Important Questions to Ask About Online Business Printing

Many businesses today use online printing services in order to design and then also print out their business cards, marketing materials, and the like. This can actually be more affordable and cost-effective than trying to do different types of prints in-house and can also mean a wide range of choices for the paper you'll use for cards and prints. When you're ready to explore online business printing for your company, note a few questions to ask and consider.

1. Always ask if prints bleed to the edges

Never assume that your marketing brochures and other items that you have printed will be printed all the way to the edge of the paper. Many printing machines have a certain margin they need to maintain that don't allow prints to reach the edge of the paper. This can be a problem for photographs and other such items as you don't want them to get cut off.

On the other hand, a business printing service may allow borderless printing without any bleed, but it may be for an extra charge. If you must have your prints reach the edge of the paper then you need to ensure you choose borderless prints.

2. Note if postcards and other mailing materials comply with mailing regulations

If you want to mail out the items you have printed from your online printing service, note that many pieces need to comply with certain regulations. A postcard might need a certain amount of untouched space for a postmark or barcode, as an example. The same might be true for a tri-fold brochure that you close up and mail with the address on the outside. Before you assume that you can alter or adjust these types of materials, always ask if they comply with local mailing regulations.

3. Ask if they can do mailing and other finishing services for you

No matter what you want to have done with the materials you're printing, a printing services company may be able to handle this work for you. As an example, they may be able to apply postage and then mail out those postcards or tri-fold brochures. They may be able to bind presentation materials into spiral binders or laminate signs for you. They may also be able to mail out certain pieces and then deliver other pieces to your location, so you can keep them on hand. Whatever the services you need, you should never assume that an online printer only prints, but they may have a full-service office staff to help with your needs as well.


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