Tear-off flyers are perfect when you need someone to literally walk away with your phone number—whether you’re selling something, offering a service, or advertising your latest batch of homemade jam, tear-off flyers may be old school, but they are still effective. And sure, people can take a picture with their phone… but tear-off flyers give that small-town charm. And not everyone wants to whip out their phones to take a picture.

My name’s Alicia and I’m a Graphic Designer helping businesses look beautiful. So, whether you’re selling canned preserves, professional services, puppies or kittens, I want to show you the five details you need to include on your tear-off flyer.

1.      Pre-cut strips on the paper properly. 

This might sound obvious, but I’ve seen some things. I’ve seen flyers where the strips weren’t cut high enough, and people basically ripped off parts of the actual flyer just trying to get a number. People should be able to tear paper easily, but let’s help them out. Make your cuts deep enough so the strips come off cleanly, and maybe start a tiny horizontal cut for even easier ripping.

2.      Put your contact info on the tear-offs and on the flyer.

I once saw a flyer where every tear-off was gone, and the main flyer left didn’t have any contact information left. So only the early birds were the only ones who could reach the seller. Don’t lose customers. Put your phone number and/or email in both places.

3.      Add photos. 

Pictures matter. If you’re selling a product, a pet, or a service, visuals instantly grab attention. People want to see what they’re contacting you for. If you’re selling kittens—obviously, include cute kitten photos (bonus points if they’re doing something adorable). If you’re selling a service and can’t show the service itself, use an industry-related image. For example: if you offer tax services, use a picture of a desk with receipts and paperwork. Something that matches the vibe and communicates what you do.

4.      Make it attractive. 

Okay, full disclosure: Since I’m a graphic designer, I am absolutely biased about flyer aesthetics. But I am here you to tell you, you do not have to be a designer to make your flyer stand out. Use clean easy-to-read fonts, incorporate colours, add photos—a little effort goes a long way. If design is not your passion, no worries, there are tons of templates online. Canva lets you design a flyer and download it instantly, and places like Zazzle let you customize flyers and have them printed and mailed to you.

5.      Keep your information clear and concise.

Don’t overload your flyer like a novel. Keep it short, but informative. Instead of just saying “Kittens for sale,” add details: the breed, the age, when they’re ready for pickup, etc. If you run a bakery, list what you offer: custom cakes, cupcakes, brownies, squares. Do you cater weddings or corporate events? Say so. People want to know what they can actually get from you. Just don’t overload it with information and paragraphs of details. You need to find the balance on how to be tastefully informative.

You’ll find helpful links in the description box to get you started—whether you’re a designer or not. There are plenty of easy tools that can help you create a flyer today. I hope these tips help you create an amazing tear off flyer that gets you business! Happy designing.