When Are The Best (& Worst) Times To Distribute Flyers?
by Admin Joe
published – Nov 29th 2019
“What does it matter when a flyer distributor delivers an advertisement? Is there even a good or bad time to do it?” I will tell you and you might thank me, my friend.
The effectiveness of a flyer distribution campaign can very much hinge on the time and date that an distribution employee works. Good timing is more important than most people probably realize.
When I bring up time , I’m not just speaking of the time of day. There is much more to it than that. I’m also including:
- specific days of the week
- seasons
- public holidays
If you thought that a flyer distributor mostly worked during the day time then you would be right. 10 points to you!
However, timing matters less with one type of distribution job than it does when compared with another. A different distribution campaign requires a different method sometimes.
Did you know that statistically around half of households store leaflets in a safe place. This is normally so that they and other people can look at them later on.
It makes it all the more vital that distribution materials reach them swiftly. You also preferably want it to arrive at the most effective time when the most eyeballs are on it.
Let’s now take a look at when a flyer distributor should be on the clock under varying circumstances.
Why is timing so important in flyer distribution?
Exactly when you choose to distribute something can have a great impact on what you are distributing. It can also affect how a distributor distributes and what quantity of it goes out.
When should I distribute posters?
Poster distributors don’t have to worry so much about avoiding specific times. This is because their posters will stay up for a while and will be seen by people over weeks, maybe even months. Good for them.
People tend to have lots of time off over the Summer so that might be one exception to this rule. You could put a poster up at the beginning of June and it will be seen by the vast Summer holiday crowd over the whole duration, for instance.
When should I distribute & collect catalogs?
Catalog and order form collection after distribution can be tricky as lots of people will not be at home during the daytime. You may need to try during:
- evenings
- weekends
- public holidays
These are time when people have returned home from their day jobs. It will be a waste of time if you are knocking on multiple doors with no answer. More importantly, you won’t be making any money either.
Are there times when I shouldn’t be distributing anything?
Occasionally, like me you will find through experience that there are times when flyer distribution isn’t at all effective. Ultimately, you are wasting your time doing this.
If you are distributing flyers out in public then you should probably avoid periods of time when the streets are going to be empty. This is fairly easy to predict as you just need to estimate when most people will have time off work.
You can make the most of this and use these quiet days as one of your days off. Instead, try distributing again at the weekend when lots of people are out shopping on the high streets instead of working, for example.
When should a flyer distributor work? You always want to cast out a wide net so why not distribute when there are lots of targets around. If you distribute at the wrong time then you might find there are few or even no people around.
Does it really matter when poster or flyer distribution happens?
I know from doing flyer distribution work that the right timing can give you a significant edge. However, some clients don’t mind when the flyer distributor delivers their material just as long as it gets there eventually. That’s the primary concern from their point of view.
Why does it matter when I distribute? It can make a big impact if you distribute flyers or posters:
- in the right place
- at the right time
- to the right person
It can be the difference between the client making sales and leads specifically stemming from that advertisement or not.
Are there ever times when flyer distribution work isn’t flexible?
If the distribution campaign you are assigned to is very time-dependent then you will likely have a more rigid work routine. You will discover that sometimes you can only carry out tasks at specific times so this will restrict you slightly.
Can distributors pick their own working hours?
Flyer distribution is known to be flexible work by people who actually do it (like myself). In most cases, a distributor should be able to choose your own shift patterns. It’s not always about being in a certain place at a certain time.
Your employer will usually set a deadline for you some time in the near future like mine did. This dictates when you should aim for all of your flyers or leaflets to be distributed. It’s up to you to organize your time and meet these objectives.
This way of working allows you the freedom to pick when you work in between now and when you hit your deadline. This is fine as long as you don’t pick unreasonable distribution times such as 3 am like a madman.
You can even be like me and time your work to start when you arrive home from a second job or other important commitments, for instance. Divide the work up in a way that suits you.
Can distributors arrange their working hours online?
I never personally do this but certain flyer distribution companies will allow you to organize your shifts online. This is easier and more convenient for a lot of people. You will clearly need a laptop or other device together with an internet connection to make this work.
However, most distribution employers still remain traditional (for now). In this instance, your boss will still arrange working hours with you in person or over the phone.
Should I be a full-time or part-time flyer distributor?
Sadly, your position as a flyer distributor may be temporary depending on how long the distribution campaign lasts for. It could be:
- days
- weeks
- months
It all depends on the wants and needs of the client. You will maybe find yourself having no choice but to hop from gig to gig if you are doing a series of short distribution campaigns.
However, plenty of permanent distributor positions are available. Additionally, a long campaign will offer you far more stability.
Brands repeat flyer distribution orders all the time if they prove to work successfully. For this reason, there are lots of permanent positions out there too. This should give you hope in terms of receiving a steady workload.
A client might see that distribution works well for them and makes money. Obviously, then they will want to make this a regular advertising strategy for their business.
What’s wrong with distributing flyer & leaflets on Friday?
You will mostly be distributing a lot during the working week. However, if you are a door-drop distributor then there is a good chance that your employer won’t ask you to distribute anything on Friday. What’s the big mystery here?
Well, this particular day of the week is when residents receive the most mail through their doors. It’s also the day that leads into the weekend when most people usually have time off. This is one big reason why this day is so popular.
Some brands don’t want you to send their advertisements out on Fridays. This is because they will just have to deal with that extra competition ultimately lessening their impact. Your flyer or leaflet will work so much better if it arrives on its own.
[bctt tweet=”Statistically, around 50% of households store leaflets in a safe place. This is normally so they and others can view them later on.” username=”@athomegrind”]
Why is Friday such a popular day for mailing & distribution?
Many free newspapers send editions out on this day. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from distributing on a Friday if you really want to. It’s just that the advertisement will likely land in a pile of other rival flyers which will make it lose some of its punch.
Many clients view Friday as a prime day to distribute so the advertising space can become overcrowded for this reason. Why not be different and break the mold?
Like I say, one thing that really bugs people is seeing a messy stack of leaflets dumped through their letterbox. I’m sure you can understand.
Will I be safe when distributing at night?
Flyer distribution is very much a solitary job (which i personally like). If you are working nights then please try to stay safe as you walk the streets doing your rounds.
As I say, you will be alone for the most part so keep your wits about you. This is especially true if you are distributing in a rough area of town.
Flyer distributors normally work in teams anyway when they’re not alone. You will be safe in the knowledge that your team mates will be nearby perhaps distributing on the next block along.
This particular talking point is me a being little overly-cautious but you never know who you might run into. I’ve never been in any danger in my time as a flyer distributor so you shouldn’t fret about it.
Distribution jobs normally revolve around daytime shifts but your boss may occasionally ask you to work nights. However, this kind of work is time flexible. You can always just choose to work during the day if you really want to avoid the night times.
You also need to take into account the winter months when the sun sets earlier and there is generally less light. In my view, people may also be less receptive or courteous if you are distributing in the evening.
Is distributing in the evenings a good idea?
Some people even find it rude if you try to distribute flyers to them late in the evening. To them, it’s similar to receiving a sales/cold call really late at night. I’m sure you can understand the reasoning behind this.
Will I be safe distributing at the weekend?
Weekday evenings should be fine for distribution. However, people tend to be a tad more rowdy on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night as you can imagine. This can be even more of an issue if you are handing out flyers specifically for bars and nightclubs.
You don’t need someone like me to tell you that drunk people can be stupid. I’m stupid even when I’m not drunk, so there’s that. To be honest, there is no probable reason why you should run into any trouble while distributing. Things should go smoothly if you use common sense.
Do the seasons affect what or when you are distributing?
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter all cater to different kinds of distribution marketing. It seems apparent to me that a lot of distribution work has to do with the right timing.
That might sound complicated so let me break it down for you into a simpler analogy. If you are distributing in the Summer months then you might find yourself handing out flyers for an ice cream business, for example.
This is great because the summer months are the opportune moments to advertise that particular business and flog ice cream. This is better than doing it during the winter.
In the winter months, you might be posting leaflets through doors that provide central heating services instead. A heating business will take full advantage of this season. They will use it to:
- boost leads
- increase sales
- improve overall efficiency within their company
Does that make more sense now? If you distribute something in the wrong season then it may well still work, but it probably won’t be as effective. The more savvy brands don’t want to waste time and money on mistimed distribution campaigns.
How do I find the right time to distribute? A busy location is a good thing if you are handing out flyers, believe me. Alternatively, some flyers and leaflets are evergreen and will be in circulation all year round. This means they won’t have to comply with any particular season.
Is distribution marketing more popular in the Summer?
Brands may even choose to increase their distribution operations specifically during Spring and Summer. The weather will be better so they will know for sure that there will be more people out and about to receive flyers on the streets.
No recipient wants to receive flyers out in the cold, wind and rain. In addition, the flyer distributor probably doesn’t want to be there either (I wouldn’t). If you don’t properly protect advertisements then they can also suffer from water damage, especially posters.
Do public holidays affect what or when you are distributing?
Public holidays usually mean that most people will have at least some time off work. A bigger portion of the public will be in places they don’t usually go to. This is a good thing because it frees them up to receive distribution materials more easily.
On the other hand, some leaflets and flyers are in circulation all year round, no matter what the subject is. This is because time doesn’t affect whatever product or service a brand chooses to advertise as much.
Is catalog distribution more popular during Christmas?
Catalogs and brochure distribution is very common around the Christmas holidays. The catalog companies know that many consumers buy gifts during this time.
They know that people spend a ridiculous amount of money where they wouldn’t normally. Consequently, like any other business, they exploit it for profit (and rightly so).
Will I have to work to a deadline as a distributor?
Normally, your boss will assign you a work rota with rigid shifts. If not that, you will receive a big pile of leaflets or flyers from your employer. You will need to distribute all of this before a certain deadline.
Different distribution employers like to do things in different ways, from my experience. The benefit of a deadline is that it gives you room to plan out your work.
You can delegate to yourself how many hours you want to work each day. A distributor will have until the deadline to get rid of all their flyers, posters, leaflets or catalogs.
You can then choose when you want to work before hitting that deadline. It’s your decision, so you can distribute them all in one go and just get them out of the way (my personal preference).
Alternatively, you can spread the workload out thinly over days or weeks. This is a good option if you have other commitments like me. Deadlines can apply to freelance jobs too if you are working with a client who needs work done urgently.
You can find plenty of freelance distribution jobs on platforms such as Fiverr. Here you can connect with thousands of clients from around the world which means lots of work for you.
Why are deadlines important in flyer distribution?
In any industry, a deadline is a goal that pushes you forward so you can improve. This is the intention anyway. It shouldn’t matter too much if you miss a deadline as long as it doesn’t happen too frequently.
Sometimes you won’t be able to meet a deadline because of something that is out of your control. Although, you should still take it seriously.
How long do distribution marketing campaigns last for?
The lengthier distribution campaigns tend to be a lot more costly for the client. For this reason, a client trying out flyer distribution marketing for the first time might choose to start with a short campaign. This is understandable as they are unsure of the process.
As a distribution employee, you would preferably want your employer to assign you a long distribution campaign. This is because there will be more work for you.
A door-drop distributor’s campaign will last as long as it takes to cover all of the residences their boss has assigned them to target. In many cases, it depends on how much ground you have to cover so it will take as long as it takes.
It should now really hit home for you how much of a factor time is in the arena of flyer distribution. You should now have a much better idea of when the best times are for distributors to work or not work.
We can learn that distribution is most effective when you can find a high concentration of the public all in one place. We also know that their are specific days of the year when it is more advantageous to distribute. These days include public holidays and particular seasons too.
I advise your next step should be to take note of times and places in your local area. You can then observe when they are busy with people or not. This will clue you in on when the best time is to distribute. It would also be wise to study up by reading even more articles and books about flyer distribution
You now have a better grasp of how the right timing can influence flyer distribution. Why not discover What Are The Duties & Responsibilities Of A Flyer Distributor?
Are you happy working to a deadline or do you prefer more traditional working hours? When do you believe are the best and worst times to distribute? Please don’t forget to share this with your friends and comment below. Thanks for reading!
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