Experts have been talking about the death of print for decades, yet our love affair with the printed word shows no sign of abating. The simple fact is: people love to read on paper. But how can businesses leverage this fact? What are the printouts that your small business needs?
The Business Optimizer considers some of the most essential printouts a small business can require.
Letterheads and invoices
Official communications with your customers should be instantly recognizable as having come from your company. It’s an opportunity to reinforce your brand that you shouldn’t overlook. And it needn’t be complicated.
There are a huge range of templates for letterheads, invoices and all kinds of business communications in the template libraries in Microsoft Word. Or, for a truly professional look, hire a designer to create a custom letterhead for your business. You can connect to affordable freelance designers easily on websites such as Fiverr, Upwork or People per Hour.
Flyers & postcards
Paper is great for branding and communications.
Results of a U.S. survey showed that 88 percent of respondents indicated that they understood, retained or used information better when they read print on paper. The survey also revealed 81 percent found printed media more relaxing to read.
That’s why it’s a great idea to print flyers and postcards which showcase your business, services, and/ or products. They are versatile and tangible reminders of your brand and what you do. You can distribute them in your offices, by mail, via door drops, in other local businesses or public locations, or in magazines or catalogues. If they resonate with their recipients, people are likely to hold onto them for long periods of time – even if they don’t use your business or service right away.
Know your customers, invest in great design, choose quality paper that will last, and your printed flyers and postcards will have a long lifespan; far longer than the ephemeral glances your branding efforts might capture on social media.
Business cards
The business card never goes out of fashion. It’s invaluable at conferences, trade shows, industry fairs, and other meet and greets. And today’s digital printing and special print effects make it possible to ensure your business cards really stand out.
Brochures, fact sheets & case studies
Having printed materials on hand is always useful for your marketing efforts. It means you can respond quickly and effectively when a new marketing opportunity presents itself.
Perhaps it’s the last-minute participation in an event or trade show? Perhaps it’s a request from a customer? Or the sponsorship of a local event or magazine? Having good quality printed materials on standby ensures that you can always leave potential customers with a tangible reminder of your brand.
Maintain a standard look and feel throughout your branded marketing materials that aligns with your branding elsewhere, including on social media. This way, potential customers can interact with your brand across multiple digital and real-world platforms in confidence.
For brochures, choose thicker paper options with high-color definition finishes, so that your branding really pops. Online marketplaces such as Envato are great places to find good-value brochure, fact sheet and case study templates that you can customize with your own branding.
What now?
Discover more tips for print marketing and communications on our blog: