In winning a client or in winning over colleagues, image is everything. And the first time you create an image is when you make a good impression. Image doesn't only pertain to how you look, how you act, what company you run. In order to be taken seriously with by other people, you must keep in mind that image also pertains to the most obvious part of written communication - your letterhead. Printing a well-crafted letterhead should be part of your deal.

A letterhead can be your front liner in communication. It's the first thing that your clients and colleagues will see when they receive a mail from you. Not only will a letterhead give them an idea of where you are located, it will also affect how your clients perceive you. A letterhead contains your everything about your company at a glance; a letterhead acquaints your company to your prospective clients, and indicates who you are, what products or services you are offering.

Design your letterhead with the good company image in mind. You should keep in mind when you select your printer too. So what should you put in your letterhead? In one word: information. And when we say information, we mean information that includes the company's name, address, contact person, phone number and fax number, e-mail address. Should your company own a website, indicate it on the letterhead too.

Your letterhead should also have your logo. Your logo is easily the most recognizable representation of your company. When you're designing the letterhead, resize the logo to fit proportionately to your letterhead. It should be at 5x2 inches or smaller.

In general, letterheads are written this way: the logo and company name are indicated together on the upper side of the paper. The company's address and other contact details are placed near the bottom page. Standard sizes for letterheads are at 8.5 x 11 inches, because at that size letterheads sent easily through mail or fax.

Printing Your Letterhead

You can print your letterhead in three color printing options: one color, two colors, and full color. In general, printing at full color gives your business letter more depth and breadth. They also make your logos more identifiable. Be ready for the cost of quality though, the more colors included in a letterhead, the more expensive it is to print.

Choose quality stock paper in your printing. For more effect, use textured paper rather than plain bond paper. In choosing a printer, your printing company should choose high-quality printing methods. But of course, quality customer service should also be a part of your consideration.

When you've printed your letterheads, make sure that there are matching envelopes. So you can create a clean and professional look, the paper of your letterhead must be compatible with your envelope's paper. Don't economize too much the cost should you want to create a good impression. All the big companies you know make letterheads and their printing a part of their budgets.