STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS: Creating a promotional brochure for your office

First, create a new folder on your computer titled Office Brochure or something similar so you can easily find it in the future. You will be storing text and image files here. HINT: Being organized in the beginning will save you a lot of headache as you go along.

There are two parts to any brochure: Text and Images/ClipArt

Text

The brochure text can include your office name, motto and address; the services offered; your biography and education; commonly treated conditions at your office; etc. No one can write your text except you. This is your office and you must use the words you wish to describe your vision. (NOTE: A strong recommendation is to use the book Words that Sell by Bayan. It contains words which transform a boring brochure into an exciting one that your clients are sure to read. Use at least 10% of your text words from this publication and watch as your text comes alive. You can purchase Words that Sell from The Supply Center. Use it as a reference tool for all future advertising, announcements, brochures, newsletters, etc.) After you have written the text, ask at least three other people to edit it for clarity, flow, grammar, and overall effectiveness. As a reminder, be sure that you are periodically saving your text file – there’s nothing more depressing that losing precious work.

Images/ClipArt

Use artwork to enhance your promotional brochure. Add a photo or sketch to demonstrate a technique, advertise a product, or just break-up the text. It's all about perception -- a dynamic brochure tells patients "I'm a dynamic practitioner".

In the ClipArt Gallery of our web site, you will find many images and photos for use in your publications. After reviewing the images, select one by moving the mouse pointer to that image and click the right button on the mouse. A window on the screen will appear. Select “Save image as” and click on it. Another window appears asking where do you want to save the image. Using menu bar, select the folder “Office Brochure” or what ever you called it. Now click on the save button. What you have just done is saved the image to your computer for later use.

Next, read our Graphic Designer’s Guidelines for ideas on how to make your own promotional brochure. DESIGN ESSENTIALS: Creating Effective Marketing Materials by Jean Drummond is an excellent reference, including tips for getting started, cost considerations, and basic design principles.

Once you have selected all the images and clip art you want to use, and you have read our Graphic Designer’s Guidelines, exit the web site.

Depending on your computer software you can use either Corel Word Perfect Suite 8 or higher or Microsoft Publisher to layout your brochure.

Corel Word Perfect Users:

Go to File, then New. This will open a window. Using the arrow, move down the list of pre-selected templates. Find brochure and highlight it. Click Create. If it prompts you for your CD, this means you did not load this template when you initially installed the program. Place the Corel Word Perfect CD in the appropriate drive and click Open, and the program will install the brochure template from the CD onto your computer.

Follow the instructions provided. Decide the layout, number of folds, columns, etc. Now insert the text and images/clip art you saved in your Office Brochure folder. Using the cut and paste option in the Edit menu, the Bold, Italic, font selections, you can create a professional brochure quickly and effortlessly. If you haven’t already, be sure to review the recommendations by our Graphic Designer.

Microsoft Publisher Users:

Open the Wizard Assistant. This usually appears when opening the program. Select 3 Panel Brochure.

Follow the on-screen instructions. When completed, insert the text and images/clip art you have saved in your Office Brochure folder. Using the cut and paste option in the Edit menu, the Bold, Italic, font selections, you can create a professional brochure quickly and effortlessly. If you haven’t already, be sure to review the recommendations by our Graphic Designer.

You can print the brochure, front and back, on a color printer with attractive paper to give a texture to the brochure. Use these initial 30 or 40 brochures as an inexpensive way to advertise your practice. Once you have attracted patients to the practice, consider having your brochure done professionally by a Graphic Designer and printed in a larger quantity.