How to create a letterhead: five tips and seven ideas for inspiration

 

What is letterhead

If you run a business, you need a template for processing business documents, for example:

• letters
• invoices;
• promotional offers;
• legal notices;
• contracts;
• applications for projects.

The main components of the form:

• Name Generator;
• logo
• contact details: telephones, physical and electronic addresses.

It may also include:

• tagline;
• website addresses and social networks;
• Names of partners (if the company has several owners);
• registration number (for limited liability companies).

The corporate form is used both in paper and in electronic form. It performs the following tasks:

• Demonstrates professionalism: this is an element of branding along with the logo, business card, and website. The professional design of letters creates a single image of the business.
• Verifies authenticity. Imagine that you received two letters from banks with offers on profitable deposits: one on a regular sheet, the other on a company sheet. Which bank do you believe more? Forging a corporate template is more difficult than a simple message on white paper.
• Piques interest. It depends on the visual design whether they will read your letter or throw them into the basket. The first thing that the addressee will notice is the branding elements: colors, fonts, logo. How to demonstrate individuality with their help, we will describe in detail below. 

Five tips for creating a letterhead

The main rule in the design is to be guided by the nature of your organization. Picked up useful tips - choose what is right for you.

Take into account the specifics of the business

An audit company will not suit a multi-colored blank with bright drawings, and a stylist with a minimalistic design in soothing colors. The visual design should meet the brand style and expectations of the target audience.

Creative businessmen have more tools in their arsenal to express their character: be inspired by ready-made examples on your subject. For example, the barbershop replaced the standard sheet head with a stylized scallop, and the sommelier “spilled” a drop of wine on paper.

Colorize

Add some color to your business communication to set the tone for the content.

We offer several ideas to choose from:

• Think about what you want to highlight in color: the entire header, brand name or logo;
• Use bright contrasting combinations, if appropriate;
• draw a contour around the perimeter of the page: the frame can be thin or bold, solid or dashed, bright or muffled, with straight or rounded corners;
• add color to the footer (footer or footer);
• apply a color gradient in the header or across the sheet;
• pick a color background: it can even be dark, the main thing is that the text on it is easy to read.

Add a photo or graphic

Photos are more suitable for creative brands, but graphics - for any type of business. Take on such ideas:

• replace the header or footer with photos;
• place mirror drawings or patterns in opposite corners of the sheet;
• Choose the icons that match your style;
• use a watermark: this technique does not “eat up” the space on the page and gives the text an official look.

Work with geometry

This expressive technique immediately sets the character, reflects minimalism and conciseness. Here's how to apply it:

• create an inclined or asymmetric cap;
• Use geometry that duplicates the design of your site;
• “Scatter” simple geometric shapes associated with your company across the sheet.

Do not overdo it

Design in the first place must be functional so as not to distract attention from the content. Remember that the main purpose of the document is to convey the message, and the task of visual tools is to unobtrusively complement it.

Seven examples of inspiration

Corporate templates are always subject to the peculiarities of the business: letters from companies developing software and selling home goods cannot be similar. Think over details that emphasize your uniqueness. Picked up inspirational ideas for different types of organizations.

Medical institutions

The main criteria for medical documents are accuracy and conciseness. Creativity is inappropriate here - specific information is important: the God Name Generator of doctors, phone number and other contact information. Leave more space for the main message.

Legal organizations 

Such documents should look authoritative and contain only the necessary information without unnecessary details. We recommend applying a monochrome design and highlight the logo. The header can include the names of partners of the company.

Santa's blank 

Do you write Christmas mailings, promotional offers or letters from Santa Claus? Give messages a festive atmosphere: add an unusual background, drawings and bright colors, season with humor or expression. Just do not forget to leave a place for text on the sheet.

Charity organisations

Be creative in design to evoke positive emotions. Choose colors, photos or graphics that symbolize your work. You can add a slogan reflecting your mission and list the names of major donors or sponsors.

Construction companies

The creative and minimalistic design will suit the architectural and construction business. The graphics and geometry will look especially impressive here. Think about how to use them to succinctly convey the specifics of your organization.

Schools

The official style will suit you. Choose muted shades and focus on the logo - this will add solidity. And if you want to add volume, use watermarks or lined paper as the background.

Travel companies

Show your imagination - such letters can be as bright and colorful as possible to attract attention and convey the atmosphere of travel. Use panoramic photos instead of caps, add vibrant colors and graphics.

Four ways to create a form

1. Logaster. Develop branding in minutes with a convenient online service. First, create a logo in a few clicks, then select a form template.
2. Microsoft Word Word has all the necessary tools for creating a form. Prepare the components in advance (logo, title, photo) - and use the ready-made editor templates for the header and footer. 
3. Google Document Google text editor also offers a simple and intuitive way to create sample corporate documents. Select a template from the Google Document gallery, then add your text and illustrations.
4. Adobe Spark Just choose the size, shape, theme, image (from the program library or your own) and font - and download the finished document. 

What you need to know about printing

It is not enough to develop a stylish document for business correspondence: if you send letters by regular mail, take care of the printing so as not to spoil the impression of the brand.

• Choose quality paper. Discard ordinary thin paper: remember that a tactile sensation also works for your image.
• Check your printer settings. Make sure it supports high-quality printing on the selected paper type. This is especially important if you choose a complex design and a large number of colors.
• Place the text. Create a text file and print a message. Then paste the template into this file. If necessary, adjust its placement so that it does not overlap the text.
• Turn on the preview. Use the preview function to check how your document will look after printing. Make sure that no item is cropped, and only after that start printing.

conclusions

Creating a blank for business documents is not difficult - check all the steps on our checklist:

• develop a corporate style;
• decide on the style of the form (is there a place for creativity);
• Prepare all the tools in advance: text for a hat, logo, photograph, graphic or illustration;
• select the appropriate template;
• add your elements to it and brand;
• save the file: give a simple name (for example, “Letterhead”) and upload it to a folder on your computer where you can easily find it.