In the ever increasing digital world, we’re constantly asked whether print is still relevant. The answer is a definitive YES! A booklet on someone’s desk is always more likely to be picked up and browsed. An email can easily be diverted into the spam folder or deleted.
As communication becomes more inhuman, physical printed products actually add a personal touch. They’re becoming again the secret weapon in marketing for grabbing and holding your target audience’s attention.
So how can we make our booklet printing stand out? How can you differentiate yourself from other schools? Here are some tips on how to make your booklets look beautiful.
1. Choose a Captivating Cover Page
Whether you are printing a booklet, magazine or annual report, a captivating cover page is the crucial first step in getting your customer’s attention. This is the first thing that they are going to see so make it count.
You want them to be intrigued enough to open up your booklet and read more. Essential for any cover page is great design and a clear message. Clever design and making use of our full colour printing will make your cover stand out and draw your customers in.
2. Get the Design Right At The Beginning
A bad design will ruin any booklet printing project before it’s even begun. A poorly designed booklet will turn away customers and make your school look unprofessional with low standards. Not the message we want to be conveying!
If you’re not sure about the design, it’s always safer to bring in an experienced professional You don’t want the fantastic achievements of your school to be overshadowed by something that can be easily rectified at the start.
3. Decide on the Right Binding
Getting the right binding for your booklet is another aspect of making sure it looks and feels professional. The type of binding will depend on how many pages your booklet has and how the booklet has been designed, so check with your graphic designer before sending to print.
There are two main types of binding: perfect binding and saddle-stitch. Perfect binding is where the pages are bound together by an adhesive along the spine, which gives it a smooth finish. Stitches are used along the spine in saddle-stitching and is better suited for booklets with 48 pages or less.
4. Use Engaging Images
Image quality can be different from what you see on your computer and how it prints. It’s really important to make sure that all images have a resolution of 300dpi. If you’re not sure whether they are, the team at Shelley’s would be happy to tell you.
When choosing your images, don’t be tempted to use generic stock images. You want to tell the story of your school and there’s no better way of doing that then using actual pictures taken of your students, their activities and their classrooms.
5. Choose the Right Quality of Paper
As your customer flicks through the pages of your booklet, what do you want them to feel? The paper you choose should reflect your level of quality and if you choose a basic paper that feels rough, it can leave a bad impression on the reader.
There are many different varieties of paper weights and styles in silk, matt and gloss. The right choice of paper will really add value to how your booklet looks and feels. You can also go that step further by adding a different type of paper for your cover.
6. Be Creative with Your Content
Even the best designed booklet won’t be doing its job properly if no-one wants to read the copy inside. Before you begin, think about what you want to say and how you want your customers to feel when they read it. Evoke emotion in them so they want to take action.
Make sure to use headings to organise your information clearly so the reader isn’t confused. Your writing should be clear, easy to read and have a flow in mind. And most importantly, include your call to actions! Remember to display contact information so customers can contact you.
7. Collaborate with Reliable, Quality Printers
Design and print go hand in hand, so don’t overlook who your printers are when it comes to your booklet printing project. Go with a printer who is heavily invested in digital print. This will ensure that you get the best quality, with quick turnarounds and competitive pricing.
Work with a printer who has design with print in mind.
Looking for help with your brochure? Here at Shelley’s, we’ve been education print specialists since 1986 and work with many independent schools including Sherborne School, King’s College Taunton and Gryphon School.
Get in touch to see how we can help with design, print, finish and mailing of your brochures.