In the 1989 film, “Back to the Future II,” a sports almanac from the future falls into the hands of bad boy Biff Tannen, allowing Biff to play the odds and amass incredible wealth based on his fabulous betting abilities.

Through his future-oriented outlook, Biff experiences a dramatic life transformation, morphing from an unremarkable car detailer to a corrupt figure with an enormous fortune. (Luckily, Marty McFly has a few tricks up his own sleeve . . . but that’s a story for another day.)

Do you ever wish you could have a break like Biff – gaining advanced insight to position yourself proactively, while staying ahead of the trends that matter? Sure you do! So let’s dive into what’s shaping the future of print marketing and learn how you can lead the charge.

Forecasting Success: A Sneak Peek at What’s Next

In 2025, the printing industry is poised to embrace several key marketing trends that will shape its evolution. Here is a quick synopsis of each trend, with tips on how to respond.

Trend 1: Print-On-Demand Services

This approach minimizes waste and cuts costs by allowing businesses to produce exactly what they need, when they need it, eliminating large inventory counts and reducing waste. Today’s print buyers expect precision, flexibility, and efficient production practices, and this will only increase over time.

Proactive Print Marketing Response: Stay ahead of the curve by emphasizing the print-on-demand tools your business offers. Make this a central selling point as you highlight digital ordering platforms, customer success stories, and online tools that help clients reduce errors, cost, and waste.

Trend 2: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Printing

Today’s print buyers are increasingly prioritizing sustainable and eco-friendly printing options.

As environmental issues continue to grab attention, the global sustainable printing market is projected to grow at a rate of 7.5% from 2024 to 2030. Printing companies continue to invest in energy-efficient printers, sustainable substrates, alternative inks, and more.

Proactive Print Marketing Response: Does your business recycle print materials? What percentage of your printing is done using environmentally friendly materials? Adopt and accelerate your green practices and share these with inspiring pictures, statistics, or examples. Make sustainability a central selling point as you position digital storefronts as a “one-stop shop” for eco-friendly printing.

Trend 3: AI-Driven Personalization and Customization

 AI-driven personalization is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create customized experiences, products, or messages for individual users based on data insights.

As command over data analytics grows, so does consumers’ cravings for experiences that are uniquely theirs. People love feeling seen and understood, and that’s exactly what personalized print materials deliver. Imagine getting direct mail that doesn’t just call you “valued customer” but uses your name, references your favorite products, or mentions your hometown. That’s the magic customized printing—allowing businesses to create materials that feel like they were made “just for you.”

Proactive Print Marketing Response: AI-personalization is a game-changer for your print business. If you aren’t harnessing this technology, the time to start is now! By tapping into customer preferences, purchase histories, or demographic details, you can craft print pieces that resonate deeply.

Whether it’s a personalized postcard campaign or customized packaging, these tailored touches boost engagement and satisfaction because they reflect what truly matters to the recipient. Show your clients they can harness this power – and be the trusted partner who makes it happen.

Trend 4: Integration of Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is revolutionizing the print industry by merging physical media with interactive digital experiences.

By integrating scannable AR elements into print materials, static content like magazines, brochures, and flyers come alive with videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and interactive elements when viewed through an AR-enabled device. This fusion enhances engagement, making print marketing more dynamic and memorable.

Proactive Print Marketing Response: Transform your own print materials into immersive experiences that allow customers to interact with products. Inspire clients with AR examples (like a real estate flyer linked to a 360-degree property tour, or a business card linked to an online portfolio). Print in-store or direct mail examples to spur their creativity!

From Trust to Action: Guiding Clients Toward Conversion

With today’s endless options and information overload, people are craving more than a search result – they need a trusted expert to connect the dots.

Your print customers want someone who doesn’t just sell a product but prescribes the right path. Be that guide. Step in with confidence, ask the right questions, and simplify the complex with custom-made solutions.

If you want to be more than just another printer in 2025, it’s time to step up as a communication expert. Clients want you to do more than run the presses—they need a partner who knows the game inside and out, someone who leads by example!

Ask yourself:

• Am I using direct mail campaigns to reach our audience? Are we actively adding new database contacts to amplify impact?
• Are we engaging with people on social media? When is the last time our business modeled new technologies, highlighted success story testimonials, or featured creative marketing examples to inspire new orders?
• Is our firm leveraging email marketing to stay top-of-mind with clients? Do we have a proactive content plan in place for the coming year?
• Am I willing to learn new AI and SEO strategies so we can personalize communication, coach our customers, and optimize influence?

If you want to build client confidence, you can’t just talk about these strategies; you need to live them! When customers see that you’re not just pitching new trends but mastering them, they’ll trust you to guide their campaigns with the same expertise.

In 2025, the printers who thrive won’t just be the ones who print—they’ll be the ones who lead. By mastering key marketing trends, modeling new technologies, and showing clients what’s possible, you’ll inspire loyalty and set your business apart.

The future is here—are you ready to print it?