Whether you're trying to find a lost cat, promote your guitar lessons, or advertise your Friday night gig, flyers are effective means of spreading the word. For this to work, you'll need to make sure people can "notice" them and are convincing enough to push them to "do something." Read this article to find out how!
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Choosing the Tools to Use
Step 1. Decide whether to design your flyer by hand or on a computer
You can use programs such as Photoshop or Microsoft Publisher for your project or, alternatively, create the flyer with pens, pencils, markers, etc. and then have it printed in the copy shop.
Step 2. Use colors if possible
You can insert them into text, images or even the card. The colors attract the eye and the attention of passers-by. Printing in grayscale on colored paper is a great choice to save some money and still have some vibrant flyers.
- Adopting a color scheme can be very effective. Use a color wheel to take advantage of basic combinations. For example, you could only use analogous colors (adjacent ones on the color wheel), such as different shades of blue or green. Or, you can use complementary colors, such as green and red.
- For an even better effect, use colors that match the image inserted in the flyer. For example, if your photo shows a sunset, you can use orange and yellow. To make the yellow letters stand out, you can outline them in black.
Step 3. Choose the size of the flyer
You will have to make the decision mainly based on the function of the flyer and your printing capability. The most common size is that of normal printer sheets (A4); you can choose this size for your flyers or cut them in half or quarter of that size if they don't need to be that big. However, remember that your project can be as large as you like and it won't be a problem to print it on larger sheets if you take it to a copy shop that has a printer for the format you have chosen.
Step 4. Decide when and how to distribute your flyers
Do you want to post them on bulletin boards or outdoors on telephone poles? Or do you want to distribute them at an event or in a very busy area of the city? You could even mail them. If you decide to post flyers outdoors, you should print them on stronger paper and with waterproof ink.
Part 2 of 5: Writing the Titles
Step 1. Write a title
It has to be big, eye-catching and simple. In general it should not exceed three words, it should be centered and written on one line. You can compose longer titles, but short ones grab more attention.
Step 2. Write a GREAT title
The title letters must be larger than all the others in the flyer. People should be able to read them easily from about 10 feet away. The title is usually located equally away from the side edges of the page, so you should center it.
Step 3. Consider whether to use capital letters or bold fonts
Look at the headlines on the front pages of the newspapers; the print industry has been using this technique for a long time. Do not choose too complex fonts, because the flyer must above all be legible. You can add embellishments elsewhere in the project if they are useful for getting your message across.
Step 4. Write a very simple message
Your flyer needs to grab attention and get a message across in seconds. Complicated concepts and content often don't make enough impact. You can fill in more details in the rest of the flyer.
- People don't have to think much to understand the content of the flyer - the message needs to be communicated in an almost intuitive, engaging and fun way.
- What are the titles that strike you? For most people, "Puppies and ice cream", as you see in the photo, is an effective title. This is not because everyone likes puppies and ice cream, but because the title is fiery red, a color that naturally draws the eye.
Part 3 of 5: Write a Capturing Text
Step 1. Add a subtitle
It should consist of two or three lines. Since the title is short, use the subtitle to process your message, giving more details on what you want to explain. Read the subtitles used in newspapers to find examples.
Step 2. Add details
While the title is meant to grab people's attention and intrigue them, in the body of the flyer you can communicate your message. Include the relevant information, following the 5 W rule: Who, What, When, Where, Why. These are the questions people will ask about your proposal. Put yourself in the reader's shoes. What would you like to know?
Be direct and immediate. Write concise but detailed descriptions
Step 3. Get your message across with testimonials
In the body of the flyer you can insert comments and reviews in your support. You will then be able to add further details and legitimize your message thanks to the support of a third party. If the reader will read the content from your point of view or that of a supporter, they will be more willing to follow your call to action.
Step 4. Add emphasis
To make your keywords stand out, use capital letters, larger or bold fonts, italics, or other visual gimmicks. However, do not use all of these options at the same time: never more than one or two. Overly creative formatting feels childish at best and maniacal at worst.
- Use phrases and words that make your offer more attractive: "FREE", "NEW", "REWARD", etc. These are words that catch the eye and can encourage the reader to follow your call to action. Of course, you shouldn't add terms that don't reflect the truth: never fool the public.
- Use the word "You". This way, you will make a direct appeal to the reader.
Step 5. Organize the text
Add bulleted lists to sort the message. Boxes around text or a bulleted list can make the flyer more tidy and pleasing to the eye. These effects make the text look more professional and attract readers more.
Step 6. Use other attention grabbing fonts
The text in the body of the flyer does not have to follow the same format as the title. Your project needs to stand out, so use a unique style. You should have plenty of fonts in your word processor already, but if you can't find what you're looking for, you can decide to download one from the internet. Many sites offer unique and unusual fonts for free.
Step 7. Include your contact information
Preferably do this at the bottom of the flyer, so that the most important information stays at the top. Add your name and your preferred means of communication: phone number or e-mail address are the most common.
- You can also use the classic "tearing" method: create a smaller version of your flyer text in a smaller font, rotate it 90 degrees and repeat it several times along the bottom of the sheet. Make partial cuts between each part to be torn off so that people can grab them easily.
- Do not enter private information. For example, avoid writing your surname or home address.
Part 4 of 5: Using the Images
Step 1. Add an image or drawing
Often they will be as important as words, because the human brain notices them first. Now that you've caught the reader's attention, take advantage of it! Give the audience something to look at - people have a tendency to remember concrete, visual messages more than words. For these reasons, images are effective elements, be it logos, photos of lost dogs or drawings.
Step 2. Find a suitable image
You don't necessarily have to create an ad hoc figure for your flyer. You can use one of your own photos or a public domain image found on the internet. Some programs, such as Microsoft Office, offer a variety of predefined illustrations.
Step 3. Use an image editing program to increase the contrast
This will make the graphics visible from farther away once printed on paper. If you don't have a program of that type, a free application, like Google's Picasa (https://picasa.google.com/), will do just fine.
Try to use only an image if you can. If necessary, you can place two images side by side, but a larger number would make the flyer too confusing
Step 4. Write a description below the image
If you have attracted a reader, they will have approached to find more details. A beautiful caption can effectively convey the message of the graphic. It also serves to reinforce or add information to the text you have already written.
Step 5. Include a frame or border around the image
Framing the artwork can help you "pin" it to the flyer and not make it appear inserted as an independent part. You should add a border or a light shadow around it. To give more emphasis, you can even insert stars or an arrow indicating the image.
Part 5 of 5: Printing and Distribution
Step 1. Make sure the flyer works
Before printing many copies, test the finished product by posting it to a door and looking at it closely. Step 3 meters away and watch. Are the most important points immediately apparent? By reading the sample flyer in this photo, you can immediately understand that it is a lost dog.
- Review the entire flyer to make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors and that the information in the text is correct.
- Ask friends and family to look at the flyer, then tell you if they got the message right away.
Step 2. Print the copies
Now that you've completed the flyer and checked it out, print as many copies as you need.
- If you can't print all the copies yourself or if you think it will rain (ink from home printers is washed away by water), find a local copy shop, or use a self-service copier.
- Black and white copies are almost always cheaper than color ones, but they don't have the same impact. If you decide to print in grayscale, try this tip: instead of printing the titles and colored words, leave those parts blank and handwrite them with a marker. You can also use a highlighter.
Step 3. Publish your flyer
Where should you post it? Think about where the people you want to reach are located.
- If you've lost your kitten in the neighborhood, post the flyer on telephone poles, at bus stops, grocery stores, cafes, laundromats, and other local hangouts.
- If you lost your bag downtown, post the flyers as close as possible to the last place where you remember you had the bag with you. Note that there are often restrictions on billboards in urban areas - it will be easy to see you, so don't break the law! Try asking bars, using public bulletin boards, and looking for flyer-covered posts.
- If you are trying to reach students for a club, there are generally rules and places for flyers. You have to find the best places (corridors, bathroom doors, hand deliveries) without breaking school rules.
Advice
- You can find more elaborate styles on the web by searching for "free flyer templates".
- If you use colored paper, your flyer will be more noticeable, but probably the image and the writing on which you want to attract attention will not stand out. Experiment to find the right balance.
- Consider distributing a digital version of your flyer on the internet and by email.
- Remember that you can use a layout in both portrait and landscape orientation.
