Making Marketing Goals 

a Reality with Print

Marketing is the process of getting potential clients interested in your products or services.

The keyword phrase here is the process. Goals aren't just about scoring a touchdown; they encompass every move leading up to that defining movement. In marketing, that includes researching, promoting, and sharing your brand and its offerings. 

When (and Why!) Print Marketing is Important

Did you know . . . 

• Print ads require 21% less cognitive effort to process
• Print advertising drives higher levels of brand recall than digital (77% vs. 46%)
• 82% of consumers trust print ads the most when making a purchase decision

How does print drive consumer response? 

• The response rate for direct-mail marketing is 37% higher than the email rate.
• Nearly 80% of consumers act on direct printed mail advertisements compared to 45% on electronic advertisements.
• Print and direct mail marketing bring a 9% customer response rate compared to other digital marketing channels, which hover around 1% or less. 

Even more exciting, brands that combine print and digital ads make online campaigns 400% more effective!

Now is the Time to Craft a Print Marketing Plan

When it's time to plan your print marketing, start with the ideal outcome.

Define how many first-time customers you hope to gain or how many product units you want to sell. Quantify the goal, then work backward like this:

The Crooked Spoon Café noticed that about 20% of recipients visited a "BOGO" URL link created as an online landing page in response to a direct mail teaser. 10% of BOGO link visitors used this time-bound coupon in the restaurant. From this information, the café worked backward to craft a direct mail strategy. 

The Crooked Spoon wanted to draw 200 visitors for a fall harvest gala. If around 10% of URL visitors use online coupons, the café needs about 2,000 visitors for the landing page. If only 20% of direct mail recipients would hop online, the café should send mail teasers to 10,000 households.

How might this work for your business? Define your "win," then zoom out to plan where, when, and how you'll use specific print products (brochures, catalogs, direct mail postcards, trade show flyers, or presentation folders) to get there. Tie measurable outcomes to the amount of print pieces you'll prep, and make this print advertising as compelling and timely as possible.

Like a perfectly executed pass, print marketing can move the ball from mid-field to the endzone in a flash! Need help? Our team of experts is happy to share estimates, samples, or ideas. Contact us today for details. Call 516-561-1468

 

11 Tips for Making a Style 

Guide for Your Print Projects

Developing a comprehensive style guide for your print projects can be a game-changer, saving you precious time and avoiding unnecessary stress in the long haul. 

Applying consistency and professionalism across all designs streamlines the process for you and your team, effortlessly facilitating the creation of top-notch materials.

Create an Effective Style Guide for Your Print Projects with Our 11 Tips for Success!

Creating a style guide can feel overwhelming, particularly when unsure where to begin. 

Thankfully, with a few simple tips, you can craft an effective and efficient style guide to elevate your print projects to the next level.

1. Start with Your Brand Guidelines

Your brand guidelines are the foundation of your style guide.

They define your brand identity, including logos, colors, fonts, and messaging. Refer to your brand guidelines when creating your print project style guide.

2. Choose a Primary Font

Your primary font is the font that will be used for the majority of your text.

It plays a crucial role in shaping your brand's look and feel. It should be easy to read and carefully chosen to align with your brand's tone and personality, reflecting its unique essence and values. 

3. Select Secondary Fonts

Secondary fonts are used for headings, subheadings, and other design elements.

Choose fonts that pair well with your primary font and add visual interest to your designs. Avoid using too many different fonts, which can create a cluttered and unprofessional look.

4. Define Your Color Palette

Your color palette should include colors that reflect your brand's personality and create a unified look for all your print projects.

Specify each color's RGB, CMYK, and HEX values for accurate printing. Consider limiting the number of colors to maintain consistency.

5. Determine Your Layout

Decide on the overall layout of your print projects, including the placement of images, text, and other design elements.

Establishing a specific layout will help create a cohesive look throughout all your materials.

6. Include Branding Elements

Your style guide should include a section for branding elements such as logos, taglines, and slogans.

Specify their correct usage and placement in your designs. This will ensure that your brand's identity is always represented accurately.

7. Set Guidelines for Images and Graphics

Specify the type of images and graphics that can be used in your print projects, as well as their quality and size.

This will ensure that all visuals are on brand and maintain a professional look. 

8. Detail Typography Rules

Typography plays a significant role in design, so defining rules for font sizes, spacing, and kerning is essential.

Consistency in all your print materials is crucial for ensuring a cohesive and professional image.

9. Provide Examples

Visual examples are a great way to showcase how different elements should look in your designs.

Include examples of correct usage for fonts, colors, images, and layout to avoid confusion.

10. Define a Writing Style

If your print projects include written content, defining a writing style is crucial.

This should include spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules to ensure consistency in all your written materials. 

11. Specify Print Specifications

Specify the print specifications for your projects, such as paper type, weight, finish, and trim size.

This will help ensure your materials are printed correctly and maintain a professional look.

Don't let inconsistent and unprofessional print materials hold your brand back! Make your brand shine with a well-defined style guide.

Contact us today to start your next print marketing project! Call 516-561-1468

 

3 Logo Design Elements 

That Are Trending Now

Logos- they’re instantly recognizable, eye-catching, and memorable.

In other words, the perfect way to distinguish your business from the competition and build a brand identity! A great logo gives customers a simple, creative image to associate with your company. 

In recent years, businesses have been more eager than ever to refresh their logo designs or create a new polished logo for their company. This year alone, we have seen refreshed logos from big-name brands such as Jell-O and Pepsi.

3 Tips for Designing a Logo That Works

Designing an effective logo can be tricky. Let’s look at which styles can make your logo stand out! 

1. Are You Seeing a Sea of Blue?

One essential thing to consider when designing your logo is color.

According to research cited by Zippia, 40% of Fortune 500 companies use the color blue in their logo. Something in this hue is tied to success! 

The color blue is known to evoke feelings of calm, trust, loyalty, dependability, logic, and security. These are all great things to remind your customers of at the same time that they see your company name. Blue logos are a trend that is paying off for plenty of successful companies

2. Take Your Logo Back to the Basics

Stripped-down, minimalistic formats for logos are also rising in popularity.

Companies such as Pringles and Nissan have been simplifying their logos, reducing them to bold and basic versions of their easily recognizable designs, and other businesses are following their lead.

Rather than including all the finer details in your logo, consider a more focused style that will communicate the basic idea and remain timeless. Using a more minimalist design for your logo is also a practical decision. In the digital world, a simplified logo can be easily used as an app icon or profile photo for a social account.

3. Bring Some Nostalgia to Your Logo

Another recent logo trend is leaning into designs that bring back nostalgia.

We are now seeing a return to the styles and trends of the 90s with vivid, warm color palettes paired with bold, rounded font types, like Burger King.

Many consumers worldwide prefer to buy products from brands that feel familiar to them. Choosing a nostalgic-feeling design for your company’s logo could help create that familiarity!

Once you take these tips to create or redesign the logo for your company, make sure to use that fantastic new logo on all of your print materials! We’ve got you covered for reliable and high-quality printing.

Check out the services that we offer on our website today! Go to:www.printcafeli.com