Flyers are a great way to spread the word about an event, product, service, or business. They are inexpensive to produce and can be easily distributed in person or online. While you can pay a graphic designer to create flyers, it’s simple and affordable to make them yourself using Microsoft Word.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process for designing professional-quality flyers in Word using free templates.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Word and Search for Flyer Templates
To start, open Microsoft Word on your computer. Click on the “File” tab and select “New.” This will open a gallery of templates.
In the search bar at the top, type “flyers.” This will display various free flyer templates you can use to easily create a flyer. Browse through the options until you find a template you like.
The templates come in different categories like events, promotions, real estate, etc. Choose one that best matches the purpose of your flyer.
When you’ve found the perfect template, click “Create” to open the flyer template as a new Word document.
Step 2: Customize the Template
Now that your flyer template is open in Word, it’s time to customize it by adding your own text, images, colors and more.
Start by deleting any sample text or images you don’t need. To delete a text box or image, simply click on it and press the “Delete” key.
Next, click inside a text box to add your own text. Change font sizes, styles and colors using the formatting options on the Home tab. Repeat this for all text areas, customizing the flyer with your details.
To change the images, right-click on an existing photo and select “Change Picture.” Choose a new image from your computer files. Adjust the size by clicking and dragging the corners.
Customize colors, backgrounds and other design elements using the Design tab to match your brand. The possibilities are endless!
Step 3. Add Graphics and Visuals
Eye-catching graphics and visuals are key for an effective flyer. After customizing the main text and images, consider adding the following elements:
- Company logo: Insert your logo at the top to brand your flyer. Right-click it to adjust size if needed.
- Icons: Insert icons relevant to your business or event. Search Word’s icon library on the Insert tab.
- Divider lines: Use Shapes on the Insert tab to add lines to section off information.
- Coupons or tear-off tabs: Draw coupon shapes or tabs at the bottom edge using the Draw tools.
- Background design: Apply a background fill color or patterned design using Page Layout > Page Color.
Don’t go overboard with graphics. Find the right balance between text and images for easy readability.
Step 4. Add Contact Information
Every flyer design needs to include contact details for the reader to get in touch.
Make sure to add some or all the following information clearly on the flyer:
- Business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Website URL
- Social media links
Place contact info prominently, either at the top or bottom. Use a large, bold font and contrasting colors so it stands out.
Step 5. Include a Call-to-Action
A call-to-action (CTA) is a statement prompting the reader to take a desired action. This is a key for promoting engagement.
Some CTA examples include:
- Register today
- Buy tickets now
- Call for reservations
- Visit our website
- Stop by the store
Place your CTA prominently in the flyer design so readers immediately know what action you want them to take after seeing the flyer.
Use contrasting colors, larger fonts or elements like borders and arrows to make the CTA stand out.
Step 6. Proofread Thoroughly
Before finalizing your flyer, carefully proofread all text you’ve added. Check for any spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.
Read line-by-line, word-for-word to spot any typos or content errors so you don’t print or distribute flyers with mistakes.
Once satisfied, use F7 to run a spell check as a final step to catch any errors.
Step 7. Add Printer Bleeds (Optional)
If you’ll be getting flyers professionally printed, add bleeds to extend images or colors to the edge of the page. This ensures there won’t be any white margins when flyers are trimmed during printing.
To add bleeds:
- Click the Design tab and select Page Borders > Bleed
- Choose amount of bleed you need (e.g. 0.25″)
- Extend background colors/images past the page border to fill bleed
Step 8. Print or Export Flyer
You now have a customized flyer ready to print and distribute!
If printing at home, click File > Print and select your home printer. For professional printing, export your flyer to a print-ready PDF file.
To export as PDF:
- Click File > Export > Create PDF/XPS
- Choose file name and save location
- Click Publish button
Now take your flyer file to your local print shop.
You also have the option to email your flyer or post it on social media. Share it far and wide!
Conclusion
Designing eye-catching flyers is quick and simple with Microsoft Word’s free templates. Follow the steps in this article to create customized flyers to effectively promote your business, organization or event in minutes.
With the right information and a well-designed layout, your flyer is sure to inform customers and drive engagement.
