Flyer design: The ultimate guide | KOMMA99 (2024)

Tips and tricks for effective advertising flyers

Do you want to design a flyer that catches the eye and convinces your target group? In today's digital world, print advertising may seem old-fashioned at first glance, but well-designed flyers still have a strong impact. Find out in our blog post how to design professional flyers correctly and convey your message clearly and attractively.

AIDA: The secret of effective advertising flyers

Flyers - so simple and yet so complex. These flyers have a clear task, which is summarized by the abbreviation AIDA can be summarized. AIDA stands for:

• Attention - Attention
• Interest - Interest
• Desire - wish/desire
• Action - action

The AIDA principle ensures that your flyer is not only seen, but also read and noticed. This can be applied to a flyer as follows:

• Attention - Make sure your flyer immediately catches the eye. Use eye-catching headlines, bold colors and appealing graphics to grab the attention of your target group.
• Interest - Provide relevant and interesting information to keep the attention of your target group. Focus on the needs and problems of your target group.
• Desire - Awaken the desire for your product or service. Show clear benefits and unique selling points.
• Action - Lead your target group to take action - and make it as easy as possible for them. Place all details for contacting you or for further information such as website, address, telephone number, QR code, etc. prominently on the flyer.

Canva, Adobe Express, Apps - Which program is the best for designing flyers?

Professional graphic designers usually work with InDesign to create flyers. But you don't necessarily need advanced graphic design skills to create impressive flyers.

There are a number of online tools on the Internet for creating flyers quickly and easily. Canva and Adobe Express are among the most popular.

Canva: Canva is perfect for beginners. It offers a huge selection of fully customizable templates. With the intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can create professional designs in no time at all. There are also a variety of free elements. You can also choose Canva Pro for your business. This upgrade is subject to a fee, but then offers you even more options for "refining" your flyer with even more elements.

Adobe Express: Adobe Express is ideal for you if you already have some design experience. Like Canva, Adobe Express also offers templates, but with a stronger focus on professional designs. It's a great choice if you want more control and creativity in your projects. It's also compatible with other Adobe applications.

Create flyers with Canva - 5 simple steps to a great flyer!

Canva makes it particularly easy to create an appealing flyer. We prefer to use Canva in our agency, which is why we can highly recommend this tool. In just a few steps, you'll have your flyer ready for online publication or printing.

1. Select template:
   Use the search function and find a suitable design that meets your stylistic requirements.
2. Customize design:
   Change the design to your liking - change the colors and fonts to reflect your brand.
3. Insert your own content:
   Now replace the placeholder elements with your own text, images or graphics.
4. Correction round:
   Check the text and all design elements of the flyer carefully for errors.
5. Export:
   Download the flyer as the desired file type. Now you can share it online or send it to print!

Design great flyers easily: Tips and tricks

1. define your goal

Before you start designing a flyer, you should clearly define your goal. What do you want to achieve with the flyer? Do you want to attract new customers, advertise an event, draw attention to a promotion, present products or simply make your brand better known? With a clear goal in mind, you can design your flyer in a targeted manner.

2. address your target group directly

Do you want your target group to take notice of your flyer? Then speak to them directly! A personal approach can make the difference between a flyer that ends up in the waste paper and one that gains attention.

Know the needs and preferences of your target group and adapt the flyer accordingly. With a personalized approach, you not only generate interest, but also trust in your brand and your services.

3. pay attention to size, format and resolution

Most flyers consist of just a single page that is printed on one or both sides. For online use, you have hardly any specifications when it comes to the format. We recommend the following dimensions:

• A6 (105 x 148 mm)
• A5 (148 x 210 mm)
• DIN long (99 x 210 mm)
• Square (e.g. 148 x 148 mm)
• DL (210 x 99 mm)

If you want to have your flyer printed, you are bound by the specifications of the provider or printing company. Make sure you find out before when creating your design, which dimensions are ideal.

Make absolutely sure that your photos, images and graphics have sufficient resolution to achieve a razor-sharp print result. A resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) - but 600 dpi is better - is recommended for ideal print quality.

Folded flyers (also known as leaflets or fanfolds) consist of several pages printed on both sides that are folded together. They offer more space for details. But remember: more is not necessarily better! Too much content can be overwhelming. Folded flyers or brochures are also more complex and expensive to produce.

4. be creative!

There are hardly any rules for flyers - but all the more opportunities to be creative and stand out from the crowd. For example:

• Interesting and unique photos and graphics
• Creative paper formats (e.g. round flyer, flyer with jagged edges, etc.)
• 3D elements on the flyers
• Die-cut elements
• Creative printing options (e.g. relief printing, black light printing, glitter, illuminated letters, glossy paper, etc.)
• Flyers with detachable elements (e.g. stickers or business cards)
• For flyers for online use only: loop animations, interactive elements.

But be careful: Attracting attention is good - but only if it is positive. For many people, the flyer will be the first contact with your company, your products or your brand - so take special care to make a positive impression. The investment is worth it!

5. invest in quality

An attractive flyer with high-quality printing on good paper can make the difference between a fleeting glance and a potential new customer. A high-quality flyer signals care and professionalism.

• Use high-resolution, relevant images and photos that represent your product or service well. Make sure that the images look professional and match the overall design.
• When printing, you should choose high-quality paper that looks appealing, feels good in the hand and is also durable. UV varnish or cellophane wrapping additionally protect the flyer "in the wild" from water, sunlight and dirt.

6. the rule of thirds is your best friend

The rule of thirds is a simple but effective design guideline. It divides the layout of the flyer into three vertical or horizontal sections. This creates a balanced and appealing layout that draws the viewer's eye and presents the information in a targeted manner.

Examples:

7. use the power of language

Linguistic devices that you can use effectively in your flyer are:

• Direct, active, positive language
• Prompts (call-to-actions)
• Short sentences
• Enumerations
• Strong verbs
• Rhetorical questions
• Exclamations
• Word games
• Emotional terms
• Power words
• Slogans
• Catchphrases
• Jokes/anecdotes

8. call-to-action

An effective flyer ends with a clear call-to-action. Whether you're advertising a phone number, a website, your products or an event, make sure the reader knows what to do next and where to find more information.

9. less is more

When it comes to designing flyers, it's easy to get lost in a whirlwind of colors, fonts and graphics.

But remember: less is often more. An overloaded flyer can put readers off. Focus on clear, concise messages and a simple design. A few meaningful elements can have a greater impact than a sea of details.

Use a font that is easy to read and make sure that the text is not too small. Structured paragraphs and bullet points help you to grasp the information quickly.

10. use colors selectively

Colors play a decisive role in the design of flyers. They not only influence the aesthetics, but also the perception and emotions of the viewer. Red and orange radiate dynamism and energy, while blue and green convey confidence and calm. Yellow often appears fresh and optimistic, while black appears serious and elegant.

Also think about the colors of your brand - for a consistent brand image, these can be found in your flyer.

Don't forget the correction round!

You've designed your flyers and are ready to release them into the big wide world? Hold on! Before you start ordering and printing, you need to do a thorough round of proofreading. It's best to give this task to someone else who can look at the flyer with a fresh eye and correct it.

• Content: Is all content correct, complete and positioned in the right place?
• Spelling and grammar: Is the text free of typing, spelling and grammatical errors?
• Layout and design: Is the layout appealing and are all elements well arranged?
• Image quality: Are images, photos and graphics clear and high-resolution?
• Call-to-action: Are all calls to action clearly visible?

Designing flyers: Further questions and answers

What size and format do flyers have?

There is no one size fits all for flyers. Here are some common sizes and formats:

• A6 (105 × 148 mm)
• A5 (148 × 210 mm)
• DL (99 × 210 mm)
• Square (e.g. 160 × 160 mm)

How do I find a suitable flyer template?

Flyer templates are a dime a dozen on the internet. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect template for your flyer:

• Define your goal:
  Do you want your flyer to advertise a product, announce an event or simply present your company? The clearer your goal, the easier it will be to find the right template.
• Know your audience:
  A flyer for young people should look different from one that appeals to senior citizens. The template should match the expectations and tastes of your target group both visually and in terms of content.
• Compare designs:
  From modern and minimalist to playful and colorful to classic and elegant - think about which one best suits your brand and your goal. You should also answer the question of whether it should be printed on one or both sides.
• Consider the layout elements:
  Good templates have a well thought-out layout and a logical structure. Make sure there is enough white space, well-placed text elements and a clear structure that guides the reader through the flyer.
• Pay attention to customizability:
  Make sure that the template can be easily adapted to your needs. This applies to colors, fonts, images, spacing, positioning of elements and text content.
• Quality of images and graphics:
  High-resolution and professional graphics are the be-all and end-all. Blurred or amateurish images make your flyer look unprofessional.
• Compatibility with other tools:
  Check that the template is compatible with the design tools you are using (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva) so that you can also edit it
• Reviews and recommendations:
  Take a look at the reviews and recommendations of other users. They often provide feedback on how well the template has proven itself in practice.
• Free vs. premium templates:
  Sometimes it's worth investing in a premium template. These usually offer more attractive designs and more customization options.

What does a flyer have to contain?

Here is a checklist of the essential elements your flyer should contain:

• Eye-catching headline
• Message or short description of your offer
  Contact information (address, telephone, website, etc.)
• Name of the company
• Logo
• Call-to-action
• Pictures and graphics
• QR code (optional)

What makes a great flyer?

An outstanding flyer is not just a simple piece of paper, but an effective marketing tool. These are the characteristics of a great flyer:

• Successfully implemented AIDA principle
• Attractive, positively eye-catching design
• Eye-catching headline
• Good readability
• Clear, unambiguous message
• Clear structure
• High-quality images and graphics
• Clear call to action

Which file type should I use for flyers?

For online purposes - such as social media posts or email marketing - the JPEG or PNG format are well suited, as they have smaller file sizes and can be loaded quickly. Make sure that the image resolution is at least 300 dpi so that the flyer is displayed sharply.

High-resolution formats such as PDF or TIFF are ideal for printing. They offer lossless quality and are scalable so that your flyers can be printed in razor-sharp quality. You should also use the CMYK color mode.

What do I have to pay attention to when printing the flyer?

You've created the flyer, sent it to print and - oh no, suddenly the flyer looks completely different on paper than on the screen! There are a few important points to bear in mind to ensure that the print matches the digital version:

• Print resolution:
  Graphics and images should have a sufficiently high resolution, ideally 300 dpi (dots per inch) or more, so that your flyer does not look blurry.
• Color mode:
  Use the CMYK colour mode for printing as it is specially optimized for offset printing. The RGB mode is intended for screens and may look different on paper.
• Cut and safety edges:
  Observe the specified bleed and safety margins so that important elements are not cut off.
• Choice of paper:
  Matt paper gives the flyer an elegant touch, while glossy paper makes the colors more vibrant. UV varnish and cellophane wrapping can protect the flyer from external influences, making it more durable.
• Proofing:
  Don't forget to make a test print before you put the design into mass production. This will allow you to recognize and correct errors in good time.

What tools are available for flyer design?

There are now many tools for this, some for beginners, some for advanced users. The best known are probably Canva and Adobe Express. The latter is aimed at people who have already built up a certain amount of knowledge about design, Canva is also very suitable for beginners.

By the way: Most tools can be used not only to design flyers, but also to design and create business cards or posters, for example.