GRAPHIC DESIGNERS FROM OUR DESIGN COMMUNITY
 |
home > Graphic Design Articles > Brochure Design > Mighty Marketing Brochure Graphic Design - What Goes into a Brochure - What can a Brochure Do
.....................................................................................
You Might Also Like This Best of Brochure Design Article
Best of Brochure Design : Cool Brochures - These brochures will give you some artistic inspiration when you feel like you are out of ideas.
.....................................................................................
by Neil Sagebiel
Are you going to be designing a brochure soon and not quite sure about what goes into a brochure or even what a brochure's function is? As a graphic designer or a business owner who is going to design a brochure, these questions are very important and exactly what this article will explain to you.
|
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
"Brochure" is French, and it comes from brocher, meaning to stitch. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, a brochure is "a small booklet or pamphlet, often containing promotional material or product information."
Accurate, yes. And also incomplete.
For one thing, brochures aren’t always small. Sometimes they’re quite large. As for brochure contents, they vary greatly depending on the situation. A brochure definitely can be more than a pamphlet or small booklet, coming in all shapes, sizes and a range of folds.
While brochures are found practically everywhere -- used by businesses and organizations of all types and sizes -- they’re not the answer to all communication needs. Nor are they obsolete due to the Web.
What Can a Brochure Do?
Actually, a lot. First, determine your purpose or objectives.
Will your brochure generate sales or leads? Fulfill inquiries, support the sales force or be displayed at the point of sale? Will you use your brochure as a direct-mail piece or a leave-behind?
The brochure can do one or all of the above with careful planning. Here are some more functions of the brochure:
>Provide product and service information
>Support trade shows and conventions
>Provide news (about products, services, company, industry)
>Build company identity
>Educate prospects and customers
What are you trying to accomplish? Once you decide, you’re ready to start putting your brochure together.
What Goes in a Brochure?
Following are some common subjects for three areas brochures cover most: products, services and corporate or organization capabilities.
/ Introduction / Products / Services / Features / Benefits / How It Works / Markets / Applications / Specifications / Testimonials / FAQ / Company history / Call to action / Client list / Mission statement or business philosophy / Awards / Contact info
Keep It Simple
Although a brochure can do a lot, keep it simple. Zero in on your audience and purpose, and the rest will fall into place. Consider the format, page size and how the brochure will fold. Decide on visuals, fonts, colors, paper stock and other design characteristics.
As for copy, put a strong headline on the cover. Capture the right tone, and make sure copy has a logical flow. As a rule, keep sections short, incorporating plenty of subheads.
It’s always wise to include a call to action. What do you want people to do after they read the brochure? Finally, make sure you know how your brochure fits into your overall marketing program.
(c) 2005 Neil Sagebiel
Neil Sagebiel is a veteran copywriter. To receive his FREE special report on how to easily get and use an unlimited supply of testimonials, sign up for his FREE ezine today at http://www.neilsagebiel.com.
BROCHURE
DESIGN ARTICLES
BROCHURE TEMPLATES
BROCHURE DESIGN INSPIRATION - BEST OF BROCHURES
POST
GRAPHIC DESIGNER / BROCHURE DESIGNER JOBS
GRAPHIC DESIGN MESSAGE BOARDS
RECENT ARTICLES from Graphic Design BloG
Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part II
Today we continue looking at business cards that stand out, and here’s hoping you get some inspiration and ideas! After all, you only get one first impression, so your business card should be something that showcases the best of your design abilities. On Wednesday we looked at the use of interesting shapes, 3D business cards, [...]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Business Cards: Ideas and Inspiration, Part I
As a graphic designer, your business card should do more than let people know how to contact you. If you’re interested in truly making a good first impression, the business card has got to stand out. Whether through color, design, die cutting, unique materials, 3D shapes, or actual samples of your work, a stand-out business [...]
Collaborating and Negotiating: Part II
Today, we’re looking at the collaboration side of negotiation and collaboration in graphic design. Because your work is ultimately for the client, at times you as the designer must be willing to compromise to reach a mutually agreeable goal. Here are some tips to help you collaborate with clients.
Ways to Collaborate
Listen. On page 28 [...]
Collaborating and Negotiating: Part I
It’s there in the design brief: the problem your client wants you to solve. But whether your objective is to create an advertisement, exhibition or public announcement, sometimes you and the client aren’t quite on the same page about what exactly the best design solution is. OC Photographer asked a great question about the collaborating [...]
When Things Go Bad: 5 Tips for Firing Clients
Most graphic designers will be in a similar situation at some point: the client will not pay, the client is never satisfied with your work yet won’t collaborate to fix it, or you simply realize that you and the client are not meshing. Regardless of when and why you need to fire a client, everyone [...]
Tips for Working with Clients: Approaching the Relationship
Whether you’re looking for design classes, design degree programs, internships or first jobs, it’s important to choose an option that will help you learn clear communication, especially when it comes to designer/client relationships. Knowing how to work with clients should always be part of a successful graphic design education. The following tips can help you [...]
Working for Good: Pro Bono Design, Part II
If you’re interested in doing pro bono graphic design work, it’s important to educate yourself about smart ways to do it. Once you’ve got some guidelines, you can approach your pro bono work with creativity; unless your client specifically requests it, you don’t need to limit yourself to a brochure. Consider these ideas for pro [...]
All Graphic Design Resources is a Directory Full of Tools for Graphic Designers
All Graphic Design Portal is a Graphic Design education directory with resources & articles for Graphic Designers & Web Designers including a Design forum, blog, graphics software tips, graphic design jobs, advice for new designers about design schools and education as well as tips for freelance graphic design business owners, and much more.
