Are printed materials still relevant in an age when electronic media and information is everywhere? Definitely! Here's why print media should still be a part of the marketing mix for your business.

1. Print is "touchable". It's tangible. You can create a high-impact impression that makes readers want to touch and feel your message with new papers, new methods to cut paper for 3D effects, embossing and a myriad of color choices and sheens. Brochures and other print material can stay in offices for months or years, while Internet ads disappear as soon as the user goes somewhere else.

2. Print is accessible to everyone, everywhere. Documents don't shut down without power or battery life. They don't need to be accessed with a wireless connection. This is especially true on election period. Mail-in ballots are still printed though election voting services.

3. Many people still don't spend a lot of time online, or if they do, often it's to look at photos on Facebook or check a bank account. Some demographic groups, particularly older individuals, actually prefer print collateral over the internet for important purchases. In some cases, print may be the only way they check into their options. It's not wise to overlook the income of this demographic group in most industries.

4. People who make large (big money) purchases trust print. People do love electronic media for immediate answers, but research shows that they want print when it's actually time to hand over the money. Printed materials show that you found your message to be important enough to commit to paper and that your word is good.

5. Print is excellent for solidifying your brand identity. You can easily convey a feeling with a consistent aesthetic in terms of fonts, colors, papers and images to establish brand recognition.

6. Consumers are actually more engaged when they read print materials, as opposed to web pages, which are often skimmed in 15 to 30 seconds. The web moves at a dizzying pace; print is there to return to again and again.

Digital ads and social media are here to stay, but print should still play a part in your overall marketing plan.