Business Article - Stationery Tips for Your Business
When running a business, it is important to always try to find ways to advertise the idea or theme of the business; get the name out there even if it seems innocent in nature. The easiest way to do that is with a certain business product. Business cards are a nice way to pass the word but stationery is more inadvertent. This product is used on a daily basis and is sent to anyone who has contact with the business. Stationery comes in all different colors and sizes. Designs and logos can be added to it by computer or by order.
When choosing stationery, most business owners go with quality over quantity. This means less for more instead of more for less. Fortunately, it aids business owners in nonchalantly advertising for the business that it represents so that the profits pay for the product. With so many different people viewing communication from businesses it is bound to increase sales. How can a business get stationery designed specifically for them? Open the telephone book, search the internet, drive to the local printer, or go to a stationery shop; all of these should be able to assist a person in some way with their decisions.
In most cases, a business owner will choose a certain company to produce the stationery; giving specific details as to the color, design, header, logo, etc. of the product. If it is produced in this manner, with the business owner providing the details but not actually being present for the process, the business owner may have to wait to view the actual product. A demo is sent by the chosen company representing what the finished product will look like. If it is incorrect or there are errors in spelling, etc. it will have to be corrected and returned for approval. This can be frustrating for the business owner and, in some cases, unacceptable. However, some prefer the contact with a live person versus the alternative; ordering online.
There are certain business owners who choose to take the online approach and design the stationery themselves. Many companies now offer the ability to design stationery to preference online so that it is viewable immediately by the purchaser. This ensures that the satisfaction of the customer is guaranteed. If there is an issue, such as a grammatical error or misspelled word, the customer can see it immediately and correct it before the order is produced, saving time and money for both parties involved. It is less of a hassle for the busy business owner and there is no wait time for the product demo to be shipped, corrected, and shipped back again. This is the main reason that the online print services are so popular.
Designing stationery for the business should not be all serious. It should be enjoyable and fun while still being somewhat simple and straightforward. These questions should help to serve as a guide when choosing stationery design.
What type of look is needed? If the plain old black ink on white paper is what the business owner wants, go with that. Remember though that even a little hint of color can make the letterhead stand out to those who see it. If you want to enhance the letterhead, use the color and make it pop. The letterhead is probably the first thing that a person will see when they look at any communication from the business unless, of course, the letterhead is dull and boring. No more attention may be given to it than necessary.
Would colored paper be more of a fit for the business or will the plain white suffice? This is another decision that the business owner must make when choosing stationery. The look of plain white paper is somewhat cold. It is possible that a warmer color may be more attention getting when sending communications. Consider a tinted paper. A tinted paper offers just a hint of color to offset the document from the others that surround it in plain, stark white. It gives the added advantage of recognition. A person would immediately recognize this document lying in a mess of other documents on their desk.
Is a logo or other image preferred? If a business or company logo is included, it serves as another attention grabber. It distinguishes the business and makes it unique. A small image representing the business is acceptable also. An example: A wedding planner may choose to use an image of a happy bride and groom as a part of the letterhead. This conveys slight emotion to the person receiving this communication.
The overall style of the letterhead can be interesting if the creator so chooses. Will it be traditional (classic), funky, or more modern? This is all up to the creator. The layout should be representative of the business. If the business is innovative and fresh, choose something that reflects those qualities. Different layouts can be viewed online and the creator can choose one to use with ease.
One of the most important things to consider is the information that should appear on the stationery. The name of the business, the address, phone number, fax number, mobile phone number, possibly a home address, etc.; all of these choices should be decided upon and set in stone prior to production. It is important to go over these details several times so that there are no accidental omissions. It would be a shame to print and pay for 1500 sheets of stationery only to realize later that the business phone number was not listed.
If there are several addresses listed on this letterhead, which of these can be used to contact the person it is created for? This is a common oversight. Many people who send documents with a letterhead list several addresses. The smart creator will highlight or bold the contact address and list it as a contact address. This enables people to reply to a document that was sent and send it to the correct address without delaying the period in which it should be received. Also, if there is a web site URL or an e-mail address, do not forget to include it on the letterhead so that it is easy for people to make contact quickly and easily. So many people communicate via e-mail now that it would almost be detrimental to a company to not have a web site. Always ensure that this information is available on the documents that are sent during communication.
Where would the creator prefer to have this information positioned? There are many options. The information could be at the top right, top left, top center, bottom right, bottom left, or bottom center. It all depends on what the creator’s preference is. Try several different positions and layouts to see what fits best for the business. It is just a piece of paper though, so do not drag out the decision making process.
If the business belongs to any federation or is a member of an institution or organization should that be displayed on the letterhead? It is important for real estate professionals to show a Realtor logo on any documentation because it means that they are a member of the NAR. This lets others know that those displaying the logo support a special code of ethics. Many other organizations, institutions and federations subscribe to similar codes. It would be advantageous for this to be put on the letterhead to show what type of business practices that the company stands for.
Pick a suitable font for the letterhead. There are many different fonts that are available; possibly hundreds. Whichever fits the best with the layout and logo is the suggested choice. Again, it is a matter of the personal taste of the creator that ultimately decides. This can range from AgencyFB to Vrinda but there are probably even more than that available.
Does the business have a slogan? If so, should it appear on the letterhead? The decision is up to the creator. If the business does, indeed, have a slogan it is always a good idea to add it to the letterhead. A slogan is something that conveys a message to others. It makes a statement about the business and creates a sense of passion for what the business does for others. Take State Farm for instance, their slogan is “Like a good neighbor...” If the business has something that is catchy or emotion evoking, put it in the letterhead. It definitely cannot hurt. Its position must be determined the same as the rest of the information. It should also be determined what font, size, color, etc. that the slogan should be in.
If the documents that need to be conveyed require more than one sheet, it would be a financially advantageous decision to purchase the same color of paper in bulk without the letterhead so that the more expensive letterhead stationery can be used only on the first page of the communication. This prevents waste while still ensuring a smooth transitioning document. There is no change in the color of paper so it should not throw the reader off at all.
Whatever the choice, enjoy the results of the decision. Stationery is not just for beauty it is for esteem.