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It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that Midwest Single Source announces the passing of the company’s Founder and Chairman, John H. Osborne. Our dear friend passed away on March 4th, 2024, in Bonita Springs, Florida after a courageous battle with MSA (Multiple System Atrophy), a form of Parkinson’s disease. John was an exceptional presence in all our lives – a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, mentor, and so much more. He lived and created an extraordinary life for himself and those around him. May you rest in peace JHO. Cheers!
Memorial Service for Wichita, Kansas, will take place at 3pm at St. James Episcopal Church located at 3750 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67208

WE SUPPLY YOUR COMPANY FOR SUCCESS

Your vision is our inspiration. Let us combine our printing and marketing expertise with to bring concept to completion. Business cards to brochures, catalogs to calendars, we’ll deliver what you need on time.

  • Since the launch of Forms Management in 1976; The now-called Midwest Single Source has experienced quite a transformation during the last 40 years. Starting in Wichita, KS, the company has grown into locations in Topeka, KS and Oklahoma City, OK. Today we are well known for next-day delivery of office supplies, the ability to provide nearly one million promotional items as well as creating a custom online store for each customer. Midwest Single Source has seen growth in almost every department from direct mail to corporate apparel. Our experienced staff is here to serve you. Give us a call and see what we can do for you and your business!

November 26, 2018

Take Advantage of Instagram Stories for Business

As a marketing professional, you’ve heard about Instagram. And with more than one billion people on the platform, hopefully you’ve already created an account for it, too. However, have you heard about Instagram Stories?

Instagram launched their “Stories” feature in August of 2016. If you haven’t heard of Instagram Stories before, here’s the lowdown: it’s a feature in the platform which allows users to post a photo or video on Instagram, which lasts for only 24 hours. These posts don’t appear on the regular grid system of Instagram, but rather in their own section above a user’s feed. You can even add text, GIFs, music, polls, etc. to your Instagram Story to make it come alive and interact with those watching it. 

But enough about the background of Instagram Stories—how can you use them? The Stories feature on Instagram is a helpful tool any marketer can utilize. Here are some ideas for how to take advantage of Instagram Stories for business.

1. Go behind the scenes.
One of the best ways to take advantage of Instagram Stories is to go “behind the scenes” within the company. Followers love feeling like they get the inside scoop on something, so help humanize the business by showing a raw, informal glimpse inside to customers. Of course, be mindful to stay on brand and don’t get too personal.

2. Share a special offer. 
Like we said: followers love feeling like they receive special treatment. Help boost your followers through Instagram Stories by sharing a special offer just with those who watch the story. After 24 hours, the story will disappear, and anyone who doesn’t follow the story will wish they had, and will keep a sharp eye out for another later.

3. Interview a team member. 
Speaking of going behind the scenes, why not interview a team member on your Instagram Story, to show a more personal side of the business? Host a variety of team members and ask them questions about the job, the business and even—when appropriate—their personal lives. Followers will enjoy feeling more connected to the humans behind the work.

4. Engage with customers.
When it comes to engaging with customers, Instagram is an extremely useful tool. Use Instagram Stories to your advantage by engaging with customers through different features on the platform, such as hashtags, polls or questions. You can even reply to customers’ stories, or answer any comments or questions they send in to yours.

5. Encourage influencer marketing.
Encourage influencer marketing by hosting challenges which ask followers to tag the business in their post, tag their own followers on your post or even share your post on their own Instagram Story. With Instagram Stories, you have influencers all around you who can share products or services with other followers around them.

6. Create a tutorial.
Finally, consider using Instagram Stories to create a tutorial, showcasing your product or services. For instance, a printing company might share a tutorial on how a follower can design the perfect holiday card for the upcoming season. By creating a tutorial, you show followers how your business can fit easily and seamlessly into their lives.

There’s no doubt about it: Instagram is a beneficial tool for marketing. And with their latest feature Instagram Stories, a business can reach a whole new level of engagement with followers. Use these tips to take advantage of Instagram Stories for business and see how you can increase your bottom line.

Your Vision is our Inspiration

Let us combine our printing and marketing expertise with the service necessary to take your project from concept to completion. Business cards to brochures, catalogs to calendars, we'll deliver what you need, on time.