How to create an impactful design for leaflet printing

Leaflet printing is an ideal way to let people know what is happening in your organisation, whether that’s holding a sale, putting on a concert or looking for volunteers for your charity. Whatever it is, there’s no better way to spread the word than by handing out branded leaflets.

What your leaflet looks like is entirely up to you, but if you want as many people as possible to pay attention to it, here are some things to consider:

Size

Leaflets tend to be posted, or handed out to passers-by, meaning people will either carry them in their hand or place it in a bag. So, you don’t want it to be too big. A common size for a leaflet is the size of an A4 piece of paper – 8.3’ x 11.7’.

If you want something smaller, leaflets can also be printed in 8.3’ x 5.8’ (A5) or 5.8’ x 4.1’ (A6).

Branding

It’s vital that people know who the leaflet is representing. Use the most up to date version of your logo and pick out your main brand colours, using them throughout the leaflet design, such as for the headline colours or to highlight key details.

Headline

Space is limited on a flyer, so you’ll need a strong headline to grab people’s attention. The key to writing an engaging headline is to keep it short and highlight the benefits. For example, ‘50% sale now on’ is more attention-grabbing than ‘Big savings to be made in our instore sale.’

To make your headline standout, use a different style of font, bold the headline or use a different coloured font.

Details

Key details need to be visible on a leaflet. Make sure people can easily see what it is you’re promoting and when & where it’s being held.

Double-check that all details are correct before going to print as it can be a costly mistake to fix any errors after they’ve been printed.

Spacing

It can be tempting to put as much information as possible onto a leaflet, but cramming everything on will leave it looking messy and hard to read.

Less is more when it comes to leaflet design, so remember to use short sentences. Bullet- points and numbered lists are great for summarising data. Leave plenty of space between the headline and the main body of text and use double spacing between paragraphs.

If you find you’re struggling for space, consider printing information on both sides of the leaflet.

Imagery

A good-quality image can make a printed leaflet ‘pop’. If you’re taking the photo yourself, make sure it’s in-focus and that you have the right lighting.

If you’re using an image created by someone else, make sure you have permission from the photographer to use it or that it’s copyrighted for commercial use.

Leaflet printing is incredibly versatile and can be used as a standalone way to promote your business, but our customers have reported they create a bigger impact when used as part of a wider print marketing campaign.

If you’re interested in promoting your business, charity or event using print, complete our online enquiry form, leaving your name, contact details and a brief message and a member of our experienced team will be in touch.