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7 Ways To Distribute Flyers & Increase Customers

Printing flyers is still a powerful marketing tool. However, with costs involved in design, printing, and distribution, it’s essential to make every flyer count. To get the best return on your marketing investment, you need to distribute your flyers strategically. Here are the most effective ways to distribute flyers and ensure you’re reaching the right audience.

This post will give you extra tips on how to best distribute flyers through:

local business counter tops
publication pull-outs
sponsoring charity and business events
cross promoting with other businesses
community noticeboards
the old fashioned handout
networking groups
op shops and food distributors (BONUS TIP)

1. Local Business Counter Tops

Local businesses are often eager to support each other. Ask business owners if you can display flyers on their countertops or tables. Before asking, consider:

Is the business located in an area you serve?
Are your ideal customers likely to frequent this business?
Does the business get frequent customer traffic?
Do the values of the business align with your own?

Some great examples of businesses where your flyers might be welcome include:

Coffee shops
Hair and beauty salons
Takeaway shops
Libraries and community centres
Bars and pubs
Newsagents
Gyms
Doctor and dental surgeries
Butcher, fruit n vege shops
Local tourism venues and information centres

Flyer display tips

For a tidy presentation of your flyers:

For flyers on counter tops, use lighter paper (80-150 gsm) for cost-effectiveness but bundle them together with a clip or band to prevent them from scattering. Use a clip or band around the flyer bundle so that they don’t fly away in a breeze or look untidy.
For flyers in brochure holders, use thicker stock (200-400 gsm) so they stay upright and look neat. Provide your own holder if they don’t have one already. They are relatively cheap and easily found in office supplies shops. A collection of brochure holders are below this post.
Finally, don’t skimp on quality design. With the aid of Canva or Adobe Express, there is no excuse now for cheap, nasty and poor quality design. A professional graphic designer will be able to design something that attracts the gaze of potential readers.

And of course, get the shop owners permission first and ask what their preference is in the positioning and storage of the flyers.

2. Publication Pull-Outs

Inserting your flyer into local newspapers, industry publications, or community newsletters is an excellent way to reach a larger audience. Here’s how to make this method work for you:

Contact local newspapers or community brochures to ask about flyer insert options and distribution areas.
Focus on small, community-focused publications that target areas where your ideal customers live. They are still around and are still being read while people wait for their orders and meals.

3. Sponsor Charity, Industry and Business Events

Charity events, expos, and local business gatherings offer great opportunities to promote your business. These events often look for sponsors and supporters, and many include flyers in event bags or on tables. Look for local charity events, community markets, and business expos. Event sponsorship can be more affordable than you think!

Charity events like gala dinners, paint n sips and bingo fundraisers are great opportunities. As are community markets, Christmas markets, Easter and Halloween events. These types of business and community events are often on the hunt for sponsors and supporters. You might be surprised to find that a low range sponsorship is not as expensive as you imagined, and depending on how they define their sponsorship tiers, many will include a flyer inserted into their event bags or on table tops.

To find relevant events:

Check local Council websites and Chambers of Commerce.
Join community networking groups and Facebook pages that promote local events.

4. Cross Promotions with Another Business

Partner with businesses that share your target audience but offer different products or services. Here’s how:

Swap flyers with complementary businesses.
Include their flyers in your marketing materials (e.g., new client welcome packs).

This simple cross-promotion can increase your flyer’s exposure without extra cost.

5. Community Noticeboards

Community noticeboards in shopping centers, libraries, and community centers are still a valuable resource for local marketing. People often linger and read these boards, making them a prime location for your flyer.

6. Hand Out Flyers the Old Fashioned Way

Handing out flyers in person is still effective. Whether at events, markets, or in local neighbourhoods, face-to-face distribution creates a personal connection with potential customers. Here’s how to make it work:

Team your flyer with a brief pitch (elevator speech) about your business.
Wear branded clothing like a T-shirt or cap for extra impact. No budget for branded gear? Print stickers or iron-on designs for a quick and affordable solution.

Important tips:

Always ask for permission when necessary.
Be respectful of other businesses nearby (you don’t want to be upsetting their customers)
Don’t be pushy—engage only with people who seem interested.

7. Networking Groups and Events

Get involved in your local business or community networking groups and events. Be mindful of who your ideal customer is and where you will find them, but also remember that, in business, it’s not always about marketing to your customer. They can also be good for:

Finding like-minded business owners who may allow you to distribute your flyers.
Cross-promoting your business to other groups that target the same type of customers.

Business networking is about building relationships with potential partners as much as it is about marketing to customers.

BONUS! Op Shops and Charity Food Distributors

An update to this post for 2022 has uncovered another opportunity for distributing flyers within your community. Consider approaching local op shops or charitable food distribution outlets. They might allow you to place your flyers on counter tops or in the shopping bags or food boxes of their customers. You could offer a financial donation for the opportunity. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

Conclusion

While digital marketing is powerful, printed flyers remain a special and tangible way to engage your local community. By strategically distributing your flyers in these ways, you can increase your reach, build your brand awareness, and attract more customers. Use these tips to ensure your marketing dollars work harder for you!