How to choose the right distribution method

Picking the wrong distribution method is the easiest way to waste a budget. Each method targets a different audience, costs different amounts, and converts at different rates. Match the method to the goal and your campaign works on the first try.

Door-to-door delivery

Best for: neighborhood awareness, local services, real estate, food delivery promos. Workers walk a residential block and place flyers in approved spots — usually door handles or under welcome mats. Coverage is high, but conversion is slow because the recipient sees the flyer hours later.

Hand-to-hand distribution

Best for: events, openings, time-sensitive offers, urban foot traffic. Workers hand flyers directly to passersby. Conversion is fastest because the recipient is engaging in real time. Cost per flyer is higher because each placement requires interaction.

Posting on poles, boards, and approved walls

Best for: long-tail awareness, community events, gigs, classes. The flyer stays up for days, generating slow but persistent visibility. Lowest cost per flyer; highest compliance risk if your zone has rules about where posting is allowed.

Business counter placement

Best for: complementary offers, partnerships, neighborhood retail. Workers ask businesses to display your flyer at the counter. High conversion because customers are already in a buying mindset. Slower distribution because each placement requires a conversation and a yes.

Windshield distribution

Best for: high-volume area saturation in parking lots and event venues. Workers tuck flyers under windshield wipers across a lot. Highest reach per dollar in the right venue; check local rules first since some cities and lots prohibit it.

Event distribution

Best for: capturing a captive audience at concerts, markets, sports events, festivals. Workers position themselves at entry/exit points to catch attendees. Conversion rates rival hand-to-hand because attendees self-select into your target audience.

Campus distribution

Best for: student-targeted offers, late-night food, tutoring, gigs. Workers cover college campuses through approved boards, dorms, or student hubs. Cost-efficient and well-targeted if your offer fits a student demographic.

The fastest way to choose

Ask yourself one question: where does my ideal customer already spend attention?A late-night food delivery brand should pick door-to-door in residential blocks. A live concert promoter should pick hand-to-hand near the venue. Your customer's context is the answer.