Print Design TipsTips and Information About Printing

Using full-color printing for your letterhead will enhance your brand image and cement the marketing message in the minds of those receiving the letterhead. Creating a brand identity is an essential component of differentiating yourself from the competition and as your letterhead is seen by so many people, not just your customers, it pays to design it with your branding in mind.

An easy differentiator is to use full color – using one or two-color letterheads color schemes does not allow you to be differentiated much – using full color will let you create a simulated watermark, using your logo, you can add a design to the reverse, unused side or use photographic images far more effectively. Using full color will allow you to more completely customize not only the letterhead, but the entire stationery package far more effectively than using one or two colors, meanwhile, the vast majority of letterhead and stationery packages rely on single or dual color schemes so you can more easily and effectively achieve a brand differential with full-color.

This leads us onto the wider aspects of your business printing requirements. Letterheads are seen by more people than any other piece of business stationery but they are not the only tool in your arsenal – business cards are probably a close second to business letterheads, but there are numerous other opportunities where you will be using printed matter to send to customers, business partners and suppliers, prospects and general public, local and government agencies (such as the I.R.S. but also think of the budgets wielded by a local county which needs millions of dollars of external contracted-in services and products).

Invoices, receipts, compliments slips, business cards and don’t forget the envelopes, all provide an opportunity to promote your logo, company name, tagline and your contact information. Every occasion you have for sending printed materials for any reason should have the same basic components which provide a uniformity of message and image to all who see them. By ensuring that you are following the same theme with your stationery package you are seizing every opportunity to promote your business and engender the “idea” which is your brand identity.

Never underestimate how many people will see your letterhead and stationery package – it is not just the recipients of your letters or the accounts clerk who processes your invoice – send a letter through the mail and your letter will be handled by a number of mail workers before it gets to destination; if your recipient is in an office block, numerous other people will see the package or letter before it gets placed on the desk of whoever it is intended for. This is minor in comparison to many other marketing efforts but the effect is compounded by repeating the same thing over and over – the result is that your simple envelope and letterhead become synonymous with you as a business and this is the sign you have created a brand identity.

Most of your competitors will not be taking the time or energy to create a stationery set which clearly differentiates themselves from the rest of the pack – it does not need a great deal of time on your part nor a huge investment but this is an easy win for you.