By Janet Conner, Client Services Director, MSGPR
Somewhere in Forest Country this week, somebody needs something printed. A church needs bulletins for homecoming. A booster club needs a banner before Friday’s game. A new business owner needs cards before the next chamber mixer. A bride-to-be needed invitations yesterday.
I’ve spent 30 years on the other side of the counter, and the difference between a smooth print job and a frustrating one usually comes down to what happens before the order is placed. That’s what “Ready to Print” is about: the practical stuff small businesses, churches, schools and families need to know before they order, so what comes back is what you pictured.
We’ll start with the question I hear more than any other: “How much will this cost?” It’s a fair question. The trouble is it usually comes before I have the information I need to answer it.
A real estimate depends on five things:
- Quantity. How many do you need?
- Size. Finished size, not “about like a postcard.”
- Ink colors. Full color, one color, front only, front and back?
- Stock. What paper or material? Heavy, light, glossy, matte?
- Binding or finishing. Folding, stapling, cutting, laminating, die cutting?
If you have those five answers when you call, you’ll get a true number instead of a guess, and you’ll get it faster.
The second most common question is “How long does it take?” That depends on how the piece is printed and finished. A flyer can take a day. A folded brochure can take anywhere from 2 to 7 days. A special die-cut sticker can take up to two weeks. The more steps after the ink hits the paper, the longer it takes.
A useful tip: when you call for an estimate, or to ask about availability and turnaround on a print project, have all of your information ready. The process will go smoother.
If you’re not sure about what you want, ask for an in-person consultation. I always feel I get a better sense of what a client wants and needs when I sit down face to face with them.
Every couple of weeks I’ll take another question I hear over and over and answer it here: getting files ready, why colors change, signs that survive our weather, wedding timelines and more.
If you’ve got a print question you’d like me to cover, send it my way.
Janet Conner is Client Services Director at MSGPR in Lufkin. Have a print question or need an estimate? Email print@msgpr.com.
