People rely more on digital technology than ever before, so print advertising must be dead, right?
Wrong. In fact, a printed advertisement could be more effective than email marketing. An analysis of data comparing the two showed direct mail had a 4.4% response rate compared to .12% for email.
Consumers are bombarded with spam and digital ads that they scroll by. So why not stand out from the crowd with attention-grabbing print ads? Here’s how you can take your printed marketing efforts to the next level.
Eye-Catching Design
Capturing people’s attention is more difficult than ever. That’s why your printed advertisement—whether it’s a billboard, a banner, or a direct mailer—needs to be beautiful.
You want bold colors and easy-to-read fonts. It never hurts to use plenty of white space as well to avoid the ad feeling cluttered.
Looking for inspiration? Here are some expertly designed printed ads to peruse.
Highlight Benefits
You need to immediately inform consumers about what your product or service is and how it can help them. How is your company different—and better—than the competition?
Focus on how your product or service solves the consumer’s problem. Drop in some glowing customer testimonials to seal the deal.
Keep It Brief
If you could, you’d probably take an entire day extolling the virtues of your product. But no one is going to hang around to hear what you have to say—you need to get to the point fast.
In fact, one study shows that millennials have about a five-second attention span for ads. Whether it’s print or digital, your ads need to be laser-targeted.
This starts with using an engaging design that draws the eye to the ad’s main points. It extends to the copy, which should be organized logically and easy to scan.
Tell Them What to Do
Every advertisement should provide a call to action that nudges the reader to take the next step. You’ve made your pitch and the potential customer is still interested. Now it’s time to seal the deal.
Create a sense of urgency by offering a limited-time discount. Or provide a complimentary consultation. Give an incentive for the reader to act quickly—before they move on and forget all about you.
Also, don’t hide your business’s contact info in tiny text at the bottom. Make sure it’s easy to find and easy to read. Give the reader options with a phone number, an address, and a website.
A Quality Printed Advertisement
Don’t forget about what the ad is printed on. You might have the best headline ever with gorgeous graphic design, but it’s all lost if the printed material itself disintegrates. A banner that rips apart in the wind is equally useless.
If you’re sending a direct mailer, choose good paper stock and a quality envelope. Check out these envelopes available from digitalprintboston.com.
Capitalize on Printed Ads
Your business needs a strong digital and print advertising strategy to gain market share. Creating a high-quality printed advertisement isn’t easy, but it is worthwhile. Want more business advice? Our blog has you covered.
