Wondering how to make a flyer? This guide explains the whole process in four easy steps, with 10 designer-made templates to help you get started.
Whether you’re promoting a grassroots movement or want to bring more shoppers in the door, you can’t go wrong with flyers. Sure, flyers may not be the shiniest new thing on the block, but there’s a reason this tried-and-true marketing tool continues to dominate!
Flyers are a fantastic way to promote events, sales, or simply spread a message. But, where do you start if you don’t have design experience? Let’s explore how to create a flyer online using a free, beginner-friendly tool like Shutterstock Create.
We’ll walk through the process step-by-step with a simple example.
To help you create a professional-looking flyer without a pro design background, this guide has you covered:
Planning Your Flyer Design
A quick reminder before you try to make a flyer, it’s essential to plan strategically.
Here are some key flyer design principles to consider:
1. Define Your Objectives
Clearly outline the purpose of your flyer and what you aim to achieve with it.
- Who is the target audience?
- How will you distribute this flyer?
- What is the single most important message on the entire flyer?
- In an ideal world, what would someone do as a result of seeing this flyer?
- What emotions do you want to evoke with this flyer?
- What questions might a viewer or recipient have?
2. Know Your Audience
Understand who your target audience is and what will resonate with them.
3. Craft Your Message
Develop a clear and compelling message that aligns with your objectives and appeals to your audience.
Use the answers you just developed to build out your list of flyer essentials. These will vary from flyer to flyer, but most designs should contain the following elements:
Some flyers will have tons of text, and some will have very little. It all boils down to what you have to say and how you want viewers to feel.
4. Consider Distribution
Think about how and where you’ll distribute your flyer to reach your target audience effectively. Will this be for print? For social media? Or both?
By planning your flyer design carefully, you’ll set yourself up for success and ensure that your flyer effectively communicates your message to your audience.
How to Make a Flyer Step-by-Step
When it comes to designing a flyer, there are plenty of tools at your disposal. Shutterstock Create offers a free, user-friendly tool that allows you to create, customize, and download flyers effortlessly.
While other tools like Microsoft Word and Google Docs can also be used for simple flyers, we’ll be utilizing Shutterstock’s tool for this example to provide you with a comprehensive walk-through of the entire process.
1. Start with a Template
Begin your flyer design journey by leveraging the convenience and professionalism of pre-made flyer templates. Most online design tools offer a diverse library of flyer templates to choose from, allowing you to kick-start your project with ease.
In Shutterstock’s Create tool, simply navigate to the “Templates” section located in the bottom-left corner. Browse through the collection until you find a template that resonates with your event or message.
Alternatively, if you prefer to start with a blank canvas and let your imagination run wild, you can always opt to begin with a blank page and build your flyer from scratch.
Swap out the circular photo for one of you or a loved one, swap background colors, add graphics, and done!
If the blank page inspires rather than terrifies you, start with a blank canvas instead. Simply open up Create and get crafting!
The blank canvas will be your default setting. Or, if you’re in the tool and starting over, click File > Create new > Blank Canvas.
2. Place the Essentials
Once you’ve selected a template, it’s easy to customize it to suit your needs. Simply swap out the placeholder photo with an image of your choice, update the text to reflect your event details, and you’re ready to go!
Feel free to further customize the template to match your desired vibe or theme.
With Shutterstock Create, you can easily:
- Add or edit text boxes for your header, paragraph text, and supporting details.
- Replace template images with your own photos or choose from millions of stock assets.
- Upload your logo and other brand elements.
- Adjust the font size to optimize readability.
- Upload a QR code for easy access to your website or social media platforms.
Whether you started with a blank canvas or a ready-made template, the next step is to add your must-have content—you know, all the stuff you brainstormed earlier.
3. Personalize to Perfection
Here is where you can take things to the next level.
With all your content placed on the page, it’s time to perfect it. This is where using a more advanced tool—like the one offered by Shutterstock—pays off. It’s the easiest way to recreate a design you love, or to create something totally new.
Here are a few pro tips for creating a flyer with Shutterstock’s Create tool:
- Remove the background of photos and layer them with text for a pro-designer feel.
- Replace the colors of images so that any picture complements any vibe.
- Experiment with cool font pairings to strike the right tone.
- Try out different color palettes using color science to guide your choices.
- Use a pencil, paintbrush, or spray paint to draw directly on any photo.
- Add easy Photoshop-esque photo effects, like blurring or bokeh.
4. Export Your Masterpiece
To get your flyer out in the world, simply download the file as a PDF, JPG, or PNG.
Here are some tips for choosing the right format based on where you’ll be sharing your flyer:
- Digital: For online distribution, choose any of the three web-friendly file types—JPG, PNG, or PDF.
- Print: For home printing, PNG or JPG will work nicely. For professional printing, PDF is the best option.
Note for printing: If your flyer design extends all the way to the edge, be sure to turn on bleed by going to File > Settings > Show bleed marks. Make sure to toggle the tab to “on” and then fill the newly-expanded area to avoid unexpected white margins when you print.
That’s it! Your flyer is now ready for posting, hanging, passing out, stacking, and generally spreading the word. Or for Instagram, Facebook, etc. You know the drill.
10 Outstanding Flyer Templates with Very Different Vibes
Still wondering how to make a flyer that achieves the right look and feel? See how different elements come together in the ten flyer templates below.
1. High-End Elegance
2. Glitz & Glamour
3. Minimalist and Hip
4. Project Timelines
5. Awe-Inspiring
6. Active and Cool
7. Lightly Cyberpunk
This flyer template rocks a squarish font and light neon glow for a cyberpunky look—perfect for print or social media.
8. Party Time = Party Colors
9. Vibrant and Fun
10. Instagram Worthy
Flyer Design FAQs
1. What Are the Standard Flyer Sizes?
The most popular size for print flyers is the size of a standard piece of computer paper:
- 8.5” x 11” in the United States (aka U.S. letter size)
- A4 internationally (210 x 297 mm)
Other popular flyer dimensions include:
- Rack cards: 4” x 9” (roughly 102mm x 229mm)
- Half sheets: 5.5” x 8.5” (roughly A5, or 148mm x 210mm)
- Large format: 11” x 17” (roughly A3, or 297mm x 420mm)
If you’re planning to share your flyer online (Facebook announcement, anyone?), then any size works.
Definitely! You can upload a digital file to your website, send it by email, or post it to social media.
3. What Are the Best Tools for Creating a Free Flyer?
The best tools for creating a free flyer include online platforms like Canva, Adobe Spark, and Shutterstock Create, offering user-friendly interfaces and a variety of customizable templates.
Compared to platforms like Google Docs, these tools provide a range of design options and resources, allowing users to easily create professional-looking flyers without the need for extensive design experience.
4. What Are the Key Elements of Flyer Design?
Here are a few quick rules of thumb:
5. What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid in Flyer Design?
Common mistakes to avoid in flyer design include overcrowding the layout with excessive text or images, neglecting to proofread for errors, using poor-quality images or graphics, and failing to consider the target audience’s preferences and needs.
Additionally, overlooking the importance of visual hierarchy, readability, and brand consistency can detract from the effectiveness of the flyer design.
Just follow the creative process outlined above, and you’ll know how to make a flyer in no time. The only question left will be what to make next.
License this cover image via howcolour.
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