If you’re a small business owner and recently opened shop or an online store, or perhaps you’ve been a steady business for some time but wish to announce a special event or sale, then there are many reasons why you shouldn’t forget about flyers.

Every business is so focused on online marketing and modern methods, that older offline approaches like flyers might seem dated. But this is definitely not the case, as flyers definitely still have a place in every small business’s marketing budget. In general, flyers exist to make people aware of something, and often when your time is limited and you need to address many people at once, then it’s hard to go past a piece of paper with information. Facebook events are, of course, very useful to capture the attention of thousands of people online, but for those who don’t have the social media platform, then you’re missing out on a lot of potential exposure.

So, why should you consider using flyers for your small business? Let’s find out.

Many different ways of reaching an audience

Although many associate flyers with someone handing them out on the street, it’s not the only method. Classic ways like door-to-door post dropping are still efficient, plus, you could also ask non-rival stores if you could leave some flyers in their building (for example, leave them in a coffee shop if you’re a clothing store). You could also hire entertainers to make a scene close to your store, then you can hand out the flyers while passers-by have their attention in that area.

Something tangible in someone’s hands

Many people like a physical item so that they can actually remember your advertisement. On a daily basis, we see all sorts of advertisements: on the train, on YouTube, on TV, on billboards, on social media, and on posters. However, many of these are either fleeting or obtrusive (it’s sometimes agonizing to wait five seconds for a YouTube advert) and we often can’t discern them or even register what they were about. With a flyer, someone is literally carrying your marketing with them. Sure, they might not read it right away, but at some point they’ll see it and take notice of your advert. What happens next is their choice, but you’ve done the main part of at least getting their undivided attention.

The thing is… you’ve got to make the flyer visually attractive and easy to read, otherwise you run the risk of someone just being confused or uninterested. Your best course of action is to visit a place that specializes in flyer printing, and have them help you with the design. There’s a lot of things to consider, like colour, paper type, single-sided or double-sided, glossy or matte, etc., so having someone who knows what they’re doing is invaluable.

Provide some incentives

Many flyers these days contain some sort of coupon code for online shopping or simply act as a voucher themselves (it’s common to present the shop with the flyer and receive ten per cent). This way, you’ve given someone a reason to take the flyer and use it to receive some money off. And hey, if they’re happy with your business, then there’s every hope you’ll turn them into a regular customer. As a business owner, you’re also quickly able to see how profitable your flyer marketing has been.

Conclusion

Flyers should simply be a part of your overall marketing. They are usually best to use when you have a special event, but are especially helpful if you’re a brand new business and require all the attention you can get. Spread the flyers around in the different ways discussed (door-to-door, on the street, left in other shops) and create something that is easily legible, eye-catching, and ideally, gives the reader a concrete reason to check out your business (like a coupon or voucher).