Pros/Cons of Brochures?

[ChrisAdval]

I was thinking about getting brochures printed but I'm not sure what else but my photos to put on there. Would it be regular price chart, discount packages, specialties and services I provide and have? And of course social media and website links, right?

What you guys think... did you ever print out brochures for photography market? I never seen them around.

[3bayjunkie]

It's a great idea. I used to work in the printing industry. I was the Prepress designer for two years and i saw brochures for all kinds of things. It is a good investment. Also I would design some simple clean looking business cards that would be easy to hand out. It isn't expensive to get them printed and turn around time can be just a few hours.

[Niresangwa]

Unless you have a system for delivering the brochures, it's going to be a waste of time.

You can't just hand them out like candy the way you can with business cards. It's one thing if you intend to mail them out, or have a 'shop front' of sorts that people visit and take away, otherwise, what's the point?

There's a reason you don't see them around.

The closest thing I use is a pdf that's emailed back with a reply to an inquiry.

[PeaceFire]

Is there going to be a parade in your town anytime soon? I had a photography brochure chucked at my along with some delicious candy at a parade I went to recently. I then wondered why *I* hadn't thought of that first! Luckily it wasn't in the town I live in so if I do that at our next parade I won't be copying anyone local. But that would be a good way to get your brochures passed out.

Also, if there are any brochure racks in your town that allow businessed to drop their brochures off that's another way. We have a huge one at my local gym that I have some brochures in. But I also print mine through VistaPrint with free coupons so if no one ever sees them I'm not really out much money... just shipping costs.

[lonni]

Brochures are fantastic, the thing with advertising and marketing is that you just cant have one medium, you need to have a few different ones to get the picture accross and get people remebering your name. Many people do the whole online only thing its cheaper, etc, but people like to have something to take home with them, stick on the coffee table and read through.

I am a little biassed, like above i have worked as a print designer, but the principal still stands, in the old days it was Tv radio and print, now i would say, facebook, twitter, tubmlr, blog, website and print.

You definately need to be able to get the brochures out there, talk to businesses about leaving a few around, or notice bpards etc. I saw one enterprising young photographer handing leaflets and business cards out at a park, and shopping malls. That would be easy to arrange.

HTH