First impressions count. And in a crowded marketplace, your marketing collateral has to work harder than ever to make an impact. It starts with choosing the right print service provider, one whose manufacturing processes and core values match your needs. From business cards to flyers and everything in between, Advertisers Printing has seen–and printed–it all. We are ready and able to assist and produce quality collateral at an affordable price (less than what you’d pay to do it in house) and in a timely manner. Give your house printer a break–let us do the heavy lifting… we mean, printing. Why should you trust us with your printing needs? We are a one-stop shop that removes the administrative and management burdens of printing and distributing your marketing collateral. We are a print communications firm committed to clients, quality, and sustainability. We make the production and distribution of your print marketing materials a “no brainer” on your end. Our new large format digital printing press was added specifically to offer our clients faster product turnaround as well as a more sustainable printing approach. In fact, each sheet can be personalized based on prospect data, personalizing outreach. This printer also enables on demand printing, so you can order as many or as few materials as you’d like, with no increase in cost. We also offer… A Skilled Team: Our representatives have better technical print knowledge than the competition. Got a question about our process or products? We’re happy to answer any concerns quickly and accurately to help you get your project’s ball rolling. Quality Certifications: Over 400 independent judges in printing competitions across the country (and hundreds of positive testimonials) have awarded us for blowing away the competition; it’s proof that we are dedicated to producing high-quality products. Sustainability: We are one of less than 50 printers in the world (yes, the world) to have earned the SGP Certification, a rigorous process that proves our dedication to sustainable, green printing. That said, we are also the only SGP certified printer in the region. Color Consistency: We are G7 certified at the highest level in both our offset and digital printing press departments. What does this mean? You get the exact color shade you want printed every single time–no changes and no surprises. In fact, we have a G7 certified instructor on staff to ensure the highest quality print job. Automated Processes: Get to market faster with a better product. Our automated workflow means that you save time and money without sacrificing quality. The HP 10000: This monster digital press is only one of two in our home state. It’s so big that it can handle projects up to 20.8″ x 29″–all day, everyday. It’s a beast that can effortlessly handle anything you throw at it: tabloids, posters, fine art books, canvas wall art, book blocks, over-sized books, more business cards than you’ll know what to do with… you name it, we can print it. Plus, the HP 10000 can chew through a larger quantity than a typical digital press; it’ll print up to two and one-half times as many pieces per sheet. Still not convinced? You should also know that we specialize in digital printing. In fact, our digital printing is actually digital offset, which delivers much higher quality than typical digital printing. We use liquid toners–not dry–resulting in print quality that’s not only equal to offset, but also, in some cases, even better. You get the highest quality digital output available today while also benefitting from significant cost savings compared to traditional printing. At Advertisers Printing, we are committed to quality, sustainability, and clients. We like to think of ourselves as an extension of your team rather than just your printing service. We work to reduce your costs and produce an incredible final product that represents your identity–and that will keep your clients coming back for more. For more information on how we can help, contact Advertisers Printing, a St. Louis Printing Company today. We look forward to becoming a part of your team!

About 20 years ago, right when email was beginning its takeover as one of the quickest and most effective ways to communicate, people loathed receiving direct mail advertisements. That’s because they received dozens of pamphlets, booklets, flyers, and handouts all promising their company was offering the best solution for whatever problem they might have. Today, though, the tables have swiftly turned: people look forward to receiving direct mail, which has become much less frequent in the advent of email marketing, and groan every time they open their email inbox to see hundreds of promotions and spam emails. That being said, direct mail shouldn’t be viewed as an antiquated method of marketing; rather, since so many companies have dropped out of the space over the years, it’s a chance to stand out and have your message heard. Why Direct Mail is Better than Email Consider this: 98% of Americans check their mailboxes every day, and 79% of mail received is read for at least a minute. Compare this to the pitiful open rate most email marketing campaigns strive for–20%. That said, direct mail is now preferable to email for many reasons, including: The delivery rate of direct mail is about 98%, while email delivery is about 50%. And of the emails that do get delivered, chances are they’ll be a victim to the trash button. Direct mail does not require an opt-in in the same way that email does. Most office workers receive an average of 121 business emails and 100 personal emails a day. On the other hand, the average household only receives 16 pieces of direct mail a week. Emails rely on subject lines to entice readers to open them; direct mail has limitless space to personalize and stand out.Americans tend to keep direct mail pieces for about 17 days, whereas the average lifespan of an email is two seconds. Direct mail generates response rates that are 600% higher than all digital channels combined. Specifically, email marketing had a 3.7% response rate with house lists and only 1% with prospect lists. 56% of consumers believe that printed marketing, including direct mail, is the “most trustworthy” media channel. Email marketing, conversely, is viewed as spammy and informal. Three out of five Americans enjoy receiving direct mail about new products versus 43% who enjoyed opening emails about a new product. The Dos of Direct Mail In order to keep your direct mail efforts out of the trash, make sure you heed the following tips: Mail your piece to the right people; be as specific as possible with your recipient list. Creating personas is helpful for this step. Spruce up the mail; grab your reader’s attention quickly. Keep your message clear, simple, and prominent. Include a sense of urgency (like an offer or incentive) or a call to action to increase the reader’s interest. Keep sending mail–direct mail becomes most effective after the third piece sent. Read about our 5 tips for Successful Direct Mail here.  …And the Don’ts Keeping in mind the best practices for direct mail marketing, be sure to avoid doing the following: Using an unreadable font. We know, there are so many neat fonts to choose from, but if you want people to actually read what you sent, make sure you use an appropriate font style and size. Lying; always be open and honest about whatever you are offering. Otherwise, you risk alienating your target audience. Sending to an old list. If your list is three years old (or older), don’t bother using it. Make sure you keep a clean mail list to ensure maximum results. Using an unclear call to action (or not including one at all). If you don’t include this: mail, meet trash. Focusing on product features, not benefits. When you’re trying to sell to someone, you don’t want to focus on all of the new colors your product is available in, for example. Tell them how the product can help them solve their problem. Final Thoughts At Advertisers Printing, we can help you get your direct mail campaign on track. We offer both marketing solutions and printing solutions that are sustainable and efficient. For more information on how we can help you, contact Advertisers Printing, a St. Louis Printing Company today!

To the everyday consumer, the idea that you need to choose the “right” paper for a printing project seems absurd; after all, it’s just paper! But if you ask any design or marketing professional, they’ll tell you it’s a decision worth stressing over. Some of the most important factors for picking the right paper for a project include project type, material, price, coating type, thickness, and brightness and opacity. Let’s take a closer look at each feature. Where to Begin The first question you should ask yourself is what the project you’re creating is and what it will be used for. You’ll also want to know: who is the project’s target audience? Will it be sent through the mail or handed off? Once these questions are answered, you should consider the type of material you’ll want to use. Most papers are made from wood, but some are produced from cloth and synthetic fibers. Sustainable, environmentally friendly paper is also an option. Additionally, you may want to use paper that has not been bleached or that substitutes oxygen-based compounds for chlorine compounds; look for TCF (totally chlorine free), PCF (processed chlorine free), or FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) labels. Price is also an important factor. Keep in mind that paper averages about 30% of the cost of a print project. Ideally, you’ll want to pick a paper that functions well above all else, but avoid breaking the bank. Coated Versus Uncoated In regards to paper, a coating is a covering of hardened clay material that better displays text and images with sharper detail and denser color. Coatings come in a variety of styles, including non-shiny matte, dull, gloss, and cast-coated and can be done on one or both sides. Since a coated sheet of paper is hard to write on, it is recommended for brochures, catalogues, postcards, and packaging. In terms of readability, paper with less glare is easier on the eyes than gloss papers. The trade-off is that gloss paper tends to be more eye catching initially. On the other hand, uncoated paper has a non-glare surface and is more absorbent. As a result, this type of paper can be textured or smooth and is easy to write on. Uncoated paper is best for stationery, standard envelopes, inexpensive flyers, newsletters, and other products you want to write on. Thickness When considering paper thickness, compare cover stock against text stock. Cover stock is thicker and is often used as a cover for paperback books. Text stock is thinner, looser, and more flexible, like a sheet of printer paper. Usually, brochures, flyers, and other direct mailers are printed on text stock. Thicker paper tends to be best for die-cutting, embossing, and foil stamping. Thinner paper, though, is usually cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Brightness and Opacity Paper brightness affects how readable text will be; the brighter the paper, the more readable. Brighter paper also displays colors more accurately, making it the best choice for high-end advertising and fine art printing. Blue-white papers in particular are especially popular right now because they have a higher brightness; similarly, warm white papers are comfortable on the eyes and are best for projects with a lot of text. Opacity is the measure of a sheet of paper’s transparency. Paper with 100% opacity means that you cannot see through it at all; by contrast, paper with 0% opacity is completely transparent, like tracing paper. If your project will be printed on both sides of one sheet of paper, and if there is a lot of text, you’ll want to make sure the paper’s opacity does not allow any text to show through from one side to the other. One tip to remember is that if you’re ever uncertain about a paper’s transparency, you can always make the paper a little thicker. Final Thoughts When you consider all of these factors together, it might lead to an overwhelming decision process. However, try to remember the very first question we posed: what is your project’s purpose? From there, you should be able to narrow down options until you find the right paper for your project. At Advertisers Printing, we offer a wide array of sustainable printing services and would love to help you with any aspect of your printing project from paper choice to finishing and distribution. Contact Advertisers Printing, a St. Louis Printing company if you have any questions about our commercial printing services.