Using QR Codes in Print Marketing: Engage Your Audience and Measure Results

When it comes to print marketing, you can use dozens of tricks to embellish your designs and grab your customers' attention.

Some available details, like using embossing for letters or using textured paper, are already promoted by many printing companies. One newer option that you should consider for your next print project is using QR codes.

According to Statista, 75.8 million people in the U.S. with smartphones scanned a QR code in 2021. They are increasingly popular and create more opportunities than you might realize when it comes to your print marketing.

Read on to discover tips for incorporating QR codes into your next print campaign.

5 Ways to Use QR Codes for Print Marketing

1. Get Creative with Color

When you think of a QR code, you probably think of the traditional black design on a white background.

You might not know that QR codes have become much more customizable!

Use your brand's signature colors, or create your company logo within the design for the code. This will make the QR code pop out from the rest of your print material!

2. Increase Visits to Your Website

One of the best ways to engage with your customers is by sharing information through your website!

But sometimes, sending them to your site in the first place can be difficult. Including a QR code on one of your print marketing ads can intrigue customers into scanning it and visiting your site!

Plus, by printing that QR code on brochures, posters, or stickers, you can showcase your company's info to a broader audience.

3. Engage Customers with Special Offers

A tried-and-true way to connect with your customers is by offering them special, personalized deals on your products and services.

Put a QR code poster on the door of your store offering a sale price reward for shopping in-person, or print one on a direct mail piece that will lead them to a unique coupon code.

4. Track the Effectiveness of Campaigns

One of the first things you should get set up to make sure you're making the most of your QR codes is tracking channels using the codes.

An urchin tracking module (UTM) can be applied to any URL, which would be the URL the QR code opens when scanned. 

You can use UTMs or other tracking methods to see how many people visit the webpage linked to your URL, specifically by scanning the QR code. In this way, they're one of the most straightforward ways to measure your print campaigns' response rate and effectiveness. 

5. Use QR Codes to Encourage Reviews

Customer reviews are essential to building your audience's confidence in your brand!

One creative way to encourage and remind people to add reviews for your company is by creating a QR code with a link to a site where they can add a review and print it on your direct mail.

Otherwise, for an even more immediate connection with existing customers, it could be printed on the bottom of your receipts or included on a special thank-you mail piece after customers make a purchase.

Incorporating QR codes into your print marketing can be a game-changer. Don't miss out on the endless possibilities they offer! Contact us today, and let's take your marketing to the next level.

 

9 Color Combinations That Capture Attention in Print

When it comes to designing for print, color combinations play an essential role in drawing the eye of your consumers.

Colors should be chosen thoughtfully to create a compelling visual design that conveys your project's specific purpose and message, ultimately helping your company make a memorable impact. 

Each color combination has unique characteristics and can evoke different emotions and responses from viewers. Here are 13 captivating color combinations to elevate your design.

9 Color Combinations That Capture Attention in Print

1. Analogous

This combination consists of three to five colors beside each other on the color wheel.

It gently transitions from one hue to another, creating an inviting atmosphere. Analogous colors are great for creating a specific mood or evoking emotion.

2. Complementary

This color combination is based on two colors found at opposite ends of the color wheel. 

These colors create a bold contrast and add excitement to your print materials. Be mindful of balancing the proportions of each color to maintain visual harmony and avoid overwhelming the viewer.

3. Triadic

This color palette uses three equally spaced colors on the color wheel.

They create a lively, vibrant color palette and appear more harmonious than complementary color combinations. It offers many possibilities for incorporating different hues and tones, enabling you to find the perfect color combination to reflect your brand's personality.

4. Monochromatic

This combination uses various tints and shades of a single color.

Monochromatic colors are harmonious and calming, creating a unified design. By playing with light and dark within the same color family, you can add depth and dimension to your print designs. 

5. Tetradic

A pattern of four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel, the tetradic combination balances warm and cool tones to create an eye-catching look with lots of variety.

6. Split Complementary

The split complementary palette uses a base color and two colors next to its complementary color on the color wheel.

It is a modification of the complementary combination that offers greater versatility in design.

7. Pastel

This color palette uses muted versions of brighter hues or tints of pure colors.

Pale and subtle, this combination creates a soothing, peaceful atmosphere. Use them to add a subtle touch of elegance and sophistication to your print materials.

8. Rainbow

This color arrangement utilizes the full spectrum of colors from red to violet.

It can be used to create dynamic designs with high visual impact.

9. Earth Tones

This combination includes natural shades like browns, greens, yellows, and blues.

These colors evoke a sense of warmth, stability, and connection to nature and are often selected for organic, natural designs.

Can Color Combinations Help Draw Attention to My Company?

No matter what type of print project you are working on, understanding how color combinations work together can help create compelling visual designs that capture attention and convey the purpose and message of your project.

Let us help you experiment with combinations to find the perfect colors for your brand and needs. Contact us today by phone or email to create your next marketing masterpiece.

9 Color Combinations That Capture Attention in Print

When it comes to designing for print, color combinations play an essential role in drawing the eye of your consumers.

Colors should be chosen thoughtfully to create a compelling visual design that conveys your project's specific purpose and message, ultimately helping your company make a memorable impact. 

Each color combination has unique characteristics and can evoke different emotions and responses from viewers. Here are 13 captivating color combinations to elevate your design.

9 Color Combinations That Capture Attention in Print

1. Analogous

This combination consists of three to five colors beside each other on the color wheel.

It gently transitions from one hue to another, creating an inviting atmosphere. Analogous colors are great for creating a specific mood or evoking emotion.

2. Complementary

This color combination is based on two colors found at opposite ends of the color wheel. 

These colors create a bold contrast and add excitement to your print materials. Be mindful of balancing the proportions of each color to maintain visual harmony and avoid overwhelming the viewer.

3. Triadic

This color palette uses three equally spaced colors on the color wheel.

They create a lively, vibrant color palette and appear more harmonious than complementary color combinations. It offers many possibilities for incorporating different hues and tones, enabling you to find the perfect color combination to reflect your brand's personality.

4. Monochromatic

This combination uses various tints and shades of a single color.

Monochromatic colors are harmonious and calming, creating a unified design. By playing with light and dark within the same color family, you can add depth and dimension to your print designs. 

5. Tetradic

A pattern of four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel, the tetradic combination balances warm and cool tones to create an eye-catching look with lots of variety.

6. Split Complementary

The split complementary palette uses a base color and two colors next to its complementary color on the color wheel.

It is a modification of the complementary combination that offers greater versatility in design.

7. Pastel

This color palette uses muted versions of brighter hues or tints of pure colors.

Pale and subtle, this combination creates a soothing, peaceful atmosphere. Use them to add a subtle touch of elegance and sophistication to your print materials.

8. Rainbow

This color arrangement utilizes the full spectrum of colors from red to violet.

It can be used to create dynamic designs with high visual impact.

9. Earth Tones

This combination includes natural shades like browns, greens, yellows, and blues.

These colors evoke a sense of warmth, stability, and connection to nature and are often selected for organic, natural designs.

Can Color Combinations Help Draw Attention to My Company?

No matter what type of print project you are working on, understanding how color combinations work together can help create compelling visual designs that capture attention and convey the purpose and message of your project.

Let us help you experiment with combinations to find the perfect colors for your brand and needs. Contact us today by phone or email to create your next marketing masterpiece.

5 Sense-ible Tricks to Getting Your Direct Mail Read

In the modern world that we live in, most consumers get constantly bombarded with sensory and visual information through online platforms. 

It can be tricky to design engaging direct mail in this landscape that will catch the reader's attention as those online ads do. 

However, 75% of people who receive direct mail can recall the brands easily, as opposed to only 44% of brand recall with digital advertisements. Direct mail can be an excellent tool for your company to use!

Make your company's direct mail stand out by appealing to consumers' 5 senses! It's a creative and effective way to make your print materials memorable.

Use Each of the 5 Senses to Create Unique Direct Mail 

1. Sight 

Visually appealing mail will automatically intrigue your customers.

Use eye-catching designs like foil, metallic features, shimmery ink, lamination/different varnishes, and more options to captivate anyone who opens your mail.

Another idea you could try is incorporating a 3-D pop-up feature or a peek-a-boo flap into your design. Ensuring your direct mail is visually intriguing will lead your customers to check out the message and spend more time with it. 

2. Touch 

Focusing on the customers' sense of touch can be essential to making a memorable direct mail.

Consider using embellishments like debossing or embossing (raising or imprinting letters or your logo) or using textured paper to create a sensory experience for your customers. 

You could also include small token gifts, like pens or stickers with your company name or logo! Tangible items will cater to recipients' sense of touch and make them more likely to reach out in the future!

3. Smell

Research shows that there is a powerful connection between scent and memory.

So why not try including a scented element in your direct mail to help consumers remember your brand?

You could use lightly scented stationery or create a scratch-and-sniff feature on your mail that relates to your product. Or get more creative and include a free air freshener branded with your company name and logo!

4. Sound

Appealing to your recipients' sense of sound with direct mail requires creativity, but it will undoubtedly make your mail piece memorable!

You could print a QR code or include a link on your direct mail design to lead customers to a site with a specialized video ready to play. Another idea is to feature familiar lyrics from your company jingle in the text of your mail to trigger their memory of the song.

5. Taste

Although you are most likely unable to include something recipients can taste in your direct mail physically, you can still give them a 'sample'! 

Include a tear-off coupon for a free sample of your product if they visit your store, or list a coupon code in the mail that they can use online for a free trial.

By engaging all five senses, you can create a direct mail campaign to make a memorable impact and drive meaningful interactions with your brand.

Contact us today to incorporate visual appeal, tactile elements, scents, sounds, and even taste-related offers in your next campaign!

9 Design Techniques You Should Know for Getting Maximum Results From Your Postcards

When it comes to marketing, print is still relevant. And a well-designed postcard is a great tool to have in your marketing toolkit.

"In today's digital era, physical printed branding materials are often overlooked…However, print media could be the most powerful branding tool that companies are missing." 

Before jumping into this fun little project, let's discuss some of the critical dos and don'ts of designing an effective postcard. 

9 Design Techniques You Should Know for Getting Maximum Results From Your Postcards

1. Keep it Simple

We all have great ideas, fantastic offers, and critical information to explain to our potential (or repeat) customers.

But we recommend erring on the side of simplicity. Choose your words carefully and keep the idea straightforward and easy to follow. 

Try to stick to one offer: "Use this coupon code to save 25%." Or, "Go to our site today to sign up for free giveaways." Or "Claim your offer today at our website."

2. Keep the Design Clean

Try not to clutter the postcard with images (no matter how great they are).

There are no exceptions to this rule. Use a couple of images per side.

3. Use One Headline and Make it Stand Out

It's tempting to want to explode on the page with many exciting offers, sales, new products, and ways to contact us. 

Try to use one single headline per side, and make your offer clear so that it stands out. Use great colors and an awesome font, and make it front and center of the page.

Keep the headline the star of the page and don't use too many techniques, e.g., don't use italics, bold, and underline when you have a great title.

4. Try to Make It Trackable

Use a special URL or a specific phone number or email by which the postcard recipient can get a hold of your great deal. Then track it.

5. Supersize Your Postcard to Get a Better Response

Of course, you will need to weigh this cost to see if your promotion is worth promoting in this way.

But if you are taking the time and money to send something out, make it count!

6. Make White Space Your Friend

Leave some spaces blank, or just filled with a color block.

Don't fill every square inch of the postcard with text and pictures. "White space can help organize the elements in a composition and emphasize the most important ones. It also creates an aura of luxury and minimalism."

7. Don't Skimp on Color

Be sure you use color to grab the readers' attention.

This sometimes seems like an effective way to save some money, but color will increase your readership.

8. Don't Forget Your Contact Information

People need to know who the postcard is from and how to get ahold of you to place an order!

"You want your audience to immediately recognize your branding across all of your communication, including your print marketing materials." 

Ensure your logo and contact information is on the postcard in a prominent place so it doesn't get lost in the offer.

9. Print With a Reputable Firm

A cheaply made postcard will detract from all your efforts and money.

You want to choose the right paper and ink to ensure readers know they can trust you to produce quality results. Your local printer is the best place to get your questions answered and get the product you deserve. 

When promoting a new product or service, use a postcard that stands out in today's busy mail shuffle. If you have questions about doing that, check us out online or call us.

9 Design Techniques You Should Know for Getting Maximum Results From Your Postcards

When it comes to marketing, print is still relevant. And a well-designed postcard is a great tool to have in your marketing toolkit.

"In today's digital era, physical printed branding materials are often overlooked…However, print media could be the most powerful branding tool that companies are missing." 

Before jumping into this fun little project, let's discuss some of the critical dos and don'ts of designing an effective postcard. 

9 Design Techniques You Should Know for Getting Maximum Results From Your Postcards

1. Keep it Simple

We all have great ideas, fantastic offers, and critical information to explain to our potential (or repeat) customers.

But we recommend erring on the side of simplicity. Choose your words carefully and keep the idea straightforward and easy to follow. 

Try to stick to one offer: "Use this coupon code to save 25%." Or, "Go to our site today to sign up for free giveaways." Or "Claim your offer today at our website."

2. Keep the Design Clean

Try not to clutter the postcard with images (no matter how great they are).

There are no exceptions to this rule. Use a couple of images per side.

3. Use One Headline and Make it Stand Out

It's tempting to want to explode on the page with many exciting offers, sales, new products, and ways to contact us. 

Try to use one single headline per side, and make your offer clear so that it stands out. Use great colors and an awesome font, and make it front and center of the page.

Keep the headline the star of the page and don't use too many techniques, e.g., don't use italics, bold, and underline when you have a great title.

4. Try to Make It Trackable

Use a special URL or a specific phone number or email by which the postcard recipient can get a hold of your great deal. Then track it.

5. Supersize Your Postcard to Get a Better Response

Of course, you will need to weigh this cost to see if your promotion is worth promoting in this way.

But if you are taking the time and money to send something out, make it count!

6. Make White Space Your Friend

Leave some spaces blank, or just filled with a color block.

Don't fill every square inch of the postcard with text and pictures. "White space can help organize the elements in a composition and emphasize the most important ones. It also creates an aura of luxury and minimalism."

7. Don't Skimp on Color

Be sure you use color to grab the readers' attention.

This sometimes seems like an effective way to save some money, but color will increase your readership.

8. Don't Forget Your Contact Information

People need to know who the postcard is from and how to get ahold of you to place an order!

"You want your audience to immediately recognize your branding across all of your communication, including your print marketing materials." 

Ensure your logo and contact information is on the postcard in a prominent place so it doesn't get lost in the offer.

9. Print With a Reputable Firm

A cheaply made postcard will detract from all your efforts and money.

You want to choose the right paper and ink to ensure readers know they can trust you to produce quality results. Your local printer is the best place to get your questions answered and get the product you deserve. 

When promoting a new product or service, use a postcard that stands out in today's busy mail shuffle. If you have questions about doing that, check us out online or call us.

Combining Social Media and Print (Here's How to Do it Right)

Figuring out which channels to use for your company's next campaign can be tricky: sometimes, a more traditional print-ads approach seems useful, while other times, a social media campaign feels like the way to go. 

But in reality, combining these two channels can create an even more effective result for your company! 

With a few easy things to keep in mind, your company can use print ads to increase social media engagement and use social media to boost the ROI on your printed materials. 

5 Ways to Use Social Media and Print Marketing Together to Your Advantage

1. Use Social Proof from Media Accounts

Potential customers rely on other consumers' testimonials when deciding whether to purchase from your company.

A recent report showed that 93.4% of consumers depend on customer reviews when investigating retailers for the first time. Use this to your company's advantage by bringing those reviews directly to consumers through your print materials.

Include quotes of honest reviews from your company's media accounts on your next direct mail design, and invite consumers to see what others say about your company on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram as a call to action (CTA).

2. Make it Easy with QR Codes and Short URLs

Including information about your social media accounts on your direct mail is a good start, but it won't get you very far if it isn't convenient and quick for people to utilize. 

Firstly, if you include a URL, ensure it isn't too long for people to type into their search engine. You can use websites like TinyURL.com to convert a long URL into one that's easier for consumers to search.

QR codes are the height of convenience, and they can take consumers to one of your social media pages, websites, or online resources with just a quick scan of their phone camera. 

3. Design Exclusive Media-Related Offers

An easy way to use print marketing as a bridge to your online marketing is by using a media-related CTA on your print materials.

For instance, consumers will be motivated to follow your social accounts if you use print for advertising a special offer or discount for new followers.

4. Try Out Hashtags

Include hashtags on your direct mail and encourage customers to post photos of your products or company using that hashtag!

It could become a viral social media campaign, creating something big from a simple direct mail design.

5. Gather Data for Direct Mail Using Media

Social media provides a pre-organized way to discern which pieces of your content consumers are most engaged by. 

If a photo on one of your social accounts has the most likes, use it as the cover image for your next direct mail piece. See which data your customers like, share, and comment on, and use that to your advantage. 

Are you ready to try combining social media and print for your next marketing campaign? Partner with us, and we'll show you how! Give us a call today to get started.