In addition to having a website and a blog, a business still needs to use print materials to market itself effectively. Some customers still want something tangible in their hands. This means printed material that supports a business’ marketing and sales effort. For example, one should bring a brochure, business card and catalog on a sales call. For exhibiting at a trade show, one should have a sales sheet to distribute and for a speaking event, fliers should be handed out.
Print materials are important because they are affordable, more so than most other forms of advertising. They help explain a company – its products and services. The most essential print marketing pieces are business cards, brochures, catalogs, one-page sales sheets, fliers, stationery and direct-mail pieces.
Small quantities of price lists, fliers and sales sheets can be produced in high-enough quality on a company’s own printer especially if they have a color one. This allows the company to tailor information to their own specifics and reduce waste by only producing what they need. For larger quantities of material, an outside print company should be used. Local copy shops and copy centers of office superstores can be used because they are fast and relatively inexpensive. Internet-based print services is also an option and are typically less expensive than copy shops. A company must not forget that ultimately visibility is the key.
The guillotine got its name from the ‘cutting equipment’ used during the french revolution (interestingly a war they actually won… as it was with themselves - hurrah!… but I digress). Italian cutting machines had existed from the early 16th century but didnt have any impact on the printing industry until the 1800’s.