The first thing you have to consider is your company logo which should be the perfect representation of your product and services. You can simply play along the connotative meaning of your logo in designing the letterhead. If you still don’t have a company logo yet, you might want to ask a professional graphic artist to create one for you. The logo is a company investment because you can still reuse it for other publications and marketing purposes.

In creating a logo, the company’s personality has to be on top of your mind. Do you like to arrive formal and sophisticated? Or are you targeting the more youthful and edgy market? It depends on what you want the company to be like in the eyes of your target market. You have to choose an artwork that says a lot about this personality. It could be pictures, shapes or any design that reflects the company’s image and that would be catchy enough for your target market and business associates. You also have to put some consideration when it comes to the typeface of the company name on the logo. It is something the customers remember. Think how the “M” typeface of McDonald’s works. Same goes when it comes to the company’s official color. It is something that can make the company recognizable to customers.

As for the letterhead itself, the typeface you should use has to be limited to two. Never overuse the typeface because the design will seem too contrived. It is also a major sin to use all capital letters with the letterhead because they are more difficult to read. If you already use a certain typeface with other publications and marketing materials, you might consider using the same for the letterhead to promote consistency. Just make sure that the typeface you are using is easy to read. Not too big, but not too small as well. Of course, the company name should always be the larger type size and all the other secondary information must be printed between 9pt to 12 pt type size. The more important the information is, the larger it should arrive on paper. Also make sure that the typestyle exudes the personality of the company. If your company means serious business, you don’t want to use wacky typeface for your letterhead. Whether you opt for the standard serif and sans serif is all up to you. Just let the company’s identity show itself with your choices of design and you are good to go.

One good tip is to play along with the text. Graphic artists use text on a path or text wrapping to conserve space creatively. To do this, simply place your major text, such as the company name along the contours of your logo or any image you have on the letterhead. This projects a wacky and playful aura for the company, perfect for children stuff and services.

If you want an extra impact on your letterhead, you might want to use a block of your official color wherein you can place the company name done in white. This is what you call the reverse type. It is plain and simple and also economical when it comes to ink color use as this type of technique only requires at most, two colors.

Other graphic artists use the bleeds to add depth on the paper of your letterhead. Bleeds are when the printed copy intentionally ran off the edge of the sheet to create an effect that is pleasing to the eyes of the receiver of your business correspondence. It can serve as a good ambiance as the receiver reads a good message from your company.

Also providing a good ambiance while the receiver of the letter reads the content is a phantom screen or watermark. What you do is to select a text or probably the company logo, enlarge it and screen it very lightly as if it blends with the paper in a ghost-like fashion. Some psychologists think that watermarks or phantom screens can touch the reader’s subconscious mind. So instead of placing a logo as a watermark, you might want to print your company’s slogan or mission and vision. Who knows, the customers might unconsciously acquire the meaning installed on the watermark and subtly be encouraged to decide in favor of your product and services.

You can also try using metallic ink for the printing of the letterhead to achieve that sterling letterhead look. These inks are usually made of gold, silver and bronze, so if your company’s official color is at least one of those, this is a good option for you. But of course, this type of ink may cause you a whole lot more compared to using the regular ink. And you also need a lengthier production type for this. The important thing is you put a lot of thought on how you want your letterhead to look like so that it won’t be a waste of your time, effort and money.

Designing one should not be done hastily and without thought. While many may be tempted to just stick with one that carries the logo and the usual contact information, a letterhead’s design should have more than that. A good letterhead should be able to get your message across effectively.

Here are some factors to watch out for in creating an effective letterhead:
1.    Color: Not considering cost, black and white letterheads can be as effective as the colored ones. However, color can sometimes make you and your brand stand out more. It all depends on how effectively your chosen color blends into your logo’s design and product packaging. Hence, you might want to consider having your letterhead professionally designed. It cannot just be haphazardly put together.

In terms of cost, there is negligible difference between colored printing and black and white printing costs. The ultimate decider will really have to be the letterhead design. For some logos and brands, black and white printing may work better; while other can benefit from colored prints.

2.    Paper: For a printed letterhead, its effectiveness not only lies in the color and design. Paper texture and weight also matter. Selecting the right paper may be the difference between coming off as “unprofessional and cheap,”  and “masterful and classy.”

A paper’s texture has to be smooth. Business literatures are not scrapbook entries that need the texturized feel. Business letters come off better if they are printed out on smooth paper.

Likewise, paper weight determines the thinness of paper. It would not look good to have a well-designed letterhead printed out on onionskin paper. Thickness has to be just right. Besides, since a lot of correspondences are laid out as computer documents and printed using a laser or dot matrix printer, printer ink might bleed if the paper is too thin.

3.    Business Identity: Always have your logo in your letterhead. This builds brand recall and helps you increase your business’s popularity. You may argue that a letterhead is just a letterhead and not a print ad or a corner poster – yet this piece of paper is your everyday business card. It is given out to hundreds of people daily and you should not take its marketing power for granted. Hence, do not forget to put your all important logo in its design.

4.    Envelopes: When you have got a nice looking letterhead, do not forget to have matching envelopes designed and printed. This way, you get to reinforce your business identity inside and outside your print correspondences.

5.    Web Version: Since email is the fastest and most convenient way of corresponding these days, do not forget to have a web version of your letterhead designed. Having an email letterhead is as important as having the printed ones out. Emails are exchanged more commonly than actual letters so you should maximize this medium, as well.

Besides, you should not take that lowly piece of corporate paper for granted. Believe it or not, a letterhead can help you in marketing. It consistently reinforces your brand name and identity. It helps you build brand recall; thereby, creating more customers for you. The letterhead is your business card and your marketing flyer that is given out to hundreds of people daily.

The letterhead is an important element in the overall packaging of a business or product. It is an everyday representative of your business and the products you sell. Even when you can argue that the letterhead is only for correspondences that may not even be marketing or sales related, its overall look and design still carry much bearing on how your company will be perceived.

There are important factors that you should always have in a letterhead:
1.    Logo: A letterhead helps you build brand recall. This benefit would be wasted if your letterhead did not carry your logo. Logo and brand name may not always be synonymous in the consumer’s mind. Having your logo in the design assures that your business or product name goes with your business/ product insignia.

If you still do not have a logo, make sure to have one designed by a professional. Logos are important to any business entity and some investment should be made in getting one. Your logo should reflect your business’ image. It should also be distinguishable enough to establish your identity, as well as your business’ credibility. Likewise, your logo should have easy recall. Your logo cannot be too complex as it may not stick to your client’s mind.

2.    Contact Information: The letterhead, whether print or on email, is your everyday business card. Think of it as an easy access rolodex. It saves your clients the time and hassle of having to go through an entire block of business cards just to get to your information. They can just merely retrieve an earlier email or letter to know which number to call or address to go to.

For contact information, make sure to include your trunk line and fax number. Also, always include your general inquiry email addresses.

3.    Call to Action: Since letterheads also function as marketing flyers you give out on a daily basis, you need to have a call to action in your design. This goes beyond the business motto or tag line. A call to action encourages people to act/ buy. While letterheads are solely used for correspondences, there is nothing ethically wrong in optimizing this medium of communication. For a business, every move it makes is a move for or against its marketing – and good marketing is what creates customers. Therefore, everyday emails and letters should work for the business and help it market itself.