Creating a great looking document is not as hard you may think.  With today’s easy access to simple publishing software like Apple’s Pages and Microsoft's Word, everyone has the ability to create professional looking documents.  Both tools provide easy to use templates and designs.  Access to free image clip art makes it easy to insert great imagery that makes a statement.  You do not have to settle for old school color copies, or be a professional graphic artist to create a fabulous looking document. Follow these simple steps and you can take your document from ho hum to fabulous faster than you can fire your graphic artist.

1.Use Tables. Tables are not just for communication data and creating charts; nor are they just a place to sit your beer and chips.  In publishing software you can use tables to section out content as well as to organize how and where you want text and images to appear.  They allow for ultimate flexibility in design… this ain’t your Grandpa’s flow chart.

You can insert tables, text boxes and image boxes interchangeably to create great results.

2. Use Headers & Footers. Inserting headers and footers allows you to create identical top and bottom text/designs on your document pages.  The other advantage to using the header and footer function, is that you only have to update the content once and it automatically updates all of the headers and footers in your document.

Put your logo and name in the header.  Put contact info and page numbers in the footer.

3.Insert Images With POW. Use classy and professional images in your document.  Microsoft Clip Art is free and easy to use.  Choose images that are photo realistic as they tend to make your documents look crisper and more professional then animated drawings; Charlie Brown isn’t going to help your image.

Microsoft clip art is a free resource for imageshttp://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

4.Use Lines to Segment Key Sections. There is a trend in today’s document design world to use lines to segment topics, content and image areas.  It allows for nice visual breaks for readers and has a clean, crisp look to it.

The thickness of the lines you use as page definition will vary depending on the size and type of text you are using.  Use thicker lines for bolder and heavier text.