For online businesses, it is said that, “If you build it, they will come”. But with the course of time this saying has changed completely and it is now, “If you build it right, then only they will come”.
Printing business is both B2B and B2C sales so extra care and attention is needed when you are trying to attract customers and making most of your investment. Building website for online presence is just the beginning of story, but there’s more to it when it comes to printing services.
Printing technology has advanced significantly, with web-to-print, variable data printing, and on-demand publishing software. Consider tactics like building a website, email marketing, social media, and discounts to market your online printing business.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the important strategies for promoting your online printing business and gaining long-term growth in this competitive market.
8 Ways to Promote Your Printing Business Online
We are presenting a guide on how to promote your printing business online with complete tips and back end work which you must put.
1. Build your Website, Perfectly
First things first and as we said earlier, “If you build it right, then only they will come”, this goes very well with building a website. Select an eCommerce or web to print platform which will satisfy all your business needs. Once your application is set up, while building your online printing website, define your website map first. Decide what all content you want to include in your website like pages for About Us, Your Team, customer Testimonials, Product Pages, Blogs, Contact Us, Offers and Discounts, Support, Return or Refund Policy, Terms & Conditions, etc.
How to start – Go for a static kind of website with a minimum number of pages. Some of the standard pages you should include in very first cut are – About Us, Contact Us, Product Pages and Blog page. The blog page is very important and we will cover in coming points how it adds credibility to your website. All the eCommerce website solutions available in the market allow the flexibility of adding pages as you go and as per your requirements. So, to start with the minimum number of pages and keep on adding new pages will help in keeping your website refresh and there will be something new every time someone visits your website. There are also subscription management softwares available in the market that can help.
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Once your basic website pages are done, start doing SEO for it. You would have heard the term again and again but will not be having idea about what it is and how to do that. SEO is combination of few tips and tricks to enable Google search engine to crawl your website pages to appear in Google search results. SEO enables you to reach your customers when they are looking for you or similar product or services they need.
How to start – Don’t look for doing everything on your own. There is a number of affordable freelancers available online, who can do SEO for your website and get your results. If you are looking for setting up a marketing team, go for hiring in-house SEO. SEO will take care of all the basic SEO requirements for all website pages like setting up Title Tags, Meta Tags, Keyword Density, etc. If your marketing budget allows, you can also opt for paid digital marketing mediums like Google AdWords, PPC, AdRoll, etc.
You can also opt for hiring a digital marketing agency that can help us you in building a complete marketing plan around your business.
3. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing will not necessarily give you direct customers, but helps you in establishing your brand presence. Since the printing industry is full of artwork, colors and eye-catching designs, you can make your social media accounts quirky and appealing for customers.
How to start – Create your accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Once you are up with these three, you can start using Flickr, Pinterest, and Instagram. Keep in mind that the visuals appeal more than anything else over social media. When done right social media can give you the right number of leads or potential customers. Here’s everything you need to know about digital marketing for your printing business.
4. E-mail Marketing
Once your website is ready and SEO is done, traffic will start coming over your website. Create newsletter sign-up form and inquiry page so that you can collect customers’ email ID and these can serve as your target list for e-mail marketing. Check the navigation and flow of customers across your website with the help of Google analytics, so that you can check which pages are they visiting, which are the exit pages and other relevant information. Google Analytics is one such tool that can help you in this and its available for free.
How to start –Start building your own email marketing list and keep on engaging with the subscribed customers. You can also go for a purchased database from third-party services for the promotional mailer. There are email marketing tools available in the market which are easy to use and affordable. Some of the examples are mail chimp, campaign monitor, YMLP, Send Grid, etc. These will help you in sending mails and driving more traffic to your website.
5. Quality of Services
All things said and done, but nothing can replace the quality of services and products. Make sure your printing is in sync with the advanced technologies. Focus on customer service and consistency in the quality of deliverables. Gone are the days when people will get in touch with you over the phone to place their printing order. These days’ internet is the one thing which solves every problem easily and that’s the reason why big printing marketplaces like VistaPrint, Zazzle, PrintBazaar are making huge profits by offering a one-stop solution to their customers for all printing needs.
How to start – On your website, give some of the new technologies like product personalization to your customers. There are many easy to configure web-based product personalization software available in market which will not only give an edge to your website but also enhance customer experience via generating online price quotes, unique customer accounts, inbuilt workflow approvals, creating a central repository of customer artworks and online printing advantages.
6. Offer Promotions and Discounts
Promotions and discounts can boost sales and customer loyalty in online printing. A personalized approach is necessary to maximize the effectiveness. Strategies have the ability to increase brand awareness, attract new customers, and develop a strong market presence.
How to start – Offer discounts on bulk orders, specialty materials, and value-added services. Align promotions with design aspirations to provide real value. Promote digital printing solutions and highlight how they turn imaginative ideas into reality while saving time and money.
Decide on promotion length, from a week to a few hours. Advertise on your site, social media, and email campaigns. Monitor metrics like orders, traffic, and conversions. Analyze feedback to assess success.
7. Invest in Paid Advertising
Paid advertising is crucial for businesses to improve online visibility and attract targeted audiences. It offers rapid and targeted exposure through search engine advertising and social media campaigns. A well-informed and thoughtful approach is essential for success.
How to start – Set clear goals, know your audience, and pick the right ad channels for a successful paid campaign. Choose the best advertising channels for your audience and goals. Use PPC on Google, sponsored social media posts, and relevant display ads. Create visuals that resonate with your audience and keep messaging concise and aligned with your brand. Set a budget and optimize campaigns based on performance.
Track ad campaigns with analytics tools for better targeting and messaging. Success leads to growth and increased online presence.
8. Promote Offline Marketing Strategies
Offline marketing can engage with audiences in a unique way. By combining offline and online strategies, businesses can create a multi-dimensional marketing approach that resonates with their target audience.
How to start – Define goals and identify the target audience and physical gathering places before offline marketing.
Consider offline marketing tactics that fit your objectives and resonate with your audience, like running workshops, presenting your print products at nearby markets, and collaborating with other businesses for joint promotions. Craft eye-catching printed materials such as banners, brochures, flyers, or branded merchandise to highlight your online printing business.
So, these are some of the tips and tricks which can help you in promoting your online printing business. DesignNBuy is one of the most preferred web to print solution provider and thus, we can help you in making your journey smooth towards web-to-print adoption, implementation and success.
FAQs:
What role do customer reviews and testimonials play in promoting my business?
Customer reviews build trust and boost your brand. Positive feedback can convert potential buyers into customers.
What are some effective online platforms for promoting my printing business?
You can leverage platforms like social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), your business website, online directories, and industry forums to showcase your services.
What strategies can I use to stand out from competitors while promoting my printing business online?
Showcase your unique design style, quality of work, quick turnaround times, and exceptional customer service to set yourself apart.
Last updated 29th August, 2023
