Take Advantage Of These Eight Trends In Printing Services To Make Your Small Business Shine
Posted on: 6 June 2015
If you own a small business, you may struggle with the direction you take to market your goods or services. While it may seem like everyone is doing business solely online these days, conventional printing is still very much a smart choice for a lot of reasons. Read on to discover eight printing trends that might make you rethink your marketing strategies.
Print Is Not Dead
In spite of what you may have heard about the death of newspapers and the rise of e-readers, print has not disappeared. In fact, there is so much online marketing nowadays that traditional PR, such as items sent by "snail mail" and magazine ads, can stand out to your customers and stick around longer.
Also, there are some items that will always need conventional printing methods. While it can be fun to scroll through your vacation photos on your laptop, you can't hang your computer on the living room wall. Art and photography still need to be printed on paper or similar media.
Printing Is Not Limited to Paper Products
Many business owners don't get creative when it comes to their printing surfaces. You may find it more engaging for your customers to print on non-paper materials, such as cups, t-shirts, business supplies, medical devices, or other items people use regularly. Printing techniques have advanced to make it possible to print on just about any surface.
Printing Can Be Sustainable
The ability to print on other materials can make printing more sustainable. When paper is needed, printing companies today are much savvier about using recycled materials and eco-friendly inks.
On-demand Printing Is a Growing Option
Another way to make printing more environmentally-friendly is on-demand printing, which eliminates waste. There is no longer the need to do huge runs of textbooks, manuals, calendars, and maps that can become too rapidly outdated. You can store and update your originals digitally and order printed copies only when you need them in small quantities without driving up the price like in the old days.
Packaging Is Still King
While the packaging of consumer goods of course protects them, it also provides a way for established brands to be immediately recognizable and for new brands to stand out on the shelf. There are reasons so many studies are still done on consumer preference based on packaging.
If you are selling a retail item, you can't overlook this important aspect of the sales process, which clearly depends on traditional printing. You can't wrap potato chips or dog kibble in a string of HTML code.
Printing Takes You in New Directions with 3D
If you think printing is limited to flat pieces, think again. Today's three-dimensional (3D) printers can produce anything from replicas of dinosaur fossils for museums to blood vessels and graft surfaces for medical procedures.
Printing Has Become More Service-Oriented
In order to compete with the online marketplace, traditional printers have had to become more service-oriented and focus less on manufacturing. They are now actively participating in the marketing process with their customers, suggesting strategies based on their expertise and helping customers design things like wine labels and book jackets. If you're not sure which way to go with an aspect of your print marketing, your printer may be an excellent resource.
Conventional Printing Can Dovetail with Digital Marketing
When all is said and done, there's no reason you have to choose between print and digital marketing; the two can work together for your benefit. QR codes, for example, have niche markets where they perform very well, and they are an ideal melding in those situations of print and online integration.
When you're thinking about your next business marketing piece, don't forget to consider traditional printing services. Ask a company like H B Fast Print for more information.
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