Whether you are just starting out on your new business adventure or are familiar with how a small business works, you will be aware that one of the biggest hurdles to jump is budgeting. Marketing can be an expensive business, meaning as a start-up or small business, you will need to consider what the best method is for your business.
Whilst brochure printing can be expensive, there’s no reason why small businesses should miss out – Where The Trade Buys are innovators of print technology and have explained how you can produce brochures that are still beautiful and an effective marketing strategy for your company on a budget:
Designing your brochure
There are some key things that you need to keep in mind when you go to design and purchase your first set of brochures:
1. The quality
Making sure that your brochures look professional is essential, especially when you’re going to give them out. This can be achieved through a number of factors. The size of your brochure and the way it is finished can influence the way it is received, and of course the cost. Whilst it is tempting to cram as much information onto fewer pages to save money, you don’t want to make your brochure look unprofessional.
The type of paper used for your brochure can have an impact on the cost. Of course, in an ideal world, every business would use the highest paper stock they can afford but you should consider your audience and the purpose of the brochure before making a decision. For an informal brochure, a thinner and cheaper paper stock is the better option – but if you are targeting a high-end corporate conference, you’ll want to invest a bit more money in a better paper stock.
Presentation is everything and those who use perfect bound brochure printing will tell you how it has benefited them. Having something that will catch the attention of others will benefit you and your business – this goal can be met when working on a budget. When it comes to the finish of your brochure, saddle-stitched brochures are a sleek way to present your corporate brochure or catalogue to your audience, as they are generally finished with a gloss or silk lamination. The Scodix finish is available for companies who want to make their publication stand out and generally has a minimal difference in the cost. Case bound can be quite expensive but is the crème-de-la-crème when it comes to top quality. If you have the budget to pull out all of the stops, then case bound is the option to go for. However, PUR is a high-end binding option that is more affordable than Case bound – this finish is ideal for pitch documents and coffee table brochures.
You need to make sure that your information is entirely accurate within the brochure. If it is wrong, it can cost you time and money. You don’t want to waste money on unnecessary reprinting because a mistake has slipped through the net. Make sure all design and text have gone through thorough quality checks for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and just general mishaps. Check, check and check again that everything is correct. Finally, if something feels out of place (such as a paper standing out) once the binding is complete, you can use tools like Slitter Cutter Creaser by Duplo to make the brochures look perfect.
2. Give out the right information
Remember that you don’t need to have a huge dictionary or a brochure. Less is often more! This is quite often the case for the copy you include in your brochure. Keep it simple – you don’t want to confuse the reader with too much information. The text should be clear and concise, including all the need-to-know information. This is good for budgeting, as you will save money on fewer pages. But remember to include your company logo, contact details, and, of course, your key message – without these your marketing campaign will be a flop.
If you’re creating an informal brochure, you should use different fonts to make it stand out. The design is down to you – but remember it needs to remain clear to read and fit on the pages correctly.
3. How many brochures do you need?
Only get the amount that you actually need, although the temptation of ‘more for less’ might be appealing. It is worth checking the price guides before you place an order to consider if a long run, medium run or short run will be the most cost-effective. Quick buy pricing guides allow you to make an informed decision without contacting the printing company directly – cutting out the middle man. Longer runs are generally most suited for handout brochure at events such as trade shows because they are more cost-effective.
4. Upload your brochure to the internet
It’s completely free to push your brochure out on the internet. From doing this, you might receive more views and downloads as a PDF – it will also allow you to target an online presence rather than just handing them out at events. This way, you can have both printed brochures and e-brochures.
