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Every business owner, at some point, will probably have to do some marketing to boost their sales or profiles. Small to medium enterprises will probably do newsletters, email blasts, store credits, loyalty cards, etc. In contrast, large to giant corporations will most likely focus on TV commercials, Super Bowl ads, billboards, etc. But do you know an advertising tool that nearly all businesses (regardless of scale) still implement? Yup, it’s the humble flyer.
At some point, your business will have to learn how to create a flyer. Nowadays, it is so easy to make one using an online flyer maker. Pretty much all you need in how to make a flyer is within the power of this app. Venngage (a popular choice), for instance, can help you start the design process through hundreds of templates, icons, and fonts. This is possible through a robust and user-friendly editor.
With that said, we should focus on getting you knowledgeable enough to learn first how to design a flyer.
Let’s say you wanted to make advertising flyers for your brand new online store. What are the rules you should follow to ensure an effective design? What should you prioritize? How do you even start it at all?
Hey, we are here to help! So, let’s begin with a handy guide to designing a flyer.
1. It all starts with a plan.
Any design work, especially advertising flyers, needs to start with a plan. Give this one some time and attention; you won’t regret it.
Start first by asking yourself the question, “Why it’s the purpose of my flyer design?”
Is it to promote a sale? Is it for P.R purposes? Is it for promoting a new location? Or maybe you want to highlight a skill you have?
A flyer can be a million things. By zoning in on your flyer’s purpose, you could already reveal how you will tackle your layout and design.
2. Know your target audience
Who are you talking to?
By that, I mean your flyer. That is why it’s highly crucial to pin down your target market.
Different ages, classes, and cultural groups will have varying languages that speak more to them. I mean, you wouldn’t use internet slang and modern jargon if you’re trying to sell retirement homes to seniors, right?
Even the overall design will vary depending on your target audience. There is a reason why male-centric products focus on specific colors compared to more feminine ones.
Choose and learn about your target audience!
3. Shape and size, please?
Cris DiNoto/Unsplash
If you want to know how to make a flyer, learning how to use size and dimension to your advantage is a good step. How? A flyer’s versatility and effectiveness are pretty much down to its customizable size.
Seems simple right? In a way, it is. However, it could get tricky at times. Creating a conventional printed flyer requires you to know if it will fit where you want them found. For example, you want to make mailbox inserts; however, not all of them will be the same size. Big houses along suburbs tend to have large mailboxes, while those in the apartment for rent in Buffalo have smaller ones.
That is why step no.2 is also essential for this. Because varying audiences will have different ways to get your flyer, it’s crucial which size is best for them.
There are many more real-world examples of this. Spaces like newspaper inserts, centerfolds, post-ups, etc., all have different sizes.
What about online? Size is even more critical with this one. Pick the wrong size for your purpose (Facebook, Instagram, website, etc.), and you could be left with some lousy image clipping or a pixelized mess.
4. Get inspired
This step is pretty fun. Now that you know your flyer’s purpose, audience, and size, it’s time to get inspired! The internet is a treasure trove of flyer design inspiration. Watch out for designs that share your vision and purpose, similar size and shape, and talks the same way to your target audience.
Of course, We are in no way telling you to steal designs. Inspiration is vastly different, wherein you can admire a design and implement certain things.
Try this. Understand why the design was made that way. What is remarkable and flawed about it? Finally, apply it to your own work.
5. Be a Headliner!
Have you seen an advertising headline, and it just stuck with you? If you have, then you just encountered a very successful headline.
Headlines should get us emotionally invested in an ad. Whether that headline made us laugh, cry, furious, fear, or excited, it all leads to one thing: a reaction action. In most cases, it gets us to buy something.
The headline is so important. So make this one count.
6. Color is key
Robert Katzki/Unsplash
Besides the headlines, what is the next thing that pops out when it comes to flyer design? The color, of course!
Colors can make or break your ad. The wrong colors can be a one-way trip to the trash can. Goodbye, investment!
Learn about color psychology, which color is appropriate for the feeling you want to convey.
Also, figure out which colors look great together and master the art of contrast. This is an effective tool to get certain elements you want seen to pop out.
7. Print
Last but not least, find a good printer!
Seriously, your design could be the bee’s knees. But having your flyers printed with lousy quality, well, let’s just say it won’t turn out good for you. So always find one willing to give you a printed sample or at least one where you can see previous works.
Get your designing cap on
If you have ever pondered the question, How do I design a flyer? The answer is straightforward; Learn the basics first.
With the tips above, no doubt, you are on a great head start!