Not starting from nothing.
WHAT A TEMPLATE IS
A prepared starting point for something you produce repeatedly.
WHAT TO MAKE TEMPLATES OF
Letters Invoices and quotations Reports Presentations Standard emails Spreadsheets you recreate
WHAT THEY SAVE
Time, and the errors that come from rebuilding each time.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Your details, formatted correctly Standard sections Placeholder text indicating what goes where
WHAT TO KEEP OUT
Anything specific to one instance.
WHERE TO KEEP THEM
Somewhere everyone who needs them can find them.
WHAT TO PROTECT
The template itself, so it is not overwritten by a completed document.
HOW
Save it as a template, or keep it read-only.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether the template still reflects current details and practice.
WHAT TO UPDATE
Immediately, when something changes.
WHY
Out-of-date templates spread errors consistently.
