A Guide to Choosing the Right Printing for Your Business
Printed marketing is still one of the most useful ways for a business to get noticed, explain what it does and leave customers with something tangible to remember.
But with so many options available, deciding what to print isn’t always straightforward. Do you need flyers or brochures? A poster or a PVC banner? Would window graphics work better than conventional signage?
The answer depends on who you want to reach, where they’ll see your message and what you want them to do next.
At Print Juice, we’ve spent decades working in the print industry and help businesses turn their ideas and artwork into professional printed materials. This guide explains some of the most useful types of business printing and where each one works best.
Start With One Simple Question: What Does the Print Need to Do?
1. Business Cards – Small Format, Important Job
Business cards remain one of the simplest pieces of professional print, but they still have an important role.
They’re particularly useful when meeting customers face-to-face, networking, attending exhibitions or visiting potential clients. A good business card gives someone an immediate reminder of who you are and an easy way to contact you later.
At a minimum, consider including your business name, logo, your name, telephone number, email address and website. Depending on the business, you may also want social details, a short description of what you do or a QR code.
Find out more about our business card printing.
2. Flyers & Leaflets – Get Your Message Out There
If you have a clear promotional message that needs to reach a lot of people, flyers and leaflets are hard to beat.
They can be used for local promotions, door drops, events, menus, price lists, exhibitions, special offers and direct handouts. The key is to keep the message focused. Don’t try to squeeze your entire business onto one leaflet.
A strong headline, clear benefit, good imagery and an obvious next step — such as calling, visiting a website or scanning a QR code — will usually be more effective than filling every available centimetre with text.
See our flyer and leaflet printing service.
3. Brochures – When You Have More to Say
A flyer is excellent for a focused message. A brochure gives you room to tell more of the story.
Brochures work particularly well for companies with several services, product ranges or information that needs more explanation. They can introduce your business, show photographs, explain individual services, present product information and give customers something substantial to take away.
Think about the brochure as a journey. The front cover gets attention, the opening pages establish why the reader should care, the middle explains your products or services and the final section should make the next step obvious.
Explore our professional brochure printing.
Not Sure Which Print Product You Need?
You don’t need to know all the technical print terminology before contacting us. Tell the Print Juice team what you’re trying to promote, who needs to see it and where it will be used, and we can help you work out the right approach.
4. Posters – Make One Message Easy to See
Posters work best when they communicate quickly. Someone shouldn’t need to stand in front of one for five minutes to understand what you’re advertising.
They’re useful for business promotions, events, retail displays, product launches and campaigns where the message needs to be seen from further away than a leaflet or brochure.
Viewing distance matters. As the poster gets larger, headlines generally need to become larger and simpler too. The most important information should be obvious first, with supporting details underneath.
Learn more about poster printing.
5. PVC Banners – Go Bigger for Events & Promotions
When you need a much larger promotional display, a PVC banner gives you space for bold branding and a message designed to be seen at a distance.
PVC banners can be useful for business promotions, events, exhibitions, temporary campaigns and suitable outdoor advertising applications.
Before ordering, think about where the banner will be displayed, its required dimensions, the likely viewing distance and how you intend to display it. These factors can affect both the design and the most appropriate specification.
See our PVC banner printing service.
6. Pop Up Banners – Portable Displays for Events
Pop up banners — also commonly called roller or retractable banners — are particularly useful when you need a freestanding display that can be moved between locations.
They work well at exhibitions, trade shows, presentations, reception areas, retail promotions and business events.
Because the display is tall and relatively narrow, the design needs a clear hierarchy. Put the most important branding and message where it’s easy to see rather than trying to turn the banner into an oversized leaflet.
See our pop up and roller banner printing.
7. Turn Your Business Premises Into Advertising Space
If customers visit your premises — or simply pass them — the building itself can become part of your marketing.
How Do You Choose the Right Type of Printing?
Before choosing a product, answer these five questions:
- Who is the audience? Existing customers, local households, event visitors, businesses or people passing your premises?
- What is the objective? Introduce the company, generate enquiries, advertise an offer, provide information or improve brand visibility?
- Where will people see it? In their hand, through their letterbox, inside your premises, in a shop window, at an exhibition or from across the street?
- How much information is necessary? A poster may need one powerful message, whereas a brochure can explain several products or services.
- What should somebody do next? Call you, visit the website, scan a QR code, visit your premises, request a quote or buy something?
Once those questions are answered, choosing the print format becomes much easier.
Don't Forget Brand Consistency
Your business card, brochure, banner and signage don’t need to look identical, but they should look like they belong to the same company.
Consistent use of your logo, colours, typefaces, imagery and tone helps customers recognise your business across different pieces of marketing.
If your existing identity needs some attention before producing new materials, our branding and rebranding service can help establish a more consistent visual direction before taking it into print.
Planning Your Next Print Project?
Whether you know exactly what you need or you’re still deciding between the options, talk to Print Juice. We’re a family-run printing company based near Bishop’s Stortford with decades of industry experience across commercial print, large format printing and business marketing materials.
Call 01245 860 550 or send us your requirements and we’ll help you get your project moving.
