The days of a company expanding their brand awareness through just an ad in the paper are gone. The rise of social media is mirrored by companies allocating an increasing percentage of their marketing resources into the digital landscape. With the rise of these social giants, in tandem with the ubiquitous smartphone, the marketer’s dream has been realized: connecting to any individual through personal data to deliver custom ads.

The figures speak for themselves. Expenditure for digital marketing has risen a remarkable $100 billion, just between 2019 and 2021, according to Statista. There are many reasons for this trend, and we are the first to accept that digital marketing is often a brilliant marketing tool to achieve start-up success. 

We’re not here to bash digital marketing or to tell you that the only form of marketing your business should use is through print on demand services. This article outlines how print marketing can work in conjunction with having an online presence. We wish to prove how print marketing’s unique benefits can give any start-up success and small businesses growth in ways digital marketing alone cannot.

A rise in digital advertising does not mean this should be your business’s only focus.

What exactly is print marketing?

Let’s start with the basics. Print marketing is using physical services or tools as a way to sell products and raise brand awareness. To achieve start-up success, Print on demand is a great manufacturing tool when using print marketing as it uses sustainable printing and an efficient logistical system. This can be for something as banal as handing over a business card, as eye-popping as a Stand Banner, or a more quirky way of promoting your business, such as UV Spot Post Cards, as well as a variety of recycled products. 

This is in contrast to digital marketing which focuses instead on the virtual world. Popular forms of digital marketing are sponsored Google posts, running ads on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, among many other ways for your company to gain popularity. 

I love Instagram! Why shouldn’t I just stick to digital marketing?

Using a portion of your marketing budget to run ads on social media is great, and running a promoted email campaign can be a sensible decision to boost your website’s traffic. Despite this, there are flaws to having a digital-only marketing presence. 

One of the biggest downsides of sticking to just digitized marketing is having such heavy competition. With so many virtual ads, companies can struggle to be heard above competitors. 

Using only digital marketing campaigns can also lead to a lack of identity for a small business because this type of marketing can lack the personal touch and tactile feel that print marketing can offer. Many consumers report that they feel more connected to a company through the use of print because this form of marketing leaves a more emotional bond and lasting impression, especially when recycled products are involved. 

Then there’s the price. You may think that naturally, the cost of marketing virtually will be less than the expense of making physical products, but this isn’t always the case. A successful online marketing campaign requires high levels of expertise to ensure its quality stands out from the competition. Tools, platforms, and trends change rapidly and it's vital that you keep up-to-date or be lost in the crowd. These, coupled with the high cost of publishing ads to reach a wide audience can mean greater returns on investment when using print, rather than digital marketing, for start-ups and small businesses.

 Digital marketing is great, but it’s best when used alongside print marketing rather than its replacement. 

Alright, I won’t go digital-only. But what type of print marketing should I use?

That depends. First, you need to decide what your aim is for your print marketing campaign. There isn’t simply one form of print marketing that is superior in every field. 

Different forms of print marketing can be best suited, it just depends on what the goals of your company are. For example, if you have a limited budget, maybe aerial advertising isn’t the best option for you. If you want to shout about how environmentally friendly your business is, glossy magazines might not be the best choice. 

Brand awareness. That’s what I want. 

Every form of marketing, both in digital and print, should increase brand awareness in some capacity, but some can be more advantageous than others in making sure your business is the one everybody is talking about. 

One of the most tried and tested forms of print marketing that can achieve this aim is business cards. Business cards are a great way of spreading your message and showing off your brand identity. They can be a more affordable option as the number you print is really flexible. Having a business card that is of high quality and of brilliant design, can really be the difference in ensuring it’s memorable and gets people talking. What’s more, you can blend your digital voice into your physical products. Adding a QR code can mean your marketing is using the best of both worlds. 

To find out the best way to design a business card, check out our other article. 

Business cards seem boring, but they can make or break start-up success. 

This weekend I’ve got a stand at a festival. What should I do?

Festivals, events, and fairs are the perfect place to use print marketing as a way to advertise your business. You can really show your professionalism and the seriousness of your business by using X Stand Banner to attract attention from every direction. They’re big, so your company will stand out against the competition and your logo and company name will be seen by thousands of potential customers. 

How do I promote my eco-friendly business?

Glossy magazines have their uses, such as showing off your portfolio and growing your audience. But all that paper and plastic doesn’t shout environmentally friendly to us. What you can do instead is give t-shirts away at events, or as a social media prize. 

Now we know what you’re thinking. How exactly is giving away t-shirts good for the planet? Easy. By using 100% recycled materials, this Re-Tee Cotton T-Shirt is as good for your business as it is for the planet. 

Put some thought into the design of the shirt, and it can be a desirable item, which can do wonders for brand recognition and popularity of your business. You can include a note which states how your business does great things, whether for the local community or the wider world. 

 Print on demand + Recycled products = start-up success!

Anything else?

We hope this article has proven how print marketing still has a place in contemporary times. Like the rebirth of vinyl and record players, physical products are increasingly cherished by consumers as a way to break away from the all-consuming virtual environment. As there are so many ways in using print marketing to help boost your small business, we hope you find success regardless of your objectives. With the use of QR codes and social media prizes of physical products, combining physical with digital marketing can mean you achieve business growth in both worlds.