Sorry, I don’t seem to have one with me….”famous last words” of the forgetful entrepreneur.
Forgetting your business card can be a marketing mistake with huge implications. Every time you’re asked for a business card, and sheepishly reply that you don’t have one with you, you’re missing an honest-to-goodness invitation to market to someone. Worse still, not leaving your business card behind when you need to is a social faux pas as well. Understand that not having one with you at that critical moment is subtly offensive, it puts both you and the person requesting the card in an embarrassing situation and it tells your prospect that you’re not quite the business person they thought and you’re not really serious about your business, or too careless and forgetful to be entrusted with theirs.
So, if you don’t want to be caught “cardless” at a critical meeting again, here are some tips to help you remember:
Develop a strategy for using business cards to actively promote your business.
It may be as simple as deciding to give 5 or 10 cards away every day even pinning them to bulletin boards if need be. The point is that if you consciously figure out a way to use your business cards regularly, you’re much less likely to forget them.
Invest in new cards
If you haven’t ordered business cards within the past two years, there’s a good chance that the information is out of date by now and if your last order was for 1000 cards and there are still 990 cards left, ask yourself why you haven’t been passing them out. If you dislike your cards, toss them and get business cards you’re proud of!
Draft and practice a business card presentation
Unless you’re comfortable and confident when handing out your card, you won’t do it. Besides, the words and actions that accompany your business card when you give it to someone can really cement a positive first impression.
Place a few business cards everywhere
Your glove compartment, your computer case, your gym bag, your friend’s car, next to the front door on the table where you keep your keys, your desk top, the reception desk, the pocket of your notebook, your suitcase, the point is never leave without them!
Remember your business cards
July 18th, 2010Mini Cards from Printeca.com
June 21st, 2010There are so many uses for the mini card. We have been printing these for years and have seen so many variations from users we thought that we would share some.
- Gift tags personalized with exactly what you want on them.
- Sale tags with your company name and prices or other info you choose
- informal invites to parties or events
- discount cards to hand out at events or shows
- Band gigs, announce your next show without getting all formal with business card or larger cards
- social media site contact details
Get people’s attention with something unique. Business cards have their place for sure but mini cards from Printeca.com are so much fun and can be ordered and back in your hands in a matter of days.
Useful business card tips
June 19th, 2010Whether you realize it or not, business cards do play a useful role in establishing your business profile and can become an effective communication tool if you know exactly what to do and what to avoid. Listed below are some of the do’s and don’ts for a successful business card.
List your email address, not having a website or an email address on your card today is just not acceptable, especially when everyone is accessible with the simple click of a mouse. If you don’t have your own website or email address, then its time to get one because including your email address will allow people to directly contact you with ease.
Use a large, easy to read font if you want your card to be effective. Your card should be designed so it can be read well both by a young person as well as by an old person. Try to highlight the most important information like address and phone number in your business card with larger text or color.
Keeping it simple is a great way to make your business card effective. Try not to use different fonts or put too much information in your card, include all the vital information and avoid adding any unnecessary information. Keeping it simple makes your card easy to read and remember.
Avoid buying free business cards, we are all tempted by the free word but most free business card offers include compromises that can ruin your customers’ perception of your business image. In most cases you usually get what you pay for so its best to deal with a quality printer.
Don’t use cards with old information as using business cards with outdated information can degrade your business reputation in a big way. For instance, cards with crossed out and over written information can indicate you don’t have enough cash flow to purchase new cards so avoid leaving your customer with a bad impression.
Try no to hand them out freely, in other words, don’t give over your business card to everyone you meet. Hand out your card only when someone asks for it or when you feel there is an opportunity for future business. Don’t attach your business card to bulletin boards and newspapers unless you plans and budget can afford to give plenty away.
Printeca.com Business Card of the Week!
June 18th, 2010The gilded edge card! Get yours at www.printeca.com.
Business Card Do’s and Don’ts
June 13th, 2010Don’t cheap out, yes, you can get business cards for free but free cards usually come with a compromise so if you want a great business card use a quality printer, pay a fair price and make sure the card is printed on heavy 12pt. card stock. There’s nothing that says cheap like flimsy card stock.
Keep it Simple, and don’t use too many different fonts or include too much information. Be sure to include all the important things on your card, such as name, phone number and address and avoid listing absolutely everything you think your business can do. Make sure you can clearly understand what you do when you quickly glance at your card.
Use a font that is legible and is large enough for people of all ages to read. If people over 40 have difficulty reading the text makes it larger. You don’t want to lose any business due to a card that someone has a hard time reading.
Include your website address and e-mail address if you don’t have a website address it’s time to get one as it’s common now for people to check businesses out on the internet. A five-page website won’t cost much, but can make the difference between winning or losing a customer.
Never use business cards with old or outdated information. Have you ever received a business card with wrong information on it? All that says is “I’m too cheap to buy new cards” and that implies a business that isn’t doing very well.
Printeca.com Business Card of the Week!
June 7th, 2010The threaded card. Get yours at Printeca.com!
It’s time to reinvent your business card
June 5th, 2010Most of us use our business card more than any other single marketing item, yet our business card often contains the least marketing information. Most cards contain a logo and some standard information-the business name, the person’s name, title, phone numbers, and address. But the question needs to be asked, what can be done to make your business card generate business?
So it’s time to think outside the box and come up with why and how you can do something different with your business card instead of the usual 3 1/2 by 2 inches, printed on one side using a boilerplate layout and the usual information.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
THE INFO CARD
One of the challenges of a business card is to get your prospect to keep it until they need it. One way to have it kept is to include something your prospect might refer to from time to time. While you could print something useful, such as a calendar on the back of their card, you might choose something that is specific to your business. For example, a grocery business might print cooking tips, a computer business could include a short list of internet resources, or a therapist might list the phone numbers of resource organizations.
THE NOTE CARD
Often we see others jotting notes on their business card, why not make yours note-worthy? On the reverse side include a lined section to accommodate notes you write before handing out your card. You might, for example, use it to write down a price and description, a date or time for a meeting, a product name, a contact name, or to jot down specifications. No matter what you or your prospect put there, there’s a better chance you prospect will keep your card.
And don’t forget to select a quality online printer to really make that card shine!
Choose Your Full Color Printing Service Wisely
June 3rd, 2010Your imaginations are beautiful, as they are colorful and bright. The nature you see around you, the beauty you capture in your camera all these are lovely memories. But have you ever imagined if your thoughts remained within you and could have never come out. Well, thanks to technology today we can gain a lot of things very easily. With the help of full color printing we can always get the best printed pictures.
The history of color printing is very interesting. It was first started in Europe and Asia. In Asia it was the famous wooden blocks that were used to print.
Initially we were able to get only black and white printing but now we are able to take color printouts too, this is possible with the help of full color printing. Color printing refers to making colored replicas of the image provided. History of printing can be traced back with the use of wooden blocks, but it was in the modern 20th century with the development of computer technology that this service was available.
It was in 1977 that color print out was incepted. A large number of other options were available like the inkjet, dot matrix and laser ones. Color printers are generally used by printing shops. It was by 1980 that color printers became more easily available both in their cost and technology.
Full color printing also depends upon the choice of the paper. Many people use the glossy paper, while many choose photo printing paper based on the brightness. The quality of the paper is an important concern when you are taking the print outs.
Full color printing can be used in advertising, for making brochures, pamphlets and flyers. The colorful world outside is captured into papers and brought to you with the help of these printers. Many companies are using this for targeting their customers. This way they can also get rid of the boredom that is caused by black and white advertising or promotional materials.
It is very important that you choose the right company that provides you with this service. Many companies offer the same full color printing services but not all are reliable. You can search for a list of companies online or can opt for simple retailers that provide these services. For this you just have to keep a check on all the available options. It is convenient to search online as this way you can get many options. You can refer to Website like http://www.printeca.com that provides you with the best service.
Affordable Solutions for Color Business Card Printing
June 3rd, 2010Your business card is what gives you the extra benefit you want for your business. It gives your business the extra mileage. It provides you that prominence what you had always wanted to gain.
Traditionally they were only black and white however, now a lot of things are available that makes you think about the card that represents your business. Initially they were simple but with the cut throat competition in the market you need to advertise yourself in every possible way. A cheap way to do that is through your business card. Today everyone is opting for color business card printing.
Color business card printing has always been associated with something very expensive. If you are just starting your business and are not able to afford high expenses then you should always use your wisdom while making any decision. Remember the primary objective of your business is to make profits. You cannot afford to spend a lot on color business card printing. A few tips might come in handy if you want both things to be done, i.e. get a color business card and also not loose extra cash.
Have a check on the paper quality if you want to save some money. Generally business cards are printed on card stacks. The paper quality matters a lot. If you opt for high paper quality then you can always end up spending a lot of cash. Again a low quality of paper will lead to a bad impression about your company. So it is therefore better to use a medium quality paper. Do not use unnecessary glossy papers as they can cost extra.
Using fewer colors can also save you some money this way you can have a more professional look. Do not make your card extra colorful as most printers charge extra for extra colors. Make use of only relevant colors that gets along with your business logo or your business theme. For example, if your company logo has the color combination of red and green then use these two colors only. This way you will save cash as well as make your card appear apt.
Extra features like scented cards and glossy cards can cost you further so it is better to avoid them. Color business card printing requires a lot of detailing and it is better that you opt for a professional service provider like http://www.printeca.com who can offer you the best service.
Green Printer helps to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
May 29th, 2010Many business owners are often surprised at the amount of waste attributed to conventional literature production. Printing industry estimates show that for every dollar spent on conventional printing, an additional $5-8 is spent on related activities such as administrative costs, file preparation, internal and external design costs, storage, archiving, fulfillment, and shipping.
A large part of this extra expense is in the high cost of obsolescence as a recent study showed an estimated 31% of printed material becomes outdated and thrown out before it can be used.
By taking advantage of Printeca’s online easy print technology, business owners can maintain an effective marketing program on a slim budget. Our easy print technology allows you to order only what you need, reduce waste from obsolescence and get fast delivery while ordering small cost effective quantities.
As one of the internets premier provider of on-demand digital printing, our digital technology makes it possible for all businesses to obtain high quality brochures, business cards and promo cards eco friendly, carbon neutral and cost efficiently.