Designing your own full color brochures can be intimidating when you realize how much of an impression these marketing tools can leave on a client. A brochure should enhance the professionalism and integrity of your company, convincing the client of your ability to provide them with top quality products or services. Below are ten design tips to creating a high quality brochure that promotes the excellence of your company.

1. Brochures can be used for many different purposes, but choose only one or two main purposes for a single brochure. Your purpose may be to inform the public of your business, to introduce a new aspect of your company, or present company products or services.

2. Next decide on the use of your brochure. You may want to use the brochure as a direct mail piece or a handout at a trade show or business meeting.

3. Write the content of the brochure next. Avoid long sentences, advanced vocabulary, and bulky paragraphs. Not many people desire to read a small novel about your company. Simplicity is best.

4. Use headers and sub headers to organize your text. Many people do not have time to read all of the text but will skim the bold words. Therefore, be sure the headliners convey your entire message.

5. Avoid adding images merely for their aesthetic qualities, even though this is important. Images need to support the content. Place the graphics strategically alongside text to convince readers of the validity of your message.

6. Contrasting colors capture attention more easily but be careful to not overdo the color scheme. Choose three to four colors to use throughout the brochure. Make sure the text stands out from the background and the headers pop out from the rest of the content.

7. Choose a size that fits your content well. Avoid both overcrowding and too much white space. The size should also accommodate your purpose. An 11x8.5 brochure allows for easy mailing, while a 33x11 works well when doubling the brochure as a poster.

8. Choose a paper type that will fit your purpose and quality. A heavier stock can look more professional but can crack on fold seams. If choosing a heavy stock, be sure your text or images do not cross the fold lines. Another option included in paper type is a coating. Uncoated paper can be written on but gloss gives a high quality appearance.

9. Know how you will fold your brochure as this will help in organizing the layout and promote your message. Text and images can cross fold lines for a more unique appearance, but using the fold lines for natural columns with which to align the content insures clarity.

10. Before ordering your brochures, be sure that the printing company you choose uses the full color method. Also known as four color, this technique is used by commercial printers to insure the highest quality color and images in your printed products.

The most successful brochures were procured through trial and error, which unfortunately takes time and testing. Hopefully, though, these tips will give you a good place to start in designing full color brochures that stand out and produce results.