What if your message could fit in someone’s hand and still make a lasting impression? That’s how a well-designed brochure works. It’s compact and yet functions as a visual pitch for your marketing.
But how do you make a brochure that stands out with its design and clear messaging?
To solve this query, we’ve curated 7 easy steps to create one.
7 Steps on How to Make a Brochure
- Identify the Purpose of your Brochure
- Choose a Brochure Format
- Prepare a Rough Draft
- Pick Design Tools
- Select Visual Elements
- Review and Edit
- Print and Share
1. Identify the Purpose of your Brochure
Every great brochure starts with a clear purpose. So, before you ask how can I make a brochure, you need to ask what the brochure is meant to do. Is it for inviting people, introducing a new service, or simplifying a process?
This step will help define your audience, content, design, and tone of the brochure. For example, if you create a brochure for an art workshop, your target audience will be art enthusiasts. You can use this information to curate a beautiful theme, choose vibrant visuals, and inspiring language that resonates with their passion for art.
2. Choose a Brochure Format
Before diving into design, it’s essential to choose the right brochure format. Some of the most common types of brochures are bifold, trifold, z-fold, and gate-fold. These strike a balance between functionality, cost-efficiency, and readability.
For instance, a bi-fold can be folded once to create four layers. It is clean, functional, and ideal for corporate use such as product overviews, introductions, and promotions. Whereas a tri-fold brochure gives you more space and can work well for events, menus, and service highlights.
Along with the commonly used layouts, brochures also come in other formats. The image below highlights some of these options.
Source: Pinterest
But, what about the size?
The size of the brochure depends on the mode of distribution.
If you’re sharing it in print, you have to adjust the size to meet printing specifications. You’ve got to consider these three essential markups- bleed, trim, and crop zones. But if it’s for online purposes, you don’t have to fix the sizes and margins. However, while uploading, you need to adjust the dimensions recommended by different social media platforms.
3. Prepare a Rough Draft
Next, you have to draft the format of the content.
Think of how you can narrate the introduction, purpose, and conclusion to your target audience.
Start by dividing your brochure into different sections and assigning each panel a specific set of information. For example, you can include a title, a tagline, and a logo on the front panel and explain the product or service in the inside panels. The other information, like contact details and social media links, can be shown on the back panel.
Here’s an example from our portfolio:
The type of brochure you select determines how much information to include. For example, a bi-fold brochure keeps content focused and to the point, while a trifold or double gate fold allows room for additional details.
4. Pick Design Tools
Your brochure is only as good as the tools you use to create it. That’s why we’ve sorted the best options based on skill level. Explore each of these to find your perfect match:
a) Beginner-Friendly Tools
These are perfect for quick, clean brochures without a steep learning curve.
It is a go-to platform for beginners. But how to make a brochure on Canva?
Start by browsing their template library. If you find something that fits your vision, start customizing by adding your text, images, and colors. You can also create a design from scratch using their intuitive drag-and-drop interface and features such as extensive assets and easy export options.
You can also make a basic brochure using Google Docs, especially for text-heavy material, and to collaborate with others in real time.
And how to make a brochure on Google Docs?
Your first option is to create one by formatting the page using table options. And the second is to explore the already existing templates available on the Template Gallery at the top of the home page. It also offers basic options like inserting an image, adjusting the margin, drawing tools, text styling, and export options (PDF, DOCX, EPUB).
b) Professionally Advanced Tools
These are made for experienced users who need full creative control.
Adobe InDesign is an industry-standard software for designing print-ready materials. It offers robust tools for custom layouts, grid systems, typography control, and prepress preparation.
Illustrator is ideal if your brochure includes vector graphics, detailed illustrations, or creative typography. While it’s more design-intensive, it offers precision and flexibility unmatched by simpler tools.
Affinity Publisher is a great alternative to Adobe products. It offers powerful layout and design features without a subscription model. It’s compatible with both Mac and Windows and integrates seamlessly with Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer.
c) Tools for All
This is where you’ll find the perfect balance between ease of use and advanced features.
Marq is a web-based design tool that works well for both beginners and professionals. It offers drag-and-drop design, brand control features, and easy sharing options. You also don’t need to install software, since this is a cloud-based platform.
Or
Do you prefer a more hands-free approach? We can design brochures that perfectly deliver your message while reinforcing your brand identity. Just sign up and get your first draft back within 24 hours.
5. Select Visual Elements
If your brand has established brand guidelines, you should use them to ensure consistency throughout the brochure. However, you can adjust a few elements to create a brochure for a specific purpose, theme, or event.
Colors
You can pick colors that are consistent with the topic or theme and the mode of sharing. For instance, use dark muted colors to set a professional tone in corporate events, and bright colors to create a lively vibe in menus or promotional brochures.
Here’s another example from our portfolio:
Also, remember to use CMYK color for offline mode and RGB color for online mode. You can take the help of tools like Coolors or Adobe Colors for color alignment.
Fonts
In the same way, you can experiment with a few fonts that complement your brand personality and the brochure’s purpose. Just make sure to choose clear, readable fonts for body text and more expressive styles for headings or highlights to create visual interest.
Icons
You can recreate your navigation by adding a theme-specific icon. For instance, if you’re making a brochure for a winter product launch, you can use a snowman or ice crystals. Similarly, when planning for a Halloween-themed event, you can use spooky images and icons to make it relatable.
6. Review and Edit
Before finalizing your brochure, you must review and edit (if required) your content, images, and the key print details.
For example, you need to ensure that the sentences flow naturally from one section to another by reading them aloud. You can verify grammar, spelling & punctuation with tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor.
Next, assess your images and visual aspects. You need to ensure that it adds value to the written part. You also need to avoid using blurry and generic images to maintain your brand’s credibility.
7. Print and Share
Your brochure is finally ready! Now you need to choose a reputable printer and the appropriate paper type. For example, glossy papers are great for brochures featuring high-impact visuals, while matte quality is more suitable for text-heavy brochures. It’s best to discuss these options and your goals with your local printer.
If you’re planning to share it online, export your brochure as a high-resolution PDF. This will preserve the clarity of text and images across different devices and screen sizes.
Summing up: How to Make a Brochure Online?
Creating an effective brochure involves many steps, from picking the perfect style to adding eye-catching visuals. The tips we discussed in this article will definitely help you learn how to make a brochure.
But if you need professional help or want to save time, just sign up for our unlimited graphic design services. We’ll deliver high-quality, custom brochures within 24 hours. No hassle, no generic templates- just unique designs made for you!
