The ROI of Print Advertising

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As the air turns crisp and autumn leaves start to fall, many CNJ local businesses recognize the value in traditional print marketing. As the leader in Central New Jersey local news via direct mail, local marketing buyers choose gunther publications and  take stock of their marketing strategies, planning for the end of the year and beyond now. As digital advertising continues to dominate conversations around marketing, Central New Jersey Plus direct mail newspaper includes social media marketing for all their print advertisers. While print advertising remains a valuable and highly impactful channel for reaching target consumers in Manalapan, Marlboro, Freehold, Monroe Township, to name a few towns, Gunther publications recognizes the need for a media mix..


1. Set Clear, Measurable Goals Before Launching Your Campaign

To evaluate the success of any marketing campaign, it’s essential to establish clear objectives from the outset. What do you hope to achieve with your print advertising this fall? Goals might include:

  • Increasing brand awareness within a target demographic.
  • Boosting sales of a specific product or service.
  • Driving traffic to your website or physical store.
  • Capturing leads via direct mail offers.

Clearly defined goals not only help focus your creative strategy but also provide a benchmark for measuring ROI for all your CNJ marketing campaigns.


2. Incorporate Trackable Elements into Your Print Ads

To gauge the effectiveness of your direct mail print ads, it’s essential to track the customer response. Here are some practical ways to do it:

  • Use Unique URLs: Create landing pages specifically for your print campaign and feature unique URLs prominently in your ads. By tracking visits to these pages, you can directly attribute traffic to your print advertising efforts.
  • Incorporate QR Codes: QR codes make it easy for consumers to engage with your brand by scanning the code with their smartphone. You can then monitor QR code scans from your print advertisement to see how many people are taking action.
  • Promo Codes and Coupons: Include exclusive promotional codes, discounts, or coupons in your print ads. By monitoring redemptions, you can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your advertising campaign.

3. Track Inbound Calls

When advertising your print media including a phone number allows you to use a call tracking service. This enables you to assign a unique number to each print campaign, making it easy to determine how many inquiries or sales were generated by that specific advertisement.


4. Conduct Surveys and Collect Feedback

A simple way to measure the impact of print advertising is to ask your customers how they heard about you. This can be done through online forms, in-store conversations, or feedback surveys. Understanding which marketing channels brought customers in can help you attribute sales to print campaigns.


5. Measure Sales and Lead Conversions

One of the clearest indicators of print advertising ROI is an increase in sales or lead conversions during the campaign period. Compare sales data from the weeks before, during, and after your direct mail print ad ran. If you’re driving leads, track how many of those leads convert into paying customers.


Bringing It All Together

Central New Jersey Plus finds that print advertising, when executed strategically, offers an impressive ROI—especially in today’s market, where a tangible, visually captivating ad can stand out amid digital noise. CNJ+ Print Advertising is better than SEO because no searching is needed. As Central New Jersey businesses build their fall campaigns, remember that measuring success isn’t just about sales; it’s about engagement, brand visibility, and building lasting connections with your audience.

Investing time to track and analyze your print advertising efforts this fall will empower you to fine-tune your strategy, maximize your budget, and continue to reap the benefits of this powerful medium throughout the year.