Choosing an “expert” to take care of your health and wealth is a given. It makes sense that you would forgo having a first-year resident perform a delicate surgery on a loved one. Or, pass on hiring an accounting student to manage your family finances.

And while your print communications aren’t exactly a matter of life and death, they do have an impact on the long-term health and profitability of your business.

At every corner it seems, another source for printing pops up. Office supply outlets have plenty to offer in products. Be sure to evaluate what they can offer you in terms of quality and expertise. Choices in papers, inks, format – you name it – all influence the readability and effectiveness of your printed pieces.

POINTS TO PONDER

No doubt, you are wearing multiple hats, and any assistance feels most welcomed – no matter what the source. Being a bit selective about whom you choose to hand off some of the tasks, however, will pay big dividends in the long run. To help you identify the best resources for your print communications, consider the following:

• Consultative services – A print partner, like Allegra Print & Imaging, offers sound strategies for the development and execution of your print communications, whether its identity materials, sales support tools or direct mail pieces. Being able to turn to a trusted resource with a solid knowledge base will put your mind at ease – and free you to concentrate your efforts in another area.
• Graphic design – Sometimes, you need more than a few hundred copies of straight text. For those jobs, every step of the printing process impacts what follows in both time and money. Working with a one-stop resource gives you access to a provider who designs with printing and mailing in mind. Your pieces look good and are designed to be produced and mailed in the most cost-effective ways.
• Relationship building – A collaborative environment provides the most fertile ground for growing great ideas. Real communications pros can look at your overall objectives and work with you to see that your communications goals are met.

Next time you need support for your print communications, think Allegra Print & Imaging. Click here for contact information. We help clients in Hamilton, Burlington, Ancaster, Stoney Creek and other areas of Southern Ontario to reach their goals. Through careful strategy and planning, your print communications will “connect” with your audience.

Print communications remain the most effective way to reach your target audiences. But getting the most of each marketing dollar becomes more and more challenging as you try to cut through the clutter of a crowded and competitive marketplace.
Consider these cost-saving tips the next time you are ready to print:

• Stick with standard finished sizes to reduce paper waste and minimize your costs.
• Be careful when using bleeds, that is, color or images that run to the edges of the paper. Sometimes they require larger sheets that need to be trimmed, resulting in higher costs and longer production time.
• Use color to print a large quantity of “shells.” Then, customize the text as your projects come up throughout the year with one color of ink.
• Similarly, spread the cost of color between several jobs. For example, design a series of brochures that share the same colors, and print them at the same time. It can be cheaper than paying separate setup charges for each.
• Before placing a special order, ask if there is a paper stock in inventory that might be right for your project.
• Choose the right type of binding. Saddle stitching (stapling the piece along the center fold) is one of the least expensive and most popular types of binding.
• On larger quantities that are printed on two sides, lay out both sides on one larger sheet. This is called printing “two-up” and can reduce costs by about 25 percent since press time is cut in half.
• Consider digital color output. Though printing small quantities (under 400) of a full-color brochure is usually cost prohibitive for many organizations, consider short-run digital printing instead. If set up correctly, your project can be output directly from your digital files and the press time is cut in half.
• Avoid rush charges. Find out what length of time is required for production, printing and added processes like folding and die-cutting. Stay on deadline to avoid rush charges, which can be as high as 50 to 100 percent above the normal quote.

For many great ideas on how to harness the power of print, see your Allegra Print & Imaging Hamilton professionals today. Allegra Print & Imaging Hamilton can help you make the most of your project from design to delivery. Click the link for a quote.