How to Design an Effective Flyer for Your Small Business

The average consumer sees dozens if not hundreds of advertisements each day. For this reason, a flyer advertising your small business must grab the readers attention. Since hiring a professional copywriter can be pricey, a cost effective alternative is to create a flyer yourself. Here are some tips to designing a flyer to make your small business stand out.

Paper Color. A simple way to draw attention is to print your flyer on colored paper. Pastels are a great way to add color without making the advertisement hard to read. However, be very careful that the color of the paper doesn't clash with images or company logos.

Graphics. A carefully selected image when designing a flyer can greatly increase its impact. Think about it from this perspective. A reader doesn't flip through a magazine to read the advertisements. However, as they flip from article to article, some advertisements catch their eye and force them to look twice. Select an image that will draw attention to your flyer. Ones that have a comical or sexual appeal usually do exceptionally well.

Catchy Headline. Your headline is the line of text that usually runs across the top of printed advertisements. The text is usually larger than other text on the page, and is designed to get readers to read on. Try to create a catchy headline that is relevant to your target audience. A small lawn care business might use the headline "Never Mow your Grass Again!". This might encourage curious consumers to find out how they might avoid this tedious task.

Flyer Layout. The layout of your flyer will determine how much of the text gets read my consumers. Your goal is to make your flyer look clean and crisp. Make sure that your ad isn't cluttered. At the most, your flyer should have fewer than 50 words. Remember, you are writing an advertisement and not a book. If your ad takes more than 30-seconds to read, your target audience will likely lose focus and move on.

Supply the Right Information. Once you have the reader's attention, you need to make sure that all pertinent information is readily available. Your flyer should include services you provide, years of expertise your company has, and contact information.

Effective advertising is the lifeblood of successful small business. Without promotion, many small businesses would not be able to survive. After all, how can consumers purchase or utilize a company's services if they don't know the business exists. Fortunately, the ability to design your own ads will not only draw in customers, but provide cost effective promotion.