Brochure Tips for the Small Business Owner
Brochures are a powerful tool that can bring in new business, increase brand recognition, and help people refer you to others. If you have a small business, you probably cannot afford to hire a professional to design your brochure, but you still want to get all the benefits of having one. Below are some tips for making designing your own brochure much easier.
Think about Your Audience
Before you can begin designing, you need to think about who will be reading your brochure printing pieces. Who are your current customers and what are they like? Are they conservative? Affluent? Have young children or an empty nest? Putting yourself in the mind of your target customer will help you to choose everything from the colors you use to the way you describe your products.
Know Your Paper Size
Know beforehand what size of paper your brochures will be printed on. For instance, for an 8.5 x 11 tri-fold, you'll want to design on an 8.5 x 11 template. It is really difficult to adjust later if you design in the wrong size.
Software You Can Use
There are several kinds of software that you can use to design brochures: Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Publisher are only a few; there are a lot more on the market both more expensive and cheaper. The truth is that if you know the program, you can create just as professional brochures no matter the price of the software, so choose one within your budget.
Work with High-resolution Images
Be sure to work with high-resolution images at the design phase. You need to use pictures of at least 300dpi whether you scan them into your computer or find them online. If you cannot afford a professional photographer, you can find some good quality images online for free. And remember that is better to use only two or three images in your brochure to avoid overwhelming your audience.
Use Heavier Paper Stock
Printers usually offer 80 lb and 100 lb stock paper. There is not much price difference, but 100 lb feels significantly heavier, which translates into a higher quality brochure. Using a better quality paper can help raise your business in the minds of consumers at little cost to you.
Keep the Front Cover Simple
People should be able to take in your front cover in an instant. The cover should grab people's attention both with the image and the text you use. You should say what you want to say in ten words or less. Also, make sure you tell people how they will benefit from doing business with you so they will want to pick up your brochure and read more.
Say it All with Headings
If people only read your headings, they should be able to get a good idea of what you are all about. Your brochure should only cover three or four main points, and each one should be focused on the good of the consumer. Overall, your brochure should not contain a lot of text; instead, use bullet points and be sure to leave plenty of blank space for the reader's eye to rest.
Remember Your Contact Info
It is surprisingly easy to forget the most important information of all: your contact info. If people do not have a phone number, website, or address, they cannot do business with you. Make sure your brochure does its job in bringing in more customers by including several options for contacting your company.
