Wondering what print collateral is?
Basically, print collateral materials are a collection of printed “leave-behind marketing materials”. They can be utilised to support your product, service or event your company or business may be trying to promote.
There are a number of options for marketing your business. Printed material such as brochures, flyers, postcards, posters and banners are a great way to promote your products and/or services. Printed collateral has many advantages, but there are some disadvantages, too. It’s important to have a strategic marketing plan which includes printed material as well as electronic media.
Printed material: A branding advantage
Printed material provides your company the opportunity to saturate the market with your brand message. When consumers see your consistent branding on posters, flyers, packaging and postcards, your message is reinforced.
Printed material: A consumer advantage
Printed material connects with your consumer without having to wait for them to initiate action. Websites, email and social networking can be extremely effective, but your customer needs to visit your website, open your email, and participate in social networking. Consumers walking or driving by a large sign, banner or poster will receive your message without having to do a thing. Postcards and brochures delivered to the homes of a targeted demographic can entice them to read your marketing message.
Staying power
Printed material has staying power in the home or office. An informational brochure or catalogue can be on-hand for reference, even when online options are not available. Some people prefer to bookmark printed material or make notes on the printed page.
Disadvantages
Updating: Keeping printed material up to date generally takes more time than updating other media. For example changing a brochure to include new pricing information can take time for layout, design and printing, while updating a website is generally quicker and less expensive than changing, printing and mailing out a new brochure.
Document length: For printed material, documents with many pages can be costly. When using email and websites, length is not an issue. It is also easier to store electronic documents because they take up less space than printed design work.
Graphic Design for Print – my first area of expertise
It all started with graphic design for print; way back in 2002 when I was employed to design printed newsletters, annual reports and real estate adverts. I learned a lot about the printing process;
- How on-screen colour can vary drastically when printed
- How colour limitations can affect the design
- How you can only guarantee a colour outcome if you pay for costly Pantone inks (and even then you aren't guaranteed a 100% colour match or consistency)
- How newspapers can destroy a beautiful piece of art!
How you benefit from my experience
It is from these years of experience and learning in an office environment (both from amazing co-workers and also companies able to pay for reprints after my mistakes!) that you can trust me with your print requirements today. There are so many factors that need to be considered when creating design for print, and I will manage all these processes for you, and explain along the way when necessary.
Personal design and printing requests
I mostly design for small to medium business, but if you love my style and would like me to create your Wedding Stationery, Birthday Invitation, or other one-off design please get in touch for a custom design and print quote.
