How to Make a Brochure on Earthquakes

Informational brochures are an important aspect of the educational process. If you work for an organization that deals in emergency preparedness or live in an area that you feel needs more knowledge about earthquakes, this article will help you create a dynamic, information-packed brochure to educate your readers.

Instructions

1. Learn all there is to know about earthquakes. The first step in creating a dynamic brochure on earthquakes is to become an expert on the subject. Do your research. Discover general facts you can incorporate into your brochure such as earthquake epicenters, how earthquakes have increased over the years, number of earthquakes in your region, statistics on deaths and injuries and related destruction.

2. Create a basic brochure outline. Decide on the topics you want to cover. Examples of topics that can be turned into headlines within your brochure might include: Earthquake facts, how to prepare for an earthquake, how to survive an earthquake, earthquake insurance and any specifics related to your organization that might relate to how you can help, etc.

3. Find appropriate photos and graphics. A good earthquake brochure will include a balance of information and graphics/photos. Charts and lists are always a good choice. Anything that helps illustrate your content will help create a more interesting and dynamic brochure. Choose colorful photos that tell a story. Build your content around great photos and illustrations.

4. Decide on brochure size. Decide whether your earthquake brochure will be a tri-fold or larger. Your budget will determine the size of the brochure and whether it will be full-color or a one- or two-color brochure. When possible, use more photos and graphs than text. The more you can show rather than tell, the better.

5. Write your brochure. Use action verbs and descriptive language. Provide a good balance of facts with fascinating stories and antidotes. Use short sentences, bullet points and space between paragraphs. If your brochure is to provide information only, make sure it is easy to read and understand. If your brochure is persuasive in nature and prompts your readers to take action, build around strong, declarative facts that persuade and convince. Proofread your brochure carefully before sending it to print.

6. Print and distribute. Have your brochure professionally printed and distribute it to the appropriate audiences. If you have a website, create a PDF version of the brochure for people to download and for your organization to email when appropriate.