In my penultimate blog for 2015, I take a look at how interactive print can take us from the physical into the online world and make the content we read more fun and entertaining.

In the post, the transformation of print in a multi-channel world, I showcased innovations that are available and essentially transform print into a work of digital art.

I highlighted that print isn’t dead.

Like many, I live in the digital and physical world of online and print consuming content determined by where I am, what I’m doing and how much time I have.

Print has been doggedly fighting new digital technology and innovations, from email marketing to online banking there can be no disputing the fact that print dominance has gradually been eroded by new forms of media.

Why have the paper version when the mobile option makes it truly portable and flexible?

Despite this, there is a growing reluctance to admit that email and online marketing never reached their full potential, with many of us reaching saturation point with overflowing inboxes and junk e-marketing.

Increased awareness of the environmental impact of technology, print is seeing a resurgence particularly in direct mail and there is a real desire for the printed word.

Is print seen as the naughty boy?

I hear comments like oh, print is finished or we’ve cut right back on all our printed items.

Why not look at print differently?

Utilise new technology to deliver the advantages of traditional print but incorporate the latest digital innovations that take print from paper into the digital world.

You can read more about that here.

Only 10 to 15 years ago print was seen as a traditional safe way of delivering communications.

Consumer habits change almost daily.

We use a wide range of devices to access information from apps, to social media to contactless and apple pay purchasing, how humans digest information is fragmented.

Audiences switch between smartphone, tablet to PC to view and purchase this makes it difficult for the marketing manager to create campaigns that engage with their customers.

Technology has helped marketers and brands to understand their audiences and target them with personalised information suitable for them.

We are reliant on mobile technology and there is a generation of young people who have little interaction with print and I think it is very important that we don’t lose print altogether.

The challenge for the print industry is to be able to reinvent itself through new innovations like augmented reality/layar technology and capitalise on these developments by making print truly interactive so the printed word speaks to you.

In the past five years, there have been significant developments in digital technology working with print.

AR (augmented reality) transforms print into interactive content with videos and more digital content.

Layar was one of the early mobile augmented reality browsers to come to market in 2009 providing augmented reality and interactive print bridging the gap between print and the digital world.

Being able to scan items with the Layar logo like magazines, newspapers, movie posters and more, print is brought to life enriched with videos, web content, links to social media, websites and purchasing.

Layar is now part of the Blippar group and according to their website have had more than 46 million downloads by consumers who are keen to digest more content both from print and digital.

Video on demand gives marketing and brands the opportunity to deliver highly personalised advertising and content.

Think BMW or Mercedes Benz highly targeted and personalised print advertising with AR; the user scans and views how the car performs.

After you’ve visited the showroom, expressed an interest in a particular make and model, marketing then send you a highly interactive personalised piece of direct mail allowing you to scan and view the content.

Imagine how engaging that is for the recipient if combined with a limited discount offer or free servicing.

A badly designed print item will deliver a poor result much the same with interactive print, simply adding interactive content to a poorly designed print item won’t yield good results.

But create a great bit of print and then add an engaging interactive video or content that will deliver great results.

The challenge for the print and marketing industry is not solely the creation of content to drive revenue but encouraging the adoption of interactive content as another touch point for the audience.

Educating marketers to use interactive print and digital that will link all their marketing channels and engage with an otherwise fragmented audience is the challenge to making print interactive and engaging in the long term.

The post The future of interactive print appeared first on Digital Print Management.

I considered my response carefully and said that this is a generalisation to criticise print and keep marketing and advertising budgets down.

But, I went onto suggest that while the statement does hold water, it’s not entirely accurate.

Digital lends itself to short, trivial messages which can be effective and cheaper than print because distribution and receipt of the message are instant.

For more complex information or understanding of a product or service reading it in print is easier.

It provides high resolution, better typography, colour, composition, special effects and beautiful fulfilment which cannot be delivered by digital media.

The effectiveness of print depends on the message you want to convey to your audience, what response do you want to create and your objective.

My marketing man went on to say ‘even if you design and deliver a fantastic piece of physical marketing when it comes down to it, it really is a bit of print on paper isn’t it?’

I showed him how to incorporate QR codes and Augmented reality into his physical print media and guess what he was blown away.

‘I didn’t realise that print could do all that’. 

How do I use a QR code?

QR codes create a link between print and the digital world that makes your marketing work twice as hard and it is easier to measure.

QR codes make it simple for your customers to purchase by shortening the purchasing journey.

Information is collected about their buying behaviour for future offers and discounts.

QR codes are printed on all types of printed media – advertisements, direct mail, letterheads, business cards, magazines, brochures, sales and marketing material.

Each code contains information that sends the customer straight to a specific PURL/landing page that’s been designed with a marketing objective in mind.

This might be a digital newsletter, a video or social media sites like a Facebook page or product information.

A smartphone that has a QR app enables the customer to scan the code and the link sends them to a landing page.

It could be an invitation to buy, a discount code or sign up for a newsletter or subscription.

When the QR code is scanned, personal information can be saved for example where the customer is located, at what time of day did they buy and this gives you information to help understand the customer and how they buy.

QR codes improve your customer interaction by creating a dialogue with customers and statistics can be measured for future marketing objectives.

The codes can also be personalised using information supplied via a CRM and then printed directly onto any printed marketing material.

They are used to connect print with digital communication but they can contain any kind of information you want which makes them limitless in how you use them.

A QR code can be added to any type of printed collateral.

It’s a great way of rewarding loyal customers by connecting with them on social media via a designated landing page where they can collect points or obtain discounts.

How do I use Augmented Reality with print marketing?

Augmented reality adds a new dimension to the world of physical print because print media is interactive.

Why send readers to a website to watch a video when they can watch it on a page?

Marketing is engaging with your audience, make the content interesting, interactive and informative and they’ll stay for more.

AR is a great way to engage your audience with advertisements, your target audience is moved to want to make a purchase.

View print through an augmented reality app’s viewfinder and a world of interactive digital content is available.

The advertisement or message comes alive with computer-generated video, sound or games accessed through a smartphone or tablet.

AR uses are almost limitless. It can show how a product works and gives readers access to other content.

It is a way of making print and text interactive and makes it a fun experience and invites them to purchase.

AR increases audience engagement because it can reach target audiences in new ways via mobile devices.

What makes AR even more appealing is its ability to deliver targeted advertising messages to the people who read something they are interested in.

By scanning a code or pointing their device at an image on a sign, a printed page in a magazine or brochure on a billboard, content becomes dynamic and engaging, easing the consumer along the purchasing journey.

The post How to use print with Augmented Reality and QR Codes. appeared first on Digital Print Management.