The Local Advantage: How to Market Your Print Shop’s Hometown Strength
There’s something powerful about being the local printer. You’re not just another vendor; you’re a familiar face in the community. You print the school programs, the restaurant menus, the nonprofit flyers. You probably know the people behind at least half of the businesses you serve. That connection is your competitive advantage. The challenge? Making sure your customers see it, remember it, and feel it, especially online. Here’s how to turn “local” from a tagline into a marketing engine that helps you sell more printing. Make Local Obvious “Local” isn’t something to mention once on your About page. It should show up in the way your brand feels, looks, and communicates. When people visit your website, they should immediately know you’re nearby and part of their world. Use real photos, not stock ones. Showcase your shop, your team, and your town. Talk about the people you serve and the causes you support. You don’t need to say “we’re local” if your story already proves it. MI4P’s Base Website design helps bring this authenticity to life. The built-in photo galleries and homepage sliders make it simple to feature your community, not just your products. The goal: when someone lands on your site,
Marketing Is a Muscle (and Printers Can’t Afford to Let It Weaken)
Ever tried to get back to the gym after months away? The first workout feels like starting from scratch. Muscles that used to feel strong are sluggish. Progress is slower. Motivation is harder to come by. Marketing works the same way. Many printers hit pause and put marketing on the back burner when things get busy, when money feels tight, or when they assume one big push will cover them for months. But just like skipping workouts, stopping your marketing means you lose the strength you’ve built. And the longer you stay away, the harder it is to rebuild. “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar What Happens When You Let Your Marketing Muscle Rest Too Long Think about what happens when you stop working out. At first, you don’t notice much. But over time, your strength fades, your endurance drops, and the progress you made slips away. Marketing is no different. Your audience drifts. Clients have short memories. If you stop showing up, they don’t wait around. They fill the silence with someone else’s voice. Maybe it’s a competitor’s postcard in their mailbox, or another shop staying active on
“No One Reads Email” Isn’t a Strategy For Printers
We’ve heard it before, and maybe you’ve even said it yourself: “I delete most of the emails I get. I don’t think email really works.” It’s an honest thought. But here’s the thing: you aren’t your print buyer. Just because email doesn’t resonate with you doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. In fact, many of your print buyers rely on email as their primary way of hearing from businesses they trust. Some aren’t active on social media. Some toss printed mail in the trash. Some skip websites altogether and just wait for updates to hit their inbox. Visibility For Printing Companies Matters If you’re not showing up where your customers are paying attention, even if that’s not where you prefer to engage, you’re invisible.And when you’re invisible, you’re forgotten. That “I didn’t know you did that” moment?That’s the sound of a missed opportunity echoing in your inbox. You’re Not Trying to Reach Everyone. Just the Right Someone. It’s easy to assume your audience behaves like you do. But marketing works best when you meet people where they are, not where you wish they were. Even if 90% of your list scrolls past your email, that remaining 10% may be your best
Why Curated Marketing Content Works: A Smart Solution for Busy Printers
Have you ever felt torn between wanting to grow your business and worrying that marketing might actually backfire? You’re not alone. For many printing companies, marketing feels overwhelming. It’s tempting to put it off, but avoiding it altogether can be far more damaging to your business than taking imperfect steps forward. Your Marketing Matters More Than You Think Some printers hesitate to use curated marketing tools, concerned it might make their business seem less unique. But what if you could consistently connect with your customers, build trust, and grow your sales—all while saving time? At MI4P, we’ve spent over 30 years perfecting marketing strategies that do just that, helping printers like you stand out in all the ways that matter most. What Makes Pre-Built Marketing Tools Effective? Curated content works because it’s crafted with purpose and designed for print businesses like yours. It addresses the most important aspect of marketing: making a connection with your customers. It’s a powerful solution for your print shop because it’s: Designed for Printers Unlike generic tools, our professionally crafted content speaks directly to your audience with topics and messages tailored to help you sell more printing. Customizable for Your Business You can personalize every
Marketing Beyond Personal Preference: Reaching Your Print Buyers Where They Are
When it comes to promoting your own print shop, are personal preferences holding you back? Many print shop owners resist certain marketing strategies simply because they don’t like them. Whether it’s email campaigns that feel like spam or social media that seems irrelevant, these personal opinions can prevent you from connecting with your target audience. The reality? Effective marketing isn’t about what you like—it’s about showing up where your buyers already are. Here’s how you can move beyond preferences to adopt strategies that grow your business and create connections. Your Website Is the Party—Marketing Is the Invitation Your website is like a party—it’s where all the value and excitement of your business are showcased. But no one will show up if they don’t know about it. Email marketing, social media, and direct mail are the invitations that guide people to your website. Without these channels, you’re missing countless opportunities to reach new buyers and connect with existing ones. Consider this: Email Marketing: Even if it doesn’t feel personal to you, email remains one of the most effective ways to stay top-of-mind. Social Media: While it may seem casual, platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are full of business buyers who scroll
Data-Driven Marketing Efforts For Printers: Is Your Marketing Working?
When you’ve invested time and money into marketing tools to help you sell more printing, you want to know if they’re working. You might feel unsure about whether your emails are bringing in customers or if your SEO efforts are actually boosting website traffic. Without knowing a clear way to track your results, it’s easy to feel stuck or frustrated. Here’s the good news: tracking the right metrics doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on just a few key numbers, you can connect the dots between your marketing efforts and the results you care about most—selling more printing. Below are the essential metrics you should be tracking and how to use this information to make smarter decisions. Why You Need to Track Metrics It’s tempting to judge a marketing tool—like email marketing or SEO—based only on how many new orders you get right away. But marketing isn’t always an instant-results game. It’s a system where every part plays a role. Think of it like a puzzle: each piece (emails, SEO, your website) works together to create a full picture of your success. By tracking metrics, you can: See what’s working and what needs improvement. Understand how tools like SEO
Trick or Treat: How to Avoid the Tricks and Embrace the Treats in Your Print Marketing
Halloween may bring fun surprises, but tricks in your print marketing strategy can cost you opportunities with potential print buyers. As a printing company selling marketing solutions to print buyers, your goal is to help print buyers grow their businesses through effective print campaigns. But staying on top of marketing trends—and avoiding common pitfalls—can be tricky. After all, you’re setting the example with your own print marketing. Below are some tricks to avoid and some treats to use when creating campaigns for your print buyers or on your own print marketing campaigns. The Tricks: Common Marketing Pitfalls to Avoid Trick #1: Overcomplicating Your Message When a flyer, postcard, or email is packed with too much information, your message can get lost in the clutter. Just like giving a trick-or-treater too much candy, an overload of details can confuse your audience and lead to disengagement. Treat Tip: Simplify your message by focusing on one core idea per campaign. Whether promoting a limited-time offer or showcasing a new print service, a clear, concise message ensures your audience understands what you want them to do next. Trick #2: Missing Seasonal Trends (Like Halloween) While it’s too late to roll out Halloween-themed campaigns this
Becoming a Marketing Leader: A Journey for You and Your Print Buyers
Getting out of your comfort zone is tough—whether it’s in life or business. But here’s the thing: sticking with the same old, same old, won’t help you grow your print shop. If you want to lead your clients and help them succeed, you’ve got to dive into the world of marketing yourself first. Embrace Change: Your Print Shop Deserves It We get it—learning new marketing strategies can feel overwhelming, especially when printing operations or management is your main focus. But think of it like this: every time you stretch yourself to try something new, like mastering social media or email marketing, you’re not just improving your business—you’re setting an example for your print buyers. They’re watching you, and when they see you succeed, they’ll trust you to guide them too. Show Them How It’s Done: Be the Example Social media might seem like a whole other world, but by embracing it yourself, you can show your clients how powerful it can be. Imagine how confident they’ll feel when you say, “Here’s what worked for me, and it can work for you too.” Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, by sharing your journey, you lead by example. Email Marketing: Don’t Just
13 Marketing Fails That Are Totally Fixable
If you think it’s a constant struggle to market your services effectively to print buyers, you’re not alone. With advancements in technology and changes in print buyer behavior, your regular marketing strategies may not be as effective as they used to be. Is this you? Below, we’ve outlined 13 marketing fails that might be keeping you from connecting with prospective print buyers and the action steps to fix them. 1. Lacking a strong online presence Print buyers often turn to the internet to search for print services, and if your company is not easily found online, you might be missing out on potential customers. Solution: Create a professional print website with a clear description of your services, contact information, and portfolio of past projects. Use social media platforms to showcase your work and connect with potential customers. 2. Ignoring the power of reviews Online reviews hold much weight in a consumer’s decision-making process. Print buyers will likely choose a company with positive reviews over those without genuine customer reviews. Why? Because no reviews cause suspicion to today’s online buyers. Solution: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google My Business, Yelp, or Facebook. Respond to any negative reviews professionally and
Boost Open Rates with Your Email Preheader: 10 Dos and Don’ts
Email marketing is a powerful tool that keeps your print business connected with your print buyers and drives conversions. However, for your email campaign to succeed, you must be certain your intended recipients will open and read each email. One of the best ways to ensure this is by optimizing your email preheader text, which can have a significant impact on the success of your email campaigns. Continue reading to learn more about how you can maximize the effectiveness of your email preheader and get the most out of your email marketing efforts. What is an Email Preheader? An email preheader is the text that appears right after your subject line in the inbox of your print buyers. This text provides further context to your email and can pique the recipient’s interest in reading what you have to say. It also makes it easier for them to decide if it is worth opening your email or not. By optimizing this area of your email, you can improve the odds of your emails being opened and read, resulting in higher open rates for your campaigns. Are Preheaders and Preview Text Different? Although often used interchangeably, preheaders and preview text are two
The MI4P Process
This two-minute video will show you how we take you through Our Proven Process. No surprises; no bumps in the road!
It's worked for hundreds of printers just like you; it will work for you, too! Download the MI4P Proven Process PDF below, and follow along.
PDF: The MI4P ProcessSay Hello
"*" indicates required fields
Who We Are
What We Do
Marketing Ideas For Printers
5990 14th Street South
Fargo, ND 58104
(701) 241-9204 (800) 736-0688
© 2025 Marketing Ideas For Printers
Our Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
