When you need a poster for a trade show or a sales presentation, the first thing you should do is plan it. Plan everything from the main idea of the poster to the color palette before touching the poster board. Poster printing can be expensive, and you do not want to waste your money reprinting because of mistakes or because you didn't think the layout through.

To help you plan your poster, keep this article close by. It will help you make sure you have all the pieces you need to plan your poster, and tips on how to create a winning poster.

First, decide on your main point for your poster. What do you want the poster to convey to readers? If you have three different topics featured on the same poster, people will get lost and will not continue to read it. If you need to talk about three different topics, consider creating three different posters. That way each is focused on a main point and it'll be easier to understand the info on each.

Next, sketch out the layout of your poster on a piece of notebook paper. It is not time to get to the real drawing board just yet! Sketch out several layouts with photos and text sections in different spots on the poster. Show these sketches to other people to get their opinion on which layout makes the most logical sense. Your poster should include some headlines to point people in the right direction as to what to read next. You should at least include a Title for your poster, and also have an Introduction and Conclusion section. You may also want to include sections for The Problem, Method, Results and Recommendations. Of course, tailor your poster to your topic, but be sure that it is clear what is to be read next.

Your layout should also include how your info will flow. Will the reader need to read straight across rows of info, or up and down columns of info? You might want to include a numbering system to make it easy for readers to tell what to look at next.

You should also decide on what photos or images your poster needs, if any.

Decide on a color palette and font choices. Do not go overboard with the color scheme – two colors will be sufficient for a great-looking poster. If you have too many colors on your poster, it will look busy and may be hard to read. Keep in mind that it is easier to read darker text on a lighter background rather than the other way around. When choosing a font, be sure it is easy to read from a distance, at least for the headlines, and that it's easy to read close up too. The Curlz font is not a good choice for smaller text because it is hard to differentiate between letters unless you are right in front of the font. Also, do not use all capital letters unless it's for short headlines. All capitals are harder to read than caps with lowercase letters.

These are the basics of what you need to plan for your poster. With a plan in place you can easily switch out photos or move things around if more or less info is needed. With a plan in place, you have a much higher chance of creating a stellar poster that will be sure to help you land that sale!