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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FLYER AND A POSTER?

12/16/2019

 
A persong giving a flyer
Posters and flyers are two of the most common printed materials out there—next to stationery and business cards, that is. However, a lot of people are still confused about the difference between the two. Some even use the terms interchangeably.

What's even more surprising is that even some marketers and designers aren’t sure what makes the two unique. Flyers and posters have very different design considerations. One also provides better results than the other depending on the marketing strategy they are used for.
​
We can't tell you how to run your marketing campaigns, but we can at least help you differentiate between the two. Let's take a look at the specifics of each format.​

​FLYERS​

Person is holding flyers

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FLYERS?​

Flyers may be old-fashioned, but there is a reason we have been using this humble marketing tool for centuries: because they work! 
In this digital era, where high-tech advertising is the norm, flyers remain relevant and important in marketing. They are an effective way to get your message across, whether you are a trip organizer, a yoga instructor, or an entrepreneur. 

Any business, whether it’s a big corporation or a small startup, can benefit from the use of flyers. Flyers can be used to spread business awareness. It's an excellent way to let customers know about new services or products you are offering, ultimately leading to business growth.

Aside from being an effective marketing tool, they are also very affordable—making it easy for any business to take advantage of them. 
 Flyers can be used for:
​
  • Advertising openings for new establishments, like bars, clubs, and restaurants​
  • Announcing events
  • Making magazine/newspaper inserts or handouts
  • Handing out fact sheets at conferences or trade shows
  • A promotional campaign
  • Handing out information
  • Making general advertisements

What is a business flyer?

​Business flyers, also called leaflets, handbills, circulars, or inserts, are a low-cost and effective promotional medium. They are usually single, unfolded sheets of paper that are printed with a very simple message or information about an establishment, whether to promote the opening of a business or the launch of a new product. Flyers are also commonly printed on one side only, but no one said you couldn't print on both sides. 

Many business owners still opt to use flyers for their business because of their versatility. You can put any information or design you want on them, which helps catch customers' attention. 
​
They can also be distributed in several ways. You can distribute them by hand in areas where your target audience usually hangs out, such as malls or trade shows, or mail them directly to your target market's mailbox. You can also place them on the windshields of parked cars or community bulletin boards. 
A black flyer on the table

​What should flyers include?

An effective flyer should have these key elements.
  • Catchy headline
  • Relevant content
  • Eye-catching graphics
  • Location and contact information for your business or event

​How do you make good flyers?

​When designing a flyer for your business, a "whatever works" mentality is never the right way to approach the task. Flyers are a marketing tool and to create an effective marketing tool, you need to do a lot of planning.
​
You can start by sketching a rough draft on a piece of paper, which you can later use to make your final design using a computer graphics program, like Adobe InDesign. When you have your template ready, you can include all the information you want to put on the flyer, along with your company logo. If that sounds like a lot of work to you, you can always seek the help of a professional.

​What paper is best for flyers?

Picture
​Flyers have relatively short lives, since they are mostly used for announcing one-time events like a sale, a special promotion, or a grand opening. That's why they are often printed on lower-quality, inexpensive papers. However, that doesn't mean you can't print on more-durable types of paper for flyers that are meant to last a little bit longer, especially if going to be used as a product instruction or specification sheet.

What is the best size for a flyer?

You can print on any size of paper when designing and printing your flyers. However, the most common flyer size is 8.5" x 11" or 8.3" x 11.7" (A4 paper size). In fact, this is considered as the industry standard. Other popular flyer sizes include:
​
  • 8.3" x 5.8" (A5 paper size)
  • 5.8" x 4.1" (A6 paper size)
  • 8.3" x 3.9" or one-third of A4 (dimension lengthwise)

​POSTERS

Special deal red poster in the shopping mall

What is the purpose of posters?

Posters are another common print material used in marketing by many businesses—both large and small. Just like flyers, they include visual design, colors, images, and copy. However, posters are bigger in size and often printed in a glossier and more durable paper. They are also meant to be posted on walls. The content in posters can be motivational, instructional, educational, or informational.

What are the advantages of posters?

A poster with a red man on the wall
Posters offer many advantages to any business. Here are just some of them.
  • They are an affordable and effective marketing medium
  • They are versatile and can adapt to any environment
  • They offer on-going, long-term exposure
  • They are non-intrusive

What are the types of posters?

Different types of posters on the wall
Posters are very versatile. They can be used by anybody in any industry, including offices, schools, hospitals, and even churches. Here are just examples of the most popular types of posters.
​
  • Advertising posters
  • Movie posters
  • Infomercial posters
  • Political posters
  • Event posters
  • Fashion posters
  • Campaign posters
  • Corporate posters
  • Travel posters
  • Educational posters
  • Motivational or affirmation posters
​

​Why are posters used?

There are many reasons why people use posters. But one thing they all have in common is that they all want to convey a message or inform people about something. And, what better way to share information than using a medium that has been implemented for many years—even before technology took over?
​
Posters also offer a canvass for creativity. If you do it right, your poster will be so appealing to the masses that it will be hard to miss—which helps boost your reach.  
A plank poster on the wall

What is the standard poster size?

The 24" x 26" poster may be popular with rock groups, but it's too limiting when it comes to advertising. This is why you can also have your poster printed in other standard sizes, such as:
  • 16" x 20"
  • 18" x 24"
  • 20" x 30"
  • 22" x 28"
  • 27" x 40"
  • 36" x 48"
If you want to get noticed and leave a lasting impression on your customers about your brand, then investing in professionally-printed flyers and posters can help you achieve this. At DFW Printing, we can even help you create a unique design template, customized to meet your specific business requirements. Don't hesitate to contact us for your print ad needs.
Visit these pages to make an order:
  • FLYERS
  • POSTERS
​You can also call us directly for a free estimate at 214-977-745. 

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3900 W. Plano Pkwy
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Andrea Balzano, Creative Hero, mohussain1981