We live in a digital world and many people believe traditional print marketing is dead? The reality is traditional marketing isn’t only still kicking, but vital to your overall marketing strategy. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, then you need to have a budget for print marketing trends.
We’ll examine some of the most popular trends in the industry and show you why printed marketing materials are comparable to digital marketing. When you say, “Is print marketing a good idea?,” the answer is a resounding yes.
Let this guide show you some amazing print marketing ideas your business can try.
Print Marketing vs. Digital Marketing
If you’re new to the marketing scene, then you might not know the difference between these two marketing giants.
We live in a world dominated by the Internet and every business should have a website. The website is like your virtual storefront and you need to drive traffic to your website to sell your goods and services or get people to your physical location.
Digital marketing is anything you do online to help promote your business and get traffic to your website. Search engine optimization is writing content on your website that ranks well on Google and other search engines. It also includes getting backlinks to your site on other websites.
Pay Per Click advertising is creating and placing advertising in search results, websites and social media pages that encourage people to visit your site. Social media marketing is using Facebook, Twitter and other social sites to interact with customers and create valuable relationships that end up becoming conversions.
Print marketing is the creation of physical marketing materials to promote your business. This method of media has been around far longer than the Internet and is a vital part of your business plan.
People still want and need printed marketing materials and there is a place for them in your marketing budget. Don’t focus entirely on digital marketing because you’re missing out on a large number of customers in your local area.
1. Marketing with Local Print Advertising
Most areas have newspapers, free “shoppers” and local magazines people get in the mail with or without a subscription. While the overall draw of physical newspapers has lessened people still read local print advertising, but you have to make it worth their while.
The goal of print advertising is to connect with the customer. If you’re advertising in national magazines, then you need imagery that pops and a message that connects with your audience.
If you’re working on a local level, then create hyper local advertising that uses local imagery, language and more. People respond to local messaging more than generic advertising. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a business card size ad or a full page, keep your audience in mind.
Identify who they are and create advertising specifically for them. Newspapers still have significant reach, so take advantage of that and make it part of your marketing plan.
2. Entice Them with Direct Mail
People visit their mailbox everyday. They expect to see bills and advertisements and people don’t just throw the direct mail away.
The United States Post Office direct mail program is an inexpensive way to get your brand out to a large number of people. You don’t need to know who they are and instead can have your mailer send to everyone within a specific area.
Since people get a lot of advertisements, the key to direct mail is colorful and unique designs. Direct mail comes in all shapes and sizes from small postcard size to 8 ½ x 11 sheets. Studies have shown people look through them and are likely to respond if it fits a need or want they have,
You need to separate yourself from the pack, so make your mailers memorable with bold text, pictures, or coupon codes for customers. Offer them a deal, and they’ll show up to your store.
3. Create a Pamphlet
The difference between print and digital marketing is print has something physical people can feel. If you’re introducing a new program or want to promote existing programs, then create a tri-fold pamphlet with an overview and specific details.
It’s something people carry with them and take home after an open house or other event. You can print hundreds of pamphlets filled with evergreen content. You only need to update it if there is a significant change.
It can be one part of an overall campaign that connects print and digital media. Pamphlets are colorful and filled with information that you can’t fit inside an advertisement. Many businesses have an entire rack dedicated to various pamphlets for their business.
You may have seen business grade printer from commercials that can print these items for you. Printer technology has come a long way and you can create almost anything.
4. Business Cards Build Your Brand
When you have one-on-one contact with customers, vendors and prospective clients, it’s customary to give them a business card. The days of boring business cards are over. There a are many innovative cards that include QR codes to your websites, unique styles to set your company apart and more.
It’s usually the first thing a customer receives from you, so make it a memorable. It’s a small space that you can pack with information. Take advantage of both sides of the card.
Have one side dedicated to your contact information and the other with information about your products and services. Keep them on hand at all times and include some at your counter or on your desk.
5. Your Store Is An Advertisement
If you have a large space, then people need to know where to go to get what they need. In-store signage is branded and provides important information about your store or includes information about the sale creates conversions.
If you have multiple aisles, then have signage that tells people what’s in those aisles. It’s your store, so take advantage of the space. You can put banners outside in the parking lot or in the store.
You can use signage to direct people through your store and make sure they pass by the expensive items or sales items. In-store advertising can be a funnel for conversions.
6. Show People Your Wares With Product Sheets
A product sheet is an undervalued piece of 2021 print marketing. If you have a product you want to emphasize, create a product sheet with specific information about that product. It doesn’t need to contain technical and complex information, but instead focus on what the product is and why your customers need it.
You can create them with a home printer and keep them at the store. A product sheet has good information and a picture of the product. Don’t be afraid to make several different types since they are inexpensive to make.
7. Develop Flyers to Hand Out
The promotional flyer is a tried and true print marketing method that’s been around for decades. You just create a single sheet advertisement about a product or sale and hand them out to people as they walk by,
The flyer should be easy to understand with colors and graphics that pop. They need to be eye-catching if you want to get people’s attention. Before handing them out, check with your local city clerk to see if you need any licensing or permit to hand out flyers.
8. We Can’t Forget Swag
People often consider print marketing to be paper-based, but that’s not true. You can create any number of promotional products from pens to T-shirts for your customers. It can be as simple as stickers with your name on them to small flash drives with your logo.
You want something they’ll remember and carry with them. Other people see these items and now your brand has spread. If you visit conventions or meet regularly with customers, then you can’t afford to not have gifts and swag with your brand on it.
Quality swag that lasts a long time can bring in customers months or years after it was originally given.
9. Put Your Brand On Community Sponsorships
If you want to endear yourself to the local community, then let them know you sponsor local teams and events. Anyone who has children in baseball knows the team’s sponsor is on the back of the jersey.
Businesses that sponsor events have their names on signage and banners. Don’t underestimate the power of local advertising. People want to shop local and seeing your name on the back of their child’s jersey builds trust.
Work on Print Marketing
Don’t abandon print marketing because you think it isn’t useful. It’s part of a successful advertising campaign that includes digital marketing. Print and digital advertising aren’t enemies.
They work together to build your brand and and your business. If you want to learn more about print advertising and marketing, then please explore our site.
