Beyond printing capabilities, today’s top-tier printers position themselves as strategic marketing partners rather than just production vendors. Extra services that add convenience, enhance quality, and improve campaign performance should be expected from an exemplary printing company suited for long-term partnerships. By using this checklist, marketing-driven businesses to determine whether a printer provides the full spectrum of support they need.
Project management guidance
An ideal printing partner gets actively involved in strategizing printed pieces from concept onwards that align with campaign goals and audience needs. They make educated recommendations on format, treatments, and paper selection suited to use cases and distribution channels based on industry experience. By contributing insights into maximizing shelf life, versatility across audiences, and lightweighting/sizing options balancing aesthetics with postal savings, an astute printer serves as an invaluable project manager ensuring every job amplifies ROI.
Creative development support
Look for printers offering complimentary branded graphic templates or libraries featuring fonts, logos, imagery, and layouts from which to compose polished printed pieces with minimal design expense. Some provide dedicated graphic artists to collaborate on concept visuals or content layouts so non-designers benefit from an art professional’s perspective when brainstorming initial creative directions focused on high-impact messaging. Access to intuitive online portal tools is also useful for creating print-ready files on your own.
Customer data services
Data quality and utilization are imperative for personalized staten island printing and relevant behavioral segmentation across campaigns over time. Printers with data analytics teams purge outdated records, identify high-value targets, append fields to enrich profiles, develop data hierarchies for localization, model lifetime value projections based on purchase history analytics, and consult on data strategy to boost the productivity and profitability of printed communications.
Digital storefront convenience
Web-to-print portals give marketing teams and decentralized branch locations 24/7 self-service access to templated design builders, customizable product catalogs, user permissions controls, graphical proofs approvals, transparent pricing calculators, and real-time order tracking status apps. Online ordering, document asset libraries, and any-time reprints create production agility while still ensuring brand integrity and governance compared to uncontrolled use of external sites offering print promotions.
Mailing services
End-to-end support like print procurement plus mailing, kit assembly, and fulfillment streamlines deploying integrated cross-channel campaigns from one facility. Printers with mailing services can print variable addresses and codes supporting personalization, handle required paperwork for discounted postage, provide address verification to ensure deliverability and prevent returns, and finally mail printed pieces including inserts, signage, promotional items, etc. This turnkey approach brings simplicity plus potential postage savings unavailable from separate print and mail vendors.
Sustainability practices
Consumers and organizations choose brands aligned with their social values. Printers practicing environmental responsibility through the use of recycled papers, bio-degradable or non-toxic inks, contribution to ecologically managed forests, reduction of resource waste and emissions, and maintenance of certifications like FSC Chain of Custody or SGP Sustainable Green Printing strengthen brand affinity with like-minded customers concerned about the planet. Ask about “green” printing policies and avoid vendors lacking initiatives indicating social indifference. Some printers recognize client success translates to their shared success long term. Look for printers going the extra mile through enrichment resources that illustrate commitment beyond individual jobs.