Handy hints and tips for designing an effective leaflet

Some handy hints and tips for designing a leaflet, that will hopefully help your business to stand out:

1.    Headline - make it attention grabbing, to keep the customer interested

2.    Easy to read font

3.    Include images - pictures can say more than words especially when you are trying to sell a product or service

4.    Bullet points rather than long sentences - if you tell the customer too much they will lose interest.

5.    Include ‘Power’ words - free, bargain, bonus, save, special, offer. Try and incorporate these words into the text naturally

6.    Use blank space - makes it easier to read - less is more

7.    Choose the right material and weight of paper

8.    Include a call of action / incentive - this will ensure people don’t just throw the leaflet away

9.    Include contact details - telephone number, email address, website 

Print promotion on a budget

Whether you are a small business or a startup on a budget, there are some printed products that can help you to promote to new customers without breaking the bank.

Leaflets & Flyers

• Low cost
• Colourful and attention grabbing
• Easy to hand out at local events
• Great for advertising a new business, product or event

Posters

• Low cost 
• Colourful and attention grabbing
• Great for promoting a new business, new product or event

Postcards - (Direct mail service available if required)

• Low cost
• Can be posted out to potential customers
• Use as invites to an event

Business Cards

• Low cost
• Hand out to potential customers, family/friends (word of mouth)
• Great if you attend workshops, conferences and other networking events

Budget Promotional Pens / Window Stickers

• Low cost
• Good for giveaways
• Great for spreading word of mouth

If you would like any help with choosing the product that's right for your business, please contact us at sales@royalegraphics.co.uk

Proofing for print checklist

Misprinted work can be costly, so we have put together a short checklist for proofing for print

1. Check the spelling, and then check again. Computerised spell checkers can miss mistakes so double check that all names, spellings and punctuation is correct - get fresh eyes to proof this too.

2. Check contact details. Telephone numbers, websites, emails, names and postal addresses - are these all correct?

3. Always print a proof out. Usually mistakes can be easier to spot on a hardcopy than they can on a screen. It also helps to see something at its ‘real’ size. Royale Graphics can provide you with digitally printed proofs if requested.

4. Check that all pages are included in the proof. Are they in the right order? Also make sure that the page numbers are correct (if applicable)

5. Check that all images or photos are included and in the correct positions.

6. Ensure readability of text. Is the text easy to read and at the correct font size? Consider whitespace.

……and once you've checked all those, check again!

Business Card Design tips

Are you designing your company business cards and struggling as to what information you should put on there? Below is a list of essential information you should consider.

• Company Name - This is usually the most prominent element on the card.
• Your Name - This may not be the case if you are designing a generic card for the whole office, but this will give the business cards a more personal feel.
• Key contact information – Include you name, contact numbers (office number, mobile number) and email address this way people can easily get in touch with you if needed.
• Website address - This will direct people to your business website which makes it easier to find out what you do as a company and what you can supply them with. Essential for web based businesses.
• Physical address - This is not always necessary especially if you are an online business
• Description or list of services - A small bullet list of what you do is a good idea if the company name doesn't give away what the business does.
• Social Media - Invite people to connect with you on your Facebook Page, Twitter or Linkedin.

You only get one chance to make a good first impression and your business card can be a vital part of this. Make sure the card is designed to make you stand out not only as an individual but as a company.

BUSINESS CARDS

QR Codes in Print

You may or may not have seen little black and white squares popping up on leaflets, advertising boards and even business cards.

They are called QR (Quick Response) codes and are 2D barcodes which can be viewed by most Smartphone’s which have the correct software installed. They were first developed in Japan in the 1990’s and used for tracking car parts.

QR Codes can be used to advertising all different types of data including:

• Text (marketing message)
• Website address
• Discount codes and coupons
• Contact details (telephone number or email address)
• Google map information
• Social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc
• Link to a Video


Some examples of ways that QR codes can be used in print include:

Business Cards
- Google map business location which your client can then get the directions from.
- Links to Social media sites so that the business card is less cluttered. (These could include a link to your Facebook business page, Twitter or Linkedin profiles).
- Link to your company website
- Contact details which will then be automatically be added to your phonebook.

Codes on your business cards will make them stand out and intrigue the receiver of the card. Also if any of the information gets updated instead of having to get your cards re-printed, the information can easily be updated online without the need for new cards or a new code.


Leaflets and Posters
- QR code for a video link to demonstrate one of your company’s products.
For example: At Royale Graphics we supply pressure seal machines for payslips. We could include a code on an advertising flyer which would then link to a demonstration video of how a pressure machine works.
- QR code on a leaflet or poster which links to a discount voucher code or mobile coupon.
- Link to a website address or a specific product page on a website.


Menus
- QR code which links to the nutritional information of a product.
- Link to recipes on your website.
- Voucher or discount code for money off on their next visit
- Link to a review site
- Links to Social media sites like Facebook