What Is a Flyer in 2025? Debunking Myths

May 16

If someone told you the key to lowering your customer acquisition cost, boosting conversions, and increasing your brand visibility was a flyer, would you believe them?

For many business owners today, the word “flyer” still triggers outdated images: black-and-white photocopies, kids handing out club promos, or messy event bulletins. So let’s set the record straight.

This post answers the simple but powerful question: what is a flyer—really? We’ll walk through what it is now, why it works better than you might think, and how you can use flyers as part of a smart, scalable marketing strategy in 2025.

Myth #1: “A Flyer Is Just a Piece of Paper”

Let’s get this out of the way.

Yes, a flyer is a single printed page. But it’s not “just paper.”

A flyer is a conversion asset. It’s a purpose-built tool designed to:

Deliver a specific message
Spark immediate action
Reach a defined local audience
Drive bookings, purchases, or visits

At Flyer Canada, we treat every flyer like a sales rep on paper—trained, tested, and optimized to perform.

Our flyer campaigns average:

4.4% conversion rate (compared to 1.41% industry average)
51.8% lower customer acquisition costs
3x–29x return on investment

💡 Want to see that in action? Here’s how one HVAC company generated six figures in three days.

Myth #2: “Flyers Are for Old-School Businesses”

Not even close.

Today’s flyers are being used by:

Gyms to promote class packs and membership specials (see how)
Dental clinics to book new patients (real results here)
Retailers to boost in-store traffic (flyer tips for retailers)
Restaurants and QSRs to grow delivery and app orders
Home services companies to dominate seasonal contracts (landscapers, cleaners, roofers)

If you’re a local business with a clear offer and defined service area, flyers are one of the most powerful ways to grow.

Myth #3: “Digital Ads Are More Effective Than Flyers”

Digital is powerful—but also crowded, expensive, and unpredictable.

Flyers offer advantages that digital simply can’t:

No algorithms – Your message always gets delivered
Physical presence – Flyers sit on counters and fridges
Hyper-local targeting – Choose postal codes, not pixels
More staying power – A flyer can be seen multiple times over days or weeks

When you integrate smart design, tracking codes, and a call to action, your flyer becomes a full-funnel driver. Read how to use flyers effectively for your business for ideas.

What a Flyer Is (and Should Be)

Let’s clarify the modern definition:

A flyer is a single-page, high-impact marketing tool designed to drive awareness and action. It is typically printed and distributed locally, either via handout or mail, and includes a clear offer, headline, imagery, and call to action.

Modern flyers are often enhanced with:

QR codes to booking systems or menus
Promo codes to track ROI
Event details or launch announcements
Social handles and review requests

In short, flyers are integrated marketing assets that bridge the gap between offline reach and online results.

Want yours to convert? Learn why flyer design matters more than you think.

What Makes a Flyer Work?

Flyers succeed when they’re:

Timely – Seasonal, urgent, or limited-time offers perform best
Targeted – Specific areas, demographics, or interest groups
Simple – One core message with minimal clutter
Trackable – Unique codes, QR links, or redemption offers
Repeatable – Repetition builds brand familiarity and trust

If you’re wondering how to make sure your flyer gets attention and drives action, read how to design flyers that inspire immediate action.

Myth #4: “Nobody Reads Flyers Anymore”

False.

Here’s what we’ve seen from recent campaigns:

People keep flyers—especially with an incentive or coupon
Households share flyers between family members
Flyers get pinned, folded, saved, and revisited

For example, one dental client booked 88 new patients from just 6,000 flyers. Another retailer made over $21,000 in one weekend. It’s not about whether people see flyers—it’s about whether the flyer says the right thing at the right time.

Need proof flyers stick around? See why repetition is your secret weapon in flyer marketing.

A Flyer Isn’t Old—It’s Underestimated

So if you’ve been wondering what is a flyer, here’s your modern answer:

A flyer is one of the most effective, direct, and cost-efficient marketing tools available—especially for local, service-based, and time-sensitive businesses.

It’s print. It’s personal. It performs.

And unlike digital ads, flyers don’t need to outbid a competitor to get seen. They go straight to the customer—and stay there.

Final Thought: It's Time to Rethink Flyers

If you’ve dismissed flyers as outdated, it’s time to give them a second look. With proper design, targeting, and strategy, a flyer can drive real action and serve as a high-ROI piece of your overall marketing funnel.

Whether you're a growing retailer, service business, franchise, or local professional, flyers give you predictable performance in an unpredictable market.

Ready to Launch a Flyer Campaign That Works?

Flyer Canada helps businesses like yours design, print, and deliver flyers that actually convert—without guesswork, waste, or digital noise.

📞 Ready to launch your best flyer campaign yet? Flyer Canada is here to help.

Let’s turn your flyer into a customer-generating machine.

Emerson Buhat