Effective Brochure Design How well does your brochure communicate? How well does it sell? Every situation is different, but any brochure will benefit from a quick run through this checklist.

Things to consider from the outset of designing your brochure:

• What does your company / organisation do?
• What are the goals? Why?
• Who is the target market/audience?
• What copy (text) and images are needed?
• What are the specifications?
• Do you have a benchmark in mind?
• Where will your audience find the brochure?
• What information do they need to be motivated?
• What would you like them do and how?
• What contact information would you like to provide?

Brochure development check list to consider:

• Attract attention with the cover especially in the top 1/3
• Have a distinct theme
• Make sure the benefits are clear
• Have a clear call to action
• Include pictures of your business/organisation and/or your employees.
• Make sure the mission statement is clear.
• Specify the benefactors of your  business/organisation's work.
• Provide information on the business/organisation history.
• Include a statement from the operator/owner/president.
• Mention any awards or press coverage you have received.
• Include annual report information – key numbers, deals, opportunities, etc.
• Provide famous quotes, national brands, names, and logos to align with opinion leaders.
• Third party endorsements or testimonials.
• Make sure your instructions are clear, simple and diagrammed.
• Provide helpful hints or suggestions.
• Offer free giveaways or special offers.
• Give a reassuring guarantee.
• List associations you belong to / groups that you coordinate with.
• Consider the best type size and font, paper size, colour, texture, and weight.
• Design with "white space" to give the user visual breathing space
• Make the message clear through visuals as well as in the copy.
• Use photos to clearly illustrate the intended market group(s) you want to attract.
  
• Make sure that the user can easily find the needed information?
• Test the draft on a few non biased people
• Include a version number for easy management