5 Helpful Hints for Print 

Marketing with Booklets

Booklets are a powerful marketing tool for attracting attention, informing the public, or educating customers.
 
Not only can booklets capture your target audience's interest, but they also convey critical messages accurately on various topics.
 
Handing out booklets can be an excellent way to increase brand awareness and subject matter authority. 
 
If you are considering giving this useful product a try, here are some helpful tips to make your booklets successful.

5 Helpful Hints for Print Marketing with Booklets

Before you hit the publish button, consider these five valuable tips!

1. Focus on Proper Brand Positioning

Your booklet's title, brand, and logo are critical components, conveying to potential customers what the booklet is about and why it matters.

If the introductory elements of the booklet are ambiguous, then the booklet's impact will be diminished. 

Consider these additional suggestions for effective brand positioning:

• Ensure your booklet's logo, title, and brand are loud and proud at the top of its cover page.
• Design eye-catching font in big, bold letters to draw attention quickly.
• Consider adding a specific image associated with your organization, event, brand, or business that readers can easily remember as an additional way to make it stand out from others. 

2. Ensure Ease of Reading and Clarity of Your Message

To ensure your booklet communicates its desired message, be sure it is both easy to read and clear to understand.
 
An essential part of ensuring ease of readability and clarity of message is taking the time to read through your work with a critical eye before sending it off for printing.

Remember that too much information can overwhelm readers, while insufficient will seem inconsistent. Thoughtfully consider what amount of content conveys just enough detail without overloading readers so they understand precisely what you want them to know.

3. Select Effective, Engaging Images

The visuals you choose to incorporate in your booklet are fundamental.

Images can capture people's attention and draw them into reading more. For maximum impact, ensure every image in your booklet is of excellent quality. Grainy photos just won't cut it!
 
Since booklets provide more room than other media types, such as brochures or leaflets, take advantage of the added space by including graphs and charts, which will help clarify information for your readers.
 
This lets your potential customers understand exactly what you're trying to convey quickly and clearly. 

4. Employ Vibrant, Eye-Catching Colors

The design of your booklet matters!

The colors selected should be captivating, engaging viewers while creating a visually pleasing experience.
 
Utilize vibrant and appealing hues to attract people to your content.

5. Display Your Contact Information Prominently

Your contact information must stand out to ensure that your booklet is successful.
 
Whether you are advertising for a business or event, including multiple points of contact should be a top priority!
 
Consider adding contact information, such as an email address or website URL, at the end of your booklet, so readers know where to reach you if they have any questions or comments about what was covered.
 
These five valuable tips equip you with all the tools necessary for success!

Are you considering booklets for your next print marketing initiative? We can help! Contact us by phone or email to get started. Phone:516-561-1468 Email: theprintcafe2@verizon.net

 

5 Embellishments to Help Your 

Print Marketing Rise to the Top

Do you want to captivate potential customers with your printed marketing materials?

Try using embellishments to make your print marketing exciting and memorable for your recipients! 

Embellishments refer to ornamental touches that accentuate critical features of your invitations, stationery, business cards, and brochures.

Check out these five suggestions that can make your print marketing stand out!

5 Embellishments to Help Your Print Marketing Rise to the Top

1. Foil

Modern printing techniques allow your company to go far beyond just the silver and gold foil printing options that were once possible.

Use foil in any color to add interest to your print material or draw attention to certain essential words or statistics by printing them in foil.

2. Embossing or Debossing

Embossing (creating raised images) and debossing (creating lowered imprints) words or your company logo is a simple way of drawing attention to certain parts of your print.

These techniques can increase your brand recognition since your name or logo will stand out from the rest of the design. It can also create depth, adding aesthetic appeal.

Just keep in mind that this embellishment works best on thicker paper stock!

3. Unique Inks

In the printing industry today, your company can try a wide variety of new inks. Scented, neon, or metallic ink are popular options that will undoubtedly make your product stand out.

With the constant advancement of printing technology, there are different ink options every day: one of the new and unique options is thermochromic ink, which changes color based on temperature. Combine a special ink with these other embellishments, and your print will shine!

4. Finishes

Instead of opting for a traditional matte finish for your printed products, try more specialized finishes!

A glossy finish can protect against ink smudges or damages while in transit while also elevating the look of your piece.

Research shows that when consumers can touch something, it increases the perceived value. Textured finishes can allow your company to create new textures on your print products (like scales, water splashes, or the grain of wood), which will be raised from the rest of the design.

5. Laminating

Lamination is no longer just for protecting a printed product (though that is a bonus)! You can use it to create the effect of specialty paper without the extra cost.

Experiment with metallic lamination or soft lamination, which creates a velvety feel.

And don't forget about spot laminating! Unlike a flood application, where the lamination covers the entire product, spot finishes are only used on certain design parts. Consider laminating your company name, logo, or tagline to make it pop!

We hope you are inspired by these ideas to help your next print marketing piece rise to the top! If you're looking for more ideas to make your next project extra special, give us a call at:516-561-1468

 

 7 Creative Folding Ideas for 

Your Printing: An Inspiration Guide

By Haidan Dong

Folding is not just for brochures and greeting cards. These are the most common folded print products because folding is often seen as simply an effective way to present a lot of content within a limited space. While this is true, folding can do much more than that. It can make a big impact through the way it interacts with design, stock, and product function.

Here are 7 folding ideas to inspire you and your clients, whether you’re a printer, a designer, or anybody else who works with printed products.

1. Fold something that’s not usually folded.

Folded brochures and cards are usually easier to take with you than bulkier print items, so what if you took the content on those bulky items and designed them for folding?

You could, for example, take the contents of a wall calendar and turn it into an accordion-style folded card, like this example.

Impact: Makes content more versatile without losing function.

2. Leave a tab.

You don’t always have to fold your products so that the edges line up. Leaving a tab or a lip can get the user curious about what’s inside the fold.

In this example, the promotions on the tab encourage the user to see what’s on the menu inside.

Source:SK Print Design

Impact: Shows only part of the content to generate curiosity.

3.  Fold a die cut piece.

Die cutting can cost a lot, but it makes a big difference if you want your folding to create a unique, creative effect. The cut shapes layer over each other when folded to add a new dimension to the design.

Here’s an example of a die cut brochure that combines this idea with intentionally uneven folding, which creates layers.

Source:Print It

Impact: Generates interest and makes the item stand out through uniqueness.

4. Create an unusual shape with folding.

If you’re looking to customize the shape of print products without die cutting, folding can do this as well. You can do this with foldable print product to turn its regular rectangular shape into something more unusual.

In this example, the folding turns a standard shaped flyer into a parallelogram and even back into a rectangle.

Source:Noelle Mullins Design

Impact: Presents the information in an unconventional, eye-catching way.

5. Make a folded label.

This idea combines the adhesive properties of roll labels with the functionality of brochures. Leave one panel or just an edge blank so that once it’s folded, you can apply the adhesive and attach it to the surface of a product.

Booklet labels are a common example of this. You can often see them on hazardous, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

Source: JH Bertrand

Impact: Folds a large amount of information into a small space.

6. Fold signage.

Folding signage turns 2-dimensional products into a 3-dimensional ones. Some materials such as coroplast require scoring before you can fold them, but the end result is functional, versatile, and sturdy when done correctly.

Here’s an example of folded signage in the form of bollard signs. While these are less popular in North America, the idea can be applied to signage in places where yard signs aren’t feasible.

Source:Universal Banners

Impact: Allows signs to be viewed from multiple directions at once.

7. Use folding to mimic your design.

Design and folding should work together instead of limiting each other. If you know that a piece will eventually be folded, you can design the piece intentionally so that the folding will imitate an element of the design.

In the example below, the door in the design opens with the gate fold of the brochure.

Source:Real Marketing

Impact: Lets users interact more physically with the design.

Preparing the print file for folding

Working with folding can get tricky, especially when you’re preparing the file for printing. The Print Cafe has file Templates for the most common types of folding that you can modify for more complex designs and folds. It’s a good idea to start with simple folded print products first. For Information on this Subject and others Call: 516-561-1468

What is BOPP? And Why 

Make Labels From It? By: Arthur Piccio 

What is BOPP exactly?

BOPP stands for biaxially-oriented polypropylene. It’s a variant of polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene a thermoplastic polymer, alternately known as polypropene. It’s an ideal printing surface and can be made into labels and stickers, as well as textiles and a host of different plastic parts and materials.

BOPP is essentially polypropylene that’s stretched flat. BOPP is oriented with a system that stretches it in two directions. This is where the “biaxially-oriented (BO)” part of BOPP comes from. The three most common processes for making BOPP are the tenter frame sequential process, simultaneous tenter frame orientation, and the double bubble process. This technical document from Brueckner-Maschinenbau, one of the oldest BOPP manufacturers, explains these processes in more detail.

BOPP parent material, PP, is the world’s second most produced synthetic plastic, after polyethylene (PE). It’s economical to produce while offering incredibly useful performance characteristics.

Common applications for polypropylene and BOPP include:

• Packaging labels
• Food containers
• Plastic ropes
• Medical-grade plastics
• Laboratory items
• Performance textiles

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What are BOPP film’s qualities?

BOPP shares the properties of other PP plastics, including ruggedness, fatigue resistance, moisture resistance, very low toxicity, flexible finishing options, as well a controllable transparency (manufacturers can make BOPP clear, nontransparent, or any translucency in between). Also, while they make long-lasting labels and stickers and easily printable, most off-the-shelf adhesives have trouble attaching themselves to the material. These qualities are perfect for long-lasting, food-safe labels and other common BOPP film applications.

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Why is BOPP such a great material for labels?

BOPP film can be white, metal-colored, or clear. The ability to make clear BOPP film allows the creation of transparent labels to show off the contents of clear containers. With the appropriate inks and adhesives, BOPP labels can also be waterproof. BOPP labels immersed in ice-water or subjected to high-humidity without deteriorating. Labels made from BOPP are extremely tough. The material offers exceptional resistance to fatigue compared to other common label materials and has an unusual resistance to common solvents, bases, and acids.

For food labels, BOPP film offers significant advantages. It’s non-toxic. The material’s also resistant to solvents and acids. Many food and beverage items, such as those containing tomatoes, citrus, or coffee, are quite acidic. Even when the items don’t directly touch the labels, there can be some off-gassing or limited contact during the manufacturing process that can stain or cause deterioration in other label materials. Using BOPP film for your labels can help mitigate this issue. These same properties make BOPP well-suited for bottle labels, jar labels, and canning labels.

For More Information on any of our Label Products Call or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

6 Ways to Boost Your 

Sales with Social Proof 

Did you know you can incorporate what your customers say about your business in your print and digital marketing to boost your company's sales?

When other people engage in something, it triggers the brain to reduce the perception of risk associated with an idea or activity, creating social proof. When you utilize social proof successfully, you convey to potential customers that buying your product or service is the safe thing to do.

Authenticity, transparency, and honesty are paramount to the success of social proof by building loyalty and trust with your customers.

Sound complicated? It's not.

6 Ways to Boost Your Sales with Social Proof 

1. Build Your Social Media Reach

You need to build your social media platform by asking for online reviews.

This is a trusted source for many people looking to do business.

People regularly check the reviews online to see what others have experienced and decide who to do business with. Nearly nine out of ten consumers read reviews before making a purchase. 

2. List Customer Experiences

Listing customers' experiences online will encourage people to follow the pack and try you.

Ask customers if you can get a quick testimonial from them and have them write it down or write it as they tell you what they've experienced.

3. Mix It Up

Don't just ask for one type of review.

Spread the reviews on multiple sites, such as Yelp, Facebook, Google, etc. Approximately 59% of consumers look at two to three review sites before making a purchase decision. 

4. Help Your Customer Visualize

Use staged photos and action shots of people using your product.

People trust this much more than an ad. They will see people just like them using your product or services and think they might benefit from getting a hold of you, too.

5. Use YouTube

Show your customers unboxing your products and freebies or learning about a contest they won from your business.

This is exciting and fun for people to watch, engaging them in what you're business is doing.

6. Promote Your Accomplishments

If your company won an award or received recognition in some way from a third party, capitalize on this by advertising it on your website, in your marketing materials, and online.

If you have an article written about you or your company, post it online. If any trust badges are available, place them on your website.

These are a few ways to build social proof and help people decide on their own that they want to do business with you. Seeing others trust you and use your product or service encourages them to do the same.

If you need signs to post on your company's doors to encourage people to give reviews, or you want posters or business cards to feature QR codes to link to a review site, we can help.

Check us out today! Call Now! 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website: www.printcafeli.com

 

3 Fresh Color Combinations 

to Shake Up Your 

Next Flyer Design

Did you know the colors you select for your flyers can be the difference between them getting noticed or not?

If you're planning your next flyer design, we have a few combos (and the theory behind them) to help you get more eyes on the page. 

Why It Matters 

Brands don't have much time to make an impression. Most people judge products or services within 90 seconds, and up to 90% of that assessment is based solely on color. If people have limited bandwidth to absorb a flyer, you can't neglect how the colors come across to them. 

3 Fresh Color Combinations to Shake Up Your Next Flyer Design

Baby Blue & Peach 

Light colors have a way of lifting people's spirits by introducing some softness to the eyes.

Pastels have been a significant design trend as of late, mainly because bold and brash colors can be hard to look at for too long. They might attract some notice immediately, but the effects can be offputting with more than a minimal glance. 

Light blue and peach look beautiful together because they play off each other's natural tones, and their beauty throws the focus on the text without diminishing the design's visual appeal.

As your brand likely already has preferred colors, consider how a different color palette could be used for whatever you want to advertise. For instance, if you're having a soft launch of a new product, this could be a perfect selection. 

Gradient Green to Purple 

Gradient designs are excellent for making your flyer eye-catching without being too obvious.

The blend of colors in different hues draws your sight into a specific direction and prompts people to read the words too. So in much the same way as you'd want to stare at a rainbow, the color theory is that your eye is intrigued by how one shade harmonizes with the next. 

While you can pull this off in various combinations, green and purple are complementary colors. The high contrast will pop, and you can use the intermediate section to lessen the intensity of the colors.

With the two brightest colors at opposite ends of the spectrum, you can imagine that the words in the middle will stand out even more. 

Cherry Red and Gold 

Red and gold colors are typically associated with luxury and are typically standouts wherever they're placed.

Highly recommended for flyers that will be posted in crowded spaces, this energetic and passionate combo would be excellent for brands that are passionate and ready for action. 

If you want to play with this color combination without overwhelming the view, consider how a stark white background and hints of cherry red and gold could make an impression. This option still plays up the luxury angle but may have more impact if used sparingly. 

Flyer color combinations should, in part, reflect the overall branding sensibilities you've already chosen. However, just because your logo, fonts, and graphics are always in the same color scheme doesn't mean you can never mix things up.

If you want to experiment with a new flyer design, use these color combinations to inspire people to take a fresh look at what you can do for them. Or contact us to help you develop a unique color combination that perfectly fits your brand! Call Today! 516-561-1468

 

5 Ways to Make Your 

Print Catalog Campaigns Rock

From brochures, business cards, and mailers, it takes a variety of marketing collateral to build a comprehensive, successful marketing campaign.

Among the most critical pieces is a catalog, and it’s still the surefire way to build awareness of your products and services to customers and prospects. According to Data & Marketing Association data, 41% of millennials and 53% of Gen Xers reported enjoying catalogs.

With catalogs making a comeback, let’s make them work for your business.

5 Ways to Make Your Print Catalog Campaigns Rock

Choose the Best Size

Make your products stand out on the page by choosing the right catalog size.

If you have fewer products or services, you don’t need large spaces devoted to photos. The sizes of 5 ½ by 8 ½ inches or 6 by 9 inches will suffice.

On the other hand, if your products are intricate or detailed, you need space for large photos or illustrations. In that case, 8 ½ by 11 inches or 9 by 12 inches will be more comfortable.

Consider Coating

Customers and prospects can feel the difference between the catalogs they receive.

Getting your catalog to stand out is essential to getting it noticed. Adding an aqueous coating is one of the easiest ways to make it pop. To enhance your pages, you can choose from gloss, matte, or satin coating. 

Decide on the Best Binding

Another top consideration is the binding that will keep your catalog together.

Saddle-stitching is often your best bet because it’s user-friendly and affordable. This allows readers to open the catalog and lay it flat while reading.

Discover other styles such as case bound, perfect bound, and pamphlet stitch.

Remember to create your catalog in four-page increments to allow maximum use of the space and prevent the need to add blank pages.

Tell a Story

Essentially, your business is publishing its own magazine with a catalog.

It focuses on your products and services and the people, work, and mission that support your company.

Demonstrate your dedication to your business and the customers you serve. This will help you stand out by explaining why you’re different and better than your competitors.

Solve Customer Issues

Your customers have pain points.

After identifying those issues, show how your business addresses these challenges or how they can overcome them with your help inside the pages of your catalog.

Catalogs can be a powerful marketing tool if done correctly.

Partner with us as your printing provider to get the marketing expertise that makes a difference in your business. Let’s get started! Call Today 516-561-1468