How To Create A Better Brochure

Having a quality brochure makes a positive impression on a potential customer. It gives the appearance that you're serious about your business.

And it may give you an advantage over competitors who don't use brochures.

Printing technology has made big advancements in the last decade, including high speed, high-resolution color photocopiers and laser printers.

This has reduced the need for using printing presses and allows you to print small quantities with less expense. If you're printing only a few hundred brochures, this is the way to go.

If you're printing in the thousands, you may find it more economical to use a printing press. Your per unit cost can drop significantly.

But print production, especially involving color, is a complex subject and ignorance can be costly.

"The most important thing a business person should do is ask a lot of questions," says Phil Lewis of Vancouver's Generation Printing.

"Many small businesses try to design their own brochures without consulting with a printer or graphic designer. They don't understand that what you see on your computer screen isn't necessarily what's going to be printed. Inevitably, we end up having to fix many of the customer's mistakes and charging for it. If they had consulted us before they started designing, we could've saved them time and money."

With thirty years experience as a prepress production specialist and sales rep, Lewis has these suggestions when creating a brochure:

Hire a graphic designer. It'll cost you more up front, but it'll give your brochure a more professional look and that gives your customers' confidence. Shop around. Contact at least three designers and ask to see samples of their work. Get quotes and compare. >Know your market. Would a glossy, color brochure make that much difference to your target market? If you're selling financial services to wealthy investors, then appearance counts. But for most small businesses, it's not worth the extra cost.

If you can't afford to hire a designer and are creating the brochure yourself, ask questions before you prepare a computer file for printing. Does the printer want the source file or a portable document file (pdf)? Do you need to include fonts and linked graphics? If you're going to create a pdf, be clear what options the printer wants you to select before creating it.

BROCHURE FORMAT Brochures come in a variety of sizes. Probably the most common format is called a slim jim. It's either a letter or legal sized sheet that's folded two or three times vertically. It's a popular format for small businesses because it can fit a display rack or be mailed in a standard number-10 business envelope.

MORE TIPS ON REDUCING YOUR PRINTING COSTS

---

How to Write Ads that Increase Your Business

I caught myself wracking my brain over what kind of... Read More

How You Can Create Advertising That Sells

A well-planned and properly executed marketing program should include a... Read More

Advertise Where Its Forbidden To

The most common way to drive people to your business... Read More

How To Write Kick-Ass, Profit Pulling Adverts For Your Business?

Doesn't that just grab you by the eyeballs and make... Read More

What Happened? Troubleshooting Poor Response from Ad Campaigns

Too many small business owners today run ad campaigns that... Read More

Write Attention Getting Advertisements

The most important aspect of any business is selling the... Read More

Which is Better Digital or Offset Printing?

As technology continues to improve, the quality of digital prints... Read More

Advertising, Public Relations, Newsletters, and Newsletters for Your Small Business

If you own a small business you should consider ways... Read More

The ONLY Type Of Advertising People LOVE!!

Can it be???Is there advertising that people actually love?You bet... Read More

The Importance of Your Business Card

What are you trying to say with you business card?We... Read More

The Graphic Problem

Digital printing has revolutionized the sign industry. Current printers can... Read More

Hiring an Amateur Could Mean a Potential Lawsuit for Your Business

These days, everyone's looking to save a buck. But if... Read More

I Dont Want to be Different

To succeed in today's crowded marketplace where most of the... Read More

Printing - How Do I Buy It?

Why should I care where I get my printed material... Read More

How To Make Your Resource Box Sell

Ezine Articles - they're everywhere!And little wonder. They're one of... Read More

Seven Ways to Waste Your Money on Yellow Pages Advertising

Each year there is a Yellow Pages arms race where... Read More

Can I Write and Print My Own Business Brochures and Business Cards?

If you have a computer and a printer, preferably one... Read More

Become a Storyteller Not an Advertiser and Watch Your Traffic Increase

When you read the newspaper, do you read advertisements as... Read More

Just What Are Consumers Thinking?

Research would indicate that consumers don't know what they're thinking.... Read More

Commercial: Consumer - Discounts - Misleading Advertising

Marketing is an important tool for attracting customers. It is... Read More

If You Lost 70% of Your New Customers, Would You Notice?

Buyers Don't Rely on the Yellow Pages Like They Used... Read More

11 Ways To Make Your Business Cards Work For You

1. Spend money on decent quality business cards. Home made... Read More

The SKINNY on Newspaper Advertising

The SKINNY on NewspapersUsing the paper is considered gospel by... Read More

In Advertising Bigger isn?t Always Better

If you have been following the recent advertising news you... Read More

Advertising That Annoys: The Real Story

Critics conclude that entertaining or "creative" commercials sell better than... Read More