Presentation folders are a key to creating a good presentation to launch to your audience. It cannot be denied that having professional presentation folders on hand for presentations can go a long way in assisting a person along his career path. What exactly are presentation folders?, you may be asking yourself. Presentation folders are simply professional, elegant folders that are often imprinted with a company's name and logo, as well as other pertinent information. Presentation folders are used to hold papers, brochures and other documents, and take the place of plain folders. Of course, presentation folders aren't just for use at executive meetings. You can find presentation folders in a variety of business settings, from casual to businesslike, and everything in between. Presentation folders complete the look of an organized, coordinated professional who knows exactly what he/she wants and what he/she needs to do to get it. Presentation folders are excellent marketing tools in and out of the workplace.

Of course, you may be wondering why presentation folders are so important. Well, not to state the obvious, but image is almost everything in the world, and especially so in the corporate world! A good 90% of any presentation is the image projected. You should complete that image with the use of presentation folders. You pull out all the stops for your own personal image -- well-dressed, well-groomed, well-mannered, impeccable, professional styling right down to your polished shoes and business socks. Shouldn't your important documents receive the same five star treatment?

Consider presentation folders as a must-have office accessory. While they won't make or break your professional image, presentation folders, whether they be custom presentation folders or standard printed presentation folders, can do a lot to project your professional image and help you out, no matter what your current status may be. If you're low on the corporate ladder, consider using company presentation folders to show your superiors that you are proud of the company you work for. Or create your own, to get your name and industry across. Remember, presentation folders are very functional, so it is worth putting some effort into using well designed ones for all of your business needs.

You may be wondering where you can obtain presentation folders from. If you are looking to use custom presentation folders that have your company's logo imprinted on them, check with your supervisor or co-workers with seniority. They may be able to turn up a few for you. If not, ask if you can create your own. Or, go ahead and make your own, but rather than using your company's logo on them, use your own!

Using the right presentation folders

Some presentation folders may seem insignificant when you first glance at them, but think -- and glance -- again! If you make the wrong choice in terms of presentation folders and their design, you can unfortunately affect your listener's ability and desire to appreciate your presentation to its full potential, as well as all of the work that went into it. Worse still, if you are presenting to an audience on behalf of your company, your bad choice of presentation folders or even lack of presentation folders can give a less than favorable impression of your company to your audience. When it comes to using the right types of presentation folders for your presentations, read and digest the following information.

First, your presentation folders should have a company logo imprinted on them. The company logo should always be presented on the fronts of your presentation folders. These front facing logos serve as a reminder to those viewing your presentation folders of your business presentation, as well as the company you are presenting for. Remember, the logo you use on your presentation folders should be large enough to be seen from more than a few feet away.

Next, let's talk about the color of your presentation folders. There are a wide variety of colors you can choose for your presentation folders, but your best bet is to keep with the colors and/or style of your company. If your company is more conservative, choose neutral, subdued or even dark colors. If your company is trendy and on the up-and-up in today's busy industry, go for bright, bold and vivid colors that automatically draw the eye. Bright colors for your choice of presentation folders can help with advertisement!

What about materials? Choose materials and thick folder stock that ensures that your presentation folders will be durable and last through travels and repeat usage.

Sizing? Look to the largest document you can imagine taking with you, and then size your presentation folders accordingly. Also, remember to size your presentation folders so that they can expand width-wise.

Titles and identification: the title of your presentation and perhaps its purpose could also be listed on the front of the presentation folders.

Identifications: Consider adding blank areas on the front or inside pocket of your presentation folders. These blank areas could be used by you or your listeners to jot down important notes for reviewing later.

Doing things right with presentation folders

You may find that presentation folders can be a somewhat pricey investment, but you will also find that the benefits of presentation folders will more than reap what you've have sown into them (their cost). There are many benefits to purchasing and using presentation folders on a consistent basis. Presentation folders have the exact style, design and purpose that you would like them to have. All aspects of presentation folders are entirely under your control, which assures that you can cultivate complete customer and client satisfaction with your product. Moreso, your presentation folders can give listeners of your presentations a positive view and impression of you and your company. After all, when you take the time to use business presentation folders, you are telling all of those people who view them that you care about your company and its image, and thus you and your company will care about your listeners and their needs, wants and image.

If you're just starting out with presentation folders, or perhaps want to create your own print presentation folders, then read through this handy guide. Let's start with the first aspect of your presentation folders design: the materials that will go into the printable presentation folders. You will need to choose appropriate materials (the stock), the finish of the paper, and the color or colors of the paper.

Let's start with finish: all presentation folders require a finish! You have your choice of glossy, linen or felt finish. My personal recommendation is to choose the linen or felt finish. While they are not as fancy as a glossy finish on printable presentation folders, they enable the owners of the folders to jot down notes (whereas writing on a glossy finish would result in smears).

Finally, let's wrap things up with a color selection. The field of color analysis has determined that colors can definitely impact a person's mood. For instance, reds tend to grab attention and get people energized, whereas yellow is cheerful and mellowing, and green is conservative, and also serves to remind us to be conservative with the environment.

Your choice of styles, finishes and colors for your presentation folders can greatly impact your success with the presentations themselves.

Choosing presentation folder printing

Many individuals and companies decide to use presentation folder printing as a way to have custom presentation folders. When you buy as-is printed presentation folders, you can't make any changes. Whatever design and style exists must stick, and it is you that must adapt to it. But when you choose to use presentation folders, made from a presentation folder printer, you can go all out with having custom presentation folders, customized and tailored for your company. Presentation folder printing is a pretty straight forward process. You are entirely in charge of choosing folder sizes, styles, colors, paper type and finishes, and what type of imprints you would like and where you would like them placed on the business presentation folders. You can choose 4 color presentation folder printing, or have entirely gray presentation folders printed up.

So what should you know about your custom presentation folders? Your presentation folder should be constructed of durable material during the full color presentation printing process. Many presentation folder printing services offer varying qualities of folder paper. It is highly recommended that you choose a high quality stock. While you may pay more upfront, you'll save money in the long run, as you won't be replacing worn out printed presentation folders quite so often!

Let's talk about the size of your presentation folders. Presentation folders, which may also be referred to as pocket folders or simply folders, are typically nine inches wide and twelve inches in height. Of course, you can have custom sizes for your full color presentation folders. Of course, you must realize that any time you think outside the box in terms of the design and construction of your presentation folders, you're adding onto your cost. But again, it may be worth it if it means having very well designed presentation folders!

In addition to dimensions, there are other customizations you can consider for your business presentation folders. One popular choice for custom presentation folders is to add a third panel to the typical two panel folder. The third panel cuts out the usage and cost of glue in the middle of the folder, and adds a panel which can be used to sort documents, offer writing space, or help with the overall durability of the folder. Then there are the pocket cuts - horizontal, vertical, or somewhere in between with the angled pockets.

If you're still up in the air about whether or not you should even spend the money and time to have presentation folders printed up, let this have you sold: presentation folders handle multi-page documents in an organized fashion. Furthermore, presentation folders are just one more way you can successfully and subtly advertise your company and services in a professional manner!

Where can I find presentation folder printing services?

If you have chosen to create your own business presentation folders by using custom designs, congratulations! By tailoring your business presentation folders so that they match your exact specifications (which hopefully dictate that your 4 color presentation folders have the same style and imprints as your company logo), you're doing one more thing to create a professional, tailored look that all those who see you and listen to your presentations will sit up and take notice to!
You can find presentation folder printing services for your business presentation folders online. The internet has many legitimate and professional websites made by companies whose expertise lie in the design and printing of presentation folders. You may also find local copy centers and supply stores that handle presentation folder printing services as part of the tasks they can do, but you'll want to place your presentation folder printing needs in the hands of an expert.

When you visit the website of presentation folder printing services, you can expect to be asked a few basic questions about your presentation folders. Before you even get to the step of submitting your design for printing or touch-ups, some basics of your presentation folders will need to be covered. These basics include

Folder size: Would you prefer the standard nine inch by twelve inch, or nine inch by fourteen and a half inch?

Colors: Will your presentation folders be 4 color presentation folders with nothing on the inside, black and white on the inside, or full color on the inside?

Paper: Would you like single or double side coated paper?

Pockets: Would you like one pocket (left or right) or two pockets (one on each side)

Slits for business cards and CDs: Do you need areas to insert business cards and/or CDs? If so, which side? And how many?

Quantity: how many full color presentation folders will you be needing?

When: How soon will you need your presentation folders?

By having all of these questions answered ahead of time, you will be saving yourself valuable time.