With the advent of digital printing technologies and the proliferation of dedicated 4 color process printing presses there is absolutely no reason for the typical business to go without a full-color business card. Many business owners, especially start-ups, make the mistake of simply assuming that such a card is too expensive. All too often the result is a trip to the nearest Staples, Office Depot or local quick printer for the old-school thermography (raised ink) on vellum card stock. Unless you're in a very traditional line of work such as a lawyer or a banker these business cards simply do not pull their weight.
Why not instead take advantage of what a well-designed full color card can do for your business. A custom design can make the best use of the limited real estate available on the traditional 2″ x 3.5″ card. Your options include printing with full color on one or both sides, and the pricing of late will pleasantly surprise you. Printing the back in color also adds very little cost to the project and doubles your usable space. Those of you like me though who like the option of writing notes on business cards might want to second guess that decision since it's next to impossible to get a ballpoint pen to write on the slick surface of these coated cards.
Many industries today have developed what amounts to almost an unwritten rule of including a photo of themselves on their business card. Realtors for some reason almost always do nowadays but if you're among any number of other sales related industries this might serve you well also. Let's face it, how many times do we grab a business card throw it in our wallet or purse and then only look at it again weeks or months later. In such cases a photo may be just what is necessary to jog the memory of someone we spent appreciable time with but who wasn't ready to act upon using our goods or services. In my opinion your photo on your card can make the difference between your prospects remembering the time you invested in answering their questions and explaining the benefits of what you can do for them versus their simply tossing an otherwise more generic card in the circular file.
I would be remiss if I neglected to emphasize the role of good design with respect to business cards. Good design is crucial to the effectiveness of every business card and to any printed piece for that matter. Just because you have the option to print in almost every color in the rainbow does not by any stretch mean you should, nothing screams amateur more than a garish psychadelic cocaphany of color. The ability to print a full color card means that you can judiciously create, with the help of a design professional, a card which stands out among the pack. You can prominently display your logo and branding elements, bring in your company's color palette, and as we've mentioned, include your photo or even photographs of your products or services.
These benefits mean you can support (and not undermine) all the other efforts you're making in putting your best foot forward. Nothing makes me cringe more after spending time with someone whose just given an otherwise decent presentation than being handed, for lack of a better word, a lousy business card. Perhaps I'm more sensitive than most but a poorly designed or printed card communicates to me that this person or company just isn't ready to compete with the guys in the big league. I can't help but feel as if the lack of effort in this area might also be indicative of a lack of effort in other areas. Nothing smacks of this more than the use of the all too available templates that allow even a precocious eight year old to print a business card for his lemonade stand from Daddy's inkjet printer. Please do not commit this atrocity to your business image unless you're stranded in some third world country and find you've run out of your regular cards. Now, as for running out of cards… well, I'll spare you that rant for some other time…
Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media
Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.
Why not instead take advantage of what a well-designed full color card can do for your business. A custom design can make the best use of the limited real estate available on the traditional 2″ x 3.5″ card. Your options include printing with full color on one or both sides, and the pricing of late will pleasantly surprise you. Printing the back in color also adds very little cost to the project and doubles your usable space. Those of you like me though who like the option of writing notes on business cards might want to second guess that decision since it's next to impossible to get a ballpoint pen to write on the slick surface of these coated cards.
Many industries today have developed what amounts to almost an unwritten rule of including a photo of themselves on their business card. Realtors for some reason almost always do nowadays but if you're among any number of other sales related industries this might serve you well also. Let's face it, how many times do we grab a business card throw it in our wallet or purse and then only look at it again weeks or months later. In such cases a photo may be just what is necessary to jog the memory of someone we spent appreciable time with but who wasn't ready to act upon using our goods or services. In my opinion your photo on your card can make the difference between your prospects remembering the time you invested in answering their questions and explaining the benefits of what you can do for them versus their simply tossing an otherwise more generic card in the circular file.
I would be remiss if I neglected to emphasize the role of good design with respect to business cards. Good design is crucial to the effectiveness of every business card and to any printed piece for that matter. Just because you have the option to print in almost every color in the rainbow does not by any stretch mean you should, nothing screams amateur more than a garish psychadelic cocaphany of color. The ability to print a full color card means that you can judiciously create, with the help of a design professional, a card which stands out among the pack. You can prominently display your logo and branding elements, bring in your company's color palette, and as we've mentioned, include your photo or even photographs of your products or services.
These benefits mean you can support (and not undermine) all the other efforts you're making in putting your best foot forward. Nothing makes me cringe more after spending time with someone whose just given an otherwise decent presentation than being handed, for lack of a better word, a lousy business card. Perhaps I'm more sensitive than most but a poorly designed or printed card communicates to me that this person or company just isn't ready to compete with the guys in the big league. I can't help but feel as if the lack of effort in this area might also be indicative of a lack of effort in other areas. Nothing smacks of this more than the use of the all too available templates that allow even a precocious eight year old to print a business card for his lemonade stand from Daddy's inkjet printer. Please do not commit this atrocity to your business image unless you're stranded in some third world country and find you've run out of your regular cards. Now, as for running out of cards… well, I'll spare you that rant for some other time…
Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media
Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.
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