Create a clear and effective leaflet in 5 steps

Instructions for use, user guides and user manuals are communication tools that require your full attention. Not only will these documents allow for an optimized and safe use of your products, but they also carry the reputation of your brand.

There is no point in having the best product on the market if your customers do not use them properly and therefore fail to perceive the benefits.

In this article, we offer you 5 basic tips to create a clear and effective manual that will allow your customers to continue their user experience at home, discovering all the benefits of your products step by step.

Define the target audience for your leaflet

The first step in creating a successful leaflet is to identify the readers of the leaflet. You know your customers, you know who uses your products, perhaps you have already received questions or requests for information about the use of your products. All these elements should guide the editorial and graphic content, as well as the general structure of your leaflet.

Identifying the target audience allows you to choose:

• the structure of the manual: for people who use your product for the first time, it is important to remind all the safety rules.
• the level of precision of the information contained in the notice: it is not necessary to explain all the technical characteristics of a product to non-specialists.
• the tone of the leaflet: if your clientele is made up of professionals from a specific sector, don't hesitate to use the vocabulary.
• the illustrations in the manual: if you are selling a very technical product to neophytes, it is wise to include an annotated plan.
• the format of the notice: if it is a furniture assembly notice, it is preferable to opt for a large format notice, whose content will be visible from a distance by all.

If you are reaching an international audience, you will certainly want to translate your record into one or more foreign languages. This choice will significantly increase the number of pages in the record.

Structuring the editorial content of your notice

The editorial content of your record should include several types of elements:

• security information
• technical information about the product
• information on how to use the product
• information on possible risks or failures
• information on after-sales service

All of this information should be as complete as possible and structured in a way that is consistent and intuitive for the readers of your record.

The simplest products can be satisfied with a very brief manual, in the form of a 4-page booklet. However, the information contained in this manual must be hierarchical and ordered so that users can easily find the answers to their questions.

Include illustrations adapted to your instructions

If you opt for a large leaflet, for example an A4 booklet, you will have space to punctuate your editorial content withillustrations that will contribute to the understanding of your readers.

Depending on the case, it may be useful to include photographs (explanatory or decorative), diagrams, drawings, etc.

It is particularly useful to provide detailed explanatory illustrations and diagrams that can be understood only with pictograms - this can be a good alternative to translating parts of your manual into other languages.

In any case, it is necessary to make sure that these illustrations are of very good quality because there is nothing more annoying than hoping to understand something from an unreadable support. Also pay attention to the size and resolution of the images in your manual.

It may be useful to choose color photographs or illustrations to indicate specific elements to readers. In this case, we recommend that you choose a glossy coated paper that will magnify the color rendition of your leaflet.

Take care of the layout of your leaflet

 The layout plays an essential role in the appropriation by your customers of your product's instructions. Since it is a document intended to help them in the assembly or use of your product, we advise you to make it as readable as possible.

For this, there are several tips:

• Structure the editorial content of your leaflet in short paragraphs containing one idea each.
• Leave wide margins and spaces between each paragraph to make your leaflet easier to read.
• Use bullets, numbering to pace the steps of use of your product.
• Place important information in boxes: specific points of attention, legal points, risks or special information.
• Bold the key points of your explanations so that users will see them immediately.

Choose the ideal format for your leaflet

The ideal format of your manual depends primarily on its content. If a lot of information is needed to make your product work, it is not possible to choose a small format for the leaflet as this could make it unreadable and therefore ineffective.

A clever alternative is to choose the right folding finish for your leaflet. You can then design a comprehensive leaflet while keeping the size small. At Copymage, we offer different folding options:

• the "rolled fold" which offers a progressive discovery of the content of your leaflet with, for example, a map in the center of the central page,
• the "accordion" or "Z" fold, ideal for stating steps in the use or construction of a product,
• the "window fold" which leaves a large central printable space where to place a photograph or a diagram for example,
• the "cross fold" obtained by folding the page into four sections forming a cross. It allows to clearly separate the different translations of the same text.

Next, you can choose the size of your leaflet according to the size of the item being sold. If your product is sold in a square box, it would be interesting to produce a leaflet of the same size and shape as the box so that it fits naturally into it.

Finally, it is wise to choose the format of your leaflet according to the image you want to give of your product and your brand. Designing a leaflet in the form of an A5 booklet can be an opportunity to integrate decorative photos (related to your activity and the product sold of course). By choosing a quality paper and careful finishing for its cover, your leaflet will look like a mini-magazine and will show your attention to detail. Never forget that your product's instructions reflect your brand to your customers.

As for the printing of all your magazines and booklets, our consultants are at your disposal for any question regarding the available finishes, the printing deadlines (think of our Express option which allows you to get your leaflets back in only 4 hours) or the format adapted to the design of your leaflet.