Ever since the dawn of the World Wide Web, a lot of people have predicted traditional media’s eventual demise, particularly print. Although the medium has lost some traction, it is still alive and is slowly regaining its footing, which tells us that it hasn’t given up the fight just yet. What’s more, print can now be protected for it to last longer. One way to do that is through laminating. Whether you’re getting yourself a small personal pouch laminator or a large format laminating machine, these will surely help protect your print from fingerprints, stains, spills, abrasions, smudges, dirt, moisture, and a lot more. Below, let’s take a quick look at why print media is here to stay:
Print Media Appeals to the Senses
Neuroscience will tell us that people are still more inclined to tangible material. In fact, a large customer percentage still considers the tangible factor of physical media highly important. Consumers like to flip through pages and feel the paper. Some even like the smell of a newly bought magazine or book. Studies also indicate print media allows a person to absorb complex information better. Print’s tangibility also enables folks to pay more attention to what they’re reading.
Print Media Has a Certain Level of Credibility and Security
Newspapers and magazines have been around for decades now and have always been popular. Most of these publications have topped the charts as far as content authenticity is concerned. With fake news proliferating, the credibility of digital media publications is being questioned. Information from the digital world may be far more accessible compared to print but also a lot less reliable. Print also has the upper hand on digital media in terms of security with information sharing. Digital promotions usually require personal information sharing. This leaves the field wide open for potential hacking and phishing scams.
Print Media Still Has a Big Share of the Market
Although the steady decline of print over the years is undeniable, it is fair to note that it is still ingrained in a consumer’s mind. As far as content is concerned, readers are more likely to read and understand it in print compared to digital content which can be easily browsed without much focus. Research suggests that most folks read digital content 30% slower than its printed counterpart.
While the digital platform is deemed most accessible and has a wider reach, the same can be said of printed media. Reaching a wide target audience is simpler using printed material such as newspapers, magazines, brochures, and flyers. As long as there is a physical customer presence, like an event or a retail shop, print will continue to be valuable.
Print Has the Capacity To Truly Engage Its Reader.
One thing print has is its ability to captivate the reader. It offers an uninterrupted reading experience that the digital form can’t. There are fewer distractions like pop-ups, videos, or ads that take away the reader’s focus from the material. This guarantees the reader is 100% attentive to the content.
From a businessman’s point of view, since more businesses are moving to the digital domain for marketing and promotion, other businesses have less competition and more exposure opportunities at cheaper costs in print ads. Marketing via email may be ignored and deleted but a copy of an e-book printed in a nice brochure form could make its way to a CEO’s desk.
This is not to say that print media is better than digital. For a business to maximize both platforms, it must draw the proper KPIs that combine both media together and doesn’t evaluate them in isolation.
