The days of the rolodex may seem well and truly over now everyone is walking around with smart phones, syncing contacts wirelessly with those in their home desktops and laptops, but that doesn’t mean that we are ready for the death of the business card.
Business cards are just as important today for a budding entrepreneur as they were 30 years ago, acting as a first impression for your business or service. It is important to make a good impression with your business card, as simply having one, in this day and age, isn’t enough.
Quality vs quantity
Many companies will offer you amazing rates if you purchase 1,000 cards. But what are they offering in terms of the design and paper quality? It is better to order fewer cards from a company offering superior design and card quality than be stuck with boxes of poorly designed cards you are too embarrassed to give to prospective clients or partners. More does not always equate to better and this is certainly true in the case of business cards. If in doubt, always order a sample before committing yourself to a whole shipment. Samples are usually free from most reputable printing firms and it gives you a chance to see and feel what your prospective business cards will be like.
Card stock
Card stock is the thickness of the business card. The most common thickness is 16pt (300gsm), though there are some companies offering anything up to 32pt (600gsm). Think about where you will be using your business cards and the type of impression you want your card to make. If you will be handing your cards out daily, attaching them to documents and leaving them in stands on desks and trade shows, you may not want to spend the higher rates for the 32pt cards. However, if you are more selective with your cards and will be giving them out personally to what you hope to be long lasting contacts, perhaps it is wise and cost effective to go for the higher quality.
Design appropriately
Use your card as a walking advertisement for what it is you do. If you are in the music industry, this should be apparent from the design on your card, just as it should be if you are offering tutoring services or selling pharmaceuticals to hospitals. Think about the imagery, font and colours, as they should all tie in with the branding and image of your business. There is no point going for loud, brash colours and funky designs if your company is all about modesty and discreetness.
Added extras
Competition is high and you want your business card to stand out and speak for you long after the initial encounter. You may have made a great impression with your prospective client but now what do you do to make sure he or she puts your card somewhere safe and uses your services?
- Make sure there are enough ways to contact you on the business card. Your website, social media accounts, telephone numbers and email addresses should be on there, though depending on the nature of your business, you may choose to omit some of these. Whatever you choose, make sure the information is clear and accurate!
- How about taking your business card the extra mile? Some business card printers offer a variety of extras such as magnetic cards, or stickers! These can all add to the longevity and uniqueness of your card, making yours the one they remember when they are ready to make that purchase.