Over the last decade, digital marketing has come to the forefront of most businesses’ marketing strategies. Also called internet marketing, digital marketing is a way of promoting a business over the internet using tools that help drive traffic, leads, and sales. Digital marketing is a broad term that consists of a range of marketing tactics – including search, paid media, content, email, social media, and more.
When it comes to the success of your business, digital marketing plays a crucial role, but this doesn’t mean that the Internet is the only place your branding appears.
While digital marketing and your digital branding are essential and fundamental, there are many times you need print marketing materials to make a tremendous real-world impression. While web pages are often skimmed in slightly less than 1 minute, visually engaging print materials can live in streets, offices, and homes for years. Print marketing can play a vital role in supporting digital marketing campaigns. It is still a very powerful method of advertising, providing a different way to engage the audience, driving an omnichannel marketing experience.
#1 Print helps you reach your target market
In the modern Internet era, everything can be done online from buying furniture for your home to movie tickets for your favorite films. The Internet has revolutionalized our lifestyles. This change is also why businesses are aggressively marketing their products and services online. However, for specific demographics and niche markets, the Internet is still unable to reach them or convert them effectively. Therefore, print publications can still work effectively in such situations.
#2 Print helps you get physical
Unlike digital marketing, print marketing materials are something that you can hold in your hands. You can see, touch and feel them. It helps to create a physical customer presence when you need to come in physical contact with your customers, like in a retail store or at an event.
#3 Print helps you grab attention and build relationships
Engagement is key to a successful marketing campaign. Without it, you would have no point in trying to advertise. Consumers often skim websites in slightly less than a minute. Studies have also shown that people are reading digital platform 20% to 30% slower than they do on printed materials. So if you want your content to be adequately understood from the beginning to the end, a brochure (or any form of print media) is the way forward. Print media is also a trusted form of marketing channel and has a host of content areas: news, information, inspiration, education, special offers, and entertainment. Tapping into print is a great way to start a solid relationship with a potential customer.
#4 Print helps your customers to remember you
Not everyone has their phone ready to look up for your Twitter handle or LinkedIn profile, and who can ever find a pen whenever they need one? Business cards are still relevant in today’s world when you’re networking with potential clients, vendors or colleagues. This goes the same if you have none of the print marketing materials ready for your customers to remember you or your business, it is hard for them to look up for you again on the Internet.
#5 Print helps you develop an omnichannel brand experience
When people are becoming more and more blind to digital advertising, print offers an alternative medium to connect with your audience. It can also help maximize impact around a product launch or announcement by building an integrated marketing campaign that brings the best of both worlds (online and offline) together.
If you take a look at your business today and ask yourself, “Does my brand stand out from others?” If the answer is no, then you will have to do more. 9 out of 10 people that compare brands will go with the one they recognize. The only way to make sure that they can recognize your brand is by getting your brand out in public and making sure your brand is on as many platforms (that matter the most) as possible.
Moving Forward…
When most people contemplate on diversifying their digital strategy, they immediately think about incorporating some digital method that they aren’t currently using – such as social media platforms, live streaming video, or blog posts. However, true diversification would be to look at exploring a medium that’s different.
Unlike other forms of marketing, print can have an effect for a longer time. And it is a form of marketing that still has a place in an integrated marketing strategy.
So start dipping your toes in the uncharted water and work with a good printing service provider to get your campaign running – and don’t be alarmed if you like what you find and end up diving headfirst into the deep end.
