Seattle Publishing Journal
May 2009

Dear Seattle,

As we move through May and look to a summer full of fun, here are some topics that we found interesting. From Bike to Work to Social Media 101 and all points in between, here are our insights into these timely topics.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
The SP Crew

IN THE NEWS

Bike to Work Commuter Challenge This month, Seattle Publishing’s crew is taking the Group Health Bike to Work Commuter Challenge. Each day that a crew member commutes to work, they will go online to enter their miles for our company log. At the end of the month the total miles will be compared with other Seattle companies to see how each company did for the month. Currently, Seattle Publishing has over 200 miles commuting to work and we still have half of May to go.

TIPS & TRICKS

Micro-pubs

Micro-pubs is a term that is being applied to special item catalogs or print guides that are targeted to a very specific audience or market. These specialty publications are being used to supplement or replace annual publications since they can be produced in smaller quantities with a greater frequency than larger annual publications, for typically a lower cost both in printing and mailing.

By using the Gutenberg Publishing System®, our clients are publishing micro-pubs to expand into new markets and to increase their existing market share. With Gutenberg, the content can be combined with customer data to create micro-pubs that feature selected products or services that are of interest to that customer. With this targeted combination, customers are more likely to purchase and thus increase the effectiveness of these publications.

FEATURED PROJECT

SBS Logo

One of the first companies to realize the potential of the Gutenberg Publishing System®, Seattle Bike Supply (SBS) has taken the next step in leveraging their content with their new website, seattlebikesupply.com. With the power of Gutenberg, SBS’s staff can now maintain the images, product descriptions and marketing content for their website, catalog and sales flyers. By centralizing content, savings are realized both in staff and content maintenance costs.

Seattle Bike Supply is a national wholesale distributor of bicycles and parts to independent bicycle dealers throughout the United States.

THE ART OF PUBLISHING

Social Media - Helpful Suggestions When Taking the Plunge

Since social media content is created by users with everything from news, product updates, photos and video, we believe that this new form of viral publishing will continue to grow in importance in the foreseeable future.

What more and more businesses are discovering is that viral and social media marketing are inexpensive ways to create and develop new business while staying connected with existing customers. Whether it is FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, or a host of other social networking websites, here are some simple suggestions that we have collected to get the most out of your efforts.

  1. Social media marketing is only one strategy and should be a part of an overall marketing plan.
  2. You must get involved in the top social media sites to understand them thoroughly. Become a user before committing your company or brands.
  3. Not everything you try will work, be willing to experiment with a variety of messages and methods.
  4. Results can’t be guaranteed, similar to other marketing strategies.
  5. Going niche is often better. It is a good idea to have several followers with the same interests instead of thousands with no interest.
  6. Go light on selling or promotional messaging. Online users don’t like being sold.
  7. Engage in communities by joining groups with similar interests.
  8. Offer people value by sharing your experience, interests and expertise.
  9. Create content that others are willing to share or expand upon.
  10. Keep track of what is going on by participating on a consistent basis.

DID YOU KNOW...

Seattle Publishing

Seattle Publishing, Inc. was started in January 2000 by Jay Stilwell and Paul Clark, and the corporate headquarters was in the basement of Paul’s house in Everett, WA. In 2001 we moved the company to Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood and in 2007 we expanded into two office spaces to fit the growing needs of the company.

 

The Gutenberg Publishing System's® namesake, Johannes Gutenberg, defined modern publishing when he blended 1400’s ink, type and mechanical technology to invent the moveable type press. With the same drive towards efficiency, Seattle Publishing’s database-driven system helps organizations manage their information and streamline the production process for print- and web-based publications.

Seattle Publishing, Inc. is a 36-year old company that blends current technology with time-tested publishing techniques. The company is a recognized leader in database-driven publishing and is constantly working to be the standard by which all competitors are compared.

Press Contact

Amber Zapffel
Seattle Publishing
206-903-1333
amber@seattlepub.com