Last updated on March 13th, 2023 at 04:05 pm
We all know that feeling of seeing a travel brochure — covered with photos of fantastic places and new experiences — and suddenly being struck with wanderlust. Nothing is more compelling or inspiring than a well-designed travel brochure, full of captivating photos and promises of adventure. And with the right marketing tactics and design, that wanderlust can be consuming enough to spur action.
If you’re in the travel industry or located in a tourist hot spot, a travel brochure is an effective and affordable way of promoting your business. Available in all sizes and shapes, these marketing tools can be used in your local area, as well as farther from home. If a tourist is visiting your area, they’re looking for things to do. If you’re hoping to bring visitors from afar, you can partner with businesses in nearby regions to showcase your brochure — enticing travelers to come to you.
Promotional materials that can be promoted all over? Doesn’t get better than that! However, there are best practices to follow in order for your marketing efforts (and dollars) to be worthwhile. Let’s discuss how to make a travel brochure that’s both eye-catching and inspiring!
What is a Travel Brochure?
A travel brochure is a marketing tool designed to get people to visit a specific destination, attraction, or activity. It’s a simple and easy way to promote your business while informing travelers and drawing their attention to your services. These brochures can be used by any business in any industry, from five-star resorts to mom-and-pop shops to ziplining adventures. You can also promote special offers, such as discounts for travelers or hotel packages. These brochures can be placed in hotel lobbies, airports, storefronts, restaurants — you name it! The versatility of travel brochures is what makes them such an effective marketing tool.
How to Design a Travel Brochure: Template & Layout
When it comes to the layout, you can either choose to follow a layout template or create your own. While the layout and design of your travel pamphlet is up to you, most follow the same informational template. If you look at travel brochure examples, you’ll notice that they tend to have the same general information listed. The last thing you want is for potential customers to give up on your business because they can’t find the information they need.
To ensure you cover all your bases, make sure you include the following travel flier features:
- Company Name and Logo
Your company’s name and logo should serve as the foundation for your brochure’s design. Remember, you’re trying to catch the attention of people just passing by or waiting for their flight to board. Therefore, you need your design to be distinctive, eye-catching, and recognizable. Prominently place your company name at the top of the front page (remember that brochures are often in display cases, so you don’t want to put it in the middle or bottom) and place your logo where it can be easily seen.
- Cover Image
It could be argued that the cover image of your travel brochure is even more important than your company name and logo. This image is going to set the tone for the entire brochure, and it should be a reflection of what you’re offering. You want potential customers not only to grab your brochure first, but you want them to envision themselves in that image. For example, if you’re a snorkeling company in a tropical location, don’t tell people that — show them. The cover image should compel people simply by looking at the picture.
- Inside Pages
The more detailed information about your product or service can be found in the middle pages of the brochure. Inside the traveler catalog, include a list of products or services along with their price points. This is also a great place to include customer testimonials and ratings. The written content inside these pages should be descriptive, engaging, and action-oriented. Additionally, you can offer discount codes and promotions exclusive to readers who find you in brochures. The design inside these pages should be easy to read, flow logically, and be pleasing to the eye (more on this later).
- Contact Details
Last (page) but not least. While contact information can be listed anywhere on the brochure, generally it’s recommended that it be placed on the last page. You want people to read the entire brochure and get more excited as they progress. The idea is that by the time they get to the contact information, they’ll be itching to make a reservation or place an order. Make sure to include your location, phone number, email, website, social media, and any other relevant contact details. Some brochures also include driving directions to their locations from common places, like airports or popular hotels in the area.
How to Make a Travel Brochure Stand Out
When it comes to making a brochure that stands out from the crowd of tour booklets, visuals are key. You can use bold color schemes, attractive fonts, and striking images to catch the eye. The most important thing to remember when designing your brochure is to keep it simple. Avoid using too many elements that will make the page feel crowded and as a result, difficult to read. When a brochure is well-designed, it encourages readers to take action.
To ensure that your travel brochure stands out, keep these three tips in mind:
- Avoid Big Blocks of Text
People don’t want to read an essay on your business, they want the highlights. People should be able to quickly and easily scan your brochure and understand instantly what your business offers. Fonts should be an easy-to-read size, and paragraphs should be kept to no more than 2-3 sentences. Use white space, graphics, and headings to break up large blocks of text that might be overwhelming to readers. Finally, be sure to include a lot of subheadings, bullet points, and other design features so that readers can easily skim the brochure to find what they’re looking for.
- Highlight Your Advantages
With a vacation brochure, you’re contending with an ocean of competitors for the reader’s attention. For instance, if you run a mom-and-pop seafood restaurant in a coastal destination, you’ll need to find ways to beat out the other seafood restaurants nearby. The best way to do this is clearly list the things you offer that your competition doesn’t. This can include reduced rates, first-rate accommodations, live music and entertainment, longer happy hours, and much more. It’s up to you to do your research, determine what’s not being offered in your area, and then be the first to offer it.
- Have a Clear Call to Action
Everything you’ve done with your brochure was designed to get more customers, so the cherry on top should be a clear call to action (CTA). The key here is finding the balance between presenting your CTA naturally without it feeling forced or “salesy.” There are various ways you can do this, whether it be using simple language (“Come see us today!”) or a slightly more aggressive approach (“Limited Time Only”). No matter what direction you go in, the call to action is a crucial part of your brochure design.
Inspire Wanderlust with Printivity
No matter where you are or what your travel brochure is advertising, you need to partner with a printer you can trust. Printivity goes the extra mile, offering a team of experienced graphic designers who will review your order to make sure your designs come out flawless.
All you have to do is upload your design to our easy-to-use platform, and we make your designs a reality. Contact us to learn more about brochure printing and start promoting your brand with Printivity today!
