Resources for Business Cards

A business card is your lifeline to customers and one of the most basic – and useful – marketing tools on the planet. It really can play a big role in helping you gain, or lose the interest of a potential customer. Your card represents you when you are no longer there, or many even be the “face” of you and your business to people who’ve never met you. You need a well-designed card that conveys the proper image and information about your business. And it has to be concise. An effective card can:

1. Serve as a silent salesperson. Long after the customer has received it, the card is a reminder of a product or service.
2. Provide superior customer service to clients. A properly executed card saves the customer time by putting them directly in touch with the right person.
3. Communicate a message to customers about your business.
4. Create repeat customers since they have a reminder in their card file of your business.
5. Be a word-of-mouth marketing tool if you ask every customer to pass on your card to friends and colleagues.

Decide on a concept

Your card should reflect your image. You may prefer a straightforward design with a logo and contact information. If you're in a creative field, you'll need to show some personality on your card. In other professional industries, such as real estate, a photograph may be appropriate.

Include all the details

Your business card design should include all of the information you want your clients to have, but beware of making the card look like the fine print of a credit card. It seems obvious, but oftentimes the business card is the first thing that small business owners set up, before they have a physical address, website or email address.

Design and print business cards online

There are hundreds of online print shops that produce high-quality cards with a fast turnaround.
business printing services at Business.com.

Don't forget about the back in business card printing

Print business cards on both sides to add marketing messages, directions, coupons and more.

Look for free business cards online

You’ve probably seen the offers for 250 free business cards online. There may be a catch: The back sides of free business cards may carry advertisements for business card printing services.

Be sure they keep it

Even the most beautiful business card design is useless if people toss the card in the trash.

Consider a digital card

In these days of ever-accelerating technology, cutting-edge self-promotion options, like mini CD's, are becoming increasingly popular.
digital business cards listings for links to vendors.

• For your permanent card, don't be tempted to buy those perforated cards that you run through an inkjet printer. They are an instant give-away that you scrimped on something that is important — your image. The best use for the DIY kit is to test your business card design or to print up temporary cards.
• Choose a high quality card stock. It will stand out among other cards in a filing system.
• Cards larger than 2" x 3 1/2" or vertically printed cards may set you apart, but if you want the card to be stored in a Rolodex, think twice. Vertical cards will be harder to read at a glance and larger cards won't fit.
• Most business card printing services offer an overall discount when you print business cards for all your employees at once. Consider providing all of your employees with a card when you open the doors, and you may be able to save money in the long run.