Whether you’re a small business or a sole trader, large format printing can help you promote your business and grow your client base in both your local area and further afield. From wall prints to billboard advertising, large format printing is one of the most effective yet under-utilised marketing techniques. And even better - it’s entirely affordable.
In this article, we’re going to go over 5 essential things you need to know about large format printing, from how it can help your business to how you can find the best large format printing companies in London. Let’s take a look!
What is large format print?
First of all - what is large format printing? If you’re unfamiliar with this form of printing, a large format print refers to any image larger than 450mm x 640mm, which is typically the maximum capacity for a regular printer.
With large format printing, you can create billboard advertising, wall art, roller banners, posters, cardboard cut-outs, point-of-sale advertising, as well as decorative branding for any brick-and-mortar business.
What you need to know about large format printing
So, what makes large format printing such a lucrative marketing method for small and national businesses alike? Here are just a few reasons you should incorporate this printing method into your marketing campaigns:
As efficient as digital advertising
While it’s important to have an online presence for your business, it’s a bad idea to ignore the potential of traditional print advertising. While billboard adverts might not go viral on Youtube or Twitter, they’ll help give your business that all-important exposure in areas where you want to find a client base. Unlike digital adverts - which can end up being viewed by anyone - you’re able to directly target your key demographics by placing billboard adverts in strategic locations.
Studies even back it up, with UK pollster YouGov reporting that billboard advertising is the number one most noticed form of out-of-the-home advertising amongst the general public.
It’s affordable
If you’re a small business or independent contractor, you probably don’t have the same advertising budget as your global or nationwide rivals. Rather than spending thousands on PPC ad campaigns or small screen adverts to try to outsell your competitors, large format printing allows you to brand your business and promote it at an affordable price. Whether you want to opt for vibrant roller banners or an engaging bus stop campaign in a key location, large format print allows you to be strategic about your marketing, leading to a higher return on your investment.
Large prints are created using a digital printer
Unlike a traditional printer that uses mechanical plates to print images, large format print is actually a form of digital printing. How does this work? Put simply, large format printing works by sending small images to a digital interface, which then copies the image directly and sends it to print on a large substrate.
This means that it’s much more economical than standard wholesale printing; you don’t need to place large bulk orders, and can create one-time prints for your business at a low cost. Digital printing also has a much quicker turnaround time, meaning that most large format printing UK businesses will be able to fulfil short-notice orders.
It’s eco friendly
Another thing you might not know about large format printing is that it’s incredibly eco-friendly, especially when it comes to out-of-the-home advertising. Rather than creating thousands of flyers or throwaway leaflets to put through doors, you can simply create a small number of large format adverts. Large prints can even be optimised to be weather-resistant with a solvent or latex finish, meaning that you can keep your advertisement up for as long as you’ve hired the ad space. If being environmentally friendly is an integral part of your business ethos, large format printing is the best way to put these values into practice.
It’s ideal for branding
If you’re starting a new business - or giving your current branding a design overhaul - you don’t need to spend thousands hiring an interior decorator or marketing designer to make your business stand out. Large format print is great for decorating brick-and-mortar businesses, as you can produce vibrant wall art, roller banners, and in-store advertising at a low cost. And as large format printing is created using a digital printer, you can easily create your own branding images and logos and replicate them in large print. Easy!
