A letterhead is the branded heading on your business stationery, used for formal correspondence. Its primary function is to present official communications in a professional format that reinforces your company’s identity. A well-designed letterhead conveys credibility and establishes a visual identity for your paperwork, making your business recognizable to clients, partners, and suppliers.
Essential Information for Your Letterhead
A letterhead must provide clear and immediate information about your business. The most prominent element is your company logo, which serves as the primary visual identifier of your brand. Your full business name should be clearly displayed, often in a larger font size than the rest of the information to establish its importance.
Your physical address is another component, providing a point of contact for mail. A business phone number and a professional email address are expected for direct communication. Including your company’s website URL is also standard, directing recipients to your digital hub. Some businesses also add social media handles if those platforms are a significant part of their client interaction.
Methods for Creating Your Letterhead
Using a Template
For many businesses, especially new ones, using a pre-designed template is the most direct path to a professional letterhead. Software like Microsoft Word and online design platforms such as Canva offer letterhead templates that can be quickly customized. This approach is fast and cost-effective, allowing you to produce a functional design in minutes.
The main advantage of templates is their ease of use; you simply replace placeholder text and logos with your own information. However, since these templates are widely available, your letterhead may look similar to others. To mitigate this, select a template that closely aligns with your existing brand colors and typography.
Designing From Scratch
Creating a letterhead from scratch offers complete creative freedom and ensures a unique result. This method is best suited for individuals with some graphic design knowledge and access to professional software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign. Starting with a blank document allows you to control every aspect of the design, from the precise placement of your logo to the exact color values used.
This approach allows you to implement design principles like visual hierarchy, ensuring the most important information stands out. The downside is that this process is more time-consuming and requires a greater level of skill than using a template.
Hiring a Professional Designer
The third option is to hire a professional graphic designer to create a custom letterhead for you. A professional will work with you to understand your brand and create a letterhead that is visually appealing and aligned with your company’s values.
The primary benefit of this method is the assurance of a polished and unique final product that saves you valuable time. The main drawback is the cost, which will be higher than the other two options. Designers can be found on freelance platforms, and they will provide you with a final design file that is ready for both print and digital use.
Finalizing and Using Your Letterhead
Once your design is complete, the final step is to prepare it for use. You should have two versions of your letterhead: one for digital use and one for printing. The digital version is often saved as a PDF or integrated into a Microsoft Word template for sending electronic documents like invoices or proposals.
For printed correspondence, you will need a high-resolution file, such as a PDF or an EPS, to send to a professional printer. When printing, consider the paper stock. A heavier, higher-quality paper can reinforce the professionalism of your brand and leave a lasting impression on the recipient.