Print Design – Is Print Dead [2019]
Original Post: April 4,
“To write means more than putting pretty words on a page, the act of writing is to share a part of your soul with the world”
Is Print Dead?
Print. Many refer to is as a “dying industry”, but it most definitely has aspects that are not replaceable no matter how technologically dependent society becomes. Yes, the days of the phone book are obsolete. Google can find what you’re looking for in a matter of seconds. Yes, many people now read their books on Kindle or other mobile apps. It’s instant, doesn’t collect dust, and it automatically marks what page you left off. Yes, many offices have now gone “paperless”, resorting to emails for all communication and contacts. And the biggest change… the newspaper and magazine. According to the Washington Examiner, “Newspaper circulation dropped 3.3 percent, the worst in the last four years.” Each year fewer newspapers are being printed and read, it’s just that, well… you can find headline news on your smartphone or every time you log into Yahoo, for free. However, that does not mean the print industry itself is diminishing, it merely means the industry is changing, and businesses must switch up their services to meet changing customer demands. There will always be people who will choose the printed word out of preference, or necessity. Believe it or not, not everyone has a computer or smartphone! Therefore, the print industry can not be written off just yet, and here’s why.
You say you don’t need the “print shop?”
Those people, who were once printing all your brochures and paper goods, they’re the specialists in the marketing industry. Guess what they are doing now? Offering all those dying paper advertisements digitally. What was once a face to face, door to door business world, where you were limited to the proximity of distance traveled, has transformed to a global community! The printed flyer has transformed to a digital flyer deliverable via email to more people in under a minute than you could personally visit in a month. Undoubtedly, personal one on one communication and business transactions can never be replaced by synthetic transactions. But, thanks to the internet, many customer bases have been opened worldwide, and for that, businesses are all grateful.
Sure, your office may be “paperless”, but your business still needs print services.
Are you heading to a trade show, networking at a social event, or interviewing for new recruits? Giving someone a tangible item with your business imprinted on it is the greatest way to have a prospective client remember you. From a basic business card to a “freebie”, consumers LOVE free stuff! According to Time Magazine’s article titled “5 Ways Companies Win by Giving Stuff Away”, the power of giveaways are strong. When consumers are given something, they respond in a host of surprising ways, although most are unconscious and psychological, ”the net result is often that the companies handing out freebies are rewarded well for their generosity”. Nothing digital can replace that.
The modern print shop.
If you are a business in today’s day and age, you will need a website, with quality content, as well as upkeep with blogging and fresh articles. This is the new “print” that has been added on to, and in some cases replacing, the old “print”. Some things you must leave to the trained professionals. The quality of your products and a good knowledge of your consumer audience count when you are branding yourself and your business. Top quality representation of your business is a must. Whether it be a digital website or newsletter, tangible brochure, business card, or engraved item, the proper presentation of these items show that you are a serious player in the field, and that you take your business seriously.
Some may say that the print industry is dying, but that is not the case. Print is still needed, and in many aspects, it is in more demand than ever. The industry is just evolving to meet and match the world’s digital transition.
Entrusting all your digital and tangible “print” needs to the professionals could be a great boost for your business.
Is Print Really Dying? An Illustrative Infographic
