PAMPHLETS VS.

BROCHURES

If you’ve ever ordered

marketing or direct mail
materials for your
business or an event,
you know that there are
several different terms
for each piece of print
marketing materials.
This stands true for
pamphlets and
brochures.

We get asked by
customers what the real
difference is between
brochures and
pamphlets very often.
You’ve probably heard
people use these two
words interchangeably
when looking to print
product or company
information in a small
booklet style. The only
distinct difference
between the two is their
names. Generally,
pamphlets and
brochures look very
similar but there are some slight differences to make note of.

WHAT IS A PAMPHLET?
A pamphlet is a small, unbound booklet that is used to advertise or provide information on a single
subject.

They are mainly used for informing rather than direct selling. You’ll sometimes hear someone use
the term “leaflet” when describing a pamphlet too. Pamphlet pages are stapled together or printed
on both sides of one sheet and folded in half or several times. They can come in different shapes,
sizes, and number of pages. Some common uses for pamphlets include political campaigns, event
promotion, and communicating organization information.

An overview of pamphlets:

 Informational
 Unbounded
 Few total number of pages
 WHAT IS A BROCHURE?
A brochure is a single or multi page folded paper used to sell a company’s products or services.

This piece of paper can be folded several times to create separate pages, or are several pages
stapled together. The term “booklet” is sometimes used when referring to a brochure. While it can
look similar to a pamphlet, the important thing to remember is brochures are more commonly used
for advertising multiple products or services for a company. Brochures typically contain more
images than words. Some common uses for brochures include introducing a new product line or
detailing service offerings to be sent out to new customers.

An overview of brochures:

 Advertising products/services
 Sometimes binded
 Multiple pages

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BROCHURES

AND PAMPHLETS?
These two print marketing materials seem very similar after you lay out their definitions. The most
important difference is the subject matter. Pamphlets are used for non-commercial promotion,
while brochures are used to advertise products and services. Brochures also typically have more
pages and images. Pamphlets can have multiple pages, but are generally contain fewer pages and
more words than images to inform the reader. However, these two are used interchangeably or
together depending on your marketing needs.

WHAT ISN’T A PAMPHLET OR

BROCHURE?
While pamphlets and flyers are very similar types of marketing materials, there are several other
types that should not be confused with pamphlets or brochures.

FLYERS
Flyers are typically a single, one-sided page design that offers information on a single event or
announcement. Flyers are smaller scale than pamphlets or brochures and contain fewer words.
Flyers are generally a cheap way to quickly get information about an announcement to a large
audience. While they are cheap, they are generally less effective for products and services because
people will generally spend less time reviewing the information in a flyer when compared to a
pamphlet or a brochure.

MAGAZINES
A magazine is a periodical publication that is printed on a glossy paper and is several pages long.
Magazines typically cover one subject in length and feature products, services, and other
advertisements throughout. They also have a mix of articles that vary in word count and images.
Generally, magazines are printed in color and vary in size and page length. Magazines are much
more detailed than brochures or pamphlets. However, if you are looking to print a magazine,
Modern Litho is recognized as one of the top 20 publications and magazine printing services by
Publishing Executive.
NEWSLETTERS
A newsletter is a publication that is distributed on a set time frame about one main topic or
company to its subscribers. Companies use newsletters to send subscribers new company, product,
and service information. They are likely to distribute to customers or internally at a company, to
parents at schools, or within a community. They can have a newspaper format but are a single page
or a few pages long. Newsletters are used for communicating ongoing information, but can
sometimes be the same length as a brochure or pamphlet.

HOW TO DISTRIBUTE PAMPHLETS

AND BROCHURES
The easiest way to distribute a pamphlet or brochure is to set them out on a table or at the
checkout counter at a store location. If you’ve been speaking with a customer about a particular
product or service, this is also a great opportunity to hand them a brochure or pamphlet for more
information. When it comes to communicating political information in a pamphlet, sometimes door
to door or mail is the best way to distribute. When communicating product line information in a
brochure, you can always mail them out to the appropriate customers or include them in a bag or
with a receipt upon completing an order. If your business is done mostly online, emailing an
electronic copy or mailing a physical copy will be your best bet. Collecting customer information,
such as email and physical addresses, will help when distributing brochures or pamphlets.

Another way to distribute brochures and pamphlets is to have a rack set up at your store location. A
helpful tip is to organize your brochures and pamphlets by product or subject matter to make it
easier for the customer to find the information they’re looking for. This allows the customer to get
the information they need and be on their way. Make sure to restock your rack or front counter
frequently update the brochure or pamphlet when there are new products or fresher information.

WHERE CAN I GET A BROCHURE OR

PAMPHLET PRINTED?
Modern Litho of course! We provide the latest printing technology and fast processes to ensure your
pamphlet or brochure is high-quality and printed with all the correct information you need. If you
need help with designing materials, we have a knowledgeable design team to help you make your
pamphlet or brochure look professional. We also offer mailing and logistics services to ensure your
brochures or pamphlets are stored correctly and mailed to you or your customers on time. Check
out our services or request a quote and see the Modern Litho printing difference for your next
brochure or pamphlet order.