With smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops seemingly everywhere, you might think that you could abandon printed publications for getting out your health and wellness message. However, you’d be wrong.
Print is still as popular and important to your communications strategy as it ever has been. It’s true. Even many millennials, who’ve grown up glued to handheld devices, would rather rely on print for pleasure and learning reading. According to the recent Washington Post article “Why digital natives prefer reading in print. Yes, you read that right.,” those interviewed indicated that reading printed materials made it “easier to follow stories.” As for electronic reading, those interviewed provided comments such as “I don’t absorb as much,” and “It’s harder to keep your place.”
Given this information, what should you do?
Use a combination of both printed and electronic communications and allow them to work together to reinforce each other and the message you want to share. David Johnson, a journalism professor at the American University School of Communication, may have summed up the print vs. electronic debate best when he wrote: “The smart answer isn’t putting digital or print first, but to put design and usability first, using each product for what they do best and let them do it together.”
What mix of media is right for your company?
Use this free media planning tool to find out. Answer a few questions, and the tool will show you a pie chart, suggesting an estimate of how you might want to organize your workplace communication between print and electronic media.
Also check out this article: Print vs. Electronic – The Real Truth
Let’s talk! To learn how Hope Health can help you turbocharge your company’s communications through creative writing & design, drop me a line at whaan@hopeheatlh.com. I’m looking forward to hearing about your program.
