There are THREE primary options for printing and sending your Service For Life! issues, depending on your budget and time available...
OPTION 1: Use A Turn-Key Service
If you're a busy agent, a complete turn-key service may be your best option. The companies we've been using can do everything turn-key (print, mail merge, stuff, post, and send), or can do any part of the process for you.
You simply provide your database list to them with your current month's modified issue - and they take it from there. They can print the issues and send them back to your address or handle the complete printing and mailing, sending the issues directly to the mailboxes of your list.
And here's an interesting tip: We've found that using a printer in Arizona can sometimes save you postage. That's because, with our dry climate, the paper weighs less because it has less moisture content. Many agents have switched from more humid climates to printing and posting in Arizona - and saved some money!
Printing/Mailing Service #1: AlphaGraphics Commercial Printing
No, this is NOT your neighborhood AlphaGraphics print shop! These are the big boys - one of the largest and full-service print and mailing services in the country today. We actually first discovered AlphaGraphics Commercial Printing from one of our Service For Life! agents who had been using them for years, and said they were friendly, competent, and inexpensive. Give the nice folks at AlphaGraphics Commercial a call, and see if they're the "right fit" for you. They can do just your printing (and send your newsletters back to you), or they can do the whole job for you: print, sort, stuff, post and mail. Make sure you tell them you're with Service For Life! to get a discount when you call...
AlphaGraphics Commercial Printing Services
Click Here
Or Call Toll-Free: (800) 650-2035
2500 N. Coyote Drive
Tucson, AZ 85745
Printing/Mailing Service #2: West Press Printing
We discovered West Press nearly 15 years ago when looking for a reliable resource for our own printing services. Their work was so outstanding, we decided to see if they could work with our Service For Life! members. Since then, they've printed more than 10 Million newsletters for hundreds of clients. You'll find their staff friendly and competent - they know Service For Life! inside and out, and can help you streamline the process of printing and mailing your issues. While they're probably not the "least expensive" service you'll use (heck, you probably don't drive a Yugo either!), when you combine their capabilities, service, and outstanding quality, they're a great option. Give them a call today and see how they can help you. Make sure you tell them you're with Service For Life! to get a discount when you call...
West Press Printing
Click Here
Or Call Toll-Free: (888) 637-0337
(Ask for the newsletter department)
1663 W. Grant Road.
Tucson, AZ 85745
OPTION 2: Use A Local Printing Shop
You can also take your current issue to a local print shop to produce your newsletter. But remember to shop around for the best price. Then you can do the folding and stuffing yourself or hire someone else to do it.
Most local printers will be able to handle your printing in either black and white or color. But we've heard from agents that the added expense of color is not worth it. Plus, black and white print makes the newsletter more personal rather than a 4-color canned newsletter that everyone sends. Just in case you were wondering... we've found that agents dealing with affluent clients are getting some of the best results (luxury home owners still read black and white newspapers!).
OPTION 3: Print Yourself
After you've PUBLISHED your document, you can Print, Email, or Share easily. If you'd like to print your issue, make sure it's final and published.
1. Click the "Print" button at the top of the document. Your printer options will be different depending on whether you're on a PC or Mac, and what type of printer you're using.
The preview you see should be exactly what will print. The newsletter prints in 8.5x11 inch letter size. If you are printing to a larger sheet of paper, you will want to save to PDF first.
We recommend printing your newsletter in letter size. It's much simpler than creating a booklet version of the newsletter. Remember, your goal is to get it out each month, providing useful and welcomed content. It's mean to look as if you put it together at home!
Here's more info about the letter size issue: https://agentinnercircle.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015458413-Q-I-want-to-print-my-newsletter-on-11x17-size-paper-How-can-I-do-that-
There are 2 ways to print issues yourself:
Using Your Home Printer...
Many of our agents on a tight budget (or with extra time available) print and send their own issues. This is obviously the least costly way as you're doing much of the work yourself. Some even hire neighborhood kids to help and pay them on a per-piece basis (like .08 per piece or so).
Using Someone Else's Office...
Some of our agents have a budget allowance from their brokers, and/or they use their broker's printers to create their own issues. Others use the resources or allowance of local title companies or other related professionals with whom they have an existing relationship.