Think print marketing isn’t worth your organization’s time (or budget)? Think again. Even in today’s increasingly digital world, there’s still a place for print advertising. In fact, studies have shown that today’s consumers trust print advertisements 34% more than they trust search engine advertisements—and that the response rate for direct mail is a whopping 37% higher than it is for email.
Still, what if you don’t have a massive budget to work with when it comes to your print marketing strategy? We’ve got some practical tips to help you stretch your dollar.
1. Stick With Simple Designs
Simplistic designs not only tend to be more effective than “busy” designs, they’re also a lot cheaper. This is true from a design standpoint and also when it comes time to print. Whether you’re designing business cards, direct mail flyers, or brochures—try to stick to only the minimum information you need to get your point across. When selecting a color scheme, opt for two or three colors to keep print costs down.
2. Choose Paper and Ink Carefully
You might be surprised at how many different types of paper and ink you have to choose from, especially when you go through a commercial printing company. Take some time to explore your options and select the one that is most cost-effective for your needs.
For direct-mail ads, for example, sticking with a lighter weight paper will save you money on your supply costs and your shipping costs. Meanwhile, it may be worth the added cost to opt for thicker and heavier paper when you’re printing something like a business card.
3. Save on Postage With Bulk Mail Rates
A bulk mail discount through the United States Postal Service (USPS) can save you a lot of money on your shipping and postage costs, which can help you stretch your print marketing budget even more. However, there are specific steps you’ll need to follow in order to take advantage of this discount, such as obtaining a mailing permit and paying an annual mailing fee directly to your local post office. Keep in mind that when using a bulk mail discount, you’ll also need to handle pre-sorting of your own mailings based on ZIP code.
4. Track Your ROI and Revisit Your Strategy Often
Last but not least, make sure you’re carefully tracking the ROI for each of your print advertising campaigns. This will allow you to get a better feel for what’s working versus what may need to be revisited. From there, you can continue to refine your print campaigns until you’re optimizing your budget.
Looking For Help With Your Print Marketing Campaign?
Still feeling overwhelmed by designing a successful print marketing campaign on a limited budget? CleverLight Media can help! From eye-catching designs to quality printing, we handle thousands of print marketing pieces each year for our clients. What can we do for you? Contact us today to find out more or to get started with your print marketing project!
