The importance of customised Word templates
February 2012
When creating word documents, whether it is for internal use or to deliver to our clients, we want to make sure that these are clear, easy to read, have a standard style that creates unity across our business.
The creation and development of customised templates is vital for this to be effective.
A well-built template is a lot more than a logo on the header and nice colours that complement our business identity. The template needs to work well with styles, numbering, heading levels, etc.
Even the simplest of templates should have these features. Having a solid template will enable us to have documents that work together in the same way, that allow us to transfer content from one document to another without having our headings and bullets going haywire.
Also, it is important that our clients can see the similarity in style and fluency between different documents. It is a common situation where a business will pitch with a great-looking document and once we get the job they use standard documents that are unstable in look and feel.
These days, customised templates can even have toolbars that easily give access to styles and commonly used functions in your document.
We all know that there are thousands of pre-built templates available online, but non of them have a set list of styles according to your business and setting these up can be a nightmare for most users.
Here are some reasons why it is imperative to have a premium customised template:
Unity of branding:
It is almost impossible to establish your company as a brand if you are using a free template. For one, you will be using the same template that many others are using. When it comes to corporate image, you definitely want your customers to find that your brand stands out from the crowd, creating recognition and association with quality products or services. In the case of using free or built-in templates this is close to impossible.
Creating a positive experience:
Most of the free and built-in templates look nice, but you may be unhappy with the experience that these templates offer. You will find that the appearance of the template is too simple, the font sizes and colours are not in sync and the styles have no unity (e.g. bullets don't look the same throughout the document, not being clear on what is the level of the bullet) right place. By having a well-built template you will have a more positive user experience, and the time you save creating and editing a document is invaluable.
Duplicate:
When you choose to use a free or built-in template you run the unavoidable risk that the template will be used by other companies and individuals. Making your documents look like potential competitors' documents is a risk for winning business and credibility.
Functionality:
Most of the free and built-in templates are meant for general use and they are not customised to suit the specific needs of a particular business. With a custom-built template you can ensure that it has the features and functions your business needs. By standarising the functionality of your templates across your business, at the same time any staff member will be collaborating in the unity of your documents.
Better support:
When you use a free or built-in template and you need help with a problem or edition, finding help is a long and painful process, waiting for online help, searching forums, etc. But if you are using a customised built template, you will always get support from the designer. This is an important aspect if you are serious about your documents and their unity.
Contact us to find out more about customised templates and the benefits they offer.
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