11 Jul Paper print vs. new technology
No doubt you’ve already joined the online revolution – millions of us now have a multitude of online social networking profiles and websites. We can even read the latest news stories online – virtually every major magazine and paper across the globe now has their own website. This shift in media forms has made marketing more accessible than ever to the masses – but what does this mean for the humble paper copy?
Rewind only a few decades and paper copy was the number one option for marketing and information distribution. From newspapers to leaflets, paper copy seemed to be everywhere – and perhaps it still is to some degree. However, as we continue to learn the huge marketing power of the Internet, more and more people are choosing to market their business or services online.
Online literature has its advantages of course – Internet-based copy can easily be edited and changed to reflect the times we are living in. It’s also a more permanent option – leaflets can easily be thrown away, but online copy has a much longer shelf life. Printing costs can also be reduced using online copy, saving companies money in a somewhat difficult financial climate. But would we really like to see the end of all paper copy altogether?
The majority of people would agree that there’s room for both options in the modern world. There’s no doubt that online marketing is on the increase, and this trend is unlikely to slow down in the near future. Certainly, the figures we are seeing would prove that it is a viable and cost-effective marketing strategy. Online communications allow us to reach a larger customer base and have helped us to open up global communications on a whole new level.
But there are still many people who prefer paper or ‘hard’ copy. In an online age, we tend to forget that not everyone is on the Internet. Yes, a large majority of us are, but many still rely on traditional methods to catch up on news and read about new products and services. Even if you are online, the likelihood is that you still buy your favourite magazine or newspaper in hard copy. And why is this? – it’s because you prefer it that way! So, in conclusion, perhaps we haven’t seen the last of paper copy just yet – there seems to be room for both options in the foreseeable future.