How to Use the Back of Your Flyer or Postcard

Most flyers waste the back side. The front gets all the attention, and the back ends up blank, crammed with leftover text or holding a logo floating in empty space. You already paid for that paper. The back should be working as hard as the front.

The trick is to give each side a different job. The front stops people. The back tells them what to do next.

The Front Hooks, the Back Closes

Think of a two-sided piece as a short conversation. The front is the opening line: a bold headline, one strong image and just enough to make someone flip it over. It should not try to say everything.

The back is where you answer the questions the front raises. What exactly is this? Why should I care? How do I get it? When both sides are designed together, people flip from curiosity to action instead of from the front to the trash can.

What to Put on the Back

You do not need all of these. Pick the two or three that matter most for this piece.

• The details. Dates, times, location, hours, pricing or a short menu of services. The practical stuff that would clutter the front.
• An offer. A reason to act now, with any terms spelled out clearly.
• Proof. Photos of your work, a short list of what you have done or a real review you already have permission to use.
• A map or directions. Especially useful for events and storefronts that are easy to drive past.
• A QR code with a label. Send it somewhere specific, like a booking page, and tell people why to scan.
• Your contact block. Phone, website, email and social handles, grouped in one place.

Postcards Need the Back Even More

On a postcard, part of the back is spoken for. The mailing area, address block and postage space take room, so the space you have left needs a clear plan. Put the most important message near the top where the eye lands first, and keep it short. A headline, a few lines of detail and one clear call to action usually fit well.

Remember that a mailed postcard may be read back first. Whoever pulls it from the mailbox sees the address side as often as the image side, so make sure the back can stand on its own.

Brochures and Posters Count Too

The same thinking applies beyond flyers. On a brochure, the back panel is often the one people see when it is lying on a counter, so it should carry your name and a reason to pick it up. A two-sided poster in a window can show an image to the street and details to people inside. Wherever the back faces, decide who will see it and what they need.

Keep the Two Sides Talking

The front and back should look like they came from the same place. Use the same colors, fonts and style on both sides so the flip feels natural. A few habits that help:

1. Repeat one visual element. A color band, a shape or a photo crop that carries from front to back ties the piece together.
2. Give the back a headline. Do not make people hunt for the point. Lead with it.
3. Leave white space. A crowded back gets skipped just as fast as an empty one.
4. End with one clear action. Call, book, visit or scan. Pick one and make it obvious.

Let Us Build Both Sides

Our Two Sided Print Design service is $99 and covers flyers, postcards, brochures and posters, front and back, built around your brand. We plan both sides together so the front does the hooking and the back does the closing. If you only need a single-sided piece for screens and social, our One Sided Digital Flyer Design is $50.

Once the design is done, you can print it with us. Flyers start at $24.99 and 16pt UV postcards start at $44. Every print order comes with a free artwork review before it goes to press.

Order Up

Ready to stop wasting the back? Order a Two Sided Print Design and tell us what the piece needs to do. Then browse paper options in our marketing materials section.

— Alan