5 Steps to Creating Effective Brochures for Marketing

1. Design your Brochures

Designing a brochure is only the first part of a more involved marketing strategy. Your goal is to get those brochures into people’s hands so that they can do your work for you. There are two things you should consider when you order brochures; how you will use them and if they will be time sensitive.

Time sensitive brochures need to be designed quickly and that might mean using a premade template for speed and convenience. You can find many such templates available at an online printer’s website.

Your primary focus must be on content. The goal is to grab the reader as soon as they look at the front cover and to keep them reading all the way through. Keep content interesting and appealing with short paragraphs and plenty of action worlds. Additionally, you definitely want color since color attracts attention.

2. Determine your Goals for Brochure Printing

You might have different objectives when you print your brochures – a sales oriented packet isn’t the same as one designed to stimulate customer excitement. If you have more than one definitive goal, think about printing up more than one brochure so you can focus on the appropriate audience. If you are unsure of how to proceed, talk to the customer reps at the printing company and get some advice.

3. Printing Online – less Expensive, More Choices

Once you have determined what kinds of brochures you might need, and have the content ready, investigate the prices. There is more than just price per copy to consider. The quality of the paper, the printing process involved, how much is mechanical versus manual, are all issues that need to be considered.

Also think about how you want your brochure to appear. Do you want it to be folded, spiral bound, large or small. Will you have the whole brochure printed in color or just part. Working with an online firm will give you more options and it generally moves faster than if you use a local shop. Price several companies and select the one that offers the best over-all deal.

4. Place your Order

Some companies will take relatively small orders of only 50 brochures, others will want larger orders, and will be willing to make thousands upon request. Make sure you have proofed everything before the order is finalized because afterwards it is too late to change anything. Order a bit more than you think you will use, maybe 10% or so, in case you have an unexpected run on the brochures or find an additional use for them.

5. Disperse the Brochures

No brochure is going to be effective if you don’t have a distribution plan. Whether your goal is to mail your brochures, use them as part of a hand out packet for each person walking in your door or leaving them at various locations, you have to get them to your potential customers for them to work. Make sure you know who you want to solicit and how you will get the brochures to them before you go to print, so the money and time you invest in making your impressive brochures isn’t wasted.