Living in an increasingly digital world where electronic mail and messaging apps are the most popular channels of communication might lead one to think there’s not much use for envelopes anymore, in business or elsewhere. However, contrary to common belief, envelopes are far from obsolete. The demand for printed mail may have decreased over the years, but envelopes are still alive and well in the business environment, being used for general correspondence with existing or potential clients and business partners, or for sending marketing materials, statements, invoices and other important business documents.
So, whether your business mostly uses A4 envelopes, commercial envelopes, booklet envelopes or any other envelope type, you need to be aware of their importance, explore your options and know how to choose the right envelopes for your mailing needs.
Why business envelopes matter
We’ve clarified that envelopes still have many uses in business settings, but why is it so important to choose a proper envelope and not go with any random option out there? What makes these common and seemingly inconspicuous packaging items so important for businesses? They might not look like much, but the truth is there’s more to envelopes than meets the eye.
As we’ve already mentioned, with the transition from paper to digital, print and physical mail are not as prevalent as they once were. Paradoxically, that makes business envelopes all the more important. With fewer of them being sent, the ones that reach recipients are bound to be noticed, so as a business you can’t afford to mail out plain envelopes that don’t communicate anything to the receiver.
You can’t ignore the fact that visuals have a powerful impact on people, whether we’re talking customers, employees or business partners, and they can easily influence the decision-making process. A nicely designed envelope that’s visually appealing is more likely to attract positive attention and make the recipient curious about what it contains than a white envelope with no distinguishable elements on it. Even if the content is great, it may never see the light of day because the packaging is unattractive. If you want people to open your mail the minute they receive it, you need to encourage them to look inside and that means you need to choose the right packaging.
Keep in mind that every item that your business uses tells something about your brand, and envelopes make no exception. The type of envelopes you use, the paper, colour schemes, prints and all the other elements included in their design are a direct reflection of your brand and the values it stands for. These aspects can either reinforce your brand’s identity and message when used properly, or they can hamper your branding efforts when they’re left to chance. Since envelopes can sometimes serve as the first point of contact between customers and your business, and you only get one chance to make a good first impression, you better make it count by investing in business envelopes as part of your marketing strategy.
In addition, a great envelope design can also make your business more recognizable and help you stand out from the crowd. In a sea of unremarkable envelopes, sending customised business envelopes is a sure way to establish yourself as a trustworthy and reputable brand and add an air of professionalism to your mail communication.
How to choose the right envelope for your business
When it comes to business envelopes, the options seem rather limitless. Providers such as Bestbuyenvelopes offer a wide range of envelopes in various colours, sizes, formats and materials, for both professional and personal mailing requirements. So, what should you look out for when choosing envelopes for your business? While there’s no right or wrong way to go about it, as envelope choice largely depends on personal preference, there are a few aspects you should consider when making your pick.
With so many design options out there, you might be tempted to go a bit overboard in terms of style. However, since you want your business envelopes to look neat and professional, we recommend choosing a minimalist design with elements that can convey your brand’s message in a clear way. You might want to steer clear from flashy hues or intricate patterns and opt for something more subtle instead like grey, cream, or white colour schemes.
You can get so caught up in choosing colour palettes, textures and layouts that you might forget a very important aspect: spelling. Needless to say, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes are anything but appealing and can render your branding efforts useless. You need to pay extra attention to the written messages on your envelope and make sure you correct all the errors that slipped into your text. It’s equally important to choose an intelligible font that doesn’t make the reader strain their eyes to decipher the message. Formal fonts that people are already familiar with are the best option.
Finally, avoid adding too many elements like logos, prints, images or fonts to your envelopes as this can confuse the receiver and make it more difficult for you to get your message across. Removing the visual noise allows the readers to focus on the information and makes them perceive you as a professional brand.
Wrapping up
A lot of people mistakenly believe that the only purpose envelopes serve is to carry content, so it’s not worth giving them too much thought or investing in them. This couldn’t be any further from the truth as envelopes have become an effective marketing tool and an integral part of the branding strategy, so their importance should not be minimised or ignored.
Whether you’re using envelopes to communicate with clients, employees or other stakeholders, make sure you do your research and choose the right envelopes for your business, as this can help you stand out from your competitors and build a stronger brand.
