Printing and signage

Should your sales brochure be printed, a PDF, or both?

Choose between print and a shareable PDF, and brief your designer on paper, folds, links, reading order and future updates.

By Zaapart13 Nov 2026

Poly VSP product communication artwork.

The quick answer

Use print when you need a leave-behind at a meeting or event. Use a digital PDF when recipients need to forward it or open links. If you need both, brief the designer on both uses and approve separate exports from the same approved content.

A salesperson hands out a brochure at a trade event and sends the same PDF to a buyer on WhatsApp. The printed copy is easy to scan, but the dense spread is hard to read on a phone. Both buyers need the same facts in a format that suits the way they read.

Choose the Format Around the Sales Conversation

Ask what the recipient needs to decide after reading. A buyer comparing technical products may need clear specifications and a contact for availability. A visitor at a stand may only need a short product overview and a way to find the catalogue later.

Poly VSP technical product graphic showing wire construction and cable types — Poly VSP product artwork uses diagrams to explain cable types. Test whether details like these remain readable on paper and on a phone.

Use case	What to prepare
In-person meeting or event	A printed brochure that can be scanned quickly and kept.
Follow-up by email or WhatsApp	A compact PDF with readable pages and links people can tap.
Product specifications change frequently	A dated PDF linked from a page where your team can keep the latest version.

Give Your Printer a Separate Production File

Confirm finished size, paper, folds, binding and delivery date before design. Ask the printer for their export settings and bleed requirements. If the brochure folds, review a paper mockup to confirm that the cover and panels appear in the right order.

Agree what proof you will approve. Check small type and product photographs at the size they will print, especially when the brochure includes detailed tables.

Make the Digital PDF Easy to Read and Share

Check the PDF on a phone before sending it. Try a page-by-page export, use selectable text where possible and verify the links to your website and contact details. Use headings and a logical reading order if people will read with assistive technology.

Choose a file size that works for the way you share it. Keep product detail images clear enough to read, then test the exported file in the viewer your sales team uses.

Keep One Approved Content Source

Maintain the approved copy, product data and images in one place. Give both exports the same version date. When specifications or contact details change, replace the shared download and tell sales staff which file to use.