Technology continues to change our industry… and now it has changed forever! Microchips, the Internet, and new printing processes have accelerated changes to the print media industry and we have a decision to make.

The decision before us is “Am I going to ride out as long as I can the traditional print model” or “Am I going to look at the new opportunities in our industry and drive my business into the future?”

This is really a “how long do I want to be in the industry” question. For those of you interested in moving into new products and services generated by the microchip, the Internet and new printing processes , I suggest two areas for you to follow.

Digital Print Media Technologies. Our industry was born with Gutenberg, which evolved into letterpress, and later offset as the primary printing process. But now digital is going to become the dominant print process. We could debate this, but most certainly, more digital presses will be sold than offset in the future. Digital print allows a customer to print small quantities of highly targeted pieces on substrates we never dreamed we could print on in the past. Think about what that means to your customer: Short runs, highly targeted, many substrates.

Electronic Media. The Internet is powering new forms of digital communications that were not even thought about just a few years ago. From email marketing and PURLs to QR codes and PDF files, you have more tools at your disposal to bring new creative solutions to your customers. A recent study showed that print buyers are now buying 14 percent of their purchases on the Internet and print media service providers predict that will grow to 50 percent in the next few years. We can provide greater service than ever with these electronic media tools.

This article comes from printmediacentr edit released

Many companies reject print media advertising, believing the digital age has given way to more efficient forms of marketing. But comparisons between print media and electronic media have shown that print media provides many incredible advantages. Magazines, newspapers, leaflets, and catalogues are more effective at targeting customers and making a lasting impression. Here are some of the advantages of printed media over electronic media.

Advantages of Print Media vs. Electronic Media

Can electronic media replace print media? If you ask brands like Ikea or Williams-Sonoma, the answer would be “no.” These companies derive a huge part of their success from their catalogs and print media. Flashy magazines with vibrant photographs will always be popular among consumers and they’re very effective at grabbing readers’ attention. Additionally, print media is generally an easy and affordable medium to advertise with and effectively spreads awareness within a specific geographical area. You can target your demographic more easily with print media by doing research and delivering your catalogs right to your prospective customers’ mailboxes. Print media allows for easy budgeting and expense management as well.

As for electronic media, although it has a much wider reach and allows for greater flexibility, its results still do not compare to the quality customer relationships you can gain from using a print media strategy. Electronic media does allow businesses and retailers to use pictures, animations, and even 3D imaging to market their products or services, but it comes at a cost. It is actually much more affordable to set up a print marketing campaign. And the profit you gain through targeting the consumers most likely to buy your products outweighs the investment.

Important Types of Print Media

There are three main important types of print media: newspapers and articles, magazines and catalogs, and books. Newspapers and articles are delivered in a frequent and regular manner, and they can be presented attractively to create interest in the reader. This form also provides accurate and authentic information about current events locally and worldwide, related to various human-interest topics like health or entertainment.

Magazines and catalogs go deeper into a particular topic. They can feature stories, interviews, research, or analysis to provide the reader with more details about a specific topic. Unlike newspapers, which provide information on several topics and categories, magazines focus all their content on something specific and provide in-depth research and information about it. Some topic examples include fashion, technology, gaming, interior design, and fitness.

Thirdly, print media can come in the form of books. These can be considered a form of cultural heritage, encompassing scientific reports, history, and literature. Whether it comes in the form of textbooks, adult literature, or storybooks, this form of print media is a great way to target people who still enjoy taking their time and going through an entire book about a topic. Biographies, history, and self-help are some of the categories of this type of print media.

This article comes from macromark edit released

In an increasingly digital world, the fate of print media is often called into question. Does the rise of mobile and internet mean the death of newspaper and magazine ads? The answer might be more complicated than you think.

Print media is naturally seeing a sharp decline due to the rise of digital. However, there are still channels where print not only makes sense, but can engage audiences more effectively due to its secure and intimate nature. And don’t underestimate the power of combining digital and print media.

Below, five communications executives from Forbes Communications Council offer their predictions for where print media will go from here.

1. The Law Of Diminishing Returns

I think Tim Wu really nailed it on NPR recently: It’s all about “the quest for clicks.” Digital and mobile mediums are steamrolling away the print world. As our society continues to grow its percentage of web-born youth, that print number only declines more and more. In the not too distant future, every billboard, every bus ad, every news source will be read/seen/watched digitally.

2. An Integrated Approach

Mixing print media with a fully integrated approach has been successful with our construction executive buyers, leading to larger enterprise partnerships. Combining social, native, digital and other lead-generation efforts to saturate the audience will help tell the complete story and reach the audience where they feel comfortable interacting with the brand.

3. The Answer To Security Fears

Digital content is beloved because it is easy to produce, syndicate, pivot, measure and demonstrate ROI. But in a world where businesses are limiting access to some digital content for fear of cyber attack and security vulnerabilities, the idea of evolving print media to include features like augmented reality or other digital enhancements might become an attractive option.

This article comes from forbes edit released