Business Letterhead
A business letterhead is not just a stationery item, but gives vital information about you and your business, enhances your image. It has an individuality of its own and conveys to the recipient details about your self. Hence, creating a business letterhead is not just getting a few words printed at the top or bottom of a piece of paper. It is a form of communication.
To understand what goes into this form of communication, this article aims to give the reader a few guidelines. Of course, you do have the option of either designing your own business letterhead or making use of the services of a professional designer. For the latter, look around the World Wide Web or the Yellow Pages.
Guidelines before Designing a Business Letterhead
? The Budget: You need to have a clear-cut budget in mind in proportion to the quantity of letterheads you will be using in connection to your business. Then consider your budget with regard to the overall design and layout.
? The Purpose: A business letterhead on which handwritten information is conveyed need not be much trouble. However, if it is constantly going to pass through a photocopier or a fax machine, as in the case of sending to hundreds of clients, the letterhead should be designed with more attention to detail. The words should not get blurred on its route through a fax machine. Nor should the paper be of the type that constantly gets jammed or damaged.
? The Hues: You should decide on whether you want the letterhead to be in simple black-and-white tones or with a dash of color. Remember that color letterheads means more dollars, so find out if it fits in your budget. It is possible to even use a single hue instead of a multi-hued VIBGYOR spectrum without creating a serious dent in your wallet.
? The Target: If you are aiming to use the letterheads for a particular set of clients, the letterhead should be designed keeping them in mind.
? The Envelope: Dont forget the dressing! When mailing or couriering information via your letterhead, make sure that you send it in a well-designed envelope. Remember that it is the envelope that the recipient will first be looking at and you need to make a good impact.
The Next Step: The Layout
? The Paper: Most people are ignorant about the different types of paper used towards making business cards, letterheads and other types of stationery. A business card and most greeting cards are made of cover paper or cardstock as this is stiff and durable. A business letterhead, on the other hand, is made from what is known as bond paper. This is because of its good absorbent properties it soaks ink. Some bond papers are given a special coating to enhance its look.
? The Font: The text is the core of your business letterhead. So make sure it is displayed in clear, legible font. This does not mean going over the top and putting the words in extra-large format! So, firstly, use the correct size font. Remember the purpose of the letter head writing a letter - and see that there is adequate space for putting in the text of your actual letter! Experts recommend using a point size of up to 14 points and not less than 9 points. Secondly, preferably use one uniform font. Thirdly, dont go overboard in displaying words in a bold or italicized format.
Most expert designers in USA recommend the use of Serif font due to its easy readability and formal tones. For tiny text words, such as in text at the bottom of the letterhead (the footer), they recommend the use of Sans Serif font. However, remember there is no hard and fast rule. Ultimately, you need to use your own judgment with regard to choosing the right font.
? The Spacing of Text: It is absolutely vital that the words you use on your business letterhead are not crowded together. Avoid having words knocking or leaning on one another. SPACE between words as well as between one line and the next should be properly maintained.
? Templates: There are a whole lot of sites on the World Wide Web dedicated solely to templates. Some of these have step-by-step instructions to designing your own templates. Other sites provide readymade templates. Yet others provide information about specific designers who create business letterheads for the corporate world. Whichever you opt for, select one that creates a very good impression the very first time the first time will lead to more times, and further strengthen the business relationship in a positive way.
? The Overall Look: There should be a proper coordination between the colors, the text, and the generally layout in order to create a good impression. The words and the graphics should combine well together and blend in such a way that the person who is reading the information is not paying attention to merely one aspect. For example, admiring the colorful design in the corner, and ignoring the main text part of the letter defeats the very purpose of the letter.
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