Youth Venture

Flyers are a good way to get the word out about your organization or to advertise an upcoming event. Below are suggestions and tips about what to include in a flyer, ways you can create a flyer, and where to distribute your flyer.

1) Content Ideas: What is your flyer going to say?

Think about what message you want to communicate. What is the goal of the flyer? What do you want a viewer to learn from reading your flyer?

• Catch their attention: Start with a catchy title or phrase that grabs people’s attention.
• Keep their attention: Keep it interesting, informative, easy to read, and concise.
• Encourage action: Request the reader’s response or involvement. If you are inviting the reader to a specific meeting or event, you can include a meeting date, time, place, and maybe a small incentive to come (like a chance to meet your neighbors and enjoy free refreshments!).
• Keep them connected: Include contact information for people who are interested in participating or want more information.

2) Design and Layout Ideas: How is your flyer going to look?

When creating a flyer, it’s important to make sure it’s clear and readable. What information do you want the viewer to see first? What size will your flyer be? Try looking on the Internet or at books at the library for design, color, and layout ideas.

Size: What is the best size for your flyer?

• Small handouts are a ½ page or smaller with basic information. This type of flyer is more suitable for mass distribution at community events
• Display flyers are a page long with more detail and are suitable for posting on community bulletin boards or for mailing. You may want to repeat contact/event information for people to tear off and take with them.

Method: How are you going to create your flyer?

• By hand: You can create your own flyer by hand by simply using pens and/or markers. Grab the reader’s attention by drawing pictures, logos, and designs. Feel free to be creative! It’s a good idea to test your design before finishing to make sure it will copy clearly.
• Using a computer program: Some computer programs have flyer templates that can make your job easier. For example, in Microsoft Publisher you can use the flyer templates by going to File => New => Flyer templates. In Microsoft Word you can use the Drawing Toolbar to create shapes, WordArt, and to insert pictures. Right click on the top toolbar and check “Drawing” to make the drawing toolbar appear.

Tip: There are websites and books that provide instructions for page layout, graphic design, and/or desktop publishing. You can start with a simple search of these terms on the Internet or your local library catalog. For example, www.about.com has a section called How To Do Desktop Publishing.

3) Distribution Ideas: Where and when are you going to distribute your flyer?

You won’t likely be able to put your flyers on every bulletin board across town. What locations are top priority?

• Who: Think about the people you want to reach. Where do they live, shop, work, and spend their free time? Where are they most likely to see your flyer? What community events do they go to (i.e. sporting events, parades, fairs, meetings)?
• Where: It’s often best to decide where you are going before you start. It’s a good idea to check with the owner or an employee before posting your flyer to ensure your flyer will not be taken down. They may let you leave a pile of handouts, too. For safety and efficiency reasons, it’s good to always distribute flyers in pairs or groups.
• How: For printed flyers you can make copies at copy centers like Staples or Kinko’s, or at the local library. After thinking about where you are going to post your flyers, you can better estimate how many flyers you will need and avoid printing too many. You can also mail and e-mail copies of your flyer to partner organizations or supporters and ask them to post the flyer at their establishment.
• When: How far in advance do you want to distribute your flyers? How much time will people have to see your flyer and put it in on their calendar?

More YV Tip Sheets:

• Accessing a Computer and the Internet

See sample flyer templates below in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher.

© Youth Venture, 2007. All rights reserved.