Our systems and print methods are not set up to do just one or two stickers so we have a number of referrals and recommendations we make on a page on our site dedicated to small runs (or short runs) of stickers. Here’s a summary based on the type of sticker you may be looking for.

Bumper stickers – For one or two custom bumper stickers we now recommend a digital on-demand printer like Zazzle or Café Press. Zazzle has a custom 3” X 11” full color bumper sticker for $3.95. Café Press has 10” X 3”, 3” X 5” bumper sticker options plus custom options on the popular euro oval stickers (3” X 5” oval).

Vinyl cut lettering and graphics – While you can ask any local sign shop for a quote on vinyl cut lettering and graphics we recommend our friends at SpeedGraphics.net. If it’s lettering or numbering you need they have an easy design and order online tool. Make your own custom signs, boat names, truck signs easily on-line and it costs less than your local sign shop. For stock and custom vinyl cut graphics with no ink colors we also recommend our friends at Decal Junky. You can personalize thousands of designs or create your own.

Wall stickers and wall decals – If you need 2 or more wall stickers we can quote that for you at Websticker.com (die cut to shape if needed). If you just need one custom wall sticker or decal we recommend Online Poster Printing.

Full color graphics such as vehicle wraps or full color vehicle signage or magnets (for just one vehicle) we recommend Speed Graphics. E-mail for a quote at websticker@speedgraphics.net

For paper labels we recommend buying precut sheets and printing them yourself on your printer or at a local print shop. Check out pre-cut sheets at On-line Label.

If you still have questions on getting a small run of stickers or labels printed please just ask. We're here to help.

Eric (10) covers summer camp trunk with stickers

2009-06-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

I've just sent my son, Eric off to Camp Timanous in Maine. Kids love stickers and he wouldn't head out without stopping in to the Websticker.com office to deck out his trunk. Whether it's a bike, a helmet, a skateboard, a snowboard, a notebook... or a camp trunk, covering things with stickers is artistic and makes the item completely your own. And, of course, stickers always "add fun to the fun". But they can't be cheap or cheezy labels. The stickers need to last inside and outside and look "totally cool" so the kids want to put them on their stuff. That's where Websticker.com comes in.

At Websticker.com we're proud to make many of the stickers that cover cars, helmets and kids trunks all over the USA and beyond. Check out this video of the work Eric did on his trunk and what he has to say about custom stickers and Websticker.com. Yes, some of it is shameless promotion for his dad's company - I've taught him well - But, many of the stickers are promoting other companies and organizations as well. "When you want your name to stick" - everywhere possible, contact Websticker.com. And give your kids a pile of stickers. They'll get the word out

Did He Really Say That About Us?

2009-06-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

Testimonials are a great way to not only have clients support and promote Websticker.com but also to promote their own service or product. When we get photos of stickers in action we will post them with a link. On our Facebook page you can post your own "fan" photos. We are also now encouraging and adding customers video comments when possible.

Chris Bucci stopped by our office for an interview about his product and answer questions about how to market a great sticker idea (we'll be releasing that soon on this blog). We grabbed some choice words out of the interview for our testimonial page and also have posted a few of his photos and linked back to his site Heartsticker.com.

If you appreciate a certain product or service you've received why not send the company a quick note (or even a video) to thank them. Not only is it appreciated but you may also find you receive links and free promotion for your own company/site. Feedback not only helps all companies improve but also can help create buzz, links, and exposure for your company or product.

June Update from Websticker.com

2009-06-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Flag Day and The 4th of July is just around the bend and at Websticker.com we’ve been trying to remind people of all the great flag sticker products we carry. They are a great, low cost option for fundraising efforts and a great giveaway gift for your customers.

Check out the flag sticker options. These are very affordable in bulk quantities. We are also including our limited edition, Domed, “Still The One” decal free with every order.

While you’re at our site don’t forget to take a peak at our webcam – we’re into the full greens of summer now here in Vermont!

We are very excited about all the filming we recently did in our factories and look forward to releasing video clips throughout the summer. If you have any questions about sticker, label or magnet production (or Websticker.com) and would like to have a visual description, let us know as we have video footage that covers it all. Stay tuned to this Custom Sticker Blog.

Have a great Summer! Don’t forget to check out the flag stickers and consider them for fundraising uses or a great, inexpensive freebie for customers and clients.