In today’s digital world, it’s easy to assume that sales materials should follow suit. Digital assets are fast to update, easy to share, and cost-effective to distribute. Plus, marketing teams have spent endless hours over the last five years doubling down on digital—building seamless online experiences and interactive content designed to convert.
But for high-performing sales teams, print collateral continues to play a vital role—and in many situations, it outperforms its digital counterpart in influence, credibility, and staying power. To build a truly effective sales strategy, it’s not a matter of choosing between print or digital. It’s about knowing when to use each format to its full advantage and empowering your sales force with the right tools for the right moment.
Let’s dive in.
The Case for Print in Sales
Digital communication can be convenient for several reasons; however, printed sales collateral creates a level of engagement that screens often can’t replicate. Tangible materials offer a sense of permanence and credibility that digital content can sometimes lack—especially in face-to-face meetings, trade shows, or high-stakes presentations.
Here’s what makes print powerful:
Print Leaves a #LastingImpression
A well-designed brochure, folder, or leave-behind piece can sit on a desk, be passed around, or revisited days—or weeks—after a meeting. Digital assets can also have lingering shelf life, however, unlike digital links that can be buried in an inbox or lost in a flood of open internet tabs, printed materials create a physical reminder of your brand and message.
Print Builds Trust and Credibility
Printed materials signal intentionality and professionalism. When your sales team presents and hands over a polished, customized packet of information, it tells the prospect: We came prepared, we know our value, and we’ve invested in this relationship.
Print Supports High-Stakes Conversations
When the stakes are high—whether you’re pitching a major client, presenting a solution to a board, or closing a complex sale—custom printed collateral becomes more than just paper. It becomes a tool for clarity, confidence, and connection. Branded presentation folders, detailed case study booklets, product spec sheets, and curated sample kits help bring your message to life in a tangible, professional format. Even printed testimonials add credibility in a way that digital screens can’t fully replicate. These pieces give your audience something to hold onto—literally and emotionally—reinforcing your brand’s value and helping decision-makers retain key information long after the meeting ends.
In moments that matter, high-quality print provides the physical presence and polish that help seal the deal.
Vital Printed Sales Collateral Every Team Should Have
Here are the essential printed tools we recommend for any sales force looking to make a lasting impression:
Presentation Folders
Polished and branded, these folders house your sales documents in a way that feels professional and complete. They’re especially valuable for first-time meetings and proposals.
Brochures and Product Sheets
High-quality brochures allow prospects to explore offerings at their own pace. Product sheets can focus on specs, features, and benefits—and are ideal for technical or B2B audiences.
Service or Pricing Guides
A branded, print-friendly overview of services or pricing shows transparency and allows for in-person review and discussion.
Custom Mailers
For lead generation or re-engagement, a well-designed direct mail piece can break through digital noise—especially when paired with PQR codes and smart (re)targeting.
Where Digital Sales Materials Excel
Of course, digital sales collateral has its strengths—and they’re critical in today’s fast-paced sales cycles. From interactive product demos to dynamic presentations and clickable brochures, digital tools help sales teams engage prospects instantly and track interactions through analytics. This level of responsiveness and measurability is essential in a world where speed and data-driven decisions often make or break a deal.
Speed and Scalability
Need to send an updated PDF after a product change? Want to instantly distribute a new flyer to your reps nationwide? Digital excels at immediacy.
Trackability and Interactivity
One of the most powerful advantages of digital communication is its built-in trackability. Tools like email campaigns, landing pages, and digital brochures don’t just deliver your message—they capture how your audience engages with it. You can see who opened an email, which links they clicked, how long they spent on a page, and exactly where their attention dropped off. These real-time insights give sales and marketing teams the ability to follow up with intentional precision, tailoring outreach based on actual behavior—not guesswork.
What’s more, digital assets can be made interactive, encouraging users to explore content through videos, embedded forms, or clickable product demos—driving deeper engagement and offering even richer data. This level of transparency and control empowers teams to make smarter decisions, respond faster to leads, and continually refine messaging for better performance.
Omnichannel Sales Strategy—How Print and Digital Work Together
The best sales strategies don’t pit print and digital against each other—they make them work together in a cohesive, omnichannel approach. A printed brochure or leave-behind can reinforce a digital pitch, adding a tangible, lasting touchpoint that builds trust and reinforces brand credibility. Likewise, digital tools can enhance print by linking to videos, case studies, or real-time demos through QR codes or personalized URLs. This kind of hybrid strategy meets prospects where they are—online, offline, or both—delivering a seamless experience that keeps your brand top of mind across every stage of the buying journey.
Print Collateral + QR Codes
Incorporating a Personalized QR Code (PQR Code) into your printed materials takes traditional collateral to the next level. Unlike standard QR codes, a PQR Code is uniquely tied to the recipient—allowing you to direct each person to a custom digital experience, such as a personalized landing page, a targeted video demo, or even a product configurator tailored to their specific interests or buying stage.
This transforms static marketing materials into trackable assets. You’ll gain insight into who scanned the code, what content they interacted with, and how long they stayed—enabling smarter follow-up and retargeting efforts, higher conversion rates, and a truly integrated campaign experience.
In short, PQR Codes turn your printed brochure into a launchpad for meaningful, measurable engagement.
Follow-Up Email + Printed Leave-Behind
Send a follow-up email linking to additional resources, while also mailing or handing off a premium printed packet. The print piece reinforces your message and gives weight to your digital communication.
Digital Library + Print-On-Demand = Ai Connected Storefronts
Use a digital content hub where your sales reps can access brand-approved assets, as well as enable print-on-demand for sales sheets, proposal folders, or product guides. This ensures brand consistency while giving reps flexibility in format.
The Bottom Line: It’s Not Print or Digital. It’s Both.
Digital tools have revolutionized how we connect, but print remains an unmatched asset in building trust, creating tactile experiences, and helping your sales force stand out. Equipping your team with a balanced mix of print and digital collateral ensures they’re ready for every touchpoint, whether it’s a virtual pitch or an in-person handshake.
Need to refresh your print collateral?
We specialize in creating high-quality, strategic sales materials—from brochures to presentation folders to personalized direct mail campaigns.
Let’s talk about how to elevate your sales toolkit.
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