Although it may appear as if the whole world is going digital; many industries still swear by printed material and for good reason. Here are 7 reasons why print is still very much alive.
1. Printed documents still hold weight
Printed documents are still considered the norm in many important industries. Print is still deemed more official than digital for important transactions and thus printed documents hold more weight. All government forms, legal contracts and bank statements still require a hard copy. Therefore the old reliables, printers and ink cartridges, are still essential office supplies in every business.
2. Physical copies are more reliable whilst travelling
Have you ever got to the airport only to find your phone has died and you don’t have your ticket printed? Or you don’t have access to an important address or phone number because the WiFi has dropped?
A printed address is particularly useful for inside your luggage. If your luggage gets lost or misplaced during travel and the address sticker comes loose, your address and contact details can be retrieved from a printed copy inside your case. This will save you from losing your belongings.
It’s smart planning to have hard copies ready for journeys, especially when travelling through rural areas with bad wifi, or where no plugs are available. If you’re travelling for business, It can also be handy to have physical copies during meetings to be able to pass them around easily.
3. The written word is harder to ignore than online
How likely are you to open a letter that is sent to your house as opposed to an online newsletter? Or treasure a physical birthday card over a Facebook comment?
With the digital world becoming crowded with noise, a physical brochure, brand book or advertisement is more likely your catch your eye. A well-crafted brand book can be appreciated for its tangible look and feel. The effort that it took to print can be appreciated and leave a lasting impression for a brand. A physical print will last longer and can’t be deleted in one click.
4. Printed material is often cheaper than buying software
Many industries and organisations keep a mixture of hard copies and digital copies of their paperwork. The physical hardware and cloud software required for organising and storing data and documents however can be pricey.
Printed material can be the cheaper option. This is particularly true when taking advantage of compatible print brands that offer low-cost ink cartridges and toner. Compatible brands like 123ink.ie offer cheap printer ink that is a quality, cheaper alternative to the more expensive original brands and often comes with a higher capacity.
What else does 123ink.ie offer their customers?
- High capacity printer consumables for less
- Expanding range of stationery supplies
- 100% satisfaction guarantee on compatibles
- Lowest price guarantee
- Next day delivery
5. Printing technology is becoming more efficient
With printers becoming more efficient and printing in higher quality, it offers businesses the chance to print their own brochures, signage and other promotional materials in-house. This is particularly more prevalent with the growing popularity of easy to use graphic design tools such as Canva. This offers businesses the advantage of in-house control over their brand messaging with the added bonus of lower costs!
6. Print can complement digital
Print and digital aren’t mutually exclusive. One of the best examples of how print and digital can work together is the increasingly popular use of QR codes. QR codes can quickly take us from physical to digital with little technical expertise needed. Many industries are taking advantage of this QR technology. We see it especially in the hospitality industry with customers ordering from their table, cutting out the middleman.
7. Printed material has a more lasting effect
A study conducted by COST, supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020, shows that the physical reading experience is more beneficial to young students. This is despite them being ‘digital natives’. Students were able to more fully immerse themselves in the physical text and absorb long-form content better.
Likewise, the same positive results were found with consumers’ attitudes to printed advertising. Various neuroscience studies have found that consumers were able to derive more emotional connections from printed material than digital. This allows for a longer-lasting imprint in the mind which is a big win for brands getting their name and message out there. They were also able to retain the information better afterwards.
In conclusion, in today’s modern world, it’s never been as important to unplug, switch off and decrease screen time. Printed material offers us an alternative sensory experience to engage with content minus the visual distractions or pop-ups!
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