A brochure can be used for a number of different purposes. Whether it’s to inform about a cause, promote a business, or sell a product, you want it to be eye appealing. Designing a brochure should incorporate as much creativity as possible so that it can stand out.
With the following tips, you can create a stunning brochure that people want to pick up to read.
9 Top Creative Tips
Get ready to design a brochure that creatively attracts your target audience. Once you know who your audience is and how long you expect them to use the brochure, it will help you to establish the parameters of a great-looking brochure.
#1: Pay Attention to the Paper
The paper that you print your brochure on matters. Not only is it going to impact the cost of printing, but it will also impact how the literature is received.
Colors and graphics will show up differently on matte versus glossy paper. If the paper has too thin of weight, it can easily tear – especially if it’s going into the mail. If you plan on doing a lot of intricate folds, too heavy of a weight can make it difficult for you to achieve the desired look.
It can be beneficial for you to get samples of a few paper options. This way, you can hold the paper in your hand. Particularly when you are looking to identify yourself as a high-quality brand, choosing a higher quality paper can pay off.
#2: Consider Your Graphics
The graphics that you choose matter. This includes photos and other graphics. You’ll want to consider such things as:
- Quality
- Size
- Color
Additionally, you’ll want to choose graphics that speak to your audience. For example, if you’re trying to appeal to seniors, you won’t want images of teenagers. The more you know about your audience, including their hobbies, the easier it will be for you to choose appropriate graphics.
Higher quality images will ensure you don’t have grain showing on the printed brochures. As you design your brochures, be sure to have it pulled up to 100% on your board so that you can see what the printed version will look like.
#3: Choose the Right Colors
You need to be cognizant of the effect that different colors will have on your audience. While you may choose certain colors because they are representative of your brand, you can control how dominant they are within your brochure.
By paying attention to color psychology, you can determine whether a color will be favored by a specific gender, be identified as luxurious or cheap, and even what it tells someone. If you use yellow, it can identify you as impulsive while using red can identify you as adventurous.
The colors you use should be considered throughout the cover page, the graphics, and even the fonts of your copy.
#4: Be Creative with Fonts
Fonts are a great way to call attention to various components of your brochure. There are some amazing fonts out there, so there’s no need to limit yourself to basic ones like Arial and Time New Roman.
Too many fonts can get you into trouble, however. Limit yourself to no more than three fonts throughout the contents of your brochure:
- 1 font for headlines
- 1 font for subheadings
- 1 font for copy
It’s important to print out your font to see the spacing, too. Some fonts won’t have adequate spacing between letters, making it hard to read what is on the brochure.
#5: Get to the Point
If you want to get into detailed descriptions, point people to your website. On your brochure, you need to get right to the point. Be as succinct as possible. If you can say it in a graphic or in bullet points, do it.
Headlines can also make it easier for people to navigate the brochure and know what’s being said and where.
#6: Use White Space in Your Copy
Too many words in a small amount of space can cause people to be overwhelmed. You don’t want to complicate your brochure with long paragraphs.
Embrace white space periodically between your paragraphs. Try to limit your paragraphs to no more than three lines.
#7: Be Sensible About the Layout
Your layout needs to flow from subject matter to subject matter. Don’t repeat yourself, either.
Identify the purpose of your brochure and what information has to be included. Then, break the material down by panel or section. If you need more than six panels, you’ll want to consider either a non-traditional fold or a second page.
Remember that the brochure is meant to be a marketing tool. Once you’ve gotten your audience’s attention, they can contact you for more information. If you feel as though your layout is about to be too intense, scale back on the information you’re including.
#8: Include a Call to Action
Make it easy for people to reach out to you. There’s nothing worse than designing a beautiful brochure only for people to wonder what they’re supposed to do next.
Include a call to action so that people know whether they should go online to donate, call to schedule an appointment, or visit a specific location.
If you want people to visit a website, consider a QR code for people to scan with their mobile device.
Also, be sure that you’re allowing people to connect with you in different ways. Include your various social media profiles so that you can gain followers easier.
#9: Think Outside of the Box
There’s no reason why you can’t break the rules a bit. A brochure does not have to be trifold where information flows from page to page. If you want the brochure to fold in a unique pattern or you want it to open up into a poster, you can do that.
Break the rules and you automatically stand out from the competition. In some instances, you can take your audience by surprise – and that gives you the opportunity to ensure your message is read.
As long as you’re able to share your message in a way that is creative and easy to understand, you have accomplished your goal.
Do You Need Professional Printing Services for Your Brochure?
At Custom Printing, we offer comprehensive printing and fulfillment services. We can print as many or as few of the brochures you need – and if you need them mailed, we have relationships with a number of shipping partners to offer low shipping costs.
Upload your brochure file today or contact us to learn more about the services we offer at Custom Printing.
