The Great New Medium
10 Years ago, the rise of the internet came as a shock to many people. But, most soon realized the amazing advantages and opportunities that it brought with it, and, as a result, it was very quickly embraced by society at large. It brought with it new forms of communication, as well as new methods of exposure, new ways to buy and sell, and of course new ways to advertise.

Perhaps more than any other group, creative professionals have exploited the internet in a truly fantastic array of methods. The internet not only helps photographers, designers and other artists contact buyers - it has also become a unique artistic venue unto itself. The best websites are almost always made by creative pros to show off their own talents.

The real trick, though, is using your talents and your website to create income. At Paper Chase, we feel that print is a clever and profitable way to create a strong interest in your work that will eventually lead to assignments. Here are some interesting ideas to help you do just that.

Use Mailing to Create Clicks

In the past, bulk mailing was used to generate phone calls. For creatives, however, the internet is the new medium of choice for learning more about a person and his work. Using bulk mail to drive web traffic is a fast-growing method for both large and small advertisers, and new techniques can allow you to know more about your site visitors than you think.

Use Print as a Classy Follow-Up

When people visit your website, make sure to ask them for their contact information. The best way to do this is by offering a free gift, such as a mini-portfolio or other promotional piece. Not only will this allow you to create a friendly relationship between you and a potential client. It will also help you build your client database, and put your work directly into the hands of someone who wants to see it.

Think about New Technology

Using Variable Data Printing, you can use printed pieces to talk to individuals one-on-one. If you can get information from your visitors, you can now print every promotional piece differently, with different information for each individual. Also, using technology such as pURLs, you can find out exactly who is visiting your site, and you can follow up accordingly.

Mail Helps Email

Want to make sure that people read your mailed promotions? Send them an email and tell them to keep an eye out for the amazing new piece you sent them. Want better luck getting people to read your emails? Try sending them a printed letter or promotional piece that tells them to keep an eye out for the cool new email special that you are sending.


In the end, the real trick to using Print and the Web together is to keep yourself informed. Read up on new technologies, and talk to your printer about capabilities. When you know what tools are available, you can really use your creativity and plan some marketing that will get you noticed.

Need Help with Design?
Our talented design and prepress staff are happy to help you custom tailor a look that accurately represents your company and the image that you want to present.

If you already have design ideas, our techs can help you realize them quickly and inexpensively. If you just need advice or support, we are here to help with any technical issue that you might have.

Specialty Pre-Flighting
Do you have a job that needs some help? Feel free to talk to us about technical preflighting. Our prepress staff will make sure that your job will print well under any conditions.

Template Evaluation
Have a big project that needs to go smoothly? Send us the first few pages before you dive into the bulk of the job. Frequently, problems with book templates can cause major problems if they aren't caught early in the creative process. If you have started a job with us, feel free to submit a few file samples before you finish the job. It will give you confidence and it will speed the prepress aspect significantly.