A well designed business letterhead will say a good deal about your company
. If you are not artistically minded designing your own letterhead could prove to be too much of a challenge and you may want to think about approaching a graphic designer instead. The actual letterhead printing is best left to the experts as the printers use a high quality ink and have a selection of paper weights and finishes to perfect the final look.
In case you would like to try your hand at producing your own design, have a look at these ideas to get you started. Remember, if it all gets too hard, a graphic designer is only a phone call or mouse click away.
Surfing the Web
If time is on your side, surf the internet for ideas. Microsoft Office has a free tutorial for setting up a letterhead using Microsoft Word. There is advice for the initial layout and format and instructions on the use of colours to suit your business and existing logos. Trying design ideas on line is so much easier than on paper. Cut and paste or edit existing documents till you get the image you are after or close the whole page and start again.
If you don't already have one, there are free or share wear paint and drawing software programs that allow you to draw your design and experiment with layers and backgrounds.
Pre-designed templates
There are some rather good sites on line that have pre-designed templates especially for letterheads. Once you have downloaded the template, editing is easy. You can start with the basic white background and the addition of one or two colours for your logo and see the results on screen.
Brainstorming
Get creative and set up a brainstorming session with your staff. Start with a blank sheet of paper or an existing letterhead. Grab a bunch of colourful marking pens and see what the team comes up with.
Graphic Designers
The best outcome for a professionally styled letterhead is by using an experienced graphic designer. Most printers have designers on staff or perhaps use freelancers who will work closely with you to bring your ideas to life or start from scratch to portray your company image. They may even suggest envelopes printing to match the letterheads.
Online Printers
Consider the convenience of using online printers over the local printer. There are many to choose from online so do research the market well to make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm. Look for a printer who offers discounts for bulk printing or equal costs for colour over black and white.
Letterheads can be bold and brassy or simply elegant depending on the style of your company and the look you want to achieve. Strive for perfection to present a professional look and you will go a long way in setting your business reputation for the future