With the range of online advertising options now available to businesses, some have claimed that printed advertising such as business cards and flyers is now redundant. But this mind set overlooks one crucial factor about human behaviour, we like physical communication, things we can touch and feel as well as read. Therefore, businesses should definitely consider including traditional print advertising as part of their advertising repertoire.
Neuromarketing techniques
An example of what this means comes from a US Postal Service study from 2015 that compared the reactions of people when faced with a digital or a physical advertisement. They used neuromarketing techniques to judge their reactions such as eye tracking and biometric measurements. The results showed:
- People spent longer reading physical media than digital
- Physical media created more engagement and emotional reactions
- Physical media generated a greater desire for the advertised product
- People give higher subconscious value to items shown in physical advertisements versus digital ones
The study also showed that if these same people were asked a week later what the advertisement contained, they remembered much more of the printed version than the digital one.
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Why printed advertising works for your business
The flexibility of printed advertising is one of the big reasons that it remains so popular an option. From flyers to brochures and business cards to posters, there is a multitude of options that can suit exactly what your business needs. It’s easy to coordinate your digital and physical advertising efforts to give a cohesive approach to your marketing strategy and brand development.
Targeting advertising is also ideal for print advertising. If you want to reach the people in your local area within 5 miles of your business, for example, you can simply advertise in local newspapers or have leaflets sent to their address. This is more difficult to do online as people don’t always have their location settings switched on.
Fill the gap
The booming world of online advertising also means there is something of a gap in the realms of physical marketing that your business can fill. Fewer people advertise in newspapers, on billboards or through people’s doors and that means there is a better chance of your advertising being noticed if you use these options. Rather than competing against hundreds or thousands of similar companies from around the world while advertising on Facebook, you could be competing with just a handful of businesses on a newspaper ads page.
There is also a sense of credibility that physical advertising brings that can help with brand recognition. The feeling of a business card in your hand is still a big thing for many people who carry card wallets with them.
Conclusion
There are still plenty of benefits to physical advertising, both in terms of people’s perceptions and the ways in which you reach potential customers. By working with a quality print company, you can produce branded products and adverts that will place your business ahead of competitors both online and offline.