Print Advertising Q&A

As Narine and Craig have pointed out, brochure printing costs vary and you can expect to pay anywhere between $170 and $500 per 1000 piece. Generally speaking, marketing material printing costs are determined by factors such as:

• Design

• Design time

• Copywriting requirements

• Size and layout 

• Colour use 

• Double-sided printing 

• Paper quality and finish, e.g. matte or glossy 

• Turnaround time

When possible, aim to order in bulk as this can drive down the costs considerably.

Well, I personally prefer print advertising not because I am into the same business, but I work for it because I got very good reviews from the people.  It has the ability to target readers effectively in the local criteria. Whether it is online or offline advertising, people just want to be inspired themselves, find interesting topics, and want to get genuine news. 

How much does a magazine ad design cost?

 When advertising in a magazine, a considerable portion of your setup cost is dependant on the design of your advert. The cost of designing a magazine ad can vary wildly depending on the size and complexity of the ad. Your price tag will also depend on the designer or agency you're working with, as the cost can range from $500 to $400,000. 

It's essential to understand your advert's scope, needs, and ideal budget when shopping around for the best fit. It's also important to look at the designer's previous works to understand their abilities, limitations, and style compared to their asking price.

How much do print advertising services cost?

In short, the cost of print advertising depends mainly on the type of medium you're advertising in:

• Newspapers. The main factors determining the cost of advertising in newspapers are circulation, ad size, weekday, and color. In Australia, the average price of a full-page ad in the local paper starts around $600, while well-circulated regional newspapers charge around $6000-$8000 for a full-sized ad. National newspapers charge between $50,000 to $90,000 for a full-page ad, depending on the day and newspaper.

• Magazines. An ad in a magazine can fluctuate from $300 for smaller ads in a local newspaper to $500,000 for full-page ads in national and international magazines. While there's a massive discrepancy between lower and upper-tier prices, you should have an understanding of where your business wants to advertise based on your target market and business size.

• Direct mail. This type of advertising is considered to be anything sent through the post office directly to peoples' homes with the intent for them to make a purchase. For your direct mailing campaign to be successful, you should focus on purchasing lists of potential customers' addresses within your ideal target audience demographic. These direct mailing lists can cost between $50 to $30,000, depending on the quality and size of the list. It's also essential to keep in mind the additional cost of materials, design, print, and distribution.

• Brochures. While it may seem old-fashioned, brochures are a great way to establish yourself as an authority, gain credibility, and market your business or self all in one advertisement. They generally cost between $170 to $500 per 1000 pieces. Be prepared to provide heaps of helpful information to readers with this option! 

While affordable, there are a few additional determinants of cost to keep in mind:

• design

• print production

• size

• quantity

• ink colour

• one-sided or two-sided

• mailing list

• labeling

Many people think of print advertising as an antiquated approach, but it's still a great addition to a successful holistic marketing approach. Print advertising is still highly convertible and still one of the most effective ways to reach a local audience.

What are the average direct mail postage rates?

The average postage rate of individually sending direct mail is around $1 per piece; however, Australia Post has several bulk mail options that will save you money when shipping more than 300 parcels.

1. Print Post. 

2. PreSort Letters

3. Promo Post

4. Charity Mail

5. Clean Mail

6. Acquisition Mail

7. Imprint Metered

8. Reply Paid

9. Impact Mail

10. Unaddressed Mail

11. Domestic letter with tracking imprint

12. Registered Post Imprint.

What are the Individual Costs Associated with Direct Mail?

There are several costs aside from postage; some other expenses to consider when factoring the cost of direct mail include:

• Copywriting. Hiring an effective copywriter who can capture your target's attention can make or break mailing campaigns. Copywriters typically charge between $0.25/word and $1.00/ word. 

• Design. There are some different approaches when designing your direct mail piece: 

  • You can do it yourself.

  • Use a temple online.

  • Hire a professional designer or agency.

• Mailing List. The average mailing list costs between $0.02-0.30 cents per record, depending on the quality, purchase size, and reusability of leads.

• Print Cost. Print cost varies depending on:

  • Paper quality

  • Sides

  • Number of pages

  • Quantity

  • Color of ink

Does anyone know how much direct mail costs per piece? How much do small businesses spend on direct mail on average?

The average small business spends $167 per person.

The cost of direct mail pieces costs anywhere from 30 cents to around $10 per person. This varies depending on the cost of:

• Design. There are some different approaches when designing your direct mail piece: 

  • You can do it yourself.

  • Use a temple online.

  • Hire a professional designer or agency.

• Marketing copy. If you have a tight budget, you may have no choice but to write your ad copy. I'd recommend hiring a professional copywriter even if it raises the cost; a good writer can create persuasive content that will interest readers to buy.

• Mailing lists. The average mailing list costs between $0.02-0.30 cents per record depending on the quality, purchase size, and reusability of leads.

• Printing. Print cost varies depending on:

  • Paper quality

  • Sides

  • Number of pages

  • Quantity

  • Color of ink

• Distribution. Mailing prices fluctuate; however, it's essential to be aware of the quantity of mail you send as well as the weight of the mail. 

When designed correctly and given enough attention, direct mail advertising may provide a lucrative opportunity to reach your audience. 

What do you think? Do you implement direct mail marketing in your marketing approach?

Hi, thanks for your great question!

Print media and social media perform different tasks in a holistic marketing campaign. 

It depends on your budget and audience, truthfully. If you are marketing or targeting businesses that are remote or far away I would recommend social media. Also if you want to target a younger demographic a digital approach would work best. 

However, if your demographic is local and slightly more mature, a print media focus could really pay off. A letter box drop to people in your local area can work wonders for your business or service. 

The reason for this is social media is immediate, targeted and focused. And it typically has a younger audience. It is also quite cost effective for reach. You can track your campaign, target over large distances and change it in an instant. 

Print media is more expensive for a smaller audience however, print media takes 21% less cognitive effort to process than its digital counter parts. It's also better for brand recall and many customers will appeciate the fact that they have an offline advertisement that they refer to at any time. 

However did you know that print and social media used together can really elevate your campaign?

Using print media and digital media together makes your campaign 400% more likely to be successful than either strategy alone. 
To sum up and answer your question in two sentences, neither is better and both work very well together! It will also depend on audience, demographic and budget. 
Hope this helps!

What is the average newspaper ad cost?

The average newspaper ad cost varies depending on the newspaper's circulation, ad placement, and day of the week. 

How much do full-page ads in newspapers cost?

1. Local Newspaper Ad

The cost to run a full-page advertisement in your local community's newspaper starts at $600.

2. Regional Newspaper Ad

These newspapers cover significant events in the regional area and amass a larger audience than local papers. 

Regional papers like The Canberra Times charges between $6,186.58 and $7465.39, depending on the day of the week.

3. National Newspaper Ad

A full-page ad in a nationally circulated paper costs varies depending on publication:

Sydney Morning Herald:

• Monday-Fri: $70,752

• Sat: 88,480

The Australian:

• Monday-Fri: $51,680

• Sat: $92,072

The Age

• Mon - Fri: $54,400

• Sat: $81,184

• Sun: $59,104