Ready to see the most effective way to get your business noticed?
It’s not digital marketing, social media, or SEO… It’s printing services.
Okay, hear me out.
Yes, custom printing products may have lost their novelty, but in today’s competitive business environment, it’s more important than ever.
There’s one factor that separates businesses that put in a lot of effort from the ones reaping a lot of rewards.
Quality printing services.
Stop leaving money on the table by not knowing which products to print, where to get them printed, and how to track results.
Why Custom Printing Products are Essential in a Digital World?
Look, I know what you’re thinking…
In the era of digital marketing, apps, social media, cloud technology and e-commerce, who has time for custom printing products?
You might be surprised to learn that the commercial printing market is valued at $837.20 billion in 2025. In other words, printing services are alive and kicking and play a critical role in the marketing campaigns of the best businesses.
The most effective companies know how to use digital and analog marketing techniques to create experiences that reinforce the brand message across touchpoints.
Physical printed materials make people sit up and take notice. They create a tactile brand experience that digital just can’t compete with.
When someone picks up your business card, opens your custom packaging or snaps a pic of your promotional product, that’s an impression that will stick with them.
The Most Profitable Types of Printing Services
As important as it is to invest in physical printed materials, not all custom printing products are created equal. Some printing services are worth far more of your precious marketing budget than others.
Here’s a breakdown of the printing products that have the highest ROI for businesses.
Business Cards That Work
Your business card may be the first impression your customers get of you, so don’t skimp on it. Cheap materials and amateur design give the wrong impression.
People assume your product or service is just as low quality. Make an investment in your brand by using high-quality cardstock and hiring a designer to help.
Printing services will often offer special finishes like spot UV coating, foil stamping or embossing to really make your cards pop.
Custom Packaging that Boosts Sales
Packaging is not just the skin that a product wears. It’s a huge opportunity to market your brand. Done right, custom packaging increases perceived value, fuels social media sharing, and turns one-time buyers into repeat customers. In the e-commerce space, creating an unboxing experience that shoppers are obsessed with is essential.
Marketing Materials That Convert
Brochures and catalogues are not dead, but they have to be focused and purposeful to be effective. Too often marketing materials are all about the business instead of the customer.
Make your printed collateral about solving the customer’s problem. The best brochures and catalogues have a high information density. You need to answer “What’s in it for me?” in the first 3 seconds.
Promotional Products Customers Actually Use
Cheap pens and keyrings are not going to supercharge your business. The most effective promotional products are high-quality, relevant to the industry, and brand in a tasteful way. Gifts like custom notebooks and premium tote bags create way more exposure than throwaway items.
The Key Factors for Selecting Quality Printing Services
Listen, I get it. Most businesses pick a printing service based on price, right?
Cheap quotes and free samples will have you paying more money and wasting more time in the long run. Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what the most profitable businesses know when choosing printing services.
Speed That Doesn’t Compromise on Quality
Rush printing is often necessary when it comes to marketing materials. Promotions come up at the last minute. Events pop up.
A good rush printing service needs to be able to deliver at the last minute. You should be able to rely on them for on-time delivery.
Time is money. Delays are unacceptable. If your printer is perpetually behind schedule, it’s time to find a new one.
It’s a fact: quality printing services cost more than the cheap guys. But in most cases, the quality difference is so significant, it’s worth the extra cost.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Technology matters when it comes to printing. Digitization has made short runs cost-effective. Offset printing remains the best for quality in large quantities.
The best printing services offer both and use it to your advantage.
You want a printer that is going to use the latest in technology to print faster and more affordably.
Support in Design and Branding
Not everyone is a graphic designer. Top printing services offer design and layout assistance.
You want your marketing materials to look professional and also be print-ready. Expert printing services have designers that can walk you through it.
Here are some of the things that should be red flags with printing services:
- No physical samples available
- Unclear pricing
- Hidden fees
- Passive communication
Watch out for any providers that are hard to contact or reluctant to send you a physical sample of their work.
Effective Strategies for Tracking and Optimizing Printing ROI
Here’s the secret: most businesses never measure the return on their printing investments.
They print marketing materials, send them out into the world, and assume they’re doing their job. You can’t make effective decisions when you don’t know if you’re succeeding.
Print like you mean it and measure your results. Add QR codes or short promo codes to your printed materials so you can track which materials are delivering results.
Build relationships with quality printing services and work with their design teams to spin up attractive marketing materials in hours instead of days.
The Future of Custom Printing Services
If you thought technology was going to kill the printing industry, guess again.
By 2028, over 40% of commercial printers are expected to have implemented AI-driven solutions to increase efficiency and quality of output.
AI is not eliminating printing jobs. It’s transforming the industry and increasing opportunities for brands.
In addition to standard promotional products and packaging, the best businesses are also beginning to invest in digital transformation and 3D printing solutions.
Wrapping It Up
Digital marketing is a powerful tool. But custom printing solutions remain one of the most cost-effective ways to reach and influence customers.
Investing in print doesn’t have to be a black box mystery. It should be part of your holistic branding strategy.
This means aligning your printed materials with your digital efforts, driving traffic to a central place and leveraging synergies.
Businesses who successfully incorporate custom printing solutions into their branding strategies build stronger brand awareness and sales.
It’s time to give your printing strategy the attention it deserves. Take a moment to look at your current investment in printed materials.
Are you happy with the status quo?
Or is it time to look at new printing products, services and tracking options?
To compete in the marketplace today, you need to stand out, as invisible is just another word for irrelevant. Utilizing quality printing services is one of the easiest ways to ensure your business gets noticed.
Happy printing!
