Digital catalogs can replace the old and expensive method of sending out hard copy catalogs, sample textbooks, brochures and pamphlets.
Physical Catalogs
The hard copy version of catalog marketing is sent to existing customers on a list and some prospective customers. To remain on the list; the customer generally must make a purchase within a certain time frame. Due to the cost of mailing these catalogs, marketers usually remove names after the time period if no purchases come in, which is a way to save money in both printing and mailing costs.
Marketers continue to send promotions to their prospective customers to give them special offers, or new product updates. Depending on customer responses, a profile can then be established and used to create targeted offers being sent out to them. To get the customer to place an order, a simple process is needed for making it convenient on the customer; an order form is always included in a printed catalog and can be sent in through the mail.
Digital Catalogs
Technology today allows for a catalog to now be delivered digitally. This is a computer file or website which provides pictures and descriptions of a business’s services or products. Retailers can use these so customers are able to view products online and then order them directly from the site. There is a lot of information which can be put into digital format when compared with a physical catalog. The retailer can use much more text to describe what the photo doesn’t convey. Some products even have various views and different angles shown, so the customer gets a better feel for them.
interactive catalogs can be created through various software options. Some will have more or less information depending on the design chosen. Software can create a slideshow of items or display the items as virtual pages which can be ‘flipped’ similar to a physical catalog. There is also a format which is more straight-forward and presents the catalog as a series of webpages that are easy to navigate.
The purpose of a catalog for a business is to get the information about their products and services to their customers; while some people would prefer a tangible catalog out of fear their financial information might be stolen online, the majority of businesses can benefit from having their catalogs available on the Internet (do both for maximum potential customer coverage). Sometimes these catalogs will allow the business to conduct the sales without the need for a sales associate and retailers are also able to view them for this purpose. With the technology available, retailers or manufacturers can get much more information out about a product than a hard copy catalog can. Software to create these can also include demonstrations of products right inside the ad which can easily be presented to the curious customer. For more information on printing, direct
marketing, physical and digital catalogs, or mobile solutions; visit the experts at arandell.
