Business Card Show Room, these are samples of some amazing cards we have found around the net, with these you can put a mark in peoples visions.Business Card Show Room, these are samples of some amazing cards we have found around the net, with these you can put a mark in peoples visions.

Business Card: Tricks, Trends and Everything Beyond

Note: Order your custom Embossed Business cards from our trusted partner Bizcard.

The world today seems to give the idea that you cannot do much without money. Money has become so vital that at some point, it is right to think that it drives everything with value in this world. Basic necessities are bought, not to mention that they are becoming more expensive, and if you want to taste a little fleeting luxury, you still have to pay for it.

So, that brings us to the bigger world where money primarily works business. Ubiquitous is the proper word to use when the term business pops up. Like the things that can be bought with money, businesses are diverse in terms of market, scope and size. And thanks to the onset of computers and the internet, businesses have found another portal where they can thrive. So we have online and offline as well to add to the facets that diversify businesses we have today.

Although businesses have advanced so much in how they operate, some little basic things still survive, like the piece of paper people often use to give out information about themselves or their company called business cards. Of course, these have also improved so much through the years, and now they are like colors that vary when mixed, or some form of amorphous creature that can take many shapes and looks.

What a Business Card Is

A business card is a card containing business information about a person or a company. It is a way of sharing important business details about a business or person on the fly, and is usually given out during informal introductions, when requested by someone, or before the parting moment of individuals.

Typical business cards contain the same set of details, including the name of the person or business, address, telephone number, fax number, mobile number, email address or website. Sometimes, depending on the need, it may also bear more confidential information like bank account, tax code or telex. If the giver is a business owner, the card often has a logo that distinguishes the business, as well as a tagline that serves as a slogan to communicate its essential attributes and the immediate benefit a potential customer will get. Hence, business cards are a piece of memory aid helping businesses be known and spread its customer base.

Business Cards: New Look, New Style

Again, we extend our gratitude to the ingenuity of the business tycoon Bill Gates. Computers have helped a lot in revolutionizing the appearance of business cards, and now there are simply no bars that will prevent them to shout and be proud.

Good-bye to the blandness of black-texts-on-white-stock business cards, and say hello to anything-can-go designs. Today, business cards are bolder in terms of color, shapes, materials and function. With the use of a simple word processor with drawing capabilities, or some more complex program, you can already create a card in minutes. You just have to determine the size, do the layout, pitch in your creativity, and use your better judgment in finalizing the look of the output. Once duplicated and printed on a good-quality paper, the business card is ready to go.

But if you want to create a lasting impression, simplicity should be set aside. There are several online companies offering business-card design services, and you just basically have to choose a good plan and pay for it. But if you are capable enough and have the resources, coming up with a nice card is not impossible. You only need to stick with basic motif rules in choosing colors and make it look simple yet elegant. Of course, you can extend your creativity by using unique shapes and materials. For instance, if you are a guitarist, your card can take the shape of a guitar pick and be printed on a hard plastic, and it would look so much better if it can be indeed used to play a guitar, thus what we say about function.

Choosing a Business-Card Design Company

For those lacking inventiveness, online and offline business-card design companies are always at hand. By just doing a quick search in Google, you will be presented with a bunch of hits, all online companies offering professional design services. It is normally difficult to choose, and reading reviews will not completely help you take your pick. So what should consider when choosing a design company to do your professional business card?

After some time comparing these companies and you are still confused, take the price of plans as the first criterion. Basically, companies offer only designing business cards, but they may also include extras like branded enveloped and stationery. Bundled offers are good because they save you money; instead of paying $100 for only business card design, you can add an additional $25 for the bundle that includes the design of business cards, envelopes and stationery.

Next to the price, you should consider the variety of available templates a company has. Sometimes, choosing a template is cheaper than requesting for a new design, since the latter requires the company to ask its in-house designers to create your new design. While choosing a template is cheaper, it should not be preferred if you have a big company because of the tendency of duplication. Another client might have selected that template before, so it will not be good for your image-building effort if your card's design is seen in another company's card.

Another consideration is the workflow that the company follows. Most companies will have a detailed step-by-step procedure on their site, so look for one that has procedures that work for you. Basically, there will be design consultation, layout, revision and finalization. Depending on the bundle or plan you choose, revisions may be limited to one or two, or may be unlimited, but still, the price escalates as more revisions are allowed in the plan. The number of designers to work on your project may be one or two, or may be more, still based on the plan chosen.

Most companies will have a Customer Area onsite to allow clients to access the project designs on the website itself. A log-in name and password is provided in order for them to access this area. If you are just on the canvassing phase, customer service might be an issue with you. So responsiveness and customer treatment will be two additional factors that will weigh in your decision-making.

Business Card Specs and Construction

The construction of business cards, when looked into very closely, is not very facile and straightforward. Some factors that should be thought out are the type of paper, visual effect, printing method, style and cost. Today, business card production is much easier due to new design and printing technologies available that speed up the then tedious process.

The type of paper used in business cards is an essential matter to consider, for some, like glossy paper, are not compatible with many laser printers of today. Other types used are linen, the one with horizontal and vertical lines on it, and vellum, which has a slightly rough texture. Business cards generally weigh a hundred pounds, have a density of 350 grams per square meter, and have a 12-point thickness. Of course, card hardness and thickness, which determine the tearing capacity of the card, are a personal choice of the client.

In terms of visual effect, design and ink are two factors. Present designs are much varied unlike before that designs are limited by the term simplicity due to lack of technology. Sheet-fed offset printing presses have been replaced by laser printers, the former allowing only spot colors to be printed on the paper, while the latter creates more vivid images and colors. Before, in order to create embossed texts or images on the card, they use thermography that utilizes plastic powder, which is run through a heating unit in order to adhere on the card. Now, we have printers that can print well with glossy, linen and vellum, creating any effect desired.

Today's business cards are much varied in style. Before, a two-by-three-point-five paper will do for a card, but now we have fold-over cards, side-fold cards and tent cards among the many variations available. Depending on the industry or type of business, people can experiment on different shapes and materials. Although paper still remains much common, metal, plastic, and wood can also be used nowadays. Logo-style designs look good when printed on round, coin-like smoothened wood. Pop-up in business cards is another creative style, much like those seen in illustrated children storybooks. Some cards use the transparency of plastic for some designs to stand out, while some are like tents and human figures that can be placed on desks. Metal is a good option because of its durability, and cards like this use engraving instead of ink, so production cost may be reduced. One application is in metal key chains that look elegant and professional due to their shine.

Business card production cost varies considerably depending on the volume of prints and whether regular ink and plastic ink are to be applied. Prices tend to be higher for smaller volumes while discounts are provided for bulk orders. If the job is outsourced to an online company, bundled orders offer more savings as they provide extras, such as printing the company logo on notepads, letterheads, envelopes and stationery, but the number of each of these extras vary according to the type of offer availed.

How to Create Self-made Business Cards

For things that permit much room for creativity and variety such as creating business cards, it seems that making them by your own hands is an enjoyable option. Of course, this task is best for crafty people with time and passion to pour in to this kind of endeavor.

Prior to buying the materials, you first need to plan the contents of the card. If it is going to be a company business card, a business name, logo and slogan should be essential elements to have. You may come up with ideas by yourself or have a friend to brainstorm ideas with.

To create a printable card, you need to have free software like Microsoft Word or Publisher—the easy ones to learn—or Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator if you have advanced skills. You will also need some business card stock and a home printer to see the finished product. Special software for creating business cards have card templates that you can use, so you can just select from the available ones, customize and tweak the design a little, and input the address, contact number, fax number, email address and website of your business.

Of course, you are free to create of your own design if you are gifted with creativity. It is best to layout your design first on a piece of paper, labeling the colors for each part or font, determining the font style, and the location and size of the elements. Remember that you are not restricted to using the custom rectangular template; especially in businesses, uniqueness is a treasure in building your company's image. If it is a personal card, you can match the shape or design with your hobby or interest; you can create a shuriken-shaped card—better if made of metal or wood—if you are fond of ninjas or animes. Your options are as high as the heavens, so keep on experimenting with various concepts and designs.

The printing part of the card-creation process is hassle-free if you have your own printer. However, if you do not have this tool, you can go outside and look for a printing shop. You should have with you the electronic file of the card, as well as the card stock if you already have chosen one. Otherwise, many printing shops sell different types of paper for printing, so just take your pick and let them do the job.

If you are not so talented in design, it does not mean that you cannot customize your own business card. There are online sites where you can easily create your design by just choosing options, and you will be able to receive the product in just a matter of days. If the business card is for professional use, outsourcing to an online design-creation company is advisable. You will be able to choose a plan, take part in the design process (as you will be consulted every time new designs are made), access the designs onsite, and have the last say about the final output.

Creating your own quality business card is not a trying task anymore if you have several technologies to use and a list of companies to contract. Thus, use them to your advantage.

Types of Business Card Paper

Next to the design, the type of paper your business card is printed on is a vital factor in having a quality card. Careful selection should be made, since some paper types work well on some printers and others do not. Also, you should decide on the separation ways and coating of the paper, which are influential to the general appearance of your card.

If you are printing the cards yourself, you must pay attention to the type of paper your printer machine will accept. Laser printers should not be used with glossy, textured and magnetic paper because these will damage the machine. For these types of paper, inkjet will work best because it is applicable to all paper types. If you have a simple design, like black print on white background, a monochrome laser printer will do, but for colored designs, inkjet and color laser printers should be used. While these measures are practically easy to keep in mind, you can save the trouble of thinking about them if you choose to consign your printing job to a professional printing company, which has all the necessary equipment to produce your business card.

When buying paper for your card, the coating should be appropriate. Paper coating can be regular, textured, glossy and matte. Regular paper is the cheapest kind that works well with any type of printer. If you have a photo to print on the card, glossy printer is the best choice, while textured paper adds a different look and feel to your card. Matte is dull and lacks a shiny surface, but it also allows "raised prints" using plastic ink.

The separation ways of the paper allow the finished card to either have rough or straight edges when cut. Perforated business cards create slightly rough edges after they are separated, while smooth-cornered business cards produce even corners when the cards are split. The perforated and smooth-cornered ones have eight to ten cards per sheet, and they differ in the way of holding the cards on the sheet. The former has lined dots marking the outline of each card, so the perforations remain on the separated cards; the latter is cut beforehand and attached with sticky tape, so separating each card results to even edges.

You must also consider the distance between each card in the sheet. If you are printing a card with a background image covering the whole sheet, make sure that there is equal distance between the cards in order to ease the cutting.

Business Card Uses for Company Marketing

Using business cards is one is still one of the best ways to market your business and yourself despite the increase in social media and social networking use nowadays. The advantage with business cards is that they are handy, so it is easy to distribute them to anybody, especially if you have included something there that is of use to people. If you are out of ways to use these cards for marketing your business, here are some fresh ideas that might help.

1. Always have your business cards with you wherever you go. The best place for them is in your wallet, purse, pocket or briefcase. If you just leave them inside the drawer in your office, they will just get old and defeat the purpose of making them in the first place. Remember that you have to get them to the hands of your prospects in order to grow your business. So have them with you always and give them to people when you have chance.

2. Business cards are a representation of yourself and your business, so you should make them totally flat, without creases, folds and tear. Dedicate a special case for them so that they do not get defaced in any way. When you give them out, you will be proud that they look completely the same when they are first printed. When you accept cards from others, spend a few moments to read the contents. It will not be a good impression if you mishandle others' cards in front of them. Treat others' business cards as yours; you will never know when you need to contact that person again.

3. Don't be stingy when giving out your cards; just give them to the right people as if giving candy to kids during the Trick or Treat. Place them on the reception area in your company so that they are accessible to interested people. Post them on bulletins that allow others to pass on your card by doing the same thing to theirs. Your card will be like money that is passed from hand to hand.

4. When sending mails, insert your business card into the envelope. This is simple yet effective in letting people know that your business exists. You will never know who's going to be on the other line of your phone the following day. 5. Use your business card as a scrap paper instead of a napkin when in need of something to write on. If you bumped into an old colleague unexpectedly, grab a pen and a card and write on its back your direct line, or any piece of info that will make that person connect with you.

6. Give people extra reasons to use and keep your card. Print a calendar on its back or anything related to your industry in order to dispense the idea that you are being tricky about it by putting something extra. 7. When you attend big functions like a trade show, look for the fish bowl where business cards are dropped in by the attendees. Look for a timing to offer your business card, or better if you ask first, since that will compel the other person to ask for yours in turn.

Alternative Uses for Business Cards

Aside from their use to spread your company name and its services, business cards can also have other functions depending on the situation and the need.

1. Make them serve as coupons. Create loyalty cards with your contact information and company details printed on them. It can be used by your customers to avail of services at a discounted price, to get a free consultation or a free gift. Make sure that you indicate an expiration date on the cards before distributing them to your customers.

2. Use them in surveys. When you survey your target market, tell your respondents that they will receive a special incentive by returning your card with the survey. When they do, give a new copy of your business card and say thank you.

3. Make it an accessory. If you use wood or metal with a unique shape for your card, punch a hole near the edge and attach it to a chain. When you distribute them, people will tend to put them on their bags or purses. The accessory hangs there, so as your name and business!

4. Turn them into appointment cards. Print your name, address, email and contact numbers on one side of the card, and leave a space on the opposite side for filling in a date and time for a succeeding appointment. Next time you set an appointment with a person, it will surely be kept by that person for a long time.

5. Use it in some unconventional ways. Because business cards are made of hard paper, sometimes wood, metal or plastic, they are useful in rewinding thread or string that unraveled by a reel. They can also be used to pick dirt or stuff under your fingernails or in between your teeth, or to scoop fallen bits of food on the table after having a meal.

How to Properly Format Contents in Your Business Cards

Your business card is a reflection of you and your business, so it should always represent you correctly and positively. The impression that people make of you based on how you present your card may be lasting, and you basically do not have time to explain yourself if any detail printed on it is incorrect. Thus, here are tips on how to properly format contents in your business cards.

1. Titles. The title is the most prominent element on your card if it has no company logo. Usually, this element is printed in bigger font than the rest of the less important parts. Ensure that your title part is composed of your complete name, your position and your company's name.

Since a business card is a professional representation of yourself, use a name that you want your clients to refer to you. If you want them to know you by your sobriquet, then put it there followed by your surname; otherwise, use your real name. Each element should occupy a new line and should be flushed aligned either to the left or right.

2. Address. Your address should be complete, so include the floor, building name, street name, city and zip code in your address line. This should be divided like how you write your address on your correspondences, like line 1 address, line 2 address, and line 3 address.

3. Website and Email. To make yourself reachable through the online world, you must include your website's name and email address. Make sure that your email is professional and does not include funny words or unnecessary numbers. Better use your complete name to be safe.

4. Contact Numbers. These include your cell phone number and your office number. Since this is a business card, it is not advisable to print your personal number on the card. 5. Instant Messaging IDs. Include your usernames in various instant messaging protocols you are subscribed to. Make them short as much as possible, and use your real name instead of a made-up name in order to keep them professional.

For your business card to become an appropriate marketing and networking tool, you must follow a certain formatting for all its elements. Never use fancy or decorative font, shouting color or any design that is not in line with the goal of your business.

Business Card Printing Techniques

Good business cards are one of the ways to gain the confidence of your clients, so they should be professionally formatted to properly reflect what you and your business is. Giving them an attractive design is another means of magneting potential clients, so you have to make them polished in order for your prospects to think that you can be a worthy business partner.

This makes business card printing as an essential process that should be inspected and checked. With today's state-of-the-art printers, it is just impossible to come up with business cards that are not appealing. There are also several ways that cropped up when it comes to printing cards, such as foil stamping, embossing, foil embossed and die cutting.

Foil stamping is done by literally printing your card's details on metallic foils, rendering a unique highlight to the card. Metal options are gold, silver, bronze and copper. Embossing, on the other hand, adds texture and dimension to the printed elements of the card. Foil embossing is a combination of the first two, wherein the images or texts are projected on the surface with an accompanying metallic effect. Last, there is die cutting, which creates a softer look for your card because it allows angles to be cut into rounded corners. In all these printing techniques, you have the option to shift from the common horizontal layout to vertical layout. The challenge, however, is that you may need to separate elements into several lines, which can affect the flow of thought of the card's reader.

Modern business card printing techniques allow people to have high-quality cards that both look attractive and professional. You must look for a printing company not only with several years of proven experience in printing, but also with complete set of equipment that will produce vibrant, durable prints on your cards.

Tips on Vamping Up Your Old Business Card

Modern business-card production aims for quality and design. Today, the excuse simplicity is beauty may not work anymore because of the great competition out there. So, what you have to do is make your business card stand out, gain life, and work for your best interest.

1. Use both sides. The back side of the card can be used for other purposes that might make recipients keep the card longer. You can print a calendar, a room for appointment date and time, a special offer, or good testimonials you got from past clients.

2. Incorporate color. Colors are the only way to attract eyes, so print both sides in full color without ruining the text or design of the card. Remember to stick with a certain motif in order for the card to remain in line with your business goals and the image your want to portray.

3. Use foil accents. Foil accents supply an additional flair and elegance to the card. Just make sure that only 10 to 20 percent of the card's surface is printed in foil, since it will be distracting to see its glimmering effect at some angles.

4. Try it in vertical. Determine if your industry allows you to tap on this technique. By making vertical cards, you will have to have more lines of text on the card, and long details will have to be split. Vertical business cards have a potential for being used as bookmarks, so if you are in book publishing, this might be a good idea to try.

5. Use the traditional size. Printing the card in a 3.5-by-2-inch paper is still a lasting idea because it is the perfect size that fits in wallets. So, whether you go vertical or horizontal, the standard dimensions should still be followed.

6. Print social details. By this, it means that you should incorporate your social networking addresses or instant messaging usernames on the card. This is especially necessary if you use the card for networking purposes. Given that the internet is so rampant nowadays, these details will look attractive to the recipient and will make you "in."

7. Give it texture and smell. Additional sensory triggers are a to-try technique in today's business card printing industry. Some use leather, wood, metal and plastic in order to give a unique texture to their cards, while other spray lasting fragrance on them to effect emotionally to the recipient.

The trends in making business cards are continually changing, so make sure that whenever you update your cards, ask experts about what is current when it comes to design, materials and techniques.

Modern Business Card Design and Printing Trends

Business card design and printing has gone through various trend changes, and this year, we are seeing some interesting techniques emerging in this industry. Despite this change in trend, quality of the output still remains the top priority. Here are the latest business card design and printing trends that businesses and business people should consider trying:

1. Plastic printing. Apart from being durable, plastic can create an awesome look when used in business cards. Blank background is the top choice because of its transparent appearance, which makes the printed colors and text stand out more.

2. Raised printing. This is a trend that still endures through decades. Professional printers use high-quality plastic powder to create embossed prints, giving a different texture to the card.

3. UV coated printing. This technique adds an elegant sheen to the card, making images and colors more brilliant. Aqueous coating has been replaced by this method because of its lower quality of sheen and lesser durability.

4. Unique logo. The task of creating a logo now takes a longer time than before. Aside from the fact that it should be unique, the logo should also be easy to remember and must reflect what the company is about. With many imaging software out there, creating logos has become a cinch.

5. Die cut printing. This method allows business cards to take various shapes, the most popular of which are cards with rounded corners. Cards with rounded corners slide in wallets easily and have a unique appearance that makes them well-grabbing.

6. Striking imagery. Thanks to professional graphics creation and editing programs, people can create extraordinary images in just minutes. Appealing images add to the attention-grabbing quality of the business card and communicates a message of expertise and effort.

7. Full color printing. This is another benefit of technological advancement. Modern printers can produce business cards in full color with top-of-the-line quality, maintaining the virginity of the original image created in the software. Now, the front and back sides of the card can be printed on, a good way to send the idea of uncompromising quality.

8. Company font. Big corporations take product and company image seriously that they require all their employees to use a particular font that will distinguish their business. This font is not only utilized in business cards, but in all files created including corporate correspondences, internal mail system, and company website.

These modern trends in business-card design and printing are effective ideas on how you can separate your card's appearance from your competition. Try some of these and start creating stunning, state-of-the-art business cards in any material, shape or style of your choice.

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