With so much of our world being digital, I talk to a lot of business owners who don’t see the value in printed materials such as business cards, notecards, and other guides.

I get it – it is an added expense and as small businesses we have to watch our budget, right?

The truth is, though, if you want to break into a luxury market – printed materials are necessary.

Printed items can break through the digital noise and create a wonderful experience for your clients.  Having a quality + consistent visual brand across your social media, website, and printed materials is a great way to inspire trust and connection in your business.

Creates an experience + lasting impression

Quality printed collateral creates a memorable AND sharable experience for your clients. What better way to stand out from your competition than to provide an amazing and personalized experience for your clients? People love to talk about their good experiences with businesses and brands – their friends are sure to take notice and you’ll be quickly recommended when they come across someone who needs your services.

An amazing example of this wonderful experience is my favorite place to buy my nail supplies. I love to use nail strips and when I came across a Polish Pops add, I was quickly taken in by their beautiful, neutral gel nail strips and I decided to try them out. They were a bit more expensive than normal gel strips which gave me pause initially but I decided to try just a couple to see how I liked them.

The day came when I got the delivery notification and when I went out to get my package – I was SO blown away with their packaging that it was exciting and fun to open! Their box was branded, they included a branded bag for my nail supplies + branded nail files, branded everything! It was literally SO pretty and I am obsessed with them, not only because their nail strips are the best, but because they provide an amazing and fun experience with their packaging and print stuff.

Now for a service provider, this could look like branded packaging for albums like boxes or tissue paper, stamps or seals for envelopes, a branded notecard to say “thank you!” or “Welcome!”, custom guides to educate in an engaging and exclusive way.

The power of touch

This builds off of the last point but especially in this day and age, print materials are associated with luxury and the thicker/heavier the weight, the more high end a print product is perceived to be. I encourage my clients to go a bit heavier on the business card paper weight for this reason. You can also get various finishes such as smooth and shiny, matte, or textured.

Humans are emotional creatures and tactile items generate a strong emotional response in us in a way that digital materials do not.

Longevity + memorability

Printed items tend to last longer than that Instagram post we scroll right past in 2 seconds. Not only that, but we tend to remember and understand things we see in print much better, too. Studies show that once we have something in our hands, we want to hold onto it!

Printed guides may not be feasible for businesses in their early stage but a printed, magazine style session/style/location guide makes a huge impact and can help your clients remember and retain the information better while also creating a good experience for them.

Printed materials strengthen and reinforce your visual brand and that consistency builds trust and credibility in your business. If you want to reach high end clients, print material is essential and the investment is worth it.

If you’re ready to create a beautiful brand that will connect with high end clients, I’d love to chat with you.

Lyra Studios creates purposeful brands for women in business so they can be recognized in luxury markets and build connection at every touchpoint. If you’re ready to ditch the DIY cycle and create a brand that will help your business grow, get in touch and let’s get started.