subject: Keeping Printing Costs To A Minimum [print this page] The recession has been a difficult time for all companies and even with small signs of economic recovery, it is still vital to try to promote a business without spending too much money. Printing flyers, brochures, leaflets and posters are still some of the best ways to publicise any business, so here are a few tips to keep the printing costs down.
Before approaching a printing company, make sure the volume of print has been clearly thought through. How many people are being targeted and what is the lifespan of the printed item? These factors are important as printing larger amounts can be much cheaper. Similarly, throwing surplus or unused items away equates to throwing money in the bin too.
Despite all of the digital marketing channels available, business cards still seem to be an essential item of stationery. Keep budgets down by excluding job titles, as it can be costly to reprint in accordance with staff changes and business growth. Similarly, for small businesses it may be prudent to simply print the business contact details rather than an individuals so that they are transferable to any employee.
No-one can deny that an all-singing, all-dancing full colour brochure looks impressive but they can be expensive and cannot be updated. However, a folder with inserts can be adapted as and when your business changes, for example as product ranges grow or shrink and company services alter.
Awards and accolades are a brilliant way to promote any business and gain customer trust but they have a limited time frame so including them on the front of a brochure or leaflet can mean extra printing costs the following year when the information is no longer relevant. An alternative is to produce stickers or labels which can be added to your company stationery for a set amount of time.
The four colour or CMYK process is the method whereby Cyan (Blue), Magenta (Red), Yellow and Black are mixed to produce a rainbow of colours. This process is used when artwork contains photography. In some cases it may be worth considering using a two colour process - usually black for text and one other for logos and images. Not only does this reduce printing costs, it is better for accurately matching the exact colour of a company logo by using pantone reference numbers.
If a two colour process is used (sometimes also referred to as 'spot' colours), pantone colours do not always need to be used at 100% saturation. Tints of the same colour at 25%, 50% or 75% can be used to give impact without the expense of the four colour process.
It sounds obvious but paper is a big factor in printing costs so limit the size as much as possible and use standard finishes rather than super glossy or laminate. These factors also effect the weight so are very important when producing materials for mailout: check which posting price bracket the items fall into prior to printing.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, make sure that all the information is correct before going to print. Actually dial phone numbers to ensure they are correct, and check for any typos as reprinting to correct mistakes is very costly and simple to avoid.
At this stage you may want to ask for a proof of your item. It can be difficult to fully appreciate the finished look on a smaller printer that may not be able to reproduce your item to full size or resolution.
Most companies have a variety of printing requirements throughout the course of the year. Being selective about printing every-day stationery items can mean there is more budget for those exciting or more exceptional items for new launches, open days or promotions.
