Due to advancements in e-commerce and technology, most people think catalog printing is on its deathbed. But the fact is that catalogs might still be as relevant as ever. Actually, print marketing is gaining popularity just like before. It is the driving force of several companies, particularly in the promotion industry.
If you’re in the marketing sector, you might have noticed several businesses are using print catalogs to get more customers online. So, for those who think catalog printing is dying, they might need to think again. Here are some of the reasons why print catalogs are still relevant like before.
Why printed catalogs are still popular
• It is the best tangible way to connect your brand with consumers – even though many consumers spend hours on mobile devices, printed brochures offer a memorable and lasting way to view goods or services. With the printouts, the client can quickly pick it again in a day or month without having to log on to anything.
• Printed catalogs cannot be thrown in the spam folder – even though email marketing is effective, many promotional emails are in the spam folder. Happily, catalogs arrive at the office or home of potential customers.
• Print catalogs help to facilitate online sales – one of the main advantages of having printed catalogs is to lead people to your website.
How to create a printed catalog that sells in the digital age
Since we now realise it’s impossible to write off print catalogs, it’s important to design one that can sell in this digital era. Below are useful elements you need to consider to have a beneficial catalog.
High-resolution images
If you want to attract more clients, it is essential that you have high resolution images. High-resolution pictures are clear and of good quality. If your pictures are of low resolution, your catalog will not look sharp and modern, leaving customers with a bad experience.
Have product information database
To ensure the information is well-displayed in the catalog, you need to have a product information database in Excel or another program that allows for easy table creation. The product database should have product description, product name, product category, product codes, barcodes, and other vital information based on the type of products or services you may be selling. This database is important to have at hand while designing your catalog.
Have a well-defined catalog layout
When it comes to catalog design, it might be a good idea to have a professional graphic designer working with your team. This will ensure you produce a well-defined catalog, that utilises all of the triggers, including colours and shapes which lead your customers to take the actions you want them to. Some of the standard features that you may notice include:
• Front and back covers
• Thumb index
• TOC – table of contents
• Chapter separators
• Individual product pages
• Pricing sheets for trade catalogs
Useful tips for designing a well-printed catalog
1. Describe the brand using images and descriptions
Your potential clients need more than just basic information. They need products that can solve their problems. Hence, they need to have an idea of what they should expect before a product is actually delivered to them.
Therefore, you need to create a story with product pictures and descriptions. You should provide all the information they want concerning the product without reviewing the specification list.
2. Have a design attractive to your target audience
For your print catalog to work, you need to have a plan that is attractive to your target audience. For instance, if you are targeting a particular age group, you need to mind the colors and the theme, along with any graphics, cartoons and gimmicks.
3. Make sure you are easily reachable
To ensure you are easily accessible, place your telephone number and email address on every page. This will ensure potential clients can reach you with ease. Alongside that, make sure you have mentioned your company website URL in case someone wants to visit the site (you’d hope they do!). This will ensure customers do not find it hard to contact your sales representative. Also, do not forget to provide social media pages that include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others.
4. Make it a useful sales tool for the customer
Even though a print catalog should be beautiful, it is essential to make it a valuable sales tool. Hence, have a section that mentions vital information such as:
• Mode of payment
• Terms and conditions
• Minimum order requirements
• Shipping
• Refund/Replacement policy
These are essential details that help customers know more about the product before they buy, breaking down the action thresholds and instilling trust in your brand
5. Keep enhancing the design regularly
Another important tip you cannot ignore is enhancing your catalog more often. Always check with your sales team for areas that may need improvement. For instance, you can choose to improve the catalog design or style every month. This will ensure it is relevant throughout the year with the latest trends which thanks to the internet are changing every month.
Bottom-line
Printed catalogs are far from dead. Therefore, you cannot ignore them if you want to improve your sales. And, if you want a high quality product, have a reasonable printing budget. Saving too much on the printing cost might not be a good idea. If you can, engage a professional catalog printing company that you can rely on for a long time. Moreover, plan everything in advance to ensure you have a useful sales tool.
