Is Print Really Dead? Why Print Marketing is Making a Comeback.

Is print dead? Or can an oversaturated digital market, overflowing inboxes, increasing AI presence, and generations born into technology actually bring it back to life?

For years, designers and clients alike have heard that the age of print advertising is dying. Even in the average office, school, or home we’re seeing much less printed material in general.

Now, of course, with digital and social media so heavily integrated into our lives, the reality is these platforms aren’t going anywhere. But after a quarter-century of pivoting away from print, it could be making a resurgence.

Why is Print Making a Comeback?

The Digital Generation

Generation Z, and now Generation Alpha, are being born into a completely digital world. That upbringing changes how they perceive print. To them, something physical often feels more valuable, collectible, or premium.

Think of the rise in elaborate PR packaging from brands like Nike and Chanel, or the fact that 68% of Gen Z prefer physical books over e-books. When everything is online, print stands out.

Full Inbox, Empty Mailbox

Your inbox could see hundreds of emails a day, but how many do you actually open?

Catchy subject lines and clever preview text can only do so much if your email even lands in the primary inbox. Physical mail, on the other hand, has much less competition. Less in our actual mailboxes makes mail that is there easier to digest, especially if that mail is designed to stand out among the average junk mail. Not to mention the open rates compared to email are much higher.
The kitchen counter can be seen as prime real estate for your advertisement.

Oversaturated Digital Feeds

So much of our time is spent doom-scrolling on social media, where brands and sponsored ads have become intertwined with our newsfeeds and stories. That constant stream can cause what marketers call “digital fatigue,” where people stop noticing content altogether. Print breaks that pattern. It slows things down. It’s refreshing, tactile, and hard to scroll past.

A Return to Reality

By 2025, AI-generated content will have flooded nearly every digital platform. Images, videos, even influencers. We’re seeing fake profiles, fake reviews, and AI-written ads everywhere.

In contrast, print feels real. It’s human, it’s physical, and it’s harder to fake. That authenticity is becoming a major advantage.

Following the Trends

Scarcity drives value, and we’re seeing premium and large brands embrace this. For example, Gucci and other fashion houses are making limited edition zines and PR for collections.

In the latest years, we’ve also seen the comeback of physical collectibles, think trading cards, vinyl records, or “blind boxes”. The packaging and other inserts, while not ads, are still print material that are often included in photo and video reviews.
These trends prove that printed materials are thriving as symbols of quality and care.

How to Integrate Print Into Your Marketing Strategy

You don’t have to choose between print and digital marketing. Successful brands blend print and digital to create a cohesive and memorable presence.

Combining Print and Digital

Consider combining print and digital materials to strengthen your brand and drive more traffic and engagement online.

• Create something tangible
  Providing something your client can hold creates a deeper connection in comparison to only an online presence. This sensory experience enhances brand recall in the mind of the consumer and gives your company credibility.
• Service Industries Shine in Print
  Service industries in particular – like landscaping, home remodeling, HVAC – benefit greatly from memorable print material like brochures, flyers, yard signs, and postcards. When the need for the service arises, the client is more likely to consider a brand they have seen before, or know their neighbors are using, and go directly to you.
• Interactive Print
  Use QR codes and URLs in your print materials to connect customers to your digital platforms, whether that’s your website, social media, Google reviews, or an explainer video. Offer incentives like exclusive deals or guide them toward a portfolio, testimonials, or a product page to encourage engagement.
• Print in Social Media
  Think influencer unboxing. Send product kits or branded gifts that are designed to be photographed and shared. It’s print meeting social, on your terms. This not only helps target a specific audience but also controls the visual branding.

The Takeaway

The Advantages of Print Advertising

• Visual and physical media create a stronger emotional connection, recall ability, and are easier for our brains to process compared to digital media.
• Direct mail shows up to 10x higher open rates compared to email, and there is much less competition.
• Fully integrated campaigns – meaning across all channels – are proven to perform better.
• Access to potential clients who are not chronically online, actively avoid social media, or are of an older generation.
• Advancements to AI and ML can bring increased personalization and targeting to print pieces.

Print isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

The global print advertising market has actually grown by about 3.3% in the past year and is expected to keep rising nearly 3.9% annually through 2029 (Print Advertising Global Market Report 2025 – The Business Research Company). The digital age has reshaped how we consume media, but that doesn’t mean print is out. A combination of print and digital creates a well-rounded brand, that feels trustworthy, memorable and authentic.

So no, print isn’t dead, it’s evolving. And it might just be the missing piece in your overall marketing strategy.