Tip of the Week: Try Microsoft Word Templates

Many people know about Microsoft Word. In fact, it has become effectively synonymous with word processing nowadays. However, fewer likely know about the templates that Microsoft Word offers, and how they can be customized to your particular needs and preferences. This week, our tip is committed to fixing that.

If you think that you’ve never used a Microsoft Word template before, you must not have ever used Microsoft Word at all. When you click the Blank document button to start a new document, you’ve just selected to use the “Normal” template. However, you may not want to write something that fits the “Normal” template, and so you should follow a somewhat different process as you initially create the file you plan to use.

Under New, found under the File menu tab, you will find a few options, including Blank document. Instead of selecting that option, however, you can choose from a huge library of templates that can be downloaded from your Word application and used. Choosing one of these templates will create a new document that fits it. Many templates contain certain components, like:

• Boilerplate text
• Styles
• Images and logos
• Table of contents
• Numbered sections
• Table and chart boilerplates

There are many more options that templates offer as well. Feel free to experiment with some of them to discover some of the rest.

Once a template has been added to Microsoft Word, you can edit it to better match your business, or your particular needs for it. This process is fairly simple: all you have to do is open your downloaded template (by following File>Open>This PC>My Documents>Open) and changing it to the way you want it. To make your changes stick, make sure you Save your updated template.

Why Use Templates in the First Place?

Templates can offer a business a few significant advantages if put into use:

1. Templates can integrate with other applications to make some tasks easier.
2. Templates can be distributed to your staff to give your business a common brand.
3. Templates can make it much easier and more affordable to create and reproduce forms.
4. Templates can be used to update and reformat your documents.

What types of templates are you looking to use in Microsoft Word?  Share your thoughts in the comments!