Offline Marketing: Where To Get Quality Prints

Category: Blog

Written by Estevan Montoya

On this blog, you will find much more information about online marketing when compared to offline marketing. That is because we are a local, yet, web based business. Nevertheless, there is room for offline marketing skills that you can use to help you online business website. Offline marketing essential is to attract the local market. If you have a small business, then most likely, you want to attract the local crowd.

To better understand offline marketing, let me give you a few examples of items you need to help your offline marketing efforts that can help you business website and attract leads for your business.

Sharp Business Cards
Front Glossed Post Cards (leave the back flat so you can write on it to mail)
Clean Tri-folds
Heavy Stock Door Hangers
And the list can go on....

These are all items that, if executed properly, can bring success to you business. For instance, I once created a simple postcard for a church that had 70 members. They got excited about the "clean" look, in comparison to to running off prints from a old copy machine. When the new postcard/handouts, they hit the streets to invite people to a special church service. As a result of 70 excited church members, and some clean looking hand outs, the church had over 100 people in attendance and added two families to their membership. You might ask, "how many did they hand out?" The print order was for only 250 postcard/handouts! That's a huge conversion rate for a little church. What am I getting at? Well, they were blessed for their efforts, but the postcard/handouts helped them reach their goal. This is why offline marketing is important. Sometimes your business needs a local image, not just a website.

So, where can I find high quality prints for my business?

4 Over

This is the company I use on a regular basis. If have grown pretty attached to them. They have several reasons for sticking with them, but they an exclusive print company. One must first apply to become a member by submitting a website with a portfolio and sample designs. It took me two tries before I was accepted. But once you're in, you get great offers. They have a point system that allows you to get coupons or even rewards, like an iPad2 or an xBox!. On the weekends, they double their points, so you can easily gain a chance of huge rewards!

Also, the more you print, the higher you membership level goes. With a higher membership level, you receive special discounts and can print items that are not allowed from the previous membership level. For instance, one starts off at the associate level. They are 5 levels, so the more you print, the higher you level. I am a premiere executive. I get special discounts and price breaks as an incentive to ordering more prints. Also, I have extra items that I can print that the two level below can't print. 4Over has a well round system and they always correct any mistakes as well when it comes to print quality of physical damage.

GotPrint.net

This has become the "king" of print companies. They are open to anyone joining, unlike 4 Over. They have very competitive prices, sometimes even better than 4 Over. They also offer a broker program where a designer can become the "printer", with a total white label branding system for designers to offer prints with their brand name. I have used them for several projects, and they always delivered as promised with very little errors. You can also have them send you a sample package that demonstrates their print quality. So why not sign up and give them a try?

Club Flyers

I first heard about this company from friend. I was designing a website and prints for the company he worked for when they asked me to look into Club Flyer's. We did go with them because they had a very competitive price structure. They actually have a pricing system that can offer prints at a lower rate, but it does come with a cost. You can have your prints made and they will give you a discount if you allow them to place their website address in a small section of the print. It's not noticeable, but it's free advertisement and you can get a lower rate. After, I don't mind giving credit where credit is due. This could be a less expensive route to go if your marketing budget is low.

Red Tag Prints

This is the "public" version of 4 Over. Since 4 Over is exclusive, they decided to open a website for general consumers and businesses that don't qualify for their exclusive membership. Don't be fooled since you're not in the "club" like...bragging rights here! Reg Tad Prints has the same great quality, buy with the membership level perks or reward system. Not only do they offer competitive prints, but they offer things that families can appreciate, like calenders, photo books, and puzzles. If I was just getting started in this business, then Red Tag Prints would be the place. They have an attractive website, quality prints, and items that a family can appreciate.

Printing In A Box

Last, but not least...Printing In A Box. The first time I saw this company was in small business idea magazine. It was an ad for starting your own online print website. I figure I'd throw this one in since we are taking about business and marketing. Sometimes it's better to own it than to go to a middle man. That's what this business offers. For a very affordable rate, you can have a website up and running in a matter of minutes. You set your pricing for other to buy from you, all the while you are getting whole prices as the business owner. I have seriously considered this site on several occasions, I just don't have the business to justify the costs...yet. My goal is to own one of their business websites one day. If you can position yourself right, this can be an opportunity for you to take your design business to the next level.