If you are new to the print world, I wish you the best of luck! It can be a tricky and overwhelming place at times if you don’t know what you are doing. Luckily, most print companies that you will work with are very patient and understand that not everyone is an expert. Here are some penny saving tricks and tips to help you with your next print project!
Make a Dummy, Dummy!
Once you have figured out what you want, like a brochure or a booklet, it is sometimes helpful to make your own ‘dummy’ or mock-up to have something physical to look at. That way, you can take the normal 8.5” x 11” piece of paper, fold it down to see what the correct dimension would be for designing, and what you would in the end be receiving from the print company. This can help you save money by being knowledgeable about the end product; just saying you want a brochure or booklet can be taken many different ways by your print expert. So now both you and your print expert will be happy and on the same page all the way through production.
Proof Read! Proof Read! Proof Read!
We’ve all done it. We have spent hours making something perfect and finally finishing it, only to find the smallest of errors in a missing comma or using the wrong ‘there’ when spellcheck should have found it. If you are writing the information for your product or you are having the print company have a copy-writer do it for you, it is always best to double, even triple check for any spelling and grammar errors. Nothing is more frustrating than finally getting 1,000 copies of a brochure back and noticing an error. That will just cause a big headache and a pain in your pocketbook. Most print companies will proof read it for you but it doesn’t hurt to have a set of new eyes look over the copy as well.
Racking up the fees
Most print companies will have a designer on-hand to help you create the best look and feel for your printed products. One way to save in this area of production would be to know how many changes you get before you’re charged more. Some companies will give you two to three typesetting changes that are already priced out in your estimate but once you go over that you may be charged hourly based on how significant your changes are. So get a clear idea of what you want before meeting with the designer and communicate to them your vision of the product to avoid going over your budget with design fees.
No Questions is a Stupid Question!
Sometimes asking your print customer service rep what their opinion is, can be the best money saving trick. If you are new to the print world and need advice, ask the people you are working with for help. They will know all of the types of paper, which are the best ones to choose and how much the price difference will be. So you’ll know the best price and paper to use for a brochure versus a booklet and everything in between.
Although I cannot promise that any of the above mentioned tips and tricks will always save you money when dealing with print, I can promise that they will at the very least keep you organized and help facilitate a great relationship with your print provider.
