February 4, 2010
Three Effective Brochure Design Tips
Have you ever thought that a booklet can be one of the most important of all your marketing materials?
It is a simple piece of paper but the original impact that your leaflet produces is important. If it’s shabby and unattractive your prospect is left with the same opinion. This will weaken your business growth.
Having a pamphlet professionally designed and printed is a key to winning in a jam-packed market. Taking the time to make sure that your booklet delivers all the key information in a way that is easily figured is something that only a professional can do.
If you are just getting started in business you may be tempted to do your brochure yourself. When I first started in business I did everything myself - not a good choice. That is why it took me 12 years before I was even relatively prosperous. Heed my warning - go professional from day one on your marketing materials. They are an investment and not an expense. Professionally created materials will deliver you customers and the cash flow to follow - the reason why you are in business.
A leaflet has to use eye-catching design. It has to be succinct in terms of the message and last but not the least, it must be successful in enticing people to make that call of action.
Here are three key design principles to follow when making a brochure. Use them and you will see your results flow.
1. The cover:
The cover is your sales rep. Booklets are quite passive creatures and you are not often able to ‘walk’ individuals through your leaflet. So you need to stimulate people to read further. The cover is the beginning point so must be tantalising and sharing the KEY values of WHY someone should read further. It should answer the WIFM question - What’s in it for me.
A great design company will show you at least three to four cover designs for your leaflet. Dissect these designs to see which excites you the most. Ask your supporters their opinion. Does the cover answer the question WIFM? If it doesn’t energize and answer the WIFM question, then skip to another design that works or get it redesigned. Taking the time here to get it right will pay premiums later.
2. The Content:
Once they are past the front over then the content has to become the sales rep. So once again, the pressure is on to be good. Do not opt for cheap ineffectual content writers or ask the designer to write the content or worst still do it yourself. Instead make sure that a professional copywriter is doing the work. If your design company does not have a copywriter then engage one yourself.
Check Out that all the main questions that a prospective customer will have about your product are answered in a way that gets them to call you for more information. Do not go into ‘overkill mode’ and flood them with too much information at this point in time. Remember the brochure’s job is to stimulate and get people to call you.
3. The call for action:
If your likely client has read the pamphlet then you have done a good job. All you need to do now is give them a compelling reason to contact you NOW.
Having things like a free call 0800 or’00 number clearly presented (in big letters) can make a big difference. Having an email address is a clear bonus. Make sure these two are distinctly placed in large clear type.
Even give your clients a special coupon on the pamphlet or reference code can help. But above all, ensure that you add a clear call to action. One way to do this is to readdress the KEY value of your service to your prospect in a way that will get them to take action. Remember value is everything. Individuals only purchase something that is of value to THEM.
4. The piece that got forgotten:
I did this on purpose and only said there were 3 points. Well the final point is the one that can get omitted. It is the ‘dummy’ one. Have you checked that you have these on your leaflet:
Phone number | Fax number | Email address | Web address | Country of operation | City / area of operation | Company name | And have you proof read for typo and grammar errors?
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Filed under Business and Marketing by Danny Wong