10 Tips for a Great Business Card

1. Use both sides!

It's usually only a few $ more per thousand to print on both sides AND you've just doubled your opportunity to communicate with a prospective client. What should you put on the back? Consider… a list of your services; testimonials from pleased customers; something useful – like a calendar; your bio…

2. Make sure your card says something about your business personality

EEEK! There are so many boring business cards out there. Why? Probably because someone started a business, and 'Get cards' was one of the items on their 'to-do' list. Update time… Make it unique, creative, and indicative of the special qualities you bring to your business.

3. Make the important information easy to find

Don't bury your phone number in a cluster of print. Make it stand out.

4. Make it clear what you do

Here are some sample business names, (from cards picked up recently) and see if you can guess what these businesses do: Your One Stop Shop; The Branches; Lucky Enterprises… Argghh! Don't make it hard for people to do business with you!

5. Emphasize the benefits of doing business with you

Could be in a tag line under your logo or in a list, make sure you tell prospective customers what they'll get from doing business with you.

Features=qualities of your product or service

Benefits=what those features mean to your client

6. Don't be road kill on the information superhighway

Always, always, always…include your web address and e-mail address on your card. You cannot seriously market your business these days without using the power of the Internet.

7. Announce your USP

That's your Unique Selling Proposition. A statement that differentiates your business from your competitors; what makes your business stand out – whether it's price, product, location, guarantee, your personality, or something else.

8. Include your logo

Your business should have a recognizable image, which should be included in all your material. Remember the Law of Seven–someone needs to see your name at least seven times before they will try to do business with you. Having a consistent company image makes it that much easier to make an impression.

9. Do something really different

Use a picture business card, or a card shaped like a pencil or a key or a computer. Get noticed – be remembered. Try something new!

10. Give out your card !

Try this: Hand a card to everyone you speak to tomorrow–tellers, cashiers, servers. You'll be amazed how many people that is! Stick them on notice boards around town. Leave them everywhere!

'Even tiddlers get noticed in the big ocean of business if they present themselves well'

Steve Jobs Knew the Marketing Power of Business Cards

Isn't it odd that businesses will spend $$$$ on a print ad in the newspaper or the Yellow Pages, yet have the most uninspired business cards you've ever seen?

Back in the day, Steve Jobs had a simple card that was probably pretty expensive in its time seeing as it apparently had the apple logo embossed into it..

Marketers have long known that the humble business card can be worth it's weight in gold. Would you catch Bill Gates, Oprah or Richard Branson without their business cards ? Surely not!

You may not be such a famous or prominent person so, all the more reason your business card be both memorable and, a reflection of the quality of services your business offers.

When it comes to fashion trends, the business card is never left out. Where cards used to be fairly plain with one colour text there is now a whole gamut of styles to choose from.

From standard to shaped cards, folding cards, paper, board, plastic and metal business cards, full colour, one colour, embossed, debossed, foiled, uv varnished – the range of business cards today is extensive.

Of course, it's important to have something captivating to hand out, something you are proud of.

Recent trends have been towards the more enviro – friendly cards using recycled card or paper from sustainable forestry. Regular paper or card doesn't break down well because of all the chemicals used in it's manufacture. Printing inks have also changed and more eco-friendly options are available.

Printers or rather, printeries are also adopting more eco-friendly practices such as recycling their off-cut paper and their metal plates used in printing business cards and brochures.

One option I've heard of, though never seen as yet, is to use all your waste card from home or your business – the stuff you pop into the recycling bin like empty cereal cartons, cut them up into business card sized pieces, buy a rubber stamp with all your relevant details on and use that as your business card. It's pretty labour intensive but eco-friendly and memorable as well.

And, it would probably look better than some of those clip-art adorned cheap and nasty business cards we all see around.

If you require cost effective, professional, creative services contact us today!

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