Invoice templates play an essential role in keeping your business running smoothly. They’re a way to maintain your finances in an easy-to-follow record. Invoices are also how your business will track any payments due, and they legitimize your request for payment and serve as a legal paper trail. But they can also be so much more than that. They can help you to build your brand.
Today, many online accounting platforms and financially focused websites feature invoice templates that you can download and use for free. However, while these standard invoice templates are useful to get an idea of how to create an invoice, you can take it further. Instead of a stock-standard invoice, you can customize your invoice to enhance your business image. With a little bit of effort, your invoice templates can help to reflect your overall brand identity and ethos and act as part of your marketing material too.
5 Ways Invoice Templates Boost Your Brand and Your Business Image
If you’re wondering how to do this, these five tips make a great starting point.
1. Visual Alignment
Your invoice templates are an extension of your brand. Therefore, they should have the same key visual identity points your company is known for. This will include but isn’t limited to your logo, the same color scheme as your overall brand, and the same font styles.
This repeated use of color and imagery will carry your brand identity with it. It will become a point of recognition for clients. Plus, it acts as another way to foster customer trust and loyalty. Having your logo and brand information present makes it easy for clients to contact you if there are any queries about your invoice. This makes you appear professional and adds an element of relatability to your brand overall.
2. Create Consistency
As your invoice is going to be a representative and relatable extension of your brand, the template you create needs an easy-to-read layout. This will help to showcase your professionalism each and every time you use it.
Ensuring your invoice is error-free in the template stage will ensure that you don’t have to waste time editing or correcting it every time you need to bill a client. The formatting and the layout that you use will then stay consistent and be easy for clients to navigate. Clients love consistency, and an easy-to-read invoice adds to the overall experience.
3. Establish Professionalism
Typos and grammatical errors can create a bad impression, even if they’re on an invoice. Ensure that there are no typos on your invoice template and that the wording you use is clear and professional. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of jargon as you don’t want to cause any confusion.
Clearly state what is being billed for, what the payment terms are, and what payment details are available. All of this will highlight your attention to detail and show that your brand truly cares about the customer experience.
4. Increase Personalization
While an invoice is traditionally a tool to receive payments due, it can also be a way to further drive home a brand message or market a promotion. Easy ways to add personalization include incorporating small ad banners or graphics that relate to a specific season.
A simple Christmas hat on your logo can go a long way toward making your brand feel more human. Clients often will respond to these small additions better than full emails with marketing news, since it’s less intrusive.
Don’t forget a thank you message at the end either. Gratitude in business not only promotes your brand, but it helps to cement relationships.
5. Make A Lasting Impression
By creating several different printable invoice templates, you’ll set yourself apart from the competition. Customizing your invoice templates will ensure you stand out while showcasing your brand’s strong points. Plus, it will ensure that you remain memorable to your customers. If you’re savvy about it, you can even make your customers smile.
In this way, having different but professional invoice templates, you’ll show you are relatable and easy to identify with, keeping your customer base loyal and your clients happy.
By using your invoice templates as an extension of your brand’s image and reach, you’ll be able to tap into every avenue possible to set yourself apart. After all, your invoice isn’t just a way to send payment requests to clients, but it’s another way to reinforce who you are with them too.
Use Your Invoice As A Brand Builder
Having a strong visual identity associated with your brand will enhance your overall reputation. It will also reinforce the positive relationship you have with your clients while building up a recognizable and reputable brand image.
Of course, there are numerous other ways that invoice templates can enhance your brand reputation, but these five tips are a great place to start.
