Why are these important things to
have?
As a
business owner, you should at the very least have letterhead that is consistent
with your branding. By consistent, we
mean using your logo, brand colors and any shapes, fonts or other elements
associated with the logo. Letterhead can
be used for customer correspondence, invoicing and any other kind of "official"
business you conduct. It's professional. It's a must.
Notecards
are great to have on hand for those times when you need to send something with
a personal touch. They can function as a
thank you card, a "hi, how are you?" card, a gift card, you name it! They're
multi-purpose. And again, they need to
be consistent with your branding.
My business is on a serious budget.
How can I afford these pieces?
With a
little creativity, you can stretch any budget!
If you can't have a notecard and letterhead printed at a high-end
printer, you still have plenty of options.
See below! 
QUICK
SIDEBAR: When looking at a printed piece, if the colored ink runs all the way
to the edge of the paper, it's called a "bleed." Pieces with bled edges are more costly to
print and have to be done at a print shop.
·
Have
a graphic designer create letterhead for you as a Microsoft Word Document
without bleeds. You can print copies on your own printer (if the quality is
acceptable) or at a copy shop. Buy some
nice paper (we love the unusual sheen of 32 lb. paper) and you're set!
·
Have
a custom rubber stamp or a few hundred stickers made of your logo. Buy some blank notecards and envelopes at a
stationery store and affix a sticker or stamp to the front center of the
notecard. Voila! Instant branding.
·
If
stickers or a stamp aren't quite in the budget, buy blank notecards and
envelopes in a color that matches your brand.
Stationery stores carry almost every color of the rainbow. You just have to ask!
Remember
what we learned last month about frequency?
It's up to you to be your own "brand police." Every piece you have that bears your logo
should be consistent. Same logo, same
colors, same fonts, same elements.
Always. The purpose of consistency is to help people begin to recognize
your brand and your product or service.
Don't make it any harder for them!
Using pieces like letterhead and notecards will not only make your business
look more professional, but it's one more way to get your branding out there
and keep it out there!
© 2010 Trebuchet Communications