At Orbit, we encourage our clients to think outside of the box. Think outside of the 2″ x 3.5″ rectangular box that fits conveniently in your time capsule of a Rolodex. There’s a fine line between being too far outside of the box and into a realm of “that’d be awesome to have a holographic business card” and coming back into the reality of logistics and budgets.
There’s no denying it, there are always some limitations to cost when it comes to your marketing and sales materials. The key is to finding the balance between cost, while still having a unique and effective sales tool. Your business card should spark curiosity – make someone want to visit your web, look you up on social media, or better yet, call you to learn more. Unique shapes, sizes and materials help spark that curiosity. And good design feeds that spark into a flame of curiosity.
So, how do you get that unique business card without breaking the bank? See our simple printing tips below:
- Shape – Diecuts are great, but they are often more expensive. If you are trying to stay within a specific budget, stick to squares and rectangles where the printer can print as many cards as possible on one sheet of paper.
- Quantity – There’s a simple rule in printing: the more you order, the cheaper the cost per unit. The downside is that it’s hard to predict the future, how long will Susie or Allen stay at your company, at their current position or at their phone number? Time will only tell. To help make this decision a bit easier, take into consideration their position in the company and even their personality (Ex. are Susie and Allen out mingling with potential clients or potential strategic alliances in their social or professional life? Are they outgoing when in public to talk up your company and lead complete strangers to your web in hopes of word or mouth marketing?). Try asking Susie and Allen their opinion on the quantity of business cards they feel is appropriate and use your best judgment. The last thing you want is thousands of irrelevant cards left over once something changes.
- Customer Service – Nothing is free. You pay to have a print representative readily available who actually knows about your order and your company. You also pay for the risk you take in the number of mistakes and headaches the average 1-800 internet company could potentially do to your order. Our suggestion: identify your comfort level on the scale of customer service vs. price, ask us or professional contacts or friends for recommendations, order samples and try one out. Once you find a printer you like, stick with them.
- Paper Quality – One thing to not skimp on is paper. Paper quality makes the difference between a limp, standard card and “wow, this is different.” Utilize the sense of touch. When you hand someone your business card, they feel texture, weight, and paper thickness. Print to impress.
So next time your company is changing their look, or your employees are running out of business cards and it’s time to reorder, keep these tips in mind. Or give Orbit a call to start with a fresh design and concept. We’d be glad to help you create a design and card that stands out in your crowd.
Brand well and prosper.
Cyndi