Discuss letterhead, including its design, required contents, and the placement and appearance of those elements.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Letterhead often is the first section a reader notices on a letter. Thus, it is important your letterhead appropriately reflect the essence of the business or individual (i.e., formal, technical, creative, etc.). The letterhead should leave ample room for the contents of the letter. When designing a letterhead, consider its contents, placement, and appearance.

A letterhead should contain these elements:
•       Complete legal name of the individual, group, or company

•       Complete mailing address: street address including building, room, suite number, or post office box, along with city, state, and postal code

•       Telephone number(s) and fax number, if one exists

Many letterheads also include a Web address, an e-mail address, and a logo or other image. If you use an image, select one that expresses your personality or goals.

•       In terms of placement of elements in the letterhead, many letterheads center their elements across the top of the page. Others align some or all of the elements with the left or right margins. Sometimes, the elements are split between the top and bottom of the page. For example, a name and logo may be at the top of the page with the address at the bottom of the page.

•       With regard to the appearance of letterhead elements, use fonts that are easy to read. Give the organization or individual name impact by making its font size larger than the rest of the text in the letterhead. For additional emphasis, consider formatting the name in bold, italic, or a different color. Choose colors that complement each other and convey the goals of the organization or individual.

When finished designing the letterhead, determine if a divider line would help to visually separate the letterhead from the remainder of the letter.