Reducing waste isn’t just good for the planet – it’s good for your budget, too. When designing printed marketing materials, choosing the right sizes for each item can help minimize waste and maximize efficiency.
Whether you’re creating brochures, signage, flyers or a direct mail campaign, your design choices play a big part in both production efficiency and environmental impact. As your local source for professional marketing and design, Allegra is here to ensure that your visual communications are as effective and eco-friendly as possible!
How can the size of my print marketing reduce waste?
Knowing the standard sizes for certain types of print marketing material can help ensure that you aren’t going too big, too small, too little or too much with your design choices. Here are a few tips on how to tackle different types of marketing materials:
- Brochures: A staple in printed marketing materials thanks to their versatility, brochures are a common choice across numerous industries. The most common sizes are 8.5”x11” (letter size), and 11”x17” (tabloid size) for total printing space. Letter size is the most common for customized brochures and it allows for plenty of copy and images; tabloid is used for when you need more details. If your business operates in global markets, consider using A4 (8.27”x11.69”), which is a standard international size.
- Flyers and posters: These are great for when you have a special promotion, an upcoming event or an announcement of a new product or service. Generally, flyers are going to be printed in letter size, so that they’re easy to place in a variety of spots (such as community bulletin boards). Larger posters start at tabloid size, and go up to 18”x24”, 24”x36” and beyond – though these will be your most commonly-seen, and therefore the easiest to find frames for.
- Mailers: When considering direct mailer design, selecting standard mailing dimensions can save you significant costs on both materials and postage. Aligning your design with established postal standards is an easy way to keep things efficient! Postcards are most typically found as 4”x6” but will on occasion go up to 5”x7” or even 6”x9” for added impact. Postcards are already an efficient choice, since they avoid the need for envelopes, reducing packaging waste and production time and costs.
When you do need an envelope, a typical #10 envelope (4.125”x9.5”) is often employed, especially for when you want to send a brochure or letter. If instead you’re sending a greeting card, appointment reminder or invitation to an event, an A7 envelope (5.25”x7.25”) is the standard choice.
How else can my business reduce waste in design?
Beyond applying standard sizes as outlined above, there’s a few other things you should keep in mind. Choosing recycled materials - such as recycled paper for your print, or recycled aluminum for your signs - is a great place to start.
While we love a fancy finish on our mailed marketing, you may want to look into your local recycling standards. Certain types of gloss coating, for instance, may prevent your brochures or postcards from being recyclable – so it’s worth investigating what paper products can and cannot be recycled before making any design choices.
You also simply want to avoid overprinting! Proper list management can ensure you only ever print as much as you need, which not only keeps your budget in check but helps reduce wasteful leftovers.
Today’s consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that prioritize eco-friendly, sustainable practices. Putting certain practices into effect, such as designing for standardized sizes, not only appeals to those practices, but can help maximize your own efficiency along the way. Partnering with your local experts at Allegra can help ensure that you make the most sustainable design choices when you need them. Contact us today to learn more!
