Making the best print ads: A guide for eye-catching and clever print advertising materials

When was the last time you thought about print advertising? You know, those advertisements in newspapers, brochures, magazines, and billboards.

Sure, you might think print advertising is a bit old-fashioned, but it’s still around and thriving for a reason.

Print ads have been working for ages, and they’re still super effective at getting your message out there.

At Deer Designer, we specialize in creating eye-catching print ads that grab attention and resonate with your audience.

In this post, I’ll share some tips on how to create fantastic print materials like brochures and flyers that will “wow your audience” and make your clients’ marketing campaigns stand out.

How are print ads relevant in the digital world?

Even though most things are digital nowadays, print ads are still a great way to grab people’s attention.

There’s something special about holding a physical brochure in your hands or seeing a massive billboard in person.

Digital ads just can’t match.

Instead of trying to compete with thousands of brands in the same niche online, you can use print ads to establish authority in your field.

It gives people the impression that you spent money to design and print this ad campaign, so you must be a professional in your field, and you definitely know what you are talking about.

However, not all print ads are made the same.

It’s important to think about what will catch people’s attention to make your ad stand out from the multiple flyers, magazine ads, and even signs they would walk past every day.

There’s even a chance for a cleverly made print ad to go viral online.

Some ads are so witty and attractive that they make people want to not only pay attention but also take a photo and share it with their friends and family online.

This can be an extra boost to your marketing strategy, both for print and digital.

Consider the tagline of your print campaign

Your tagline can make or break your print ad.

The wittier and more creative taglines not only attract attention but also help your ad become more memorable.

After all, you’re more likely to remember a phrase like “I’m lovin’ it” compared to an entire paragraph narrating McDonald’s brand story.

With print ads, you also don’t have a lot of space to work with.

Even if you’re printing a billboard, you can’t just cram the entire space with text and expect people in traffic to pause and pay attention to read it.

This is why it’s important to keep your message clear and concise.

Instead of cramming in lots of text, focus on using impactful images paired with a simple yet informative tagline.

Focus on highlighting the benefits of your product or service and include a clear call to action or CTA.

Pick the right format for your print advertisement

There are different types of print ads, from brochures to posters to flyers.

Choose the format that makes the most sense for your message and audience.

You want something that will be convenient for your audience to see or receive but will also showcase your promotion the best.

For example, if you’re promoting a new collection of products, a brochure might be the perfect way to showcase all of them and their features.

You also have to pay attention to the visuals of your ad like image quality, color choices, and font sizes.

Your ad should look polished and professional, so people will take it seriously.

Otherwise, people might think it’s a waste of time and throw your brochure out.

Know your audience and what would make them look twice

To create a print ad that really resonates with your audience, you need to understand who they are and what they care about.

Once you know who your audience is, tailor your message and visuals to speak to them directly.

For example, an ad for a LEGO set would use simple language and colorful visuals to appeal to kids and parents alike.

This print ad may come as a poster display or a flyer handed out near the toy store.

This way, you can target the families passing by the store and make it extra appealing and convenient for them to make the purchase.

Examples of creative print ads and how you can create them

The best print ads are the ones that surprise and delight people.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try something different.

Check out these iconic and creative ads that undoubtedly turned the heads of anyone nearby:

Do you see what they have in common?

They all offered an unexpected experience.

These ads take inspiration from things we see on a daily basis, like a Google Calendar schedule or an iPhone, and add a unique twist.

It makes people stop and think about what you are trying to communicate.

With the right balance of creative design and communicating your brand’s message, you can create a print ad that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.

What makes for a successful print advert?

Unlike online ads, where you can track real-time results like clicks and engagement, you can’t do that with print advertising.

Once your print ad is out in the world, there is no concrete way to figure out how effective it was and if it even worked.

You will have to pay attention to how people are responding to the ad.

Are you getting inquiries and compliments when you hand out brochures and flyers?

Are you getting calls or messages on the numbers or emails you included in your ad?

Are you getting more leads and sales compared to usual?

Are people posting about your ad online?

These will help you understand whether your ads are working or not.

You can ask your audience what they thought of your ad or if they even saw it, either through personal inquiries, physical surveys, or polls online.

Their feedback can help you fine-tune your print ads for future campaigns.

The best practices for print advertising

Print ads may be old-fashioned, but they’re still a powerful way to get your message out there.

By following these tips and unleashing your creativity, you too can create clever print ads that attract the attention of your target audience!

Creating print ads is made even easier with our on-demand design team at Deer Designer. Simply request your designs, and we can make sure your print ads reflect your brand best.

So go ahead, get creative, and make some awesome print ads that will wow your audience and help your clients’ marketing campaigns succeed.

Key takeaways

• Even with the rise of digital marketing and everything being online nowadays, print advertising is still effective and can help you establish your expertise. It’s all about creating high-quality and targeted ads.
• As you don’t have much space or attention span for print ads, it is best to keep your messaging short. Go for something witty and memorable that sums up your ad message.
• The format of your advertisement matters, as it has to be accessible to your target and still showcase the benefits of your product or service.
• Creating effective print ads comes down to knowing your audience, their interests and routines, and what would make them look twice.
• Creative and impactful print ads often create a unique and unexpected experience out of something we see daily.
• Unlike digital content, you can’t see real-time results for your print ads, but there are still ways for you to track their performance.