How to Create a Product Brochure

Use a product brochure to differentiate your product from similar items.

A good way to get the word out about your product is to create an informative brochure. This enables your audience to have all the important information about the product in a quick and easy format. However, if you sell more than one product, professionally preparing a brochure for each one can get costly. Fortunately, you can achieve professional results by using your own computer.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Office or graphics software
• Color printer
• High quality paper
• Product images
• Promotional/informative text

Instructions

Setting Up

1. 

   You'll need some knowledge of formatting in the software of your choice.

   Begin creating your tri-fold brochure by opening a new document in a word-processing application of your choice. Use standard document size unless you are using specially-sized paper.

2. Set the orientation of the page to landscape mode. If you are using standard paper sizes in the U.S., this will create a document that is 11 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches tall. This first page will be the outer side of your tri-fold brochure.

3. 

   Equal columns are required to position your elements correctly.

   Create three columns of equal width. It is generally not a good idea to have these columns automatically bordered, but the software should give you some indication of where the page would be divided should it be split into three equal sections. Microsoft Word or similar applications will usually build in a gray area of margin between the columns while graphics programs typically require you to place guidelines in the appropriate places and factor in your own margins per column.

4. Add a second page. Format this second page the same way as the first. This page will be the inside of your brochure.

Design the Exterior

1. 

   Provide a clear image of your product and label.

   Create the title page. The title page of your brochure will be the far right column on the first page. This page should include the name of your product and an interesting image of the product that clearly shows the label. Include your company logo and name.

2. 

   Use the back page to showcase a product line or call for action.

   Create the back page. The center column of the first page in your document will end up being the back page of your brochure. Brochure Monster points out that "magazine editors often include a piece at the back of the issue called the 'second lead'" while catalog designers use the back page to feature new products or showcase major products. You can use this page to feature related products or make a final call for action.

3. 

   Provide your audience with reasons to buy your product.

   Create the inside flap. The inside flap is the page that you see when you open the title page. Some general guidelines for this page are to keep it simple and to answer your audience's question as to why your product is important to them. John Kuraoka, professional brochure creator and owner of the website Profitable Copy provides some additional tips that you should keep in mind while creating your copy.

Design the Interior

1. 

   Don't be afraid to use the inside in a creative, expressive way.

   Experiment with your layout. Although you established three vertical columns, you don't have to stick with this layout when designing the interior portion of your brochure. PS Print suggests that you "try spreading your design across two panels, and listing features, benefits, testimonials or other important information on the last panel. ... if you want to stand out, take advantage of the entire layout space to craft truly creative and compelling designs that funnel readers' eyes to your call to action."

2. 

   Use your material to target your audience's needs and provide solutions.

   Target your audience through your presentation. Rather than just listing what your product does, communicate to your audience why it does this better than other products and why they need your product immediately. Make this pitch this clearly and succinctly through both text and images.

3. 

   Arrange your elements so that your reader's eye goes where you want.

   Edit your design for flow. Flow is the concept that design--including text and graphics--contributes to the way in which the reader's eye is led from one part of your brochure to the next. Doug Kipperman and Deb Linder, who provide graphic design advice on the website Graphic Design Basics, offer some excellent tips on what factors should be considered. According to their website, "An inviting, well organized, stimulating, and contextually-sound visual presentation helps give meaning and substance to materials."

Finish the Brochure

1. 

   Print the first page normally.

   Print your brochure. If you are printing on your home or office printer, make sure you have full ink levels before starting. If you have a double-sided printing option, use that to create a double-sided page with Page 1 on one side and Page 2 on the other. Otherwise, print as many copies of the first page as you desire.

2. Print the second page. You may need to do some experimenting to figure out how to get the second page to print on the back of the first page with correct top-to-bottom orientation. Once you do, insert the copies of the first page into your printer so that the second page will print correctly on the reverse side of the first page.

3. 

   Fold your paper the same way you would fold a business letter.

   Fold your brochure. Fold the short side of the paper up over the interior content leaving 1/3 of the page uncovered and crease firmly. Then fold this upper portion down so that the edge of the paper meets with the fold you just made and crease firmly. Remember to leave the title page on top so that your product information and image are what your audience first sees.

Tips & Warnings

• To make folding easier, you may want to look for what's called a bone tool, sold in most hobby shops. Easy to hold in your hand with blunted edges and point, this tool helps make tight creases without any risk to your skin.

• Most home and office printers use ink that requires some time to dry before it is handled. Be sure to allow this time to avoid smudged images and text in brochure.

• To avoid ink bleeding problems, only use color on one side of the paper or severely limit the amount of color used on the other side.

References

• "Brochure Monster": Appealing Catalog Design
• "Profitable Copy": Brochure Copywriting Tips
• "PS Print": Creating Professional Tri-Fold Brochures
• "Graphic Design Basics": Rules of Thumb