Business | Top Tips


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COLIN SINCLAIR MCDERMOTT, AKA THE ONLINE PRINT COACH, PROVIDES HIS TOP 10 TIPS TO HELP YOU KEEP HOLD OF YOUR CUSTOMERS.


It’s not bad service that costs most printers business, it’s being invisible when it matters. Clients don’t leave because you messed up. They leave because someone else showed up first. Here are 10 hard-earned lessons (and fixes) all rooted from real conversations I’ve had with print business owners and their teams in recent months. If you want more repeat work, better clients, and less ghosting, this list is for you.


3. 1. SELL THE


OUTCOME, NOT THE PRODUCT


Nobody buys print for the sake of print. They’re buying what print does: launches, sells, promotes, and communicates. If your content is all stock weights and finishes, you’re missing the mark. Talk about results. Show what success looks like. Focus on the why, not just the what.


4.


VISIBILITY BEATS MEMORY EVERY TIME


You weren’t forgotten because you weren’t good. You were forgotten because you weren’t visible. Clients don’t sit around remembering which printer did a great job last time. They search. They click. They order. That’s why staying front-of-mind is non-negotiable. Email, social, even a quick ‘still here’ message can be enough. If you’re not showing up, you’re leaving the door wide open for someone else.


2.


CREATE BETTER BAIT


Lead magnets should feel irresistible, not ignorable. ‘Download our brochure’ is forgettable. A PDF that says ‘Top 10 Print Ideas Boosting Hospitality Bookings in 2025?’ That’s bait worth biting. Know your audience, speak to their pain points, and make it specific.


THIS INDUSTRY ISN’T SHORT ON TALENT; IT’S SHORT ON VISIBILITY, CLARITY, AND CONSISTENCY. YOU DON’T NEED TO OVERHAUL YOUR BUSINESS OVERNIGHT. BUT YOU DO NEED TO ACT. PICK TWO OF THESE FIXES AND IMPLEMENT THEM THIS MONTH


20 | August/September 2025 5. EVERY


QUOTE IS A CONVERSATION STARTER


A quote isn’t just a price request. It’s a chance to start a real dialogue. The customer is asking, ‘Can I trust you?’ A one-line price sends them back to Google. A personalised response that shows understanding and adds value? That starts a relationship. Don’t just quote. Connect.


STAY CONSISTENT IN THE QUIET MOMENTS


Your best clients might not need you today, but they’ll need you eventually. When that moment comes, they’ll choose the name they’ve seen consistently showing up. Marketing isn’t about shouting. It’s about being useful, often. Trust builds in those quiet, in-between moments.


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