Everybody wants to buy cheap online printing. A large majority of businesses look for the lowest price without considering value. The question is which is more important – price or value? Many online printing services offer high prices with deep discounts so it looks like you are getting the cheapest price. They strip the value added services that most people want and add additional charges for upgrades like heavier paper stocks, aqueous, matte or UV coatings and finishes that other online printing services include for free. Some companies don’t even include these services. They have the cheapest prices because they have older press that cannot apply coatings.
Don’t be deceived by the lowest price. Be sure to look for what you are getting for your hard earned money. A few online printing services include UV or matte/dull coating on all the card stocks they print. They offer free Printing Service Nearby on the backside of business cards and some postcards as well as free upgrades on 14Pt card stock to heavier 16Pt card stock.
These free services add value to your advertising, sales, marketing and branding collateral without raising the price. The services that offer better value are not always on the first page of Google so they might be a little harder to find. You rarely find gems on the top of the pile but they are out there if you spend some time searching for them.
To make sure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck, here are some other features to look for that most businesses want for their top quality business card or postcard.
The weight is very important because the card is felt and a quality judgment is instantly made even before the card is looked at. My advice is don’t use anything less than 14Pt coated card stock. 16Pt is better but should not cost more. Flimsy card stock of 12pt or lower wears out quickly and bends easily.
UV or matte coating protects a card from scratching and scuffing. It also looks and feels more professional. You don’t want your cards to look or feel like they were printed on your office printer.
You should always get a free proof for your approval before it goes to print. You’ll be surprised how many typos and mistakes you find when you have chance for a second look. If an error is found in your file, will the printing service tell you about what needs to be fixed? Will they charge you extra for processing a new file?
If you want to upgrade the card, do they offer the option like spot UV coating, silk laminated cards, foil printing, plastic cards, lenticular cards or other kinds of cards that have a wow factor effect to attract attention?
Before you select a cheap online printing service, it’s always best to check out their customer service. If they offer free samples, fill out the samples request online. See how fast they arrive. Do they follow up to make sure you received them? Always ask questions. Is the person on the other end helpful or do you get switched around. How long do you spend on hold? How fast do you get a callback?
Finding the cheapest printing online may be important to some businesses but a smart business looks for the lowest price with the most value for a quality product. The answer to the question, which is more important – price or value is value. Be sure to look for the cheap online printing service. Plan ahead. Don’t be in a rush to pick the first printers on the first page without check what they offer for the price. There’s more to business cards and postcards than just ink on paper.
