3 Trends in Print Media That You Should Know About
Trends in print media come and go. And while it might have seemed like the introduction of the digital age would have heralded the end of print marketing as we know it, modern printing trends highlight the best of what can happen when you combine digital innovations with traditional print techniques.
Print is always going to have benefits for brands, in particular when it comes to building trust and nurturing relationships with potential and existing customers. And today, the most effective trends in the printing industry are the ones that bring together the best of both the print and online worlds. Here are three of the big ones that are worth taking a look at.
1. Targeted Newsletters
The days of batch-and-blast newsletter printing are over. Savvy consumers expect a lot from the brands that they interact with, including personalized newsletters that address their individual needs, pain points, and preferences.
For most B2B and B2C businesses, better-targeted newsletters mean custom content designed for distinct audience groups, with segmented mailers sent only to the recipients they’ll directly appeal to. For many, the result is a higher ROI per print campaign, as well as a better-engaged audience.
2. Digital Tie-Ins
From brochures to magazines, print media is bringing in unique digital printing trends like personalized URLs (PURLs) and QR codes to drive consumers to their online platforms.
There are quite a few benefits to these digital components, with perhaps the biggest one being that they are inherently trackable.
When an individual follows a PURL or scans a QR code on their smartphone, businesses get data they can use to monitor their conversions and identify what print features are succeeding and with whom. As an added bonus, they’re easy to create and plug into any print feature, and don’t require much to track beyond a designated analytics tool.
3. Touch and Texture
Standing out in a stack of papers is hard. To boost their odds, businesses are using textured elements in their print media that play off of the senses and inspire awareness and recall. Some of these elements, like die-cutting and embossments, are quite literally raised off the page, while others, like foil stamping, are a more subtle way to lend a textural element to a piece of print media.
It’s a trend that makes use of advances in digital printing that make it easier than ever before to create print features that pop, not just with content and color but with unexpected touches that instantly catch the eye.
Beyond the basics listed above, there’s also some recent printing trends that have captured the attention of business owners.
Print Advertising Trends
Augmented print is all the rage lately. But what does this actually mean? In a nutshell, augmented printing is taking the best of virtual and print advertisements and tying them together. This ensures that you’re hitting people in multiple realms.
Another very popular form of print marketing trend is innovative packaging. Many people take packaging for granted, but it’s been one of the best ways to advertise your products for decades.
If you’re looking for something that’s more modern, go with personalized printing. This unusual method has gained lots of steam lately, especially with personalized posters. With Sheer Print Solutions, it’s also easy to make your marketing vision come to life!
Media Print Solutions
So, are you wondering what exactly print media marketing can do for you? First, it’s important to realize that there are multiple versions of media print solutions. The most common is, of course, magazines and newspapers.
However, when we mention media, we also mean direct mail, transit posters, outdoor billboards, and the yellow pages. Each business will find a solution that works best for them, but if you can afford it, your best bet is to get involved with every form of print media.
Newspaper Circulation Trends
The bad news is that newspapers have been steadily losing customers for years. This resulted in more than 300 newspapers closing their doors for good in 2020. On the plus side, the Wall Street Journal has the highest circulation numbers.
Additionally, The New York Times is purchased by 39 percent of digital newspaper subscribers. There has also been a bit of an uptick in local paper subscriptions, so you still have several choices when it comes to print advertising.
Print Media Marketing
Don’t forget that print marketing also means banners, mini-posters, postcards, flyers, brochures, and business cards. Again, get your message out there on as many forms of print media as possible.
Just don’t make the mistake of investing a huge amount of your budget into something that’s not applicable for your business type. For example, a banner might not be the best choice for an online-only company, but you’d better believe that the same print media type can work like gangbusters for a small, local business.
At Sheer Print Solutions, we work hard to bring the biggest trends in print media to our clients. We’re NYC’s leading digital printing company for any and all print media needs, and a leader in providing high-quality custom printing in a wide variety of formats. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services and to start working on your next print project.
About The Author
Craig Sheer
Craig Sheer is the owner of Sheer Print Solutions, located in Soho, NYC. We are the proven leader for affordable, high-quality Digital and Offset, and Large Format Printing in NYC. Sheer Printing Solutions is your single source for solutions to all your printing, binding, warehousing and fulfillment needs.