With the emergence of generative AI, marketing campaigns are no longer what they used to be. Coming up with catchy slogans and impressive visual designs simply isn’t enough; today, consumers care more about brand values, ethical practices, and personalised messaging.
So, where does this leave print in 2025’s marketing campaigns? We’ll explore this and other print-related marketing questions in this blog.
We'll cover:
- Zero-Click: A Marketing Movement
- The Benefits of Print Marketing in 2025
- Maximising Engagement with a Combined Marketing Strategy
- Enhancing Your Marketing Strategy with Brilliant Print
Zero-Click: A Marketing Movement
In 2025, the way we “do” marketing is changing. Whereas traditional marketing efforts have been centred around generating those all-important clicks and driving traffic to a website, now the focus is less on driving traffic and more on meeting people where they’re at.
This means offering up key information and expert insights freely, rather than giving half the story on social media and hiding the other half behind a link to your website.
It’s a trend partly driven by the advent of AI-generated content and also by changing consumer habits, but it’s one you should definitely keep in mind when designing your next campaign.
And it’s not just shaping new methods of digital marketing — it’s having an impact on print, too. Sending a message in print can be a great way to cut through the digital noise. In fact, research shows that in terms of open rates, direct mail outperforms email marketing, with an average open rate of 60%.
And with many active internet users finding ways to close digital advertising channels with ad blockers, spam filters, and marketing opt-outs, print offers a unique method of marketing to those hard-to-reach audiences. To put this into context, recent research shows that 70% of people feel more valued when receiving direct mail, and that mail leaves a better impression of the brand.
Now that the focus is on providing value to your potential customer rather than simply increasing website traffic, incorporating print marketing into your campaign can be a really effective way of delivering informative, valuable, engaging content to your audiences. And with modern printing technologies, personalising your print marketing has never been easier.
For more information about the power of direct mail and personalised print in 2025, read our blog.
The Benefits of Print Marketing in 2025
In 2025, when people think of “marketing”, it’s no surprise that they think of digital marketing first. Social media remains a key part of most companies’ marketing strategies, and whilst the way we write and share website content might be changing, there’s no doubt that your website is still very much a storefront for your business, helping you to build awareness, share key insights, develop brand loyalty, and generate leads.
With this in mind, it may be natural to believe that print marketing isn’t as effective as it used to be — but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Whether it’s building trust, exploring new channels for reaching your audience, or breaking through the digital noise, print is definitely something your business shouldn’t leave behind.
Incorporating print into your marketing campaigns carries a host of benefits. Here are just a few of them…
1. It's Tangible
Print takes your messaging beyond the screen, giving your audience something physical and tangible to hold, carry around, keep on their coffee table, or pass to a colleague. In this way, printed marketing cuts through the digital noise, giving people a break from screen fatigue by actively engaging with something that’s real. And when it looks and feels good, it’s even more likely to leave a lasting impression.
2. It Builds Real Connection
Encountering something in the real world - something you can hold in your hands and keep on your desk - often makes the experience more memorable. In fact, research shows that print ads require 21% less cognitive effort to process, making their impact faster-hitting and more likely to be remembered.
3. It Indicates Credibility
Investing in well-designed, high-quality print materials can help to convey a sense of professionalism for your brand, whilst also heightening its credibility. A 2017 research project conducted by Royal Mail showed that 71% of people are more likely to trust advertising mail, and with the developments we’ve seen in the digital space in recent years, it’s fair to assume this figure will be equally high, if not even higher, today.
4. It's Not As Common
With digital marketing being so prevalent in people’s lives, it’s fair to say that fewer brands are leveraging the power of print. From a consumer point of view, this means fewer brochures, letters, flyers and leaflets are landing on the doormat — so when one does, it’s more likely to get noticed.
5. It's Accessible
Whilst almost 70% of the global population is actively using the internet, with 63.9% active on social media, the fact is that even in 2025, not everyone is online. By going analogue with your marketing efforts and incorporating print into your campaigns, you can access those harder-to-reach audiences and give them an experience with your brand that’s more likely to resonate.
Maximising Engagement with a Combined Marketing Strategy
When it comes to marketing for your brand, there’s no universal method for meeting your audience where they’re at. Whether you go full-digital or put all your efforts into print, you’re bound to be missing out on vital outreach opportunities with relevant audiences.
In 2025, multi-channel marketing is what it’s all about. But this doesn’t just mean posting on social media and sending out a few flyers. With new technology, you can now create immersive experiences for your customers by incorporating digital media into your printed marketing.
Here’s how…
QR Codes
QR codes bridge the gap between the tangible world of print and the exploratory, expansive world of the digital landscape. By including a QR code in your printed materials, you can encourage your customers to continue engaging with your brand online via relevant landing pages or digital content, specifically curated to remove pain points, provide additional information, and answer any outstanding questions they might have.
Personalised URLs (PURLs)
PURLs are a great way to measure the performance of your printed marketing efforts. With a PURL, each recipient receives their own unique link to your online content. With this, you can track their behaviour, customise the content, and gather valuable data for further digital marketing and personalisation efforts.
Social Media Integration
Promoting your social media profiles and hashtags in your printed materials can be a great way to build your online community and extend the reach of your campaign. Whether it’s an incentivised, hashtag-based competition or a simple “Follow us” message, encouraging customers to connect on social media can help to bring them closer to the brand while also providing opportunities for continued engagement with relevant content.
Enhance Your Marketing Strategy with Brilliant Print
In 2025, print marketing remains an effective and valuable tool for cutting through the noise and delivering impactful messaging to the right audiences, offering unique advantages such as tangibility, memorability, and credibility.
Ready to learn more about how you can maximise impact with engaging print marketing campaigns? Check out our comprehensive playbook, which outlines the right types of print to send and when, so you can make sure your audiences’ needs are always being answered.
You’ll also receive top design tips for making eye-catching print materials that will impress and resonate with your audience.
