5 Things to Consider When Partnering With an Offset Printing Company
Are you considering partnering with an offset printing company?
When many companies set out to print their publications, they have a lot of options. Offset printing consists of one of the best ways to do large volume printing projects.
But what is an offset printing company, and how do you choose a company with which to work?
There are many organizations that provide great offset printing services, and they can be difficult to choose between. Below, we’ll get into how to select the right business for you!
Keep reading to learn the top 5 things you should keep in mind!
What Is an Offset Printing Company?
So, what exactly is offset printing?
This type of printing is also known as lithography printing. It involves images pressed onto metal plates, and then ink gets applied to the plates. Then, the plates impress the images and writing onto the material of your choosing.
Many companies love offset printing. It provides them with the ability to produce beautiful, crisp publications that look really professional and help you gain clients. It also gives you many options for fantastic designs.
Offset printing often has a great turnaround time. While the printer can take a while to set up, it prints large volumes incredibly quickly, making it ideal for businesses who want to produce large quantities in a little bit of time.
Who Uses Offset Printing Companies?
Because offset printing turns projects around quickly, many people use them to produce publications they need in mass quantities.
These often take the form of magazines, annual reports, posters, envelopes, or anything else you need to produce in great numbers. And you don’t need to just print on paper, either! Lithography printing allows you to use a variety of other materials, including cardboard.
Choosing an Offset Printing Company
Have you established that you’d like to use an offset printing company for your needs?
If so, you’re probably wondering how to hire one that will produce the best results for you. Because every person’s project is different, there isn’t just one clear answer. Yet, we can give you 5 tips for selecting the company that’s right for you.
Let’s get into them below.
- Brainstorm What You Need
Every project has its own needs and specifications. Most likely, you have an image of what the final product should look like, and you and your team have discussed what sections, text, images, and may even design needs to go into it.
If you haven’t, sit down with your colleagues and hold this discussion before proceeding to the next steps. Ask someone to take notes on everything you want your publication to include and note whether you think they’re negotiable or non-negotiable.
For instance, you might find it non-negotiable that your project has a certain number of sections but might not care as much about what type of material it’s printed on, or vice versa.
At this point, you should also establish a timeline for publication. Do you need your product to come out within the next few months? Are you going to print on a continual basis?
Detail when you expect each part of the process to be complete, leaving time for the printing process at the end. Most offset printers take anywhere between 1-2 weeks for a turnaround time.
- Research Companies
Next, appoint someone on your team to research the best offset printing companies, or do it yourself if you have space in your schedule.
Start by running “offset printing companies” through a search engine and looking at the ones that appear. Click on the links to their website and look at any information pertaining to their printing projects, including the cost to print and the amount of advance notice they require.
You should also look into what kind of materials they use.
If you have any questions, contact the company, explain the nature of your project, and then make your inquiry. This gives you the information you need to make a decision.
- Read Reviews
Next, read reviews from the company’s previous clients. If possible, look for these reviews on places other than their own website, as businesses often pick only the best feedback to display on their site.
Many businesses have reviews listed on Google, Yelp, TrustPilot, and the websites of other neutral parties, so you can start there.
Make sure you focus on the general trend of the reviews. After all, one or two clients could have had a negative experience, but that doesn’t mean the company performs badly all the time. Yet, if the company consistently gets bad reviews, you should consider hiring someone else.
Likewise, if most of the reviews are positive, you’ve probably found a great company with which to work.
- Ask to See a Portfolio
Have you found a company or two that seem promising?
If so, ask to see a portfolio of their previous work. This allows you to see some of their best products and demonstrates to you what they might be able to do for your publication. If you like their work, go ahead and hire them! If not, keep looking until you find someone who does what you want.
What if they don’t have a portfolio? Ask them if they’re able to give out any client references for you to call.
- Ask About Your Options
Before you hire a printing company, you should discuss your project with them and ask about your different options.
Do they offer a wide variety of materials? Does using different materials result in different costs? How long, in general, does it take them to create projects like yours?
This will give you a better idea of how well they will be able to execute what you imagined.
Ready to Get Started with an Offset Printing Company?
Are you ready to work with an offset printing company?
Many businesses love offset printing because it provides high-quality products with a fast turnaround time. To hire the best printing company for you, follow the 5 steps above. That way, you will get the information you need to make the best decision for your business.
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