Give your business a boost with print marketing strategies, tips and tricks. Dive into industries big and small and see how insiders and field experts use online printing to succeed – and how you can, too.
Stay current on the latest Smartpress brand and company news. Learn all the details about new online printing services, website features and improvements as soon as they’re introduced.
Designing for print isn’t the same as designing for digital. Whether you’re designing print marketing or branded collateral, you need to know what design elements work for one medium versus the other. To streamline your print assets through the production process - and then boost your ROI by looking perfectly professional - we’re revealing seven essential tips for how to design for print.
When you’re online printing with Smartpress, our complimentary prepress services (and the humans behind them) ensure your design files are perfectly print-ready every time. Our prepress team performs some behind-the-scenes magic you don’t even know about
Reviews can make or break your business, so we put our custom print products to the ultimate test: Our pets! We’re print lovers and animal lovers in equal measure, so check out their first-paw/wing/forelimb accounts through our animal-to-human translator (it’s the latest in AI technology).
For businesses and corporations alike, managing your print marketing and branding assets can be challenging, especially if you have multiple locations. Smartpress’ web-to-print software is your solution. With our Marketing on Demand Platform™ (MOD), you get a print marketing portal that helps you stay on top of everything, from designing and printing your assets to managing inventory and fulfillment. Wondering if it’s the right print management software for you? Dive into the details below and see how Smartpress client Soccer Shots scored big with MOD.
Pantone Color of the Year 2025 Mocha Mousse is here. Knowing the color of the year is one thing, but actively incorporating this warm, luxe color into your print marketing and branding can be especially impactful.
Whether you own a fancy sit-down spot or run a casual cafe, you need to know how to create a restaurant menu that entices your customers to come back again and again. And while menus have traditionally been used for food and beverages, you can customize them to list spa and salon services, retail info, even travel packages. Our six formats make it easy to uniquely showcase products and services for any biz.
Having a direct mail marketing strategy is crucial for any business. Does yours have one? It can have an awesome one when you plan and print with Smartpress’ extensive direct mail products and services.
For a client-focused online printer like us, a positive HR scorecard means our business is running smoothly and successfully. Our employee-focused metrics prove we are leagues above other manufacturers - a fact that should make you proud for choosing us as your printer. (We’re pleased as punch!) But what does that HR scorecard measure exactly? And what is our HR team doing to achieve that result? Along with our parent company, The Bernard Group, we track our performance in many ways. We’re excited to share some of our employee-focused metrics that shine a light on the conscientious company culture that’s baked into everything we do.
So you’ve got a biz. But do you feel like something’s missing? Are you fulfilling the essential needs of a business to make it as successful as it can be? Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, there are certain things a business simply has to have in order to be effective (and let’s be honest, profitable). We’ll guide you through six business needs examples and show you why they’re actually needs and not just wants.
No matter what print marketing assets you create for your business, it’s crucial they’re devised with the principles of design in mind. Understanding the seven rules for design ensures your print pieces and marketing assets look professional and are effective for your target audience. So let’s clarify what the principles of design are and how employing them can impact your business for the better.
Choosing the right swag for your business isn’t as simple as it sounds. Your company swag ideas have to be useful for both employees and customers - not just look good. Swag comes in all shapes and sizes, but the truly effective items promote your brand while being practical enough that employees and customers want to use them regularly. Let’s break down some swag types and how to design them for your company.
No matter your business, no matter its size, you have to brand and market yourself to target audiences. But when it comes to branding vs. marketing, it can be challenging to know which tactic suits your business best. Whether you’re promoting products and services or your organization’s mission and values, branding and marketing play a huge role. So what is the difference between branding and marketing? To find out which strategy you should take, let’s explore each one, discover how they can benefit your business and how they can even work together.
How do you stand out in a networking crowd that’s only getting bigger? To be unforgettable and result in the engagement of your choice (sale, follow, RSVP, etc.), you need unique business cards to get your foot in the door.
For small businesses and corporations alike, brochures are an essential part of your entire marketing strategy. If you don’t know how to make a brochure that’s effective, you’re missing a huge opportunity for sales, engagement and brand recognition. But fear not! With a little bit of planning, you can learn how to make brochures that result in ROIs and then some. So let’s dive into the six steps you need to take, from defining your brochure’s purpose and choosing a layout to designing your brochure and printing it with Smartpress.
When it comes to business signage, your designs need to do two things: attract customers and look professional. Figuring out how to make a business sign that has both is a challenging task - and one any business owner must be up for. At Smartpress, our business printing services make it easy to create and print custom signs, but before you do that, it’s important to consider a few things, like your intent and location, as well as design elements like color, size and material. So, let’s dive in!
No matter what industry you’re in, one thing’s for sure: Your marketing has to stand out with engaging content. Luckily for you, we’ve got 10 graphic design trends that do just that. When paired with your compelling copy, our ideas for modern graphic design help give you an edge on the competition and a boost in your metrics. From bold typography and sustainable themes to gradient blends and layering elements, our ideas take your designs beyond the two-dimensional.
When it comes to digital and print marketing, design is everything. Alongside your engaging designs, easy to read fonts are essential for your messaging. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which is the easiest font to read?
Business cards have a big job to do, so how you design them is crucial - and that especially includes your business card size. With the right business card dimensions for you and your brand, the networking practically networks itself.
As your number one networking asset, business cards put you and your brand in the spotlight. With so many design options for what to put on a business card, you have to choose your content carefully.
With so many types of banners, it can be hard to know which one is best for your marketing and branding. When you print online with Smartpress, you get many options that can easily get the job done.
Print marketing is crucial for events big and small. One of the best and easiest ways to send your message is with a step and repeat banner. But what is a step and repeat exactly?
When you work with Smartpress, you not only get premium print that looks seriously good, but also world-class services and experts to back you up. We provide everything from video consultations and free samples to a rewards program, comprehensive support library and your very own online storefront. Here are nine of our unique online printing services that prove how Smartpress provides the best print experience in the biz.
Ask any business owner and they’ll tell you: It’s all about sales. You’ve got a list of other goals, like raising brand awareness and creating customer loyalty, of course - but boosting sales is at the top. One way to drive more sales is print marketing. With a thought-out print strategy, your print assets can be not only engaging, but also - and more importantly - effective. So let’s dive into what print marketing is, some popular print marketing materials, how to incorporate them into your broader marketing roadmap and a few print ideas you should consider trying.
Postcards have been a print marketing tool for marketing agencies and small business owners alike since the beginning - but how effective is postcard marketing anyway? It’s crucial for you to design them strategically to get the biggest bang for your buck.
For businesses and nonprofits, the right print marketing design makes all the difference. And the aspect that makes or breaks the all-important first impression? Color. We’re focusing on Pantone Color of the Year 2024 Peach Fuzz and showing how, when designed strategically for print, it can influence your target audience and boost your bottom line.
We love being a force for good in both the way we work and the work we produce. We also know how crucial social responsibility in business is, so it’s been a main focus from the start. And in 2023, we cultivated partnerships with some impressive local and national charitable organizations. Here, we spotlight three of them and see the positive impact a Smartpress collaboration has had on their organizations and communities… and what’s to come in 2024.
At Smartpress, sustainable printing also means sustainable practices. So in 2023, we implemented a healthier packaging campaign to reduce virgin plastic in our packing supplies and offer plastic packaging alternatives. See how our online printing services continue to evolve with recycled or recyclable packing materials.
In an ever-digital world, a personal touch can make all the difference. And nothing says personal like a handwritten message. Whether you want to add handwritten notes for business or personal needs on announcements, thank yous or inserts, we’ve got your guide for which writing utensils work best on which paper stocks and finishes. Find out how a blue ballpoint pen, black permanent marker and regular ol’ pencil performed (and which one you should use).
If an image is worth a thousand words, how much can an entire visual marketing strategy say? (Hint: A lot.) We partnered with Custom One to rebrand the Minnesota Wild’s On-the-Glass Club at the Xcel Energy Center, moving beyond print marketing with custom signage and graphics that heighten the whole experience. See how our collaboration created a printing hat trick (and how we can do the same for your business environment).
Digital and print go hand-in-hand. If you have a marketing strategy that includes one but not the other, you’re missing crucial conversions. Integrating digital into your print is easier than ever when you use QR codes for marketing. And our seven ideas for how to incorporate them ensure your customers and clients are just a scan away. (#6 is an “ah-ha!” moment.)
With so many printers vying for your attention (and your dollars), how do you choose? And then there’s the whole online printer vs. local print shop thing. While some consider it a debate for the ages, we don’t. For us, the answer is easy. Here’s why Smartpress beats the brick and mortar. (Hint: We even debunk myths those local shops would love you to believe.)
Can print save a life? Maybe not. But a livelihood? Definitely. We know good print marketing can cause a ripple effect that turns a customer into a connection, whether you’re a business owner or nonprofit organization. We went straight to the source - our clients - to see how business printing directly impacts their ability to stay relevant and thrive. Here’s what they said.
Ever wonder what the print process is like at Smartpress? Wonder no more! We’re pulling back the curtain and showing you how we print a booklet, from order to shipment and beyond, with stunning quality and service, plus sustainability in every step. And while it may include some digital high jinks, it also includes tons of human hands - because to us, your project is more than just a product.
No company can claim to be truly eco-friendly without having an Environmental Management System (EMS). As a carbon neutral, environmentally conscious online printer, Smartpress not only makes the claim, but also backs it up with new and ever more challenging (and rewarding) sustainability goals. Our customers have high expectations, so we’re sharing our 2022 EMS successes and previewing our 2023 priorities.
The trade show or conference floor can be overwhelming. So many vendors, so many gimmicks. Get noticed for all the right reasons with our patented* trade show booth ideas. From banners that draw attendees (and potential clients) in, to handouts that leave a memorable impression, our trade show and conference marketing strategies ensure you not only succeed, but also show off.
As a premium online printer, we know a thing or two about creative print design. And so do our customers! In Part 1, we gave you an inside look into seven projects from 2022 that were anything but ordinary. And now in this Part 2, we’re giving you seven more inspiring examples of how customers followed their creative intuition and designed products in totally unique ways for totally impactful results.
At Smartpress, we’re always keeping an eye out for creative print design. And 2022 did not disappoint! Whether our customers were small business owners in need of engaging print marketing or creating personal projects for themselves, their ideas were truly innovative. In this Part 1, we show off some of our favorite ways they broke the rules and designed refreshingly unique products on their own terms.
For clothing retailers, print marketing has to do more than just strike a pose. It has to inspire, inform and influence. Create a catwalk of campaigns with custom print from Smartpress. From stunning lookbooks and catalogs to promotional brochures and signage that sends a message, fashion marketing has never looked better.
You’ve heard of a bucket list for life, but what about a bucket list for print? (As print nerds, this comes with the territory for us.) We’re counting down our top 10 print marketing ideas and getting insider design and user tips from our very own experts. From convenient products to essential features and services, these are the must-haves that will elevate your business printing and personal projects like no other.
We say it all the time: You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers. At Smartpress, we get more than 1,000 calls, emails and online chats every week from our small-business-owning, entrepreneuring, gotta-have-this-printed-now customers. We’re happy to help whenever and with whatever, so we put together the top 10 printing FAQ we get from you, plus tips and tricks to navigate the world of online printing. (Hint: If you still need to call or online chat, that’s cool, too.)
The right color attracts the right customer. You know the one - the target customer, the repeat customer, the high-value customer. That’s why color psychology is crucial in print marketing. See how certain tints pair with certain tactics to create the reactions and results you want, plus get insider tips on how to use color effectively from Smartpress’ own creative director.
With the temps rising, now’s the time to turn up the heat with the six print marketing trends we’re seeing for summer. Put your standard go-to tactics on ice and watch as these timely print marketing tips ensure your summer’s a successful one. (You’ll see these trends across all industries - and we guarantee no one else will print them at the same level of quality, service and sustainability as Smartpress!)
It’s no secret we pride ourselves on being an eco-friendly online printer. But for Smartpress and our parent company, The Bernard Group, that’s the baseline. We go beyond recycled paper and green alternatives to corporate responsibility as a whole. Need proof? Our EcoVadis sustainability rating just went from Gold to Platinum. How’s that for proof? Our Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Liesl Beck, details how we did it (and what’s next).
Earth Day is a pretty big deal around here. So much so that it’s basically Earth Day every day at Smartpress. How? With our ever-greening sustainable printing process. We go way beyond recycled paper stocks, as we work to protect the environment every step of the way. Smartpress is truly an eco-friendly online printer, leading the industry with sustainable solutions. Here’s the proof.
Choosing the right printer can be like choosing the right partner. You can swipe right and hope for the best, play the field and weigh your options or take yourself out of the game altogether and never get anything printed. To help you narrow down the search, we’ve put together 11 questions you should always ask a prospective printer. (We’ve answered them ourselves, too. Hey, we’re not above some healthy competition!)
Printing your business and personal projects with Smartpress is already awesome. But we’re making it even better with the launch of our NEW Print Points Loyalty & Referral Program. With this rewards program, you earn points on every single Smartpress purchase. And when you refer a friend, you get even more points. Then, simply cash in those points for dollars off your orders! Let’s dig into the details.
In honor of National Opposite Day (yes, it’s a pseudo-holiday that can indeed be celebrated), we’re going from one end of the spectrum to the other to present our very own print opposites. From products to techniques, let our creative contrasts bring your online printing projects together. Oh, and we’ve included some fun facts, too!
Distinct, polished, stunning. Three words jewelry insiders love to hear about their custom pieces. Do your online printing with Smartpress and you’ll hear them about your jewelry marketing, too. From presentation to promotion to package inserts, see how our three Ps of print marketing advertise more than just accessories. (Oh, and these tips easily translate to any retail industry, regardless of bling or business.)
New year, new print marketing strategy? We think so! In Part 1, we showcased some of our favorite extraordinary print projects from customers, and in this Part 2, we’re going even further. Check out how customers made the regular remarkable and turned the usual into the unexpected with these custom print ideas - and then add them to your own repertoire.
We’re celebrating our customers with a look back at some of our favorite and most creative print projects from the past year. They took marketing must-haves and stationery staples and gave them unique and refreshing twists you’ve just got to try. As you look ahead to a new year, let these custom print ideas become part of your new business strategy.
For small businesses, corporations, nonprofits and brands of all kinds, the importance of ratings and reviews can’t be overstated. Whether they’re reviews of service or ratings of products, they all matter. And we here at Smartpress take our customers’ feedback very seriously.
Marketing is all about the message. But how do you create one that connects with target audiences and turns browsing into buying? Personalize it! Variable Data Printing lets you tailor specific text and imagery to individual recipients not only on your marketing assets, but also personal invitations, RSVPs and more. With VDP, ensuring engagement is easy.
With authentic beer, savory wurst, traditional games and live music, Oktoberfest sells itself, right? Nein. While the lure of lederhosen may be strong, your Oktoberfest marketing must be stronger to build awareness for your events and get people in the door. Before you plan for pretzels and polka, promote with our top five print marketing ideas. (Hint: You’ll want them for harvest and fall festivals, too!)
Whether you’re sending packages to existing customers, new clients or potential ones, Insert Cards can make a strong impression. As such, it’s an important marketing strategy you’ll want to consider as you grow your business and brand.
Printing can get a bad rap. Naysayers argue it’s not sustainable and it’s cutting down all our trees. Those things may have been true at one time, but fortunately, times (and processes) have changed. Majorly. With an eco-friendly online printer like Smartpress, you get to partner with the planet to print projects on sustainable stocks like hemp or paper that’s been sourced responsibly from thriving forests.
For professional artists and hobbyists alike, making high calibur prints of your creations is essential to keeping your business or side hustle booming. Smartpress helps bring this vision to life with the highest quality substrates and color matching that can’t be beat, whether you sell art online, showcase framed pieces at fairs or market custom prints at expos. Check out our design tips for paper, canvas and metal mediums and use Smartpress as your secret weapon for artistic success.
Ah, the age-old question. As digital marketing expands its reach, business owners want to know if print marketing is worth their time and money. Let us be the ones to put this never-ending duel to rest: No, print is not dead. Yes, it’s most definitely worth your investment.
For over a year, we’ve all been challenged with a life turned upside down. And for retirement communities, it’s more than a relief to begin reclaiming what’s familiar. From short-term stays to long-term care, your essential services need essential print marketing. Get back on track with assisted living advertising that welcomes new residents, shares your services and tells your story.
Holidays often mean two things for your business: a busy few weeks and a boost in sales. And the key to a successful campaign? The right design at the right time. For the Fourth of July, we’re talking patriotic and Americana printing that celebrates the season and engages the community. From subtle stars and stripes to bold red, white and blue, check out these easy and effective ideas for adding strategic spirit to your Fourth of July signage and print marketing.
Ready and set for summer? As the season changes, it’s essential your business tactics do, too. For everything from outdoor events and summer camps, to pool installation and summer wear, active advertising will have your brand soaking up the sun and the sales. As temperatures rise, keep your cool with these summertime marketing strategies.
Graduations are about so much more than the cap and gown. From preschool to college and everything in between, planning the celebration of those academic achievements is an event in its own right. With announcements, custom invites, personalized yard signs and more, parents and educators alike can earn a degree in graduation printing from Smartpress.
As your eco-friendly online printer, Smartpress is always looking for ways to further assert ourselves as the industry leader in sustainable printing and corporate social responsibility. So in an effort to go carbon neutral and continue to reduce our business’ environmental impact, we’ve partnered with 3Degrees to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates and Carbon Offsets.
Whether you’re a landscape architect designing vast outdoor spaces or a local lawn care company taking care of seasonal essentials, you need to plant the seeds of your services to watch your business grow. How? Hedge your bets with print marketing materials at the focal point of your strategy. (And if you’re not in the landscaping biz, these ideas will work for your small business, too!)
For realtors, developers and property managers alike, designing effective real estate marketing materials is essential to closing on any sale. From first-time homebuyer guides and property information inserts to Open House banners and Just Listed postcards, let us hand you the keys to successful print marketing. Leverage Smartpress’ online printing services to make your strategy structurally sound. With the right advertising, it can always be your kind of market.
Marketing your sports programs comes down to one thing: You want to score. From school teams and intramurals to summer rec camps and community center activities, print has to be part of your game plan to celebrate the players and build the program. With custom banners, posters, lawn signs and more, Smartpress’ printing services ensure your road to recognition lasts throughout the season.
A one-stop shop for wedding planners, vendors and agencies, Smartpress is where the designers go. From custom invitations to RSVPs and thank you cards, we streamline the print process and make it possible to propose during a pandemic with a full wedding suite that caters to your clients’ needs. We’ve compiled some tips and tricks from design professionals in the industry, so marry our online printing services with your design ideas, and give your clients wedding stationery they’ll love to have and to hold.
Enticing. Daring. Indulgent. These three words may not describe your previous marketing materials, but they certainly will when you add Designer Folds by Foldfactory to your advertising repertoire. Take it from Foldfactory founder, Trish Wtikowski: “Specialty formats are impactful - they provoke a reaction.” Indeed. With custom mailers, brochures and invitations like you’ve never seen, these 30 custom folds flaunt every panel, curve and twist and leave your audience wanting more.
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) treats employees as assets because the employees are also owners, investors and shareholders of the company. While there are various legal and tax definitions of an ESOP business, the simplest explanation is that it allows a company to sell itself to its employees. Smartpress and its parent company, The Bernard Group, exist as a 100% employee-owned company.
Managing print for your business, no matter the size, takes a lot of work. From ensuring consistency in branding and marketing across the organization, to tracking orders, payments and print collateral distribution, your workflow needs to be detailed and efficient. What if there were a one-stop shop solution? A print management software and workflow management system together in one place? With Smartpress Storefronts, you get all that and more.
As the new year approaches, now’s the time to give your custom print strategy a refresh. In Part 1, we offered some of our favorite creative marketing ideas for online printing projects, and in this Part 2, we’ve got even more. The past year has taught us to be on our toes when it comes to designing and messaging, so let these unique, not-so-ordinary print ideas inspire you and your business.
If we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that print’s never going out of style. Whether for professional marketing materials or personal endeavors, custom print makes it easy to pivot from the status quo to the new normal and everything in between. Take a look at this refreshing round-up of creative print ideas for meeting strategic goals and strengthening connections. And then get inspired to use print for your own business!
Churches are on a mission to get The Message to the masses. And whether you’re running a megachurch with thousands of faithful members or working to boost attendance at your local congregation, print has to be part of your playbook. From outreach brochures and official letterhead to event signage and service essentials, custom church marketing is a blessing for your brand.
When nonprofits aren’t busy making a difference in their community, they’re busy making progress with print. Whether focused on education, advocacy or charity, organizations big and small are leaning on print to build partnerships, implement initiatives and support the welfare of those they serve. From fundraising and events to marketing and administrative essentials, print is a traditional medium resulting in modern gains.
It happens every year without fail: the first leaf falls and the countdown to the gift-giving season suddenly begins. And as the search for the right gift ensues, your customers’ need for a convenient shopping experience becomes even more clear. Whether you specialize in artisanal crafts or mass-produced wares, catalog printing with Saddle Stitch Booklets or Brochures is the strategic gift that keeps on giving.
Thanks to craft beer culture, enjoying what’s on tap over a board game and good conversation is part of our regular routine. And where’s all this casual congregating taking place? Local breweries, of course. From Oktoberfest and seasonal pours and to trivia nights and live music, breweries have the hops and the happenings, and they’re using print to promote all the ways guests can eat, drink and be merry.
Stretching your marketing dollars is more important than ever. It goes without saying, you need a strategy that repeatedly pays off, not just a one-time wonder. Investing in promotional products is a tactic that advertises your business and boosts awareness practically anywhere. And we’re not talking just the obvious water bottles and keychains for giveaways.
As we widen the scope of education with distance learning, it’s never been more obvious how necessary print is for schools. From teacher and staff supplies to classroom essentials and decorations full of school spirit, print marketing can provide it all.
Running a successful restaurant looks different from owner to owner, chef to chef. But one thing they all have in common? The need for print marketing.
While some winery patrons come solely for the grape, many stay for sunset strolls through the vineyard, tours of the barrel room and perfectly packed picnics. So how are wineries getting customers to wine and dine in the first place? They’re popping the cork on creative print marketing to blend the aroma with awareness and attendance.
In today’s “new normal,” there are indeed printing projects essential for the safety and well-being of our society. But there’s also a heart-felt, more creative side to printing that reminds us we’re all in this together. We’re connecting with customers on a more personal level and finding new ways to reach friends and family from afar.
During this time of uncertainty, Smartpress is proud to be a reliable source of essential print materials... and now personal protective equipment for those who need it most. Along with our parent company, The Bernard Group, we’re converting our production process to help protect those in our community and across the nation from the spread of COVID-19.
On a chilly, grey morning, hundreds of flannel-clad designers flocked to Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota. The venue, befitting the ultimate northern cabin getaway experience, would provide the very Minnesotan backdrop to AIGA’s Design Camp.
We set out on a journey to redefine our brand direction, visual identity, and website. It would be an understatement to say there has been a change at Smartpress.