Inspiration for creating original and creative Flyers
Flyers are a cost-effective solution to promote anything and everything! To most of us, they are a nuisance, stuffed into your letterbox, used as box stuffers, and don’t get us started on nightclub promoters. Joking aside, they fit the argument that marketing is a numbers game, and it could not be further from the truth! It works for restaurants, political voting, and charities because they know that if the information is correct and the design is impactful, this method works on a massive scale. Even if a portion of readers take the bait, the flyer will have proved cost-effective! So what makes a successful flyer campaign? In this article, we can break it down into bite-sized chunks. As with anything in this world, it is best to start from the ground up!
What is a Flyer?
A flyer is a printed marketing tool, typically A5 (148x210mm), used to advertise a product, service, or event! They work very much in the same way as its bigger sibling, the poster. Its purpose is to attract attention, shouting loudly with unavoidable typography, whimsical taglines, and vibrant color. Think of a bird doing its courtship dance. A flyer is trying to win you over, making a big song and dance. If the marketing strategy has worked, persons of interest will be guided to a call to action, visiting a website, social media platform, or perhaps dial a phone number. The best way is to see for yourself by checking out these striking flyer designs on Pinterest!
Who uses Flyers?
The temptation behind flyers is that they are financially efficient, especially if you have them printed in bulk. Furthermore, you can even access free-to-use tools such as Freepik, where you can download free template designs to personalize them at your will. Meaning the scope for use is on a biblical scale. From music events to pizzerias, they will spread information no matter what. In some cases, ideologists such as activists, people of faith, and political representatives, will use this form of communication to dish out free information to passers-by on the streets, which is entertaining for sure!
- Events – Music festivals, Food festivals, Sports events, social awareness events as Breast Cancer Awareness…
- Business – Startups, Electricians, Financial…
- Parties – Christmas, Birthday, Carnival…
- Charity – Fundraising, Donations, Charity
- Political – Election campaigns, talks, candidate information…
What should a Flyer include?
What you put in your flyer design depends on its function. Music event flyers will mirror the energy and vibe of the headline acts with vibrant colors and psychedelic fonts. On the other hand, a financial business may take on a more straight-edge approach, utilizing an acute color palette to support its clean-cut font choice. However, there are elements that all flyers share, all working together by following a few basic graphic design principles, proven to bring the best out of your overall design. It is good practice to consider hierarchy, amplifying the more important information in an orderly fashion. A flyer is the best example of this. Remember that we have seconds to grab the attention of the reader!
Background
The background is the first thing people will see. Popping into existence, perhaps with a splash of vibrant colors, hypnotizing patterns, artistic compositions, or even a photo collage. A well-designed flyer would use the background to its advantage, binding all the information together like a well-orchestrated symphony of visual representation. The impact is important but not as important as the message itself, which leads us to the Headline!
Headline
The background has caught the attention. Now it’s time for a headline to pull the reader in. A statement, a name, or an action will do just fine using big, bold one-punch typography, using as fewer words as possible. People won’t give you the time of day unless you win them over! It’s imperative to choose your headline font with confidence, considering the product or service you wish to promote. Search fonts here!
Tagline
A tagline provides a slipstream service to your flyer design. It channels the readers’ focus further on towards the small print. By now, the reader has clearly shown some interest, but we still have to extend the buzz they felt in those first few seconds. This will work by engaging with your persons of interest on a more human level by using emotion. A fun catchphrase, a witty statement, something that will make them want more! Here are some inspirational taglines.
Call to action
The whole purpose of this flyer is to action your persons of interest into dialing a phone number, opening up their web browser or social media, and doing something. Give them what they need to make this action possible, clearly and obviously but remember the hierarchy system! To support this action, it is good practice to include a small description paragraph providing any helpful information.
- Phone number
- Email address
- Social media
- QR code
Once you have all the elements together, you will have a clear enough view of its impact on yourself. The journey hasn’t ended just yet. In fact, this is probably the most important part of the process in designing your own flyer. Shifting and aligning until the balance is correct, overseeing the use of white space to benefit your essential information. A fantastic way to check the function of your flyer design is to create a mockup! They can answer questions like; does it read well? Are the colors correct for this design? Is it creating an impact? You might even be in a position where you need to sell your idea. There are so many mockups available on Freepik that you can take advantage of, just take a look!
Production
Once happy with your flyer design, it’s time to think about making it a reality! There are a few things to think about when it comes to the production process. What you should consider:
- Quantity
- Method
- Cost
The quantity will very much depend on the intended size of your audience, and the distribution method. Perhaps they will be distributed door to door or handed out in the street. This is where logistics come into play. How much can you handle?
The method of production can be dealt with in two ways. There is the online way, which will be hassle-free and very cost-effective. However, you may lack the personal service a printer specialist may offer. It could be you are after a certain paper grade or a more specialist method of printing, like embossing or debossing. Here are some helpful examples:
- Gloss – A very shiny finish
- Semi-Gloss – Less shine
- Satin – A hint of shine
- Matte – Non-reflective
- Embossing – Raising design elements
- Debossing – Pressing in
When it comes to cost, the more you make, the cheaper each item tends to be. This is why flyers per unit are extremely cheap. But it’s only you, the project manager, that can weigh up the pros and cons in making the right decision for your flyer campaign!
Now it’s time for you to get out there and give it a try. Let’s give your persons of interest a visual journey to remember!
