Five Things I Learned at the ERA Convention

Five Things I Learned at the ERA Convention

By Ed Avis

The Eastern Reprographics Association held its annual convention in Panama City Beach, Florida April 18-20. You can read a synopsis of it here. Here are five things I learned:

1. The "cloud” is a handy way to get software that I don’t really want to pay a lot for. For example, I really should upgrade my Adobe Creative Suite, but I don’t want to pay $1,299 for the basic suite. So instead I’m considering getting it through the cloud for $49.99 per month. Not only is it more affordable, but I won’t have to worry about upgrades and I will be able to access it from any computer. There is tons of software available that way now.

2. One way for a reprographics business to make money on the cloud is to partner with a cloud application that needs local partners. Examples that speaker KP Reddy mentioned include BuiltSpace, www.builtspace.com, and VIMTrek, www.vimtrek.com.

3. Speaking of making money, during a side conversation about scanned floorplans, Reddy brought up the idea of creating a "campus security package” that includes constantly updated floorplans of all the buildings on a campus (or hospital, or mall operator, etc.) that could be sold to the security departments of these organizations. They have the budgets, and they have the need for accurate floorplans in case of emergency. And who better can provide these in a convenient-to-access fashion than a reprographics firm?

4. Make sure your business’ Facebook page is a Business Page, which is different from a regular personal page. Speaker Tony McGaughey told a funny story about a client of his who asked his daughter to create the company Facebook page. Naturally, the girl created a page just like her own personal page. For example, she put her own name as the title of the page, with the company name only in parentheses after her name. That’s not the professional image dad was hoping to project!

5. Real LinkedIn recommendations – written by satisfied clients -- are way better than the ubiquitous "endorsements” that everyone seems to be giving out these days. Ask for, and offer, recommendations to your clients and suppliers, McGaughey advised.

Hope I see you at next year’s convention!