When you create online content for marketing, using search engine optimisation techniques is very important. According to the website reliablesoft.net (link at the bottom), SEO is vital for websites because it empowers them to “improve their search engine rankings”. It helps customers find the websites they need by making sure they include relevant keywords and are positioned prominently in the SERPs.
If you run a modern business, you’re probably aware of how essential SEO is. But did you know that you also have to optimise your printed media? Printed adverts (such as posters, A5 booklet printing, leaflets and flyers) obviously don’t need to compete for a good place in the SERPs. However, just like websites, they do need to be visible to prospective customers and they need to use language in a way that ensures that they will be ready. In today’s blog, we’ll look at how you can apply the lessons of SEO to your commercial printing and printed media marketing in order to maximise the effectiveness of your print-based marketing campaign.
1. Make your marketing visible
Just like you should aim to position your website as high in the SERPs as possible to make sure it’s visible, you should try to ensure your printed marketing materials get noticed. If you’ve created leaflets, flyers or booklets, you need to think about whether to hand them out on the street or send them to potential customers as direct mail. If you send them to customers’ homes, will they stand out or will they get lost among other pieces of mail? If you have them handed out on the street, will potential customers notice and accept them, or just walk past? Think carefully about your printed advertisements and the type of consumers who need to notice them. This should help you decide which delivery method will make your adverts most visible to the right people. Meanwhile, if you’ve created a poster to advertise your business, think about where you can position it to make sure your target demographic see it.
2. Keywords are for the page, not just the screen
If a consumer notices your printed advert, they’ll probably scan it to see if it’s relevant to them before deciding if they want to read it properly. Search engines look for keywords in order to judge the relevance of a website to a search query. Meanwhile, people look for keywords in printed text to decide if its relevant to them. Try to come up with simple, easy-to-spot keywords that describe your products or services and the USPs of your business, then incorporate them into your printing. This will help your prospective customers recognise that your advert contains information that is useful to them.
3. Give customers a way to take action
Websites have online contact forms and eCommerce facilities so that customers who are interested in the products or services on offer can take action immediately. Your printed adverts shouldn’t be any different. Include a phone number so that customers can ring your business for more information, directions to your physical store (if you have one) and a web address that customers can visit to buy products online.
Want to learn more about SEO? Check out this great article by Reliablesoft: What Is Search Engine Optimization And Why Is It Important
SEO and printing optimisation are surprisingly similar, so it’s always worth applying the lessons of one to the other. When you’re ready to start creating optimised printed marketing material, check out our commercial printing services and range of print products online. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t worry just drop us a line at hello@printuk.com and a member of the team will send you through a bespoke print quote.