Businesses would have different purposes for their brochures. Some brochures are for displaying services while others are for selling ideas.

No matter what the focus of the brochure is, it needs to be readable, intriguing, and functional. It should be attractive enough to grab a viewer's attention and deliver its information.

But how can a piece of paper get the attention of customers?

You might think about a paper cut, but it really isn't what you want.

And there are so many brochures, so how will you stand out? The answer to that is easy. You have to make sure that your brochure is professionally designed, written, and printed.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when having a freelancer or agency design your brochure.

The text is of utmost importance. Anyone can write copy, but only a skilled copywriter can write easy-to-read, strong sentence structures that articulate your company's message. Wouldn't you rather go to a specialist?

Everything should be a question. No matter who is writing your copy, make sure the headline on the front of the brochure is in the form of a question. The question should convince the viewer to open the brochure.

You have to know which problem is the most common in your target industry and then provide a solution.

The colours. You must stick with your corporate colours. This will strengthen the brand and keep its image intact.

The Type. You must understand that typography is very important. Type is so strong that it can make or break a brochure.

Choose fonts that aren't common to make them stand out.

Pictures. Only use pictures when necessary. Most of the time people are prone to use so many pictures in a brochure, they don't realize they are clouding their message and making their brochure ineffective.

Pictures are great, especially when relevant, but they draw reader's eyes away from the copy which you have spent so much time perfecting. So, use pictures with taste and if at all possible, don't use them at all.

Know that it's better to have a professional do your brochure instead of doing it yourself only to have it redesigned later on, which can cost more. By making sure you do it properly the first time, you'll have a brochure that will be a very useful tool for your business.