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Please take a few moments to enjoy the most recent issue of Printer@Work below before you
Return to alinkprinting.com.

A-Link Printing & Promotions September 10, 2010


An adroit mixture of everyday settings and extraordinary events.
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A compendium of strange-but-true recent events as reported in the legitimate press.
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The world of business and finance gets skewered, as Bottom Liners tackles subjects such as foreign takeovers, office policies, getting a raise, and the fast-paced world of Wall Street.
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A wry look at the absurdities of every day life.
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With a daily readership of more than 95 million, Dear Abby is the symbol of a caring heart for millions of people around the world.
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In today's complex world of family issues, learn from Dr. Dobson's lifetime of practical experience in dealing with family problems.
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News From
Jaci Maher
Idea of
the Week
Marketing Tips
Tech Tips
Uncommon Product
of the Week





Choose the perfect paper for the job.


Bring Life to Your Site


Computer on a Stick


A Note of Thanks
A Message From Jaci Maher
The Way I See It

Planting a Seed

A young woman decided she wanted to grow an apple tree in her back yard. She had never planted anything before, so she started researching all she could about growing an apple tree. She learned about site selection, training and pruning, adequate fertility, pest control, and other factors helpful for creating a healthy apple tree. Every time she went out in her yard, she pictured the tree already grown with rich, beautiful apples all over it. Because of her determination and ongoing nourishment, the seed she planted grew into a flourishing tree that she was very proud of.

Here's the way I see it: You can't plant apple seeds and expect oranges. However, with a little determination and effort, you may be amazed at what you can grow. We plant "seeds" in life more often than we realize, and sometimes these ideas flourish into great accomplishments. If you're looking for creative nourishment, give us a call. We'd be happy to help your seed grow.


Idea of the Week
Stationery Paper Basics

With so many papers available, how do you decide what papers to spec for your business stationery? Here are a few basics to keep in mind. For more advice, talk to one of our customer service representatives. We’re experts at choosing the perfect paper for every job.
  • Start with the basics. Letterhead is typically printed on an uncoated, 20 to 28 pound bond paper. For business cards, consider an uncoated, 80 pound cover stock. If your design includes photos or other fine touches, choose a coated stock instead, for better print quality and clarity.

  • Know your limitations. Check your office laser or inkjet printer’s specifications before selecting a stock. You don’t want your letterhead’s weight to exceed the limitations of the office equipment you plan to use it on.

  • The color of paper you select will affect how inks appear when printed on it. Even different shades of white can affect print quality in different ways. Make sure you select a paper that will complement the ink colors needed for the design.

  • In the same way, it’s generally a good idea to avoid darker colors or distracting background images. Otherwise, your correspondence may be difficult to read when printed on your letterhead.

  • Study the samples. All of the major paper companies provide sample books filled with examples of the various papers they have to offer. Many even show how different inks appear when printed on the page. Visit our print shop to take a look at these sample books and to get our advice for selecting a paper that’s right for you.


See more great ideas like this!
Click here to visit the A-Link Printing & Promotions Ideas Collection.

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Marketing Tip
Promoting Web Sites On & Offline

You may have a wonderful web site, but if people don't know about it, they aren't very likely to visit it. Here are a few ways to promote your web site on and offline:
  • Offer a chance to enter a free giveaway via your web site. Not only will you draw people to your site, but you can also increase your database.

  • Offer monthly coupons and special offers available only through your web site, encouraging prospects and customers to revisit your site on a regular basis.

  • Direct people to your web site through your on-hold messaging or via live operators, and promote your web site in your e-mail signatures.

  • Be sure your web site is listed in the phone book yellow pages for those who search the traditional route.

  • Send a postcard with a teaser of an article or white paper posted on your web site, and redirect readers to your site to read "the rest of the story."

  • Is your web site long and impossible to remember? Use a URL shortener (such as TinyURL.com) to easily transform any web site address with the click of a button into a short, unique address.
If you'd like other ideas on how to promote your web site through creative marketing materials, stop by today. We're full of great ideas to help boost your online audience.

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Tech Tips
Portable Apps

If you are currently using a flash drive simply as a backup or transfer device, you haven't truly unlocked the potential of the USB until you've installed some programs on it. Because portable applications allow users to run programs independently from a removable flash drive without the hassle of installing them, they are becoming a favorite for professionals in a variety of industries. If you aren't already using this feature, here are a few portable apps for Macs and PCs to check out:
  • HTTP File Server is a very simple application to send/receive files over the internet, and is very handy when exchanging files that are over the maximum e-mail size limits.

  • Foxit Reader is a small PDF reader that is much faster than Adobe Reader.

  • OpenOffice Portable is a great alternative to Microsoft Office. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation creator, and database tool.

  • Thunderbird Portable Edition is a popular e-mail client that allows you to bring your e-mails and address book with you.

  • MemPad enables you to save all notes in a single file but arrange and manage them in a hierarchical tree-based manner.

  • KeePass Password Safe Portable allows you to carry multiple login information and passwords on your USB drive accessible through one master password to protect them.

  • Firefox Portable Edition enables you to bring your bookmarks with you.

  • Google Chrome Portable enables you to run different tabs as separate processes which prevents different windows from interfering with each other.

  • Notepad++ is one of the most popular replacements for Windows Notepad.

  • Web Design Toy splits into two views where you can instantly preview the output when you type HTML code.

  • GIMP Portable is the best alternative for Adobe PhotoShop, enabling you to easily edit images no matter where you are.

  • Fotografix is a tiny application alternative to GIMP with features including clone, eye dropper, magic wand, etc.

  • Inkscape Portable is an open source vector graphics editor, and is a great alternative for Adobe Illustrator.

  • FileZilla Portable is the most popular open source FTP client and allows you to save and conveniently access your clients' server details and settings.
While portable applications are great, just remember if you plan to take a USB flash drive with portable apps to a client site for use on one of their machines, you should always check their IT security policy in case they have security restrictions in place.

Don't worry if the portable app program details sound like foreign language... we'd be happy to help you with both your technical and printing needs.

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Uncommon Product
Thank You Postcards

Thank you postcards are not only a great way to show your appreciation, they are also an affordable marketing tool that increases front of mind awareness. Here are a few tips for creating thank you postcards that are appreciated:
  • Show sincerity by hand writing a note on the postcard whenever possible and addressing the customer by name.

  • Entice customers to return again soon by including a valuable coupon or discount promotion for an upcoming purchase available exclusively with your postcard.

  • Offer a perforated, tear-away business card so customers can keep your contact information within reach.

  • Encourage recipients to visit your web site and enter a code printed on the postcard to see if they're an automatic winner for a prize giveaway.

  • Include a reminder for an upcoming appointment date/time.

  • Invite customers to an exclusive friends and family discount night.

  • Consider creating an over-sized or folded postcard if you need increased marketing space.

  • Be sure to include your company logo and contact information should a customer wish to reach you.
If you'd like help creating the perfect thank you postcard or need other ideas for creative printed products, give us a call today!

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