The benefits of attending the 2012 Print Solutions Conference & Expo

By Elise Hacking Carr

Higher Learning: A Closer Look at PSDA Education

The 2012 Print Solutions Conference & Expo will offer a host of educational workshops led by expert speakers. Whether you need information about profitable business solutions, industry trends or new technologies, you will find it here. Take a moment to check out one—or more—of the following sessions:

MONDAY, JUNE 4

Full-Day Sales Seminar: Strengthening Your Sales Playbook
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Featuring: Paul Castain, Castain Training Systems

This intensive, full-day interactive workshop will focus on sales strategies. Castain will share ideas about communication mapping, sales listening stations, PS Campaigns, quarterly checkups and more. Attendees also will learn how to improve relationships with customers by positioning themselves as their go-to resource.

Making a Name for Yourself: How to Use Social Media, SEO and Public Relations to Grow Awareness with Prospective Customers and Employees
9 a.m. to noon

Part 1: Rebranding and  Repositioning
Featuring: Karie Ballway, Stuart Boyar and Jeana Nicotera, The Cooley Group

In part 1 of this course, three representatives from the Cooley Group will discuss the necessary steps for rebranding and repositioning your company. To help you generate ideas, they will show specific examples of direct mail, e-mail marketing and promotional products that were used in their rebranding campaign.

Part 2: Get Recognized:  Using Social Media to Propel Your Business
Featuring: Patrick O’Malley, social media and Google SEO expert; John Delavan, editor-in-chief, Print Solutions magazine

In the follow-up to part 1, Patrick O’Malley will discuss tools for maximizing exposure, including social media, search engine optimization and traditional public relations channels. In addition, John Delavan will relay his detailed plan for creating informational press releases.

Demonstrating ROI in Integrated Marketing  Campaigns
9 a.m. to noon
Featuring: John Leininger, professor of Graphic Communications, Clemson University

The role of a Marketing Services Provider (MSP) continues to evolve. In this session, attendees will learn about the strategies employed by successful companies. They will hear about case studies that provide tips for managing, enhancing and analyzing customer data in order to better understand customers and get a feel for their purchasing patterns.

Begin with the End in Mind: A Strategic Business Planning Workshop for Owners
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Featuring: Greg Collins, Cape Fear Advisors

It takes hard work and careful planning to make it to the top. This workshop is designed for business owners who want to get ahead of the game or need a refresher on succession planning, growth strategies and developing a business plan.

Building a Team for  Tomorrow: A Workshop for Company Owners and Hiring Managers
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Featuring: Claudia St. John, Affinity HR Group

Part 1: Inside the Mind of the Sales Professional

The first half of this educational session will help principal officers understand what motivates their sales team and how to identify their staff members’ strengths and weaknesses. In turn, attendees will be better equipped to plan for career growth and engagement.

Part 2: Rounding Out Your Team

The second half of this session prepares companies to develop a new hiring process. To assist attendees in finding that perfect employee, PSDA members will share examples of how they changed their traditional interview tactics.

Balancing Your Business: Connecting with Vertical Markets
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Featuring: David Baker,  ReCourses, Inc.

It is a common mistake for distributors and channel partners to broaden their services and product offerings instead of focusing on what they do well. Baker will help them understand the customer base they are trying to attract by focusing on building awareness and points of differentiation in key verticals.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

Practice What You Preach: Utilizing the Products You Sell to Make the Sale,  Parts 1 and 2
1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Featuring: Paul Castain, Castain Training Systems

In this session, Paul Castain will teach distributors and suppliers how to incorporate different channels in their sales techniques so they can solve their customers’ challenges. It is important to help customers understand how the resources you provide can be tailored for their solutions.

Streamline Your Human Resources Procedures
1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Facilitated by: Claudia St. John, Affinity HR Group

This open forum is a place for attendees to share issues, solutions and questions with peers who are facing similar challenges within their business.

Innovators at Work
1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Facilitated by: Barbara Pellow, group director, InfoTrends

Emerging technologies bring opportunity. Business peers will explain how they have responded to “disruptive” new media forces in the marketplace. In particular, they will share how they are leveraging print, mobile, social and online technologies to increase market opportunities.

Web to Print: The Answer to Scale and Product Diversification
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Featuring: Jennifer Matt, president, Web2Print Experts, Inc.

Handling more orders without adding more labor is one of the many benefits of web to print. Product diversification is a must and companies can reach a much larger customer base via the web. Attendees may have what it takes to serve their customers and address any problems. But how many lost opportunities are there when companies don’t promote online? This session explains why web to print makes sense and offers best practice tips for making the transition.

Using LinkedIn for Sales and Business Development
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Featuring: Patrick O’Malley, social media and Google SEO expert

LinkedIn is an effective way to communicate with peers, reconnect with old contacts and research companies. In this workshop, Patrick O’Malley will provide 10 different ways to gain optimal use from LinkedIn.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6

Mail and the Future of the USPS:  How the Medium and the Postal Service  will Change
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Featuring: Maynard Benjamin, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO, Envelope Manufacturer’s Association

The Internet will become increasingly integrated with physical mail, making it a more targeted, tailored and timely medium. As a result, mail piece security will become a notable issue as privacy concerns for mailers increase in the next few years.

Finding Success with New Products
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Facilitated by: John Leininger, professor of Graphic Communications, Clemson University

This learning session is designed for attendees to talk about their latest innovations, successes and lessons learned with their industry peers.

(Note: This schedule is subject to change. For more detailed information, visit www.psda.org.)

The Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA) is adding even more charm to Baltimore this year.

PSDA's 2012 Print Solutions Conference & Expo returns to "Charm City," where attendees can network, observe and learn. No matter your objective, the conference and exposition provides something for everyone.

More Can't-Miss Trade Shows!

In addition to PSDA’s annual show, here are a few more events to attend:

The ASI Show
When: July 17 to July 19
Where: McCormick Place, Chicago

The ASI Shows are a great networking tool for suppliers and distributors in the advertising specialty industry. This year’s show in Chicago features an intense schedule consisting of full-day sales training with Tony Robbins, networking events and an acclaimed Keynote by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

For more information, visit www.asishow.com.

2012 SAAC Show
When: Aug. 8 to Aug. 9
Where: The Long Beach  Convention Center, Long Beach, Calif.

The 2012 SAAC Show enables promotional product suppliers to attract new business and reinforce existing distributor relationships.

For more information, visit www.saac.net/show.

GRAPH EXPO 2012
When: Oct. 7 to Oct. 10
Where: McCormick Place South, Chicago

GRAPH EXPO is where top print executives come to learn, connect and make informed purchasing decisions. It is the year’s largest display of “live” running equipment in the Americas. Attendees have the option of sitting in on more than 50 educational seminars where they can gain valuable tips and apply them to their business model.

For more information, visit www.graphexpo.com.

DMA2012
When: Oct. 13 to Oct. 18
Where: Mandalay Bay,  Las Vegas

DMA2012 is a meeting place for nearly 10,000 marketing professionals. Attendees will receive comprehensive education covering social, mobile, search, behavioral targeting, interactive television, e-mail marketing, analytics, attribution, cutting-edge mail, print, creative and more.

For more information, visit www.dma12.org.