Business envelopes have been around for centuries. Surprisingly, many companies have yet to explore their full potential.
While most organizations utilize business envelopes primarily for correspondence, these documents can provide an excellent way for brands to showcase themselves to existing and potential clients.
This article shall serve as a handy guide to business envelope application and design.
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1. Acknowledge the Significance of Business Envelopes
Business envelopes are almost always branded. They typically bear the sending organization’s name, logo, and contact information. That’s a sharp contrast from regular envelopes, whose covers are usually plain.
Printing your company’s details on a business envelope is an intelligent way to increase your brand’s exposure. It allows the recipient to interact with your branding information as they retrieve the enclosed correspondence.
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Besides, people have a way of holding onto branded envelopes. They may display these documents on their office desks, increasing awareness of your company. In comparison, plain envelopes tend to be quickly discarded due to their lower aesthetic appeal.
Below are additional ways business envelopes may impact your organization;
- Create a lasting impression on the recipient
- Portray your brand as an officially recognized entity
- Add a professional touch to your correspondence
- Hold and organize certain business documents, such as flyers and business cards.
- Facilitate everyday correspondences (just like regular envelopes)
2. Choose a Proper Envelope Size
A business envelope can be as small or as large as you want it. The envelope’s ideal size depends on its intended application.
Most business envelopes come in a standard #10 size, which measures 4 1/8″ by 9 1/2″. The #10 envelope is beloved for its flexibility. It can safely house a variety of official documents, from letters and invoices to bank statements, contracts, etc.
Besides the #10 envelope, you could also invest in the regular #9 envelopes. Measuring 3 7/8″ by 8 7/8″, #9 envelopes can equally accommodate a host of essential business documents.
However, perhaps the key thing to emphasize here is the significance of using business envelopes of diverse sizes.
Larger envelopes let you store documents without needing to fold them. They’re excellent for voluminous or sensitive docs, such as contracts and certificates. A large envelope also boosts the legibility of branding information.
On the other hand, smaller business envelopes (#5 - #7 envelopes) are suitable for most postal correspondences. You can safely use them with foldable documents, such as invoices.
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3. Pick a Suitable Printing Paper
One way to unlock the benefits of business envelopes is to have them designed on premium stock paper.
There are six primary types of paper grades used in business envelope production. They include;
Wove
Wove features short fibers. This paper grade is well-suited to most printing technologies. It has a glossy appearance and is available in multiple weights and colors.
Calendarized Paper
Also known as surfaced-enhanced white wove, calendarized paper is remarkably smooth. It’s perfect for heavy ink design processes.
Kraft
Kraft has longer fibers than wove and is commonly available in brown stock. While relatively hard, this paper grade is difficult to print due to its longer fibers. It’s incompatible with most printing technologies and unsuitable for complex graphics.
Specialty
Specialty papers come in diverse weights, colors, textures, and finishes. Thanks to their diversity, these papers are excellent for direct mail envelopes.
Recycled
Consider this option if you’re looking for sustainable business envelope papers. Recycled paper typically features between 10% and 30% post-consumer content.
Tear-Resistant
Tear-resistant paper is commonly made from waterproof polyethylene. It’s the best option to give your business envelopes a timeless appeal.
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4. Determine the Branding Information to Print on the Envelope
There’s so much branding information you can add to your business envelopes. The range from your company’s name to the logo, slogan, mobile number, etc.
The conventional wisdom is to utilize four lines on a business envelope’s cover. In that order, the lines would include your company’s name, logo, street address or PO Box number, and phone number.
You can add more branding information depending on the size of your business envelope.
A #10 envelope can accommodate other quirky details, such as your organization’s slogan and social media handles, without looking too chaotic.
Remember to pick an equally legible font for the branding information.
5. Know How to Properly Address a Business Envelope
When using a business envelope strictly for correspondence, the branding information on the envelope’s cover would ideally constitute your company’s address. It’s needless to add a second set of addresses.
But where should this address go?
First, a business envelope should be printed in a landscape orientation. You may choose to have your branding information on the top-right corner (for correspondence envelopes) or the middle-to-bottom part (for marketing envelopes).
Reserve the top-left corner of your business envelopes for the recipients’ addresses.
Whichever place you choose to print your branding information, ensure this part is less than ¼ of the envelope’s size while maintaining its legibility.
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Wrap Up
Switching from regular to business envelopes is a smart move in the modern corporate landscape, where cutthroat competition is the norm.
Not only does a professionally branded envelope aid correspondence between your company and its stakeholders. It also gives the enclosed message a powerful impression while discreetly boosting your brand’s image among your clients, partners, and other business stakeholders.
