Leaflets have always been a highly effective way to promote your brand and raise awareness of your products and services in your local area. This continues to be true and for good reason! However, when distributing flyers you need to make sure that it’s done legally and within the legal guidelines for your specific area.

These guidelines can vary and so it’s important to do your research before distribution begins. We’ve outlined some ‘must knows’ below to help you stay on the right side of your local authority.

Know the Local Regulations

Each council or local authority in the UK may have its own set of rules concerning flyer distribution. It’s your responsibility to check with your local council to determine if a permit is needed. For example, some areas classify flyers under ‘free printed material’ and regulate their distribution, which could include leaflets, cards, or takeaway menus. However, this may not always be the case.

We recommend our clients to speak to their local council before beginning a leaflet drop to be certain and safe that there are no restrictions to how far, and what, they can distribute.

For example, hand-to-hand leaflet distribution, such as handing to individuals in the street, may require approval from your local authority and in some cases you may need to pay to do this. Other methods, such as hand-to-door distribution (through property letterboxes) doesn’t usually require any permission or payment prior to beginning.

Respect Private Property Law

It’s illegal to place flyers on private property without the owner’s consent. This includes residential and commercial properties. You must always obtain permission from the property owner or occupier before leaving any flyers to avoid any legal repercussions, such as fines for littering. This largely relates to dropping mass amount of leaflets in one location.

Understand Trespassing Laws

Trespassing laws in the UK are clear; entering someone’s property without permission is illegal. Distributing flyers by going onto private property without consent can lead to legal action. Therefore, when planning your flyer distribution campaign, avoid private properties unless explicit permission has been given by the owner.

Generally you are not at high risk of legal action or breaking any local authority regulations when distributing leaflets to houses and properties in your local area, but we will recommend checking with the required persons before beginning to be safe.

 

Implementing Distribution Strategies

Making sure that you’re staying on the right side of your local authority is only the first part of the task. Next, you have to make sure that you’re going to get the biggest return for your investment!

Below we’ve outlined a few tactics to ensure that you get the biggest impact from your leaflet distribution.

Plan Your Distribution Area

To optimise your flyer distribution efforts, clearly define the geographical area where your flyers will have the most influence. Conduct research to understand the demographics and the density of the area. This insight enables you to tailor your message to the local audience and choose locations known for high foot traffic or where your target audience is likely to be found.

Select Your Distribution Team

Your distribution team is critical to your campaign’s success. Select individuals who are enthusiastic and professional, as they will be representing your brand. Ensure your team is well-informed about the product or service being promoted and that they are aware of the legal requirements for flyer distribution in the area they will be covering.

Adhere to Distribution Best Practices

Follow these best practices to legally distribute your flyers:

  • Permission: Always seek prior permission from property owners or local authorities before distributing flyers.
  • Timing: Distribute flyers during appropriate hours to avoid causing a nuisance.
  • Respect public and private spaces by not littering; use designated areas for distribution if available.
  • Awareness: Stay informed about and comply with the Data Protection Act, especially if collecting personal information during the distribution.

 

How Can You Measure the Effectiveness of Your Flyers?

To measure the success of your next campaign, it’s important that you track specific metrics that reflect engagement and conversions. Here are some methods to measure your flyers’ effectiveness:

  1. Unique Redemption Codes: Generate unique discount or redemption codes on each flyer. Track the use of these codes to quantify customer response. Make sure that you aren’t using these codes on any other marketing materials or you won’t be able to attribute your revenue clearly.

  2. Custom URLs or QR Codes: Direct recipients to a unique landing page via a flyer-specific URL or QR code. Use website analytics to monitor traffic and user behaviour from these sources.

  3. Customer Surveys: Ask customers how they heard about your business or promotion. Keep a record when “flyer” or “leaflet” is mentioned to attribute your leads correctly.

  4. Geographic Analysis: Distribute different flyer designs across various geographic locations. Compare sales or inquiries from these regions to identify which areas responded best to your campaign.

  5. Measuring footfall: Keep track of the number of people entering your store or event during the flyer distribution period.

  6. A/B Testing: Use two flyer designs (A and B) with distinct elements. Track which version yields a better response, informing future design decisions.

Remember to set clear goals before your campaign to effectively measure outcomes against your objectives. Regularly assessing these metrics offers valuable insights into your flyer campaign’s return on investment.

For more information on our leaflet printing services contact our team today on 01992 410960 or info@smart-inc.co.uk