Yikes! You’ve been put in charge of marketing an event and you need an event flyer! So you hit the internet, but all you get is bunches of templates and vague instructions that leave you saying “I know” – but I still don’t know how to do this.
It’s ok – pulling together an event flyer – even though it seems simple, requires some thinking. But don’t worry, I’ve pulled it all together for you. Just follow these steps right here.
Whether you’re planning a party, conference, concert, non-profit event, etc. This flyer event checklist will walk you through the process so that you can have a flyer up and ready to go in as little as a few hours.
In this article, I’m going to show you exactly how to organize your thinking and to do list (you can use this checklist right here – so consider that done) and the resources you can use to write, design and print your event flyer.
The Three Phases of Your Event Flyer
When it comes to creating an event flyer, I divide the work into three phases:
- Planning : This is the brainstorming and thinking phase.
- Legal: This is where you make sure that you are 100% legal when it comes to images and distribution of your fliers.
- Production: This is the actual writing, design, development, and printing phase
Dividing your work into these three phases will help you stay focused and cover everything you need to cover.
Planning Your Event Flyer Content
1. Collect all of your event information
The first thing you want to do is pull together all of the basic information for your event.
Do NOT skip this step! It will save you HOURS of time.
- What is the name of your event?
- What is the event’s catchphrase or tag line?
- When is your event? (Date(s) and Time(s)?
- Who is this event for?
- Why should people visit your event? How do they benefit? What’s its purpose?
- What or who will they see at this event?
- Is there an agenda or schedule?
- Where is the event? (Address)
- How much are tickets?
- How do people get tickets?
I’ve created a Google Docs template (make a copy for yourself) with a few more details.
2. How will you distribute your event flyer
I know, it seems odd to think about distribution before you do a design, but stick with me on this. Your distribution strategy will impact what event flyer design you’re going to use.
You might even choose to do two or three different types of designs for different distribution channels.
Where can you distribute flyers?
There are dozens of creative places to leave flyers where your target audience will find them and take them. But before you do, make sure you check your local laws and regulations. For example, it’s illegal to place flyers in private mailboxes.
place flyers
I’ve collected the best places to distribute flyers
- Hang or fold on front doors
- Community bulletin boards
- Local businesses
- Coffee shops
- Private businesses
- Gas stations
- Newspaper boxes
- Social media sites
- Local chamber
- Grocery stores
- Bus stops
- Utility poles
- Restaurants
- Chambers of commerce
- Cars and parking lots
- People on the street
- Insert in newspapers
- Direct mail
- Inside bills and invoices mailed to customers
- Booths at events; trade shows, festivals, conferences,
- Inside pocket folders
3. What images will you need for your event flyer
The flyer template you choose will drive what images you’re going to need.
Make a wish list of images that you think will entice your audience to come to your event.
- If your event has speakers – make sure you collect all of their headshots.
- If your event is being held in a great venue – grab some of those images.
- If your event is featuring art or some other objects – select some of the most exciting images to feature.
- If this is a recurring event, select some images from last year’s event and create a small section there.
4. Write your event flyer copy
The last part of this process is to combine all of your event details into some draft copy for your event flyer.
The good news is that the event flyer template I shared with you will have all the details you need to quickly create some basic copy.
Use AI copywriting tools to generate amazing event flyer copy in seconds.
I am a big fan of AI writing tools. I happen to use Jarvis, but there are many other AI copywriting tools you can use. All of them have the same templates.
I chose the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) template for this one.
Cover Your Bases on Legal
Yep. There are actually laws that impact your event flyer. Here is a list of legal bases you need to cover.
1. Image licensing
Make sure that you have permission to print any images that you’re using in your event flyer. Even if you’re going to use stock images, be sure that you are downloading images with the appropriate licensing.
2. Distribution laws: Can I put flyers in my neighbor’s mailbox?
Check your plan and how you intend on distributing your flyers. Check with your city and local government to see if you need a permit to distribute.
Mailboxes are the property of the US Postal Service. You are not allowed to put anything on them, like flyers, signs about missing items or animals, and advertisements.
“No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.”
Making Your Event Flyer
FINALLY, we’re ready to start producing the flyer. In this section, you’re going to be writing out the copy, placing your copy and your images into the templates.
If you’ve done the steps above, this should be a breeze!
My Favorite FREE Event Flyer Templates
Canva is my top choice for free event flyer templates.
With a free account, you can use any of their professionally design templates to design your own.
Once you’ve designed your template, you can even send it to print!
Canva
Canva gives you the option to choose your paper quality and finish.
You can order as many as 1,000 flyers !
You can have the flyers delivered to you.
Or, you can pick them up at a location that’s in your town — for FREE
Adobe Express
Adobe Express is another great tool — especially if you want to have your event flyer do double duty as a printed piece and a digital piece.
Here are a few BIG reasons I love Adobe Express
The text adjusts itself automatically!
Another awesome feature with Adobe Express is this nifty QR code that you can cut and paste and share in your social media
Visme
Visme is another software with great event flyer templates.
Like all event flyer design software, you can easily download a PDF and either print it yourself or send it out to print.
What sets Visme apart is that their event flyer templates are multi-media like music and video.
Which Event Flyer Template or Software Is Best For You?
If you’re not sure which event flyer template is best for you, consider your event and how you plan to distribute it. If you have a specific template in mind, try browsing through a few others to see if there’s one that better suits your needs. Ultimately, the best event flyer template for you is the one that most accurately represents your event and its goals.
How to Outsource Your Event Flyer
Now, let’s say you don’t feel like doing the design. You don’t have to. With the work you’ve done so far, template ideas, images, and details, you can hand this information over to any designer (Upwork or Fivrr) and they can have something to you in a day or two.
Now that wasn’t so bad, was it. The hardest part of this process is getting your ideas down on paper and collecting all the information. With all of those items in hand, the rest is easy whether you DIY your event flyer or get some help. Either way, you’ve got this.