The last topic in this media blog series is print. Not to be biased, but print is going to obviously be our favorite form of media! Print offers so much more these days than just your average newspaper or flyer. Print has transformed over the years just as much as cell phones and computers have, but it has done so with less advertisement and hoopla than the rest of these forms of technology.
How has print transformed, you ask? Well, we have had to stay ahead of the curve just as much as any other form of media. Beyond that, we have managed to do so and be the oldest form of media out there! Print started out with handwritten copies of books and letters and has now transformed into multi-million dollar presses with abilities to do so much more than just transfer an image. There are many techniques that we use to make an image come to life. Whether it is the substrate (what is getting printed on) that makes the print unique, the coating technique, or the hundreds upon hundreds of colors that are combined to make an image stand out, print has managed to catch everyone’s eye.
Many think that print is dead, but that is not the case. Print is still the most effective when it comes to advertising. Print can target specific audiences in outlets such as magazines, newspapers, and mailings. While TV can target certain people as well, it can’t make sure it’s target is getting the message it’s trying to send. With magazines and newspapers, advertisers know who is buying these and where their advertising dollars will be the most effective. Along with target audience, print is honest. There is a credibility that people expect when something is put down on paper. Also, print has a very long life span. People save magazines and newspapers which is something you really cannot do with ads placed on the internet and TV. This makes print very unique among other forms of media.
Beyond advertisements which are an obvious use of print, we have the newest craze which is QR codes (click here to read a previous post). They are brining the use of print ads and the internet/smart phones together. Another new form of print is shelf talkers. They are small signs attached to shelves in convenience or grocery stores that pack a punch when it comes to catching consumer’s eyes. They can highlight essential information about a product in a small form. Augmented reality is another form of print that while not so popular yet, has the ability to grow into something big. (Look for an upcoming blog on AR).
Print is a great form of media that is here to stay. Like phones and tablets, print gets better and more efficient every year. Why has print lasted longer than these other three forms of media? Leave your comments below.
