How to create the perfect brochure in 6 easy steps

Printed booklets and brochures remain one of our best sellers despite the increase in digital marketing and social media over recent years. Pulling together what you need for a brochure could be seen as a relatively easy job. You may think it’s just a matter of writing some text and finding some good photographs. Actually there is a lot more that goes into the planning stage to ensure your finished brochure is effective, represents your business and hits your target market. We’re going to run through some important steps with you to ensure you get that perfect brochure.

Why not just create a digital pdf?
We all know how difficult it can be to read content online and that it’s much easier to browse through a brochure that’s tangible and you can flick through. Read our print vs digital blog to find out more on this.

You may also be concerned about sustainability and ensuring your business remains planet-friendly. The environment is as important to us as it is to you and that’s why print has turned green - blog link just there for you to find out more.

Creating that perfect brochure in 6 easy steps

1) Before you start.
Think about who the brochure is for and what you want it to achieve. Which customers are you targeting? Will it be distributed via post or just handed out? Once a customer has read the brochure what do you want them to do? The call to action is vital whether it’s a simple brochure promoting a campaign or a large product catalogue.

2) Content.
Pull together your words and images. Keep it simple and avoid jargon or terms that your customers may not understand or be aware of. The photographs you want to use need to be high resolution so good quality when printed. Once you have your content ready and you’ve picked a selection of eye-catching images you are ready for the next step.

TOP TIP - Don’t forget to give the brochure content a thorough proofread. We’ve got some great tips for you in our proofreading blog or drop us a line if you want some help on this. Remember once it’s printed you can’t change it and you don’t want to look unprofessional by having a typo on it.

3) Branding.
You want this brochure to sit nicely alongside your website, social media platforms and any other material you may have. This will include the colours and fonts you want to use as well as the type of images and even the tone of voice (how your business comes through in the words).

4) Pages and paper.
Pick your page size, page count and paper type/thickness. Picking your page size is really important to do before you get your brochure designed and can save you money. Remember the page count needs to be in multiples of 4 so 4 pages, 8 pages, 16 pages and so on. You will also need to consider what type of paper you want to use – matt, gloss, silk, uncoated – as well as the paper thickness.

TOP TIP – We’d typically suggest 130-150gsm for a lightweight flyer or a multi-page brochure or catalogue. High quality flyers or brochures would be better at 160-200gsm. Thicker paper stocks are typically used for business cards, menus or brochure inserts.

5) Binding and finishing.
There are lots of binding options and you will need to take into consideration the number of pages you have. For example, a spiral bound brochure needs to be at least 20 pages (10 sheets of paper). Finishing options can include the way the paper is treated as well as folder pockets or a throw out cover (this is where the cover has a folded front or back section).

TOP TIP – Spot UV on an image on the front cover of your brochure can really make it stand out. It is a high gloss shine applied to one area of the page which makes it really eye-catching. We also love a bit of foil. A splash of gold or silver foil on a brochure cover can give it real prestige.

6) Turnaround times.
How long it takes to design and print a brochure will obviously depend on the size but also what specification you choose. Bear this in mind if you are printing it for a particular event or using it for a direct mail campaign. We offer express printing for any last minute jobs if needed.

So now you have everything ready to create your perfect brochure, you’ll want to know how much it is going to cost.

If you have visited our website already you will have noticed we don’t offer quotes online for brochures. If you haven’t visited our website before then it’s definitely worth a look around – you can view all our different products and it’s packed full of advice too. We don’t offer online quotes because we want to ensure we get the best price for your exact needs. Each quote is bespoke and tailored to you.