Making brochures and bulletins

Brochures are:

• usually folded leaflets with an advertising or promotional message.

Bulletins are:

• often newsletters issued by an organization or institution
• distributed to a lay audience
• mostly presented in a slightly more technical style.

Think about the following when developing your brochure or bulletin:

The Basics! Write down:

• who your audience is.
• what your audience’s needs are.
• what you hope to accomplish.
• why you expect this audience to be interested in your message.
• how you hope your audience will respond to your message. (e.g. seek info, change a practice)

Getting Started:

• Develop an outline for your brochure or bulletin.
• Write down the way to begin and to end.
• Divide the material into manageable sections.
• Identify visual aids.
• Get feedback from representatives of all relevant target groups.

Writing and making the brochure or bulletin:

• Be clear and concise - Write simply and directly!
• Be convincing - Write persuasively!
• Be compelling - Grip your audience!
• Use photos that support the text to catch the eye and to inform your audience immediately.
• Choose letter fonts (e.g. Arial) and images that are clear, big enough and of good color and contrast.
• Do not use all capital letters unless it is for 1- or 2-word headings.
• Materials in color are more appealing but make sure that a black and white photocopied version is also clear and legible in case people start copying the original.
• A tri-fold format is suggested for brochures.