An effective brochure layout can turn any product or business from a basic startup to the next big thing.
If you want to draw in customers to your business or impress a client, a well-designed brochure is essential. With a little creativity and inspiration, you are well on your way to making an eye-catching brochure.
Here are some tips to help you out:
Write down your goals.
Sometimes the most challenging part is the first step.
If you find yourself at a loss during the beginning, start with outlining your goals first. Write down ideas, sketch some illustrations and play around with different designs.
If you are working with a client, make sure that you communicate clearly and understand their company’s branding. Ask probing questions to establish a clear view of what they need.
Know your target audience.
One of the first things you need to consider is your target audience.
Before making decisions about the design, you first have to know who your brochure will be intended for. Knowing your audience will make design and content decisions a lot easier because you will most likely have an idea on what appeals to your market.
Don’t undervalue good content.
One of the worst things you can do is slack off on content.
While graphic designs play a major role in brochure making, solid content is just as important. Your brochure will achieve its full marketing potential if both good design and engaging content are present.
What does great content mean? Effective content must effortlessly convey your product’s best points. Because you are working on a canvas with limited space, make sure to keep your message short and sweet.
Don’t overload your brochure with unnecessary information.
Use quality paper.
Even the most well-designed brochure will fall flat when it is printed on substandard paper.
Spend some time browsing available options in your area and be ready to invest in good quality paper. When working with a client or business partner, it is best to present several options so that they would have plenty to choose from.
Fonts are important.
In brochure ads, even the smallest details like fonts are extremely important.
You don’t have a lot of space to work on, so you must know how to impress using limited materials. Choosing a solid font for your text will instantly catch the eye of your audience and draw them in to be interested in your brochure. However tempting it is to go for the biggest and loudest fonts that make your copy pop out, it is never a good idea to be too flashy.
Take note:
Always consider the company’s branding and image when choosing fonts.
Keep it simple.
A busy design is less appealing than something that’s clear and simple.
Brochures are marketing tools that are meant to be straightforward – no long texts or overbearing content that will just distract your audience.
Effective designs must get right to the message immediately, so that readers will have a clear view of what you are trying to promote.
Make an impact.
The average customer will have already seen several brochures promoting different products and services.
You’re probably wondering:
“How do you make yours stand out?”
The secret is to make an impact through carefully selected design details. Avoid using cliché ideas and content that have been overused. Even if this path may seem safe or popular, it won’t create as big of an impact as something that’s fresh and exciting.
Ask yourself what your audience will respond to and how you can positively convey your message to your readers.
Invest in quality images.
When it comes to brochure design, images are considered to be the heart of your project.
This is the part of the brochure that will be getting the most exposure, so it is just right to invest a big chunk of the budget for quality images. Spend extra time going over your graphic design options and consider the purpose of your brochure’s message.
If you have a bigger budget, consider hiring professional photographers or designers to get the specific images you need.
For those with smaller budgets, consider alternative options like doing your own photo shoots.
As always, the images and illustrations you choose should be a true and positive representation of the brand.
