vistaprint is a slick operation!

23 replies
HI...

Thought I'd just share this, and I'm sure a number of people have already used them, but for those who haven't... thought I'd share this...

I've heard of vistaprint for a few years (they do heavy t.v. advertising), but just decided to make a purchase... going through their ordering process was very educational! They have a really slick operation in terms of upsells, cross promotions, discounting, backend sales, one time offers, and so forth, bundled all into one!

If you needed to learn how to do 'proper' backend marketing, etc... I think you could learn a lot from just looking at their sales process...

Anyways, thought I'd share this...

Good luck!

Johnathan
#operation #slick #vistaprint
  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    errr, link?
    Signature

    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5982831].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by InternetSuccess001 View Post

      vistaprint is a slick operation!
      Yes, indeed ... it certainly is!

      I'm sure they do lose a few people over their checkout-process, and the regulatory climate is changing with regard to "things being checked as defaults", and you need to take great care there not to buy extra items you didn't know you were buying, but they obviously have it down to a fine art, and it works really well for them.

      Originally Posted by John Romaine View Post

      errr, link?
      It's the "checkout process" you need to see, Johnny, really. They have huge US and Europe operations - and on your end of the planet they're at http://vistaprint.com.au
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983313].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        It's the "checkout process" you need to see, Johnny, really. They have huge US and Europe operations - and on your end of the planet they're at http://vistaprint.com.au
        Put that down as the "dumb question of the week"

        Its 6am here, and Im yet to go to bed
        Signature

        BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983337].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael Meaney
        I don't mind the upsells too much, it's a great model that used to keep me on their site for hours at a time.. when I only went there to order more business cards.

        What I do mind is the postage costs... on the face of it the products are a bargain, but the shipping fees here in the UK are over the top.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983397].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sonicadam123
      they do run a pretty slick operation, how successful they are in terms of conversions etc who knows and profit .. I haven't really looked.

      Some upsells, direct mail etc can get a bit annoying but if it works it works I guess.

      I first noticed them like 5 years ago when I ordered stuff off Amazon and I'd get a little leaflet about 250 free business cards just pay the p&p.

      I then ordered a loads of dvd's and books for university and I got the same leaflet in each one.

      I never needed business cards, but it would be interesting to know how that deal worked out for both parties, how much it cost for Vistaprint & how successful it was.

      It doesn't seem that targeted but they rotated the offers every so often and I'd imagine it did wonders for their brand awareness.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983823].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tadresources
    I've heard great things about them and I definitely agree that there is a lot to be learned with how they operate and promote themselves.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983272].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    What I hate is the continuous email chains they send out.
    Signature

    Read A Post.
    Subscribe to a Newsletter
    KimWinfrey.Com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983355].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      What I hate is the continuous email chains they send out.
      Yes, there is that. I still get one email per day from them, near enough. One can unsubscribe, of course ...

      (I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again, I have to say. The quality's outstanding and the prices remarkable. And their "UK branch" isn't even in the UK: they mail European stuff from the Netherlands, which works out cheaper for them.)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983370].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TheBackLinksAngel
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      What I hate is the continuous email chains they send out.
      Definitely....
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983942].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Douggie
    Yeah they are good marketers that's for sure.

    The whole "get x number of business cards free" and then asking if the user wants a premium card instead works well too... well it got me to buy!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983377].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Green Moon
    Although I've never ordered printing from them, their prices are excellent and I've read pretty good things about them.

    They also have an affiliate program through CJ. I have their banner ads on some of my business oriented sites, though I don't get many clicks and rarely get a sale.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983382].message }}
  • They are definitely Great marketers!! I run an off-line business and have used them many, many times over the past 14 years. Not only are they great marketers but they do great work and I always get my order quickly. I have been very pleased with them!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983454].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kencalhn
    I've been very pleased with Vistaprint as well - they've done great work for me over the years.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983468].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sepclick
    I have to be honest, VistaPrint has shown to be very subpar for me.

    Not only were the regular prices kind of outrageous compared to the local printers, but the one time we did go with VistaPrint was for a custom job. The guy didn't even read my email thoroughly enough to see what exactly I wanted so quoted me very low. Kind of cool, except that he also screwed up half of the stock and had to take a few more weeks to get it to me.

    Now I buy my prints through a local guy who likes to stop by the office with big cans of popcorn. Cool dude.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983901].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author eibhlin
    I've been buying my business cards, postcards, etc., from VistaPrint.com for years. The funny thing is, I first heard about them in the "green room" at Dragon*Con. Practically everyone there -- authors, screenwriters, actors, etc. -- all said they bought from that company. It was so funny to watch everyone take out their business cards to compare, and see which designs the other people were using!

    So, I tried VistaPrint and now I wouldn't get my cards anywhere else. Gorgeous work!

    My husband -- who is a pre-press guy and knows this stuff -- is pretty sure they farm out the work to a variety of printers. The cards, etc...? They're probably printed on end stock... paper/card stock that was extra from another job, and otherwise would be thrown out.

    The contractors make money from something they'd throw out, we get great business cards and postcards, etc., and VistaPrint makes money. I like this!

    The emails are a bit much, so I have an automatic filter that sends them to one of my Gmail folders. When I need a special sale offer, I just go to that folder and see which deal is best, and I empty that email folder while I'm there.
    Signature
    Artist, blogger, and author of a bazillion books, more or less. Find me at Eibhlin.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983917].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I'd like to know how they get away with the endless spam.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983931].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Tork
    Vista print rocks, been using them for years. Always get my stuff delivered on time and for cheaper then I could get locally.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5983944].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author komplex
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Benjamin Tork View Post

      Vista print rocks, been using them for years. Always get my stuff delivered on time and for cheaper then I could get locally.
      Agreed, it's amazing how CHEAP and FAST vistaprint is.

      $400 for 100 flyers @ Kinkos.
      $350 for 100 flyers @ Another online store.

      And VistaPrint.. $110 for 100 flyers

      There's not a single company out there that can beat Vistaprint, and if you think so you are not using the right coupons. VIP + 50-75% coupons + Special Discount = the lowest prices possible.

      Shipping is great, product always comes out flawless.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5984396].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Another great online purchase experience is via TicketMaster. I once made a blog post about the backend process after I bought Crue tickets.

    Not only do they put a lot of thought into the process, they are constantly split testing different pathways. If one doesn't produce the results they want, they knock it off and replace it with another.
    Signature

    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5984377].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author icyimp
    I use OvernightPrints, perhaps someone used it as well and can compare the services? The quality, delivery time and pricing? It sure looks like Vista Prints has a lot of happy customers!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5991729].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    One question: Is their "500 business cards for $10" offer legit? I've been wanting to know this for a long time now.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5992078].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author massiveray
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      One question: Is their "500 business cards for $10" offer legit? I've been wanting to know this for a long time now.
      I almost fell for their English version of the offer, I wanted 500 biz cards with a graphic I made on the front, and a standard black and white image on the back, when I got to check out it had charged £3 each for the uploaded images to be used and a **** load of other random charges.

      In the end I used gotprint and got 1000 biz cards for less than half the price.
      Signature

      Join my private strategy group on Facebook or find out how I made £2000 recurring in 2 weeks.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5992540].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author funkynassau
    If you buy from them, the emails never quit with their next wonderful offer. It gets annoying. If you go so far in the ordering process as to design and approve your biz card and head to the check out, then you dont complete your order for any reason, they inundate you with emails and special offers. I've had emails from them where they say you can get this super great deal and you try to partake of it, but you cant get to the actual place where you get the special low price or the free shipping or double your order. It's buried somewhere, but I never could find it.

    I think they offer a lot of great looking cards and products and a person can learn a lot about marketing by just reading over their offerings and how their site is setup. In Canada it's vistaprint.ca.
    Signature

    ChipFixx custom mixed auto touchup paint kits.
    http://www.chipfixx.ca

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5992479].message }}

Trending Topics