Business Cards Tips
Read these 15 Business Cards Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Printing tips and hundreds of other topics.
Choices of Paper for Business Card Printing
Business cards can be printed on many different surfaces. In the end, a person or company's business card printing is a matter or personal preference. However, preference can be limited in scope if you are not familiar with all of the options that are available.
Traditional business cards are printed on a heavy card stock paper. These cards are firm and last a while in a person's pocket or card holder. There is also glossy finish card stock that is available for business card printing—this high-gloss finish can make a card stand apart from others. They do not bend as easily and will also last far longer in the face of the elements around it.
In addition to high-gloss paper, there is now an available gloss with UV (ultra-violet) coating. This paper not only lasts longer sue to the heavy-gloss, but the UV protection also prevents your information from fading over time. These are just a few of the available choices for business card printing.
*It really comes down to a personal preference. Just be sure that you form your preference with all of the options in front of you.
Free Business Cards
What if you can't afford to get business cards printed, but you're really in need of some? There are some companies that offer free business cards – but there are a few drawbacks. In some cases, you'll at least have to pay shipping in order to get your cards. Another problem is that free business card companies don't allow you to get custom business cards for free, you'll have to make do with one of their templates. Some printers issue business cards for free with their logo on the back of the cards. If you can afford the investment, it's better to purchase business card that stands out from the rest and promotes only you and your business.
Advantages to Online Business Card Printing
Need new business cards but don't have a lot of time to shop or money to spend? You should consider online business card printing. There are many advantages to using online business card printing websites. Below are just a few advantages that you should take into account:
• Many online business card printing websites offer a certain number of cards, sometimes up to 500, FREE OF CHARGE. Typically, they are one-sided cards and have the domain name of where you got them typed very small on the back. For people who do not have a lot of money to spend on business cards, this is a great solution.
• For those with little time, many online business card printing websites will help you design your card, or provide you with many different template layouts to utilize. This will save the average person a lot of time in deciding what their card should look like and what information it should contain.
• When you run out of business cards, it can be a pain getting more, quickly. With online business card printing, your card is typically stored either on your computer or on the website on which you created them. It is easy to re-order more of the exact same cards from most websites that provide business card services.
The advantages to online business card printing are clear. Find one of the many popular business card websites that can help you and make ordering your business cards as simple as you can.
Effective Design is Important in Business Card Printing
Business cards are no longer simply the means of providing a person with your contact information. Business cards can now serve far greater purposes in marketing your business or yourself. Advances in business card printing now allow people to utilize their business cards for far more than in the past.
An effective design can make your business card a true marketing device. For example, with front and back printing, you can offer more information about your business than was traditionally done on business cards in the past. Not only will the person know your name and phone number, but now you can provide a synopsis of what you do and why they should use that phone number. Unique design can also give your business card an edge over your competition by standing out in a wallet full of bland designs.
*If you are in the market for business card printing, be sure to take advantage of the advances in printing technology and utilize an effective design on your new cards.
Business Card Printing - Kinko's or Custom?
Your business card often serves as the connection between you and your contacts. When choosing your business card, choose it with this in mind. If your are thinking of printing new business cards and want to know more about business card printing, there are options in front of you.
There are many print stores in your area that could handle printing your business cards on regular business card stock. Many can even help you with your design. Keep in mind, however, that these stores are not specifically built for business card printing. However, there are many companies that specialize in business card printing that can present you with far more options. Different types of gloss, raised impression printing, thermal printing, and many other business card printing options can only be found through these custom business card printing companies.
*If you are looking to stand out with your business card, choose to have your custom business card printing done by a company that has all of the tools that you need.
Online Business Card Printing
Many online business card printing companies offer a free business card template or variety of templates, so that all you need to do is to add your own information via the company's website in order to create your business cards. Other business card companies offer full color or spot color printing from your own digital files, which you can upload via their website or email to the printer. Some popular programs that are used to create business cards (and that are accepted readily) are Quark Xpress, Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Publisher – and PDF (portable document format) files are accepted by all printing companies.
Custom Business Card
If you need a business card that will help you stand out from the crowd, a custom business card can give you and your business the edge you need. Custom business card design can be done in many different types of business card software – from design programs like Quark Xpress, to specialized programs made to work with perforated business card paper (such as the Avery or HP business card paper for home use). When designing a custom business card, it's important to learn your printer's limitations and rules so that you can design within that guideline. Most printers will want you to leave a .25 inch border on the outside of your custom business card design for cutting purposes, unless you are paying extra to have a “full bleed” (printed to the very edge with ink). You'll also want to ask how they prefer you send the custom business card file, and what format is best. This way, you'll get exactly the custom business card you want.
Full Color Business Card
If you're looking to really make a statement with your business card, a full color business card is definitely a great choice. Full color business card printing makes it possible to have elaborate backgrounds, such as photos or graphics, to your business cards, as well as a “full bleed”, which is the technical term for colored ink that goes all the way to the edges. With online pricing, a color business card can actually be a cheap business card, especially with volume pricing. Full color business card printing also has the advantage of being done on a four color press, which means there is no added drying time for thermography (raised ink). You can not only get your cards done in a great array of colors, but they'll get to you faster as well, which is a great convenience.
Business Cards 101
When you need to get some business cards, whether you're part of a large company or just a lone businessperson, there are some key choices you need to make before ordering that set of cards. Business cards come in a standard size of 3.5”x2”, and you can choose from a variety of different inks, papers and colors to customize your business cards. A typical order of business cards starts at around 500 cards, and depending on the complexity of the card, can range greatly in price. Thermographic (thermal or raised) inks, linen or vellum papers and full color printing can all be options when getting business cards created, as well as one or two sides to your cards.
Business Cards on a Tight Budget
Think about the last business card that was handed to you. Was it nice? High-gloss, or raised printed letters? How much do you think that person paid for those? You may be surprised.
Business cards do not have to be the great expense that they once were. Advances in printing procedures, digital imagery, and other factors have led to a drastic reduction in how costly business cards are to produce. Online business card printing has also played a large role in this change.
With so many online business card printing websites offering custom made business cards for very low costs, or even for free, it is hard for traditional print shops to compete. Prices are forced to be dropped in light of the cheaper alternatives. If you are on a tight budget and need to enhance your image with a new business card, remember that by using the Internet, your purchase doesn't have to break the bank.
Haven't we met before?
So many projects are getting streamlined from business cards to sample brochure layouts within various desktop publishing software. What is important to remember is that while these offerings are great as they offer simple choices, the one thing the do create is mediocrity.
As a consumer, you are printing something out to attract attention. It should stand out and be noticed -- and not for the fact that you used banner template number 34 out of EZPublishing 3.0 because everyone else has as well.
Some templates can be tweaked or changed and I would encourge you to take the time or pay someone to take the time. Because if you are serious about not needing a second chance to make a first impression, don't wear hand-me down clothes or plan to use well-worn basic templates in your presentation materials.
Business Cards
I believe that business card printing can be one of the most abused forms of printing out there. So many people print up hundreds of business cards and later realize that a small error makes the whole collection worthless except to paper the walls of their cubicle.
If you are printing up brand-new, never been used or designed before cards, I suggest that you go to the nearest office supply place, buy some of that perforated business card sheets and go to town. Design your own, show them to friends and family and get their input. Find out if you forgot to list your phone number, address, cell or fax number or even a slogan describing what service/product/concept you are providing. This eliminates wastes, is environmentally-friendly and best yet, saves your ego for more proper-like bruising on higher or more important subjects.
Business Card Templates
Business card templates can be an easy way to create a business card without having to hire a graphic designer or learn a design program. Many online business card printers offer templates that have pre-designed graphic backgrounds and fonts already chosen for you – all you need to do is to insert your own (or your business's) information. Other business card templates can be found on business card cd rom programs and collections, and some of these business card templates can be used on home inkjet printers to print your own business cards (using special perforated paper made to align with the templates and break apart into the correct 3.5”x2” cards). In this way, you can get business cards for use quickly, even though they may not look quite as polished as a professional business card would.
Business Card Printing on your Computer
Your business card often serves as the connection between you and your contacts. When choosing your business card, choose it with this in mind. If your are thinking of printing new business cards and want to know more about business card printing, there are options in front of you.
There are many print stores in your area that could handle printing your business cards on regular business card stock. Many can even help you with your design. Keep in mind, however, that these stores are not specifically built for business card printing. However, there are many companies that specialize in business card printing that can present you with far more options. Different types of gloss, raised impression printing, thermal printing, and many other business card printing options can only be found through these custom business card printing companies.
*If you are looking to stand out with your business card, choose to have your custom business card printing done by a company that has all of the tools that you need.
Business Card Printing History
Business card printing started out in Europe in the 17th century, when the wealthy had visiting or calling cards printed for personal use. These personal cards evolved over the century, and then became trade cards, which were developed in London as an advertising aid and even as a guide to their stores – as these trade cards often had maps printed on them. By the 20th century, trade cards and personal cards had merged into business cards, with all different socioeconomic classes using the cards to notify people of their business affiliation. Where business card printing started out as being elaborate, with engravings and scrolls, in the 20th century business card printing became much more structured and plain, with just the pertinent information. Now, with the advent of cheaper printing methods, business cards are even more elaborate, with full color pictures and other logos often prominent on the cards – making carrying around business card cases full of cards a typical sight.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Joe Wallace |
