A Guide to Brochure Printing
Having a brochure for your business is essential for networking and advertising. A brochure says a lot about your company and it's important to think about how people reading your brochure will perceive you. However, the process of creating a great brochure can be difficult at times.
The first thing you need to do is decide what type of layout you want with your information being presented on the front cover, back cover, inside pages or both sides of the page. What size should it be? There are also additional costs for high quality paper and printing services which can be costly depending on what level of quality you want to achieve.
Let's take a look at the different types of brochure layouts:
Front Cover: This is the most common type of layout which simply has all your brochure information on one page with a clear picture or logo. Back Cover: This is the exact opposite of front cover and instead only has all the important information shown on one page with a picture or logo. The back cover also has space for your contact details. Inside Pages: Similar to front and back covers, this offers space for any additional important information or a second spread on how to use your product. Inside pages should not take up more than half an inch of real estate. Both Side of One Page: This is similar to the back cover layout but with extra space for additional information or a second spread. Inside Pages: The inside pages are designed exactly like the front and back covers with space for your important information. Cover/Cover + Interior Pages: This layout offers more space for your information on the front cover but still maintains a clear and defined picture or logo on the front cover. Inside Pages, Front & Back: Similar to the previous layout where you have your important information on one page but it also has a clear picture or logo on the front cover.
Size is another important factor when creating a brochure. It's important to think about what your target market is and what industry you're in. For example, if you're in real estate, it's recommended to have an 8x10" brochure with a glossy cover because real estate people have a high average income and can afford the more expensive printing services. However, for other industries or businesses who are trying to attract the lower income range you would want to consider a smaller size such as 4x6" or a trifold which will cost much less during the printing process. If you need a specific size that is not listed here, contact your local printer.
It's also important to think about what type of paper you're using. There are many different types of paper available and choosing the right one can be very confusing. Luckily, there are many brochure templates that have been created by other companies to showcase exactly what the expected printed product will look like (check out our Web Design Article for more tips on choosing the right type of paper). However, if you're creating a brochure all on your own there are some guidelines to follow:
A good quality brochure should have at least 50% white space and at least ¼ inch margins on all sides.
Printed material can only be folded one time in half without the paper getting torn.
Printing on glossy paper will make your brochure look more professional.
Avoid using coupon codes or promotional offers that have an expiration date or limited usage. Limit yourself to only using coupons and promotions if you're likely to get repeat business.
If you're making a multi-fold pamphlet, always put the most important information first (for ex: a letter from the CEO). This way new clients know exactly why they should purchase your service/product before even opening the pamphlet.
Ensuring that all important information is clearly visible and not too small for people to read is crucial for your brochure to be successful.
The amount of information included in your brochure will vary on the type of layout you choose. The front and back covers are usually the only pages that have any information on them while inside pages usually include anywhere from three to six pages with additional information.
Next, you need to decide what kind of pictures or logos will be used in your brochure. Please note: pictures and logos are not equal in importance when designing a brochure. It is recommended that you have at least one picture or logo per page but no more than three. Having too much can look sloppy and unprofessional which defeats the purpose of a professional looking product.
Lastly, you need to design the brochure. You should always aim for a professional looking product and making sure all vital information is clearly visible so potential clients know what they are signing up for. If you're unsure of how to do this, please contact a professional printer or graphic designer for some help.
So what do buyers really look for in a brochure and how can you truly stand out in such an over crowded market?
Before building your brochure, it's important to create a short description of your product/service exactly as it sounds. The most important things for potential buyers are what your product does and why they should buy it. If a potential customer can't figure out what your product does or what the benefit is for them, then you have failed in your brochure. The only thing worse than bad sales pitches are no sales pitches at all!
For example, if you're a car salesman and you're trying to sell an SUV to someone who doesn't own one and has no intentions of buying one anytime soon, it would be a waste of time telling them about how much bigger it is and how you can store more things in it.
As we mentioned above, it's important for buyers to know exactly why they should buy your product so that they can easily determine if the benefits outweigh the cost.
Conclusion:
In the end, you want to create the best brochure possible regardless of price. The right brochure will lead to more sales, less competition and a higher rate of customer satisfaction. A professional looking brochure will help you stand out in a crowded market and may even get you your first client!
Brochures can be purchased as a single style or with additional inserts, such as company cards and email invitations. Depending on the number of pages and paper selected, your price range can vary from $120 to $500 for single-page brochures containing up to 400 pages.