Commercial Print Design

Commercial print, just like print advertising, exists mainly for promotional purposes and is the driving force behind the print industry. As a result, businesses of every size and from every industry rely on commercial print design.

If your business needs anything from business cards to for-sale signs, it needs some print design. This category covers a relatively broad spectrum of products. The type of product you might need depends on the industry, the final goal you want to achieve, and the kind of message you want to convey.

For example, if we talk about real-estate business, you might need business cards for your company or your agents. For promoting particular property, you might need flyers, custom floor plans as well as for-sale signs. And for people stopping by your office, you might want to have brochures or catalogs ready.

Among the first examples of commercial print design were stamps and trademarks. As the printing technology developed, so did the commercial printing design. During the 19 century, many artists started making packaging designs and posters for businesses, thus beginning the age of commercial design.

Brochures and Catalogs

Every year millions of people all over the world are impatiently waiting for the new IKEA catalog. It is by far one of the most anticipated publications of this type. Some 180 million copies are distributed around the world every year. And there is an unconfirmed rumor that the catalog takes almost 70% of IKEA’s annual marketing budget.

IKEA is just one of many examples that confirm that print marketing still plays a vital role today. Catalogs and brochures are significant when it comes to high-value or high-risk purchases. Today's purpose is to reinforce a customer’s decision or help them decide in the final stage of buyers' journey.

A catalog offers information on all the products or services the company has to offer. It contains all the items arranged systematically, accompanied by photos and short descriptions of the products or services. Catalogs are still an indispensable part of promotional activities in the hospitality, wellness, and luxury goods industries. You will see catalogs included in the marketing mix of businesses that do not require immediate action from a buyer.

A brochure, on the other hand, is more marketing-focused. It usually highlights particular products or services that are part of the promotional campaign. A brochure can be one page folded in half, or threefold or can consist of few pages stapled together.

Flyers and Posters

As means for mass promotion of ideas, products, or events in public spaces, posters quickly became very popular. They started appearing between the 1840s and 1850s when the printers perfected color print. Visually striking, with bold colors, typography, and graphics, they’ve been designed to grab viewers' attention.

Many famous French artists from the end of 19 century, like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, Georges de Feure, and Jules Chéret, also did poster designs. However, Chéret was the most prolific poster designer of the time. He specialized in advertisement posters and will be remembered as the first graphic artist who used sexuality for promotional purposes.

• Advertising posters that brands use for various promotional purposes. They are usually designed with the “wow-factor” in mind, and if well designed, they won’t get unnoticed.
• Political posters became an important channel for mass communication in the UK during the First World War. These posters were primarily used to boost national morale as well as for nationwide recruitment.
• Movie posters are relatively self-explanatory. They are designed with the sole purpose of promoting a movie and inspiring the interest of the audience to go and see it in cinemas.
• Event posters are used for promoting cultural and sports events or public meetings. The most notable in this category are concert posters which became popular collector items.
• Educational posters have become a great way to present complex scientific subjects in a visually pleasing way.

Flyers are usually distributed by handing them out in the street or door to door. They focus on one particular product, service, or event, such as sales or discounts. Their size, paper, and print quality can vary drastically. Research shows that 79% of the recipients either keep them, pass them on to a friend, or take a quick look over them and toss them away.

Packaging Design

If you are a fan of beauty brands, then you already know about Korean skincare products. They enjoy justified global cult status, and there are always a few of these products on every best product list. What sets them apart from most US and European brands, besides great ingredients, is their fantastic packaging design.

Ever since famous Parisian artists made their first package designs in the 19th century, this subcategory of graphic design evolved into a proper art form. Today package designs need to be more than beautiful. They need to offer an unboxing experience as well. Product packages need to tell the story of the product and the brand, but at the same time, they need to relate to the customer.

Today, the packaging is almost as important as the product inside of it. According to the WestRock study, 81% of people have tried something new because of packaging, and 63% have repurchased the product because the packaging was visually pleasing.

Business Cards and Stationery

There is an ongoing debate that business cards are entirely outdated and unnecessary in our hyper-connected world. Yet everyone still has and uses them.

The proponents of digital will tell you that you can generate a simple QR code on your phone and share your contact details. Of course, you can share virtual cards via Bluetooth. Still, nothing beats the first impression that a good business card design can leave.

As a material used for hand and print business communication, stationery helps amplify branding identity. The most commonly used stationery items in an office are letterheads, envelopes, notepads, binders, folders, stickers, and pens.

How Digitalization Affects Print Designers?

Graphic designers today need to have a much broader set of skills simply because the final design needs to be applicable for different use cases. For example, you might be working on a book cover design intended for print. Still, you need to make sure that the layout you are making can be adjusted easily for ebook and audiobook covers.

It’s not enough to know the rules of creating a good-looking book layout. Today an excellent graphic designer needs to learn coding and styling languages like HTML5 and CSS3. They are essential for correct formatting and styling of text in an ebook. A basic understanding of motion graphics is also necessary since posters can be displayed on digital screens and don’t have to be static anymore.

We have covered all the basic and advanced skills necessary for a designer to thrive in the ever-changing world of graphic design. One thing is positive, print design will continue to thrive in the upcoming decades parallel with the new digital formats. 

For More Info go to:https://www.manypixels.co/blog/print-design/print-design-today

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

 

4 Marketing Ideas to Attract More 

Shoppers to Your Small Business

Supporting small businesses is a vital part of thriving communities, and it's something that should be celebrated and practiced year-round.

In a post-COVID economy, consumers are eager to support small businesses. One Consumer Pulse study showed that 93% of Americans believe supporting small businesses they value is important, and 9 out of 10 shoppers said this is even more essential after the pandemic.

As further proof, Small Business Saturday has emerged as a significant retail event during the busiest shopping season for small businesses. In 2022, projected spending reached an estimated $17.9 billion, as the 2022 SBS Consumer Insights Survey reported.

4 Fun Ideas for Getting More Shoppers in the Door of Your Small Business

Consumers' goodwill and awareness of the importance of small businesses create a massive opportunity. Here are four ideas to kickstart your creativity.

1. Capitalize on Curb Appeal

Part of the charm of shopping at small businesses is the experience, so make it fun for people to step through your doors!

Try sidewalk A-frame banners or a freebies table with magnets, custom notepads, or samples. Advertise in advance and reward people who participate in your highlighted theme (like a 15% discount to anyone wearing plaid or area sports team merchandise). Or collaborate with area merchants on a "Deals Near-BUY" flyer to build momentum in your neighborhood.

2. Reward Referrals

While your brand may serve customers beyond your region, an enormous 85% of business owners depend on word-of-mouth referrals, so actively influencing friends and neighbors is vital!

Bump up referrals by mailing a Buy One/Get One coupon. Or pump up a "Bring a Buddy" event with food tasting, demonstrations, free drawings, or a fun in-store activity.

3. Personalize Advertisements

When promoting your small business, highlight testimonies or quotes from real local customers.

Try before and after pictures, photos of your customers in well-loved parks, or advertisements featuring your content in front of an area mascot. If your city has special events during the season, tie these into your promos.

4. Offer Bonus Merchandise

When balancing price reduction and profit margin gets tricky, consider adding rewards instead.

Could you ask suppliers for samples to be used as "gift with purchase" items? Or pair your own smaller freebies with the full-price items—like s'more sticks with a tent purchase, socks with a pair of shoes, or a free dessert or spice packet with a cookbook purchase.

Print Local

Local purchasing has tangible benefits for shoppers and merchants: for every dollar spent shopping small, estimates show an average of 68 cents stays in that business's local community.

So, choose to shop and print locally and contact us for all your printing needs, including posters, mailers, business cards, and more. Give Us a Call at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

 

Personalized URLs in 

Direct Mail Marketing

Despite the more modern online alternatives in advertising today, direct mail will always be a classic and effective strategy for customer engagement.

Direct mail boasts a strong overall response rate of 3.7%, outperforming mobile ads (2%) and email and social media marketing (1%). 

A personalized URL (PURL) is a unique and helpful tool that can supercharge your direct mail marketing efforts! One of its standout features is the ability to digitally track the response rate for direct mail pieces, giving you data to ensure that your marketing dollars are being put to the best use possible. 

3 Benefits of Using PURLs for Direct Mail

1. Make Your Customers Feel Special 

Customers love to see marketing items that feel unique to them!

Each recipient's name can be incorporated into the PURL, giving you the perfect opportunity to add that touch of personalization to your direct mail. 

For example, John Doe's PURL might look like johndoe.trymail.com or john-doe.trymail.com. This will make your customers feel special and increase the likelihood of them following the link and engaging with your mail. 

2. Gather Valuable Data

With PURLs, you can precisely track responses to your mailings and gain deeper insights into your audience's preferences.

This information is essential because it means your team can ditch designs that don't yield response rates while improving upon the designs that demonstrate the most success. 

3. Integrate with Your Overall Marketing Strategy

PURLs can be integrated into your marketing strategy through various channels to enhance customer engagement and track responses effectively.

For example, incorporate PURLs as clickable links that lead to personalized landing pages in marketing emails or share them on social media. This not only enhances engagement but also allows you to collect valuable data to refine your marketing strategies.

Ready to supercharge your marketing campaigns with effective direct mail strategies and PURLs? Contact us today to explore how our printing services can transform your marketing efforts into success. Let's bring your vision to life! Call 516-561-1468

Direct Mail for Local Businesses: 

Unique Advantages and Strategies

Don’t leave attracting customers up to chance; be proactive with direct mail!

Employing the ability to reach scores of potential customers in specific regions, direct mail is an excellent vehicle for growing your customer base and publicizing your business creatively and methodically.

Direct Mail for Local Businesses: Unique Advantages and Strategies

Direct mail marketing is the method of sending out print materials to potential customers. Materials mailed could include postcards, flyers, or catalogs.

Scholars have found the earliest versions of direct mailings from ancient Egypt, around 1,000 B.C. Direct mail has come a long way since then, but it still has tremendous benefits for businesses today.

Direct Mail Can Physically Bring in Customers

A unique advantage to direct mail is that you can mail out a coupon or another promotional item to have customers physically visit your store and redeem it.

By bringing customers into your store, sales and business growth can grow exponentially. 

Get Customers Excited and Stand Out

Do you think young adults aren’t excited about direct mail? Think again!

Generation Z, or people born between 1997 - 2012, is 63% more excited about direct mail today than in 2022. Younger generations find direct mail more interesting and unique than digital marketing.

According to the World Advertising Research Center (WARC), this generation is particularly impressed with direct mail because they have grown up in such a digital age. 

By diversifying your marketing campaign to include direct mail, the generation bombarded with digital content will resonate more with your mailings and feel that the physical marketing stands out.

Direct Mail: A Tangible Approach in the Digital Age

Direct mail has strategic benefits for businesses, especially in today’s tech-savvy world.

Reap the rewards and return on investment by choosing direct mail to diversify your marketing campaign. Don’t just communicate with potential customers; encourage them to physically visit your business by mailing promotional materials such as coupons for customers to bring into your business.

Stand out from competitors’ marketing by sending physical mailers versus simply having digital marketing. Younger generations are hungry for printed materials they can touch and hang on to versus oversaturated online platforms.

Contact us today to begin your journey of creating creative and engaging direct mail! Call 516-561-1468

Mind-Driven Design: 5 Ways to Use 

Neuroscience for Impactful Posters

Science rules, not only in the natural world but also in the marketing world.

Neuroscience, the study of the brain and nervous system, and marketing go hand in hand, especially in today's competitive world. Utilizing science to gain consumer attention and interest can be incredibly impactful for your products and your business. 

Did you know that 90% of buying decisions are made in the unconscious mind? Now imagine harnessing neuroscience, or a better understanding of how the brain works, to create the most impactful customer posters possible. 

5 Ways to Use Neuroscience for Impactful Posters

Ensure your business's printed posters are seen in the most thoughtful, most efficient way by applying these neuroscience tips:

1) Location Matters

Where your posters are located matters.

Surroundings, or location, create 60% of the sensory sensations associated with a product, a Nestle research study indicated. Think critically and creatively about what is in your poster and where you decide to place it.

Be strategic and be connected with a positive and alluring location for your potential consumer.

2) Ditch Percentages

People don't listen to percentages; they listen to absolute numbers.

When communicating an offer on your poster, present the number like "You save $300" versus saying "You save 30%."  

Absolute numbers have a more substantial impact on customers and are retained better than percentages.

3) Keep It Simple

Using fancy or exotic fonts on your poster may be tempting, or your first idea to engage customers, but research has shown simple fonts are best.

According to experiments conducted by the University of Michigan, utilizing a straightforward font is the best way to convince or teach customers about your product.

Complex fonts help with memory recall, but simple fonts are best for sharing information.

4) Living Color 

The Harvard Business Review has found that nearly 90% of purchasing decisions are influenced by color.

Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow create feelings of excitement and energy. Conversely, cool colors like blue, green, and purple are linked with calmness and relaxation.

Color choices are critical in the mood and emotions you want your customers to feel and associate with your business or product. 

5) Engage FOMO

The Fear Of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a strong motivator for consumers that can be translated into marketing.

A study from University College London in 2021 revealed that urgent language increases sales. Words such as "Only a Few Left!" or "The Sale Ends Soon!" evoke strong FOMO responses that trigger customers to expedite their shopping or purchasing so they don't miss a good deal. 

Paint a marketing picture of urgency and saving money now, and sales have been found to increase due to the FOMO principle.

Work smarter, not harder, by utilizing neuroscience in your posters. The human brain is attracted to specific sensory elements; knowing these and how the brain interprets them can positively impact your print marketing campaigns. 

Head to our website to collaborate with our creative and professional print marketing experts on your engaging posters today! Go to:www.printcafeli.com

Writing the Perfect Thank 

You Note to Your Customers

A heartfelt thank you note can be the perfect way to show genuine appreciation to your customers, creating a strong and lasting bond.

But why stop there? Thank you cards allow you to seize the opportunity to extend warm wishes and heartfelt greetings to your valued customers anytime. It's a small yet powerful gesture that goes beyond words, expressing gratitude for their purchase, unwavering loyalty, and continuous support. 

9 Top Tips for Crafting the Ideal Thank You Note for Your Valued Customers

Writing a personalized note that resonates with your customers' experiences and showcases your sincere gratitude can leave an indelible impression on them.

These thoughtful acts strengthen relationships and foster long-term loyalty. So express your appreciation and encourage your customers with a personalized thank-you note this Thanksgiving!

1. Be Genuine and Sincere

Don't just write a generic thank you note; make it personal and heartfelt.

Speak from the heart and tell your customers how much they mean to you and your business.

2. Keep It Concise

Keep your note short and to the point.

Your customers will appreciate a sincere thank you without having to read through paragraphs of text.

3. Personalize, Personalize, Personalize

Include personal touches in your thank you notes, such as mentioning specific details about the purchase or their loyalty to your brand.

This shows that you have taken the time to appreciate them truly. 

4. Show Gratitude for Their Support

Whether it's a one-time purchase or continuous support, let your customers know how much you appreciate their business and how it has helped it grow.

5. Include a Call to Action

Encourage your customers to continue supporting your business by including a call to action in your thank you note.

This can be anything from visiting your website to leaving a review. 

6. Use Quality Stationery

Make sure to use good quality stationery when writing your thank you notes.

Contact us or visit our print shop for all your custom stationery needs. We take pride in providing products to ensure that your thank you notes express gratitude and exude elegance and thoughtfulness.

7. Be Timely

If you send your customers thank you notes after a specific purchase (vs. a holiday or occasion), do it promptly, preferably within a week after purchasing or receiving support.

This shows that you value your customers' time and business.

8. Get Creative

Don't be afraid to get creative with your thank-you notes!

You can include a small token of appreciation or a personalized message to make your customers feel special and valued.

9. Make It Meaningful

Lastly, ensure your thank you note is meaningful and specific to your customers.

This will make it more memorable and leave a lasting impression.
 
Don't underestimate the power of a simple thank you note in building and maintaining strong customer relationships. Take the time to craft a personalized and heartfelt message, and watch as your customers continue to show their support and loyalty.  
 
Need a little help getting started? We can help! Reach out to us on our website or give us a call for compelling thank you card ideas to help your customers feel appreciated this Holiday Season. Telephone:516-561-1468 or www.printcafeli.com