In the age of digital marketing, it can be difficult to justify the print industry’s existence – especially when most marketing material can be placed online and consumed digitally.
However, print still has a key role to play in the marketing mix. As a form of advertising, it’s still one of the most effective ways to reach consumers – even if they do all of their reading online or through social media.
The cost-effectiveness of print vs. the online world is something that the marketing industry takes for granted. After all, when you think about it, printing a piece of marketing material isn’t very expensive. But what is relatively little known is the fact that different print media have different costs associated with them. The more you print, the cheaper it will become.
The Importance of Media Selection
When it comes to selecting the right print media for your marketing campaigns, it’s important to keep in mind the cost implications. Although it’s relatively easy to find economical, quality online content, this doesn’t mean that all professional publications are created equal. The cost implications of selecting the wrong media can be significant.
If you’re looking for a way to reduce costs while ensuring that your print material is of a high quality, there are a few tips and tricks that you can follow.
Use Pre-Crisis Printing
While it’s always best to get your documents printed during ‘quiet hours’, in a time of economic uncertainty, that might not be possible. In these cases, it’s important to go for pre-crisis print.
With pre-crisis printing, you send your artwork to be printed several weeks or months in advance. During this time, the cost of the ink and the paper is included in the price – so there are no additional charges once the material is actually used. This can be a cost-effective way to ensure that your marketing material is always printed at the right time.
Choose The Right Printer
As the name suggests, a printer is a device that can ‘print’ documents. To guarantee top-notch printing results, you need to make sure that the right printer is being used. For instance, if you’re trying to print a document with a photo in the background, make sure that the photo is of an acceptable quality and that it fits the overall design of the document.
When it comes to finding a printer, there are many considerations that you need to make. To start with, look for a device that is compatible with your operating system. Also, check that the model supports the features that you need.
If you want your material to print quickly and accurately, look for a printer that uses energy-saving technology. Also, read the reviews to see how others feel about their experience with various models.
Have Enough Ink
An important factor that can affect the cost of print is the ink used. The ink could be the costly part of the process, especially if you’re using a brand-new printer that doesn’t have a built-in ink supply. If you’re looking for the best price on ink, ask your printer manufacturer for a deal. They may have a special program that can reduce the cost of ink for customers.
Ink is a consumable that can be expensive to replace. Therefore, it’s essential that you have enough in reserve to keep printing.
Reduce The Number Of Print Jobs You Automatically Start
One of the things that can increase your costs without even knowing it is the number of print jobs that you automatically start when you log in to your computer. This is mostly due to the fact that printers have a ‘first page’ setting that determines what should be printed when you open a document. To cut down on this, you can either change the default setting or disable the autostart feature completely.
Ensure that your printer is connected to the internet and that it’s updated with the latest drivers before you start using it. This will help ensure that your device functions at its optimum capacity.
Check The Coupons And Special Offers
Printers have inbuilt features that can help you manage your print costs. If you’re using a regularly-flushing printer, look for deals or coupons that can help you reduce the cost of ink and paper. Also, check that your printer is connected to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to get the latest promotional offers and discounts.
Even when paper is not expensive, it can be relatively cheap to print flyers and other such material that does not require complex coloring or photographic work. In these cases, the cost of the material will be the deciding factor on whether or not to print. So, if you’re looking for a way to cut down on your costs, consider printing less.
As previously stated, the costs of printing can vary from one industry to another. This is why it’s important to do your research before committing. With this in mind, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you get the best price when printing your marketing material.