Coated vs. Uncoated Paper Stock: Which is Best for Your Project?

 

Coated vs. Uncoated Paper Stock: Which is Best for Your Project?

Paper comes in all kinds of forms. Knowing the different variations of paper and when to use each will help you choose the right type for your print projects. 

One major decision is choosing between coated or uncoated paper. 

 

Coated

Coated paper typically receives a fine clay or polymer coating, which seals the paper, restricting ink absorption and reducing dot gain.

Dot gain makes the printed material look darker than intended because of ink absorption. All this gives your finished printed products a crisp, clean look.  

Coated paper tends to be great for projects that include images and color, which means it's great for photographs, magazines, and catalogs.

One thing to note, however, is that coated paper tends to be harder to write on.

Below are a few of the subcategories of coated paper.

 

Gloss

A gloss coating is going to have a higher sheen and is lightweight. It also tends to be cheaper than other finishes while having vibrant colors. 

 

Satin and Dull

Satin and dull finishes are between a gloss and matte finish, providing a nice balance. 

 

Matte

Matte has a nonglossy finish to reduce glare and comes with extra opacity. 

Opacity is the percentage of visible light that does not transmit through the paper, and a higher opacity means the paper is less see-through. 

Matte tends to look a little more high-end and therefore comes with an extra cost. 

 

Uncoated 

Uncoated paper does not have a coating, creating a softer, warmer appearance.

For projects without a need for vibrant images, uncoated is the way to go. Without the coating, the ink will not be as crisp, and the colors won't be as accurate. Therefore, it's often used for projects that don't use vibrant pictures and colors.

It's better for projects with a lot of writing because the lack of glare makes it easier to read and can be easily written on, which is great if the recipient wants to take notes. 

Uncoated paper is generally best for envelopes, letterheads, business cards, brochures, stationery, bookmarks, and booklets. 

Uncoated paper comes in a variety of textures. 

 

Smooth

As the name suggests, smooth paper is untextured. It's popular for commercial print jobs such as books, posters, and flyers because it's solid and flexible. 

 

Laid 

Laid paper has a ribbed texture. Because it's less common today, it can help your letterheads, envelopes, and business cards stand out. It was most common between the 12th and 19th centuries, giving it a vintage feel.  

 

Linen

Linen paper, with its embossed, crosshatch finish, looks like a woven linen fabric. This high-end paper is excellent for business cards, greeting cards, and stationary. 

Knowing the pros and cons of uncoated and coated paper and the different options will help your business choose the right paper for every print project. If you're looking for advice on what paper to choose for your next print job, contact us today!

6 Top Ways to Promote Your Brand Via Word of Mouth

 

You want the word out…the good word! But how does that happen organically?

Sometimes it takes some help to brand your business and get word-of-mouth advertising. There are so many things you can do to help it along. Let’s take a look.

6 Top Ways to Promote Your Brand Via Word of Mouth

 

1. Hire an influencer

Sometimes using an influencer helps spur word-of-mouth advertising.

This method creates an image in people’s minds and gets people talking about what you offer. A recent study by Sideqik found that 7 out of 10 consumers trust influencers’ recommendations just as much as the opinion of real-world friends.

If you can’t get a significant influencer, try contacting a micro-influencer. Reach out to bloggers, video bloggers, or DIYers with a smaller following whose goal is to share subject matter expertise by producing tutorials, shout-outs, how-to guides, day-in-the-life videos, and so on. 

2. Create a unique experience

Get people to talk about your business because you treated them so well that they can’t stop talking about it.

No company wants bad publicity, but people are quick to speak. So make sure you do all you can to offer what you promise and surpass it.

Try adding a thank you note or a gift to the order. According to SDL, more than half of all consumers (58%) share their positive experiences with a company on social media.

3. Keep branding elements consistent

No matter how you promote your business and brand, you must ensure your language is appropriate for your specific audience. 

Think about the kind of language you use in your marketing materials, signage, and slogan, as well as on your social media profiles. Does it convey the image that you want to associate with your brand?

Additionally, pick engaging colors and fonts but keep them consistent across all print and packaging materials to create a branding impression that remains in your audience’s mind.

4. Solve a real problem

No matter who is talking about you, they will spread the word if you can help them solve an issue.

Make it obvious how you can help. Then, when they try out your product, they can see the truth and tell their friends.

5. Use a visual trigger

Create a space people want to snap pictures with or near and share on social media.

First, play it up if you have a unique decorating style, an unusual prop, a photo, art, or other items. Then, encourage people to take and post pictures next to it.

6. Use a hashtag

Hashtags are a way to categorize content on social media by topic or theme, e.g., #printmarketing. If you create a hashtag that includes your business name and encourage visitors to use it when posting about your business, potential customers can use it to find you online. So it will boost your name recognition.

While tracking whether the sales came from the hashtag or some other channel can be tricky, this simple tactic helps build more vital brand awareness.

The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. If you need more ideas, especially in the printed realm, check us out today!

5 Ways to Use Personalization in Print Marketing to Get Noticed by Your Customers

 

Using print marketing is a great way to get your company’s name out there and let customers know what services you offer.

But what if there was a way to increase the effectiveness of your printed ads, creating a better experience for your existing customers and drawing in new ones?

According to a study by Accenture, 91% of customers are more likely to purchase from companies who recognize and remember them, providing them with relevant offers or recommendations. 

Here are five easy ways to add personalization to your print marketing plan!

5 Ways to Personalize Your Company’s Print Marketing

 

1. Use Variable Data Printing

 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) databases are an easy way for your company to accumulate and sort information about your customers.

Then, to use the data that your CRM has gathered and incorporate it into your print marketing, use Variable Data Printing (VDP) to create a variety of personalized print ads that will better suit the customers to whom you’re sending them. VDP uses more than just the customer’s name: it can also alter your ad’s layout, images, and promotions shown.

Using VDP for print ads results in 3-10 times higher response rates than non-personalized direct mail.

2. Use QR Codes on Your Print Marketing

 QR codes are a modern and easy way to quickly send interested customers from your printed materials to your company’s website or social media accounts.

QR codes have many different capabilities, but one of the best ways you can use them to create personalized experiences for your customers is by tracking the links they clicked after the QR code has been scanned. Then you can use that information to determine which services or products are most attractive to your customers and personalize your advertising.

3. Respond to Constructive Feedback

 Some customers can find some targeted marketing methods to be invasive or unhelpful.

However, research has shown that 45% of customers appreciate one kind of personalization: personal apologies from companies after negative experiences in-store or online.

So if customers leave a dissatisfied review or experience difficulties while shopping in your store, take note of their information and send them a letter apologizing for the inconvenience. They will appreciate your efforts to make things right with them and will be more likely to purchase from your company again!

4. Personalized Print Inserts

 Although completely customized catalogs might be the most personalized route you can take with your direct mail, compiling a unique catalog for each customer would be quite cost prohibitive.

An alternative is to use VDP or another method to create customized inserts for your mail.

You could also consider including customized coupons to draw customers to your store by offering discounts on the products they’d likely be interested in.

5. Choose Personalized Images

 Visuals are essential- they catch your customers’ attention and can determine whether or not they open your mail.

Focusing your personalization on the images in your print marketing could have a significant impact. Using the data you’ve gathered about a customer’s demographic, include images that cater to their preferences and interests.

Personalization is the strategy to push your company’s print marketing the extra mile- engaging your customers and standing out from others in your field. Contact us today to get personal on your next print marketing campaign!