For most small businesses a business card is the single most important marketing tool. A business card is often the first impression your company will give to a potential lead. This first impression is usually the one that sticks, so it is critical to make a good and lasting one. Putting a little extra thought into design and printing of a business card can prove to be hugely beneficial in the long run. Think of the last time someone showed you something amazing and you said “WOW!”, chances are you probably told someone else about it right? A business card can have a similar effect when you hand it to a potential lead and chances are, they will tell someone else about it. Think of it as “Going Viral” within your networking circle. Potential leads will retain a business card for a longer period of time if it strikes them as intriguing. If a need for your product or service comes up during that time there is a much higher probability you will be getting a call.
Design
When considering a new business card design think of the impression it is giving about your company and brand. Often times to save money business owners use a design that is preset into a software program, not realizing that someone else nearby could potentially be using that very same design. This can lead to consumer confusion and a false brand awareness. To prevent this type of scenario from happening I recommend shopping around on the web for a graphic designer or available templates that you can use with software already on your computer. Hiring a graphic designer can be a hectic experience but there are sites that can make it easy like Carbonmade or Behance, and chances are someone in your network already uses a design professional so ask around.
Printing
No business card is complete without printing! There are so many options available its hard to choose which one will serve each design the best. It’s best to talk with your designer about how they intend the card to print. We also can help determine the best options for a particular design. There are a few limitations for print when it comes to graphic design. First and foremost, the most preferred file type in the print industry is vector. Vector artwork is comprised of line art which can be scaled to any size and print with the same quality. These files are often designed with Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. Vector allows for more print options such as Pantone® spot colors, and also limits any additional artwork costs because of its ease of use and manipulation. Alternatively, bitmap graphics such as .jpg, .png, .tiff, and photoshop files don’t provide much flexibility for advanced print techniques. Although They can still provide a compelling design and can be printed in full color with UV coating or spot UV gloss. We also have been known to stamp foil onto full color cards from time to time for that added pop!
In conclusion, the entire purpose of your business card is to start a conversation, either at the time you hand it off or at a later date. The immediate conversation is what we are after, because it would be a face to face personal interaction as opposed to waiting for a potential need to arise for your services and having that conversation on the phone or via e-mail. Handing a potential lead a compelling business card will start a conversation and allow for opportunities as well as provide a stronger brand awareness throughout the local community.
