The Complete Brochure Design List for Beginners

Brochures can be great persuasive instruments, especially since they have adequate space to convince the reader of what you are selling. As someone new to brochure printing, do not make the mistake of creating a brochure that is purely informational. Here are some steps to help guide you through the process of creating a great brochure.

Cover  
The cover is the most important part of the brochure. It is what gets people’s attention and makes them want to read further. Make sure the cover design is eye catching. Use a single image for bigger impact, and keep the headline under 10 words. Be sure to tell the customer what is in it for him or her to do business with you.

Headings  
Most people will skim your brochure by reading the headings, so put the important information in your subtitles. This way readers can still grasp the full scope of your offer even if they completely skip the main copy.

Copy  
With brochure printing, all of the copy or text should focus on the customer. Connect with the reader by talking about his or her needs. Engage the reader by explaining how your company can meet those needs. Use a conversational tone, short sentences, and a simple vocabulary. It is best to use a professional copy writer if you can afford one.

Photographs  
Use four or five photographs in your brochure, keeping in mind that professional photos are best. Use shots of people benefiting from your products or services so that prospects can picture themselves in their place. Make sure the resolution on the images you choose has at least 300dpi or the picture will look grainy when it is printed.

Fold  
For brochure printing, the three-fold is the most common; it has three panels, and you can mail it without an envelope. You can also simply have one fold, called the bi-fold. A fold that works well for a lengthy brochure is the z-fold, which opens like an accordion. Whatever fold you use, be sure that neither your text nor your photos gets distorted by a fold.

Typeface
The typeface or font you choose needs to be easy to read. Some highly legible fonts are Georgia, Palatino, and Century Schoolbook. You also want a font that fits your business’s personality. Only use one to three fonts per brochure printing, and be consistent by using the same font for all headings, another for all body text, and possibly a third for captions.

Captions  
People are more likely to read captions than anything else, so put persuasive copy in the captions. Just be sure to keep your captions short to avoid clutter.

Contact Info  Include your physical address, phone number, fax, email, and web address. Make sure this information is easy to find, such as on the last panel below your call to action.

Call to Action  
Include a call to action in your brochure. Tell the customer to order now, and give an incentive to do so by making an offer only available for a few weeks.

Printer  
Use an online brochure printing company. They are typically less expensive than local print shops. Be sure to compare prices for full color brochure printing, since your brochure will attract more customers in full color. Also, it is best to when using a new printing company to find one that offers samples of their work as well as one that guarantees quality.

Brochures are great sales tools, but only if they are designed for success. Take your time with your design, keep your audience in mind, and you will be on the road to amazing results.