5 Things to Check Before Your Marketing Project Goes to Print

Print marketing is a powerful tool to reach your target audience. But before you hit "send" on that print project, there are a few things you should check off your list. 

By doing a quick review at the proofing stage, you can save yourself time, money, and headaches down the road.

1. Check your spelling and grammar.

This one seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many times it gets overlooked and how many errors make it through the design process. 

Inadvertent typos and grammatical errors make your company look unprofessional. And once something goes to print, there’s no going back! Your printing coordinator will review everything before sending it to you for a final look. Don’t assume there are no mistakes – check over your entire project carefully before giving the green light. Tools like Grammarly can be a great help.

2. Review your graphics and images.

Your finished product should look polished and professional, so it's worth taking time to get the details right. Are the photos high-resolution? Do the graphics look pixelated or blurry? 

When in doubt, zoom in close to check the quality. If anything looks off, ask your designer to make adjustments or swap out the image altogether.

3. Confirm your contact information and check important dates.

Nothing would be worse than printing a batch of marketing materials only to realize that your phone number or web address is wrong. Moreover, you wouldn’t want to publicize outdated pricing structures or packages you no longer offer.

Likewise, be mindful of any dates or deadlines that are included in your printed materials. Nothing screams "amateur" like an outdated event calendar or an expired coupon code. 

Take a moment to double-check all these crucial details before moving forward.

4. Review the entire design.

Take a step back and look at the big picture – does everything look how you envisioned it? Make sure that all of the elements are in place and that your overall message is clear. 

Review each element of the design carefully and note any changes that need to be made. Keep in mind that even small tweaks can make a big difference in how your piece turns out. If something doesn’t look or feel quite right, reach out to your print project manager and discuss how to improve it. They’ll be more than willing to help ensure your final project is as close to your vision as possible. 

5. Proofread... again!

We promise this is the last time we'll mention proofreading (we just can't stress enough how important it is!). But before you finally hit "send" on that print project, take one last look at the copy to catch any final errors or typos. 

Aside from checking for spelling errors, you'll also want to give your content a once-over to make sure everything makes sense and flows well. If you have any questions or concerns about the message you're trying to communicate, now is the time to address them. Your designer can make revisions as needed to ensure your final piece hits the mark.

A little extra effort goes a long way in ensuring a successful print job.

By taking a few minutes to review your marketing project before it goes to print, you can save yourself a lot of time, wasted budget, and frustration down the road. By following these simple tips, you can be confident that your finished product will be polished, professional, and ready to make a lasting impression on your target audience.