Top 12 Print Marketing Materials That Still Work in 2026

82% of consumers trust print advertisements (newspapers, magazines) when making purchasing decisions. So this is the highest trust level of any channel.

So print marketing materials still remain one of the top ways to sell, promote or simply grab attention of consumers.

In our print marketing materials guide, we will walk you through the most effective print assets to strengthen your brand strategy.

Print Marketing Materials: Key Highlights

• Print assets create stronger memory retention compared to digital ads.
• Combining physical print with digital tech leads to a “phygital” marketing advantage.
• Direct mail and catalogs continue to provide high returns on investment.

List of the Best Print Marketing Materials & Why They Are Still So Important

If you want to build a campaign that drives results, these are the most essential tools you need.

Digital channels are important, but they lack permanence but physical presence serves as a constant reminder of your brand.

On the flip side, print materials for marketing also convey trust.

Let’s have a look at the top marketing materials companies should use in a table:

Material	Key Effectiveness	Examples
1. Flyers	Low-cost with high ROI and encourages readers to explore brands further.	Standard promotional flyers, Event flyers, Corporate flyers.
2. Brochures	Affordable and compact and ideal for detailed information.	Tri-fold, Bi-fold, Gatefold, Z-fold brochures.
3. Direct Mail	High engagement and avoids getting lost in cluttered email inboxes.	Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), Commingled Direct Mail, Bulk Mail.
4. Postcards	Cost-effective and captures immediate attention without an envelope.	Promotional, Event, Reminder, Thank You postcards.
5. Catalogs	Offers longer engagement time as well as a powerful visual storytelling tool.	Product, Service, Fashion, Corporate catalogs.
6. Booklets	Ideal for comprehensive info and narrative depth.	Marketing booklets, Community booklets, Training booklets, Annual Reviews.
7. Posters	High visibility in traffic areas and draws attention to messages.	Standard Posters, Ceiling Danglers.
8. Stickers	Turns customers into ambassadors with long-lasting display on personal items.	Branded Graphics, Die-cut Stickers, Freebie Stickers.
9. Business Cards	Essential for professionalism by building trust and stability.	Quality cards with inventive designs, Square cards, Vertical cards.
10. Door Hangers	Impossible to ignore as residents must handle them. They are perfect for local area promotion.	Service Hangers, Restaurant Hangers, Real Estate Hangers.
11. Bookmarks	Functional object providing value with long-lasting brand interaction inside books.	Standard cardstock, Magnetic clips, Coupons attached.
12. Calendars	Year-round brand visibility and high retention rate.	Wall Calendars, Desk Calendars, Fundraising Calendars.

Now, let’s go through each of the materials one by one.

1. Flyers

Flyers remain one of the most versatile tools for local promotion. They offer a direct way to put your offer in front of a customer without relying on algorithms or search rankings.

Why Flyers Are Effective

Flyers are one of the top print marketing materials for encouraging readers to explore a brand further.

In fact, they work well because they are low-cost yet produce a high return on investment. You can use them for brand awareness, driving sales, or educating audiences about a specific service.

When a person receives a flyer, they get a glimpse of your message instantly. Unlike a digital ad that a user scrolls past, a flyer requires physical interaction. Innovative technologies now allow you to combine flyer printing with digital marketing. 

For example, adding AR (Augmented Reality) triggers enables audiences to scan the paper and unlock videos or articles, making the flyer a trackable window to your online presence.

Read More: How to Select the Right Paper Size for Posters & Flyers

Types of Flyers

• Standard Promotional Flyers: Common for sales.
• Event Flyers: Work well for concerts or club openings
• Corporate Flyers: Focus on services and professionalism.

2. Brochures

Brochures provide more room for content than a standard flyer. They are the standard for businesses that need to explain complex products or tell a detailed brand story.

Why Brochures Are Effective

Brochures are affordable and come in various styles. This makes them usable by every business to inform their audience about products, services, and brand history. They are effective print materials that give audiences detailed information in a compact format.

If a potential customer only has a few seconds to communicate, a brochure allows you to share an in-depth look that they can keep for later.

Let’s have a look at their types and brochure folds.

Types of Brochures

• Tri-fold Brochures have three panels on each side. They are compact and ideal for mailing campaigns.
• Bi-fold Brochures have one central fold creating four panels. You often see these used for product guides.
• Gatefold Brochures feature a central section flanked by two inward-folding panels, suitable for high-end presentations.
• Z-fold Brochures resemble an accordion and work well for timelines.

3. Direct Mail

Direct mail involves sending physical marketing materials directly to a prospect’s mailbox. It’s a proactive strategy that puts your brand in front of residents or businesses.

Why Direct Mail Is Effective

Direct mail is still incredibly effective. Recipients of direct mail spend 28% more money than people who do not receive the same piece, according to the United States Post Service.

Materials sent using direct mail are more trusted, making them an ideal addition to a marketing strategy.

For example, services like Proximity Mailing or Look-Alike Analysis help businesses send materials to a new targeted audience. 

This guarantees the best ROI possible and increases the customer base.

Types of Direct Mail

• Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) allows you to map out specific neighborhoods.
• Commingled Direct Mail combines your mail with others to save on postage.
• Bulk Mail is best for large lists of specific addresses.

4. Postcards

Postcards are a specific subset of direct mail that stands out due to visibility. The message is open and ready to read immediately without an envelope.

Why Postcards Are Effective

Overall, postcards are successful and cost-effective printed marketing materials. They are ideal if a business is on a budget or has a short message to deliver.

As an example, if a postcard has a visually attractive design, audiences might stick it on their fridge. This extends their connection with the print marketing material for weeks.

Types of Postcards

• Promotional Postcards advertise sales. 
• Event Postcards announce grand openings. 
• Reminder Postcards are used by dentists or mechanics to keep appointments on track.
• Thank You Postcards express gratitude after a purchase, which helps build loyalty.

5. Catalogs

Catalogs are one of the best print marketing materials. They are comprehensive multi-page publications that showcase a wide range of inventory.

Why Catalogs Are Effective

Companies adding catalogs to their marketing efforts can often expect a 15% lift in sales. They offer longer engagement time and higher conversion rates.

Catalogs provide a large canvas for highlighting your most profitable products. They serve as powerful storytelling tools that offer a visually captivating way to present your inventory. You can learn how to design a product catalog here.

Types of Catalogs

• Product Catalogs showcase a full range of items, like furniture or electronics. 
• Service Catalogs detail offerings for businesses like travel agencies. 
• Fashion Catalogs are highly visual and used by clothing brands. 
• Corporate Catalogs showcase a company’s identity and values.

6. Booklets

Booklets are thicker than brochures and are bound with either staples or glue, offering a professional way to present significant amounts of information.

Why Booklets Are Effective

Booklets and magazines are ideal for sharing comprehensive information. They combine narrative depth with design and serve as essential corporate communication tools.

For example, Annual Review Booklets summarize yearly achievements and financial performance for stakeholders, whereas Training Booklets provide comprehensive information that improves educational effectiveness for employees or students.

Types of Booklets

• Marketing Booklets promote products or brand identity. 
• Community Booklets detail non-profit missions. 
• Training Booklets facilitate workshops. 
• Health and Wellness Guides offer insights for patients.

7. Posters

Posters are large-format prints designed to be seen from a distance. They command attention in high-traffic areas.

Why Posters Are Effective

Posters remain an incredibly powerful type of print marketing. You can print them in different sizes and position them to make an impact and stay in the minds of potential customers.

Poster printing allows you to draw attention to a message while delivering valuable information to anyone who passes by.

Posters allow businesses to prioritize design. So you can use bold colors and eye-catching layouts without needing to include loads of text.

After designing, posters are also great to order in bulk so you can spend relatively little on them.

Types of Posters

• Standard Posters are used alongside banners and wall decals. 
• Ceiling Danglers hang from the ceiling in stores to promote sales without taking up floor space.

8. Stickers

Stickers transform your customers into advertisers. They are fun, low-cost, and highly visible.

Why Stickers Are Effective

Stickers are a highly powerful form of print marketing. When customers place a sticker on personal items like laptops or backpacks, they become ambassadors for the brand. This opens a new audience in their community.

Stickers are effective at growing a brand due to their interactive nature. Customers often display them for years. You can also integrate them into social media campaigns by asking users to post photos of where they stuck them.

Types of Stickers

• Branded Graphics feature logos. 
• Die-cut Stickers are shaped around the design and work well for water bottles and laptops. 
• Freebie Stickers are included in orders to delight customers.

9. Business Cards

Despite digital contact lists, business cards remain the standard for professional introduction.

Why Business Cards Are Effective

Business cards are essential print materials for all businesses. They communicate professionalism and trustworthiness.

They make sure potential and returning customers have contact information when they need it. The traditional business card gives an impression of professionalism that stays in customers’ minds more than a digital contact exchange.

Types of Business Cards

Quality cards use inventive designs, logos, and textures. You can experiment with paper weight and finishes.

While standard rectangular cards are common, square or vertical formats are also available to stand out.

10. Door Hangers

Door hangers bring your advertisement right to the front door of your prospect.

Why Door Hangers Are Effective

Door hangers are the perfect print marketing material for businesses that want to promote their message in a local area since they are impossible to ignore.

For example, a resident must physically handle the item to enter their home, ensuring that the message is seen.

Types of Door Hangers

These are primarily defined by the business using them. 

• Service Hangers are used by lawn care or pest control companies. 
• Restaurant Hangers provide menus to local neighborhoods. 
• Real Estate Hangers announce open houses.

11. Bookmarks

Bookmarks offer utility alongside promotion. They live inside the product the customer is enjoying.

Why Bookmarks Are Effective

Bookmark printing is successful because the result is a functional object. Customers receive value from it.

And since people still read physical books and enjoy the touch experience, bookmarks are less likely to be thrown in the trash compared to a flyer. 

They keep the company fresh in customers’ minds because the user sees the brand every time they open their book.

Types of Bookmarks

You can create standard cardstock bookmarks, magnetic clips, or even bookmarks with coupons attached.

12. Calendars

Calendars provide 365 days of branding. They are one of the few marketing materials customers actively want to keep.

Why Calendars Are Effective

Calendars offer a unique opportunity for year-round brand visibility. Every time a client checks a date, they see your logo.

Calendars often get passed along to friends or displayed in common areas, multiplying the brand’s reach.

Types of Calendars

• Wall Calendars are popular for visibility and size. 
• Desk Calendars are perfect for office environments. 
• Fundraising Calendars are used by non-profits. 
• Themed Calendars center around specific interests like art or cars.

Why Print Marketing Still Matters in 2026

The rush to digital has created a gap that print fills. As screens dominate our lives, the value of physical objects has increased.

Digital Fatigue

People are bombarded by digital ads. Banner blindness is real, and ad blockers are common. Consumers trust print more than digital ads, which are often associated with scams or privacy invasions. Print feels legitimate.

New Phygital Reality

Setting up a website is quick and cheap, but high-quality printed collateral shows that a company has invested in its image. This perception of stability surely influences purchasing decisions.

The best strategies combine print and digital.

For example, QR codes on brochures or flyers bridge the gap. AR apps bring static images to life. This “phygital” approach uses print as the gateway to your digital ecosystem.

Print Your Marketing Materials With ChilliPrinting

ChilliPrinting is a B2B online printing company that helps businesses create high-quality collateral. 

We specialize in bulk offset printing, which provides the best quality at the lowest price per unit. Whether you need thousands of flyers or hundreds of booklets, we have the infrastructure to handle your order.

• Extensive Product Range: From all products including posters and business cards to complex catalogs.
• Cost-Effective: Our gang-run printing method reduces costs for bulk orders.
• Personal Support: Real humans check your files to prevent printing errors.

Get started on your next campaign today!