Company brochures

Hints and tips for producing brochures

• Promotional materials should always be designed with the target audience in mind. Literature will not be read if it does not appeal to the reader.
• Everything must be proofread. Several people should check the drafts. It is vital to make sure that all corrections are made (and no other errors have crept in) before approving the final version for printing. Somebody must also check headings, formatting and layout for consistency. It is important to check that nothing has been left out, especially details of how to contact the business.
• It is a good idea to look at other business's brochures. What is the target audience in each case? If there are magazines aimed at the same target audience as the business, what elements of design do they use?
• If the business publishes something containing someone else's artwork, for example a quote from a book, it may be in breach of copyright if permission has not been obtained. The use of computer 'clip art' is usually permitted by the licence that comes with the software but this should be checked.
• It is important to think carefully about the number of copies to be printed. The business does not want to be left with thousands of useless brochures, if, for example, the products or services change.
• To gain maximum impact from brochures it is worth seeking professional advice on design.
• Producing folders could be considered as an alternative to brochures. They can hold a combination of leaflets, information sheets, covering letters and so on. They are cheaper to produce than brochures, and more flexible as the contents can be made up to suit the recipient. Another advantage is that if information, such as a location map, contact name or price list, goes out of date, only the relevant insert needs to be updated and replaced.