A quality brochure can be an inexpensive solution to expanding your marketing plan and establishing your presence within the community. When you create a brochure that represents your business, you have an additional way to increase awareness about your products and services, which can translate to higher sales for your company. There are certain key qualities to incorporate during the design process of your brochure in order to make it an effective piece of literature that works for your company. Your brochure printing company will be able to help guide you in the design process by offering various templates that you can tailor specifically to the needs of your brochure. Regardless of the template or format you choose, you need to include certain design factors in order to make this printed item a successful investment. In this article, we will explore the two main qualities that need to be present in any business brochure:

1. Color
Never underestimate the power of color in your brochure. Depending upon the kind of business you run, you may want to include photographs or depictions of your services and products. Using full color printing for these design elements will help to illustrate them better, and will also attract more attention from viewers of your brochure. It is a mistake to decide against color printing because you think it might save you money. Nowadays, most brochure printing companies have the technology to offer you the same price points whether your printing is done in color or black and white. Unless you are doing a black and white design concept because those are the colors associated with your company, you should always choose color printing. Color is not reserved solely for use on photos, either; you can also incorporate color into the paper you are printing on, the shapes and icons used throughout your layout, or the fonts of those sections of copy that you want to highlight.

2. Copy/Photo Ratio
The amount of words and text you use (also known as “copy”) versus the amount of photographs or illustrations you use is an important balance to keep in mind when designing your brochure. It is tempting to want to include as much information as you can fit onto the six surfaces of your brochure. Many people think of their brochures as a chance to tell customers and potential customers all about the company’s history, present endeavors and future plans. The danger in doing so, however, is that if there is too much copy clouding the surfaces, many people will not bother reading it at all. Start with an outline of everything that you want to include in your brochure. Now take a look at some brochures from other businesses in your industry. Which ones capture your attention? Which ones do you simply scan over and toss aside? Now look at your outline again. Which points are imperative to include in the brochure? Which ones could be mentioned briefly and then embellished upon on your company’s website instead of in the brochure itself? Remember that a picture can say a thousand words, so be sure to include enough illustrative items to speak volumes in your brochure!

Think of your brochure as a preview, rather than an entire feature film. It should entice readers to want to learn more and invest their time in your company. With the right balance of photos and copy, not to mention a great use of color, your brochures will work to bring people to you.