Category: Business Cards

Quick Facts about Plastic Business Cards

Hand over a plastic business card to a potential client and you will get that immediate reaction of surprise. The mere fact that the material is not as cliché as beige cardboard is enough to leave a good first impression. Match this with a design that portrays the image that you’d like to have as a brand – then you are off to good start in your print advertising campaign using business cards.


Plastic Business Card FAQs

If you are considering using plastic business cards, here are a few quick facts to know about it:

  1. How thick are plastic business cards?

Cardboard business cards have a thickness ranging from 14-pt. to 32-pt. The most popular option is to use 20-pt. plastic, which has 63% the thickness or a regular credit card. Some printing companies even give you the option to cut the card with rounded corners, or just leave them with rectangular edges.

  1. What kinds of printing finish are available?

You can take your pick from clear business cards, white plastic or frosted. White is a great option for those with black-and-white or mostly plain designs. Clear business cards stand out because of the material and designs available. Frosted business cards can be designed similar to cardboard cards, with the thick and durable material being the only difference.

  1. Any design consideration to keep in mind?

When designing clear business cards made from plastic, make sure that the font has a size and design that’s easily readable. You don’t want the recipient of the card to be squinting when trying to read your contact number because the font is too small. Avoid overcrowding the design with unnecessary elements – the cleaner, the better. Choose colors that will contrast with the finish of your card so a white background is not a good idea for white plastic cards, nor are light colors against a frosted plastic background.

With a standout design and material, plastic business cards are great for handing out to customers so that you can leave an excellent first impression for your brand.

Make Your Brand Name Pop with Plastic Business Cards

What are the benefits of plastic business cards? To start right off, the material is durable, it feels significant to the hand when held, and it is waterproof and tear-proof. Compared to thin cardboard cards, plastic business cards that are designed with the material in mind will make your brand name pop. Here, we will take a look at a few things to remember when ordering business cards.


Tips when Ordering Online Business Cards Made of Plastic

The good news is that you can easily look for online business cards printing companies that offer the plastic cards option. To ensure that you have a smooth and easy transaction while getting the best print possible, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Look for printing companies with an easy ordering system.

There are printing companies with a completely online ordering system. All you have to do is select the type, size, and thickness of the business card. After uploading the design, specify the quantity and if there are any other special requirements for printing your card. Next, make a payment and wait for the cards to be delivered straight to your doorstep – it should be that easy.

  • Check on the finish options that they offer.

For plastic cards, the most popular options are white, clear, and frosted. When choosing between these three, make sure to also consider the layout of your card so that the colors of the design and the text will pop out.

  • Ask about the thickness of the material.

For most plastic business cards, a 20-pt. vinyl material is used – which is slightly thinner than a standard-sized credit card. You also have the option to request for round-edge or rectangular-edge cards.

  • Determine the turnaround time and check on the quality of customer service that they offer.

Once your order for online business cards is placed, how many business days must you wait for the cards to be delivered? What about the quality of customer service offered by the printing company? Try to make one or two inquiries to gauge the speed of their response, and the quality of customer service offered.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can have a hassle-free time ordering plastic business cards from your preferred printing company.

 

 

Key Characteristics of Effective High-End Business Cards

Are you thinking about distributing high end business cards to your clients? If yes, you are on the right path because high-quality cards equate to a better impression of your brand in the minds of your customers and clients. As compared to thin, barely readable business cards, spot gloss business cards that are made using the offset printing process is the better choice. Not only will customers be impressed with your brand, but they will also equate it with the quality of services or products that you are offering.

So how can you say that a business card is high-end? Here are some of the characteristics of high-end business cards:

• It is readable, accurate, and well-designed.

Even if you are in the creative field, there is no need to go gaga over crazy-looking fonts – especially if they are not readable. Your goal in creating a business card is to indicate all your necessary contact information, so it should be readable. High end business cards are also designed in such a way that it reflects your image as a brand. More importantly, the information should be accurate and complete. You can skip the office address if you are a purely online business. If you’re a real estate agent, you need to include your contact number and email address. Also think about including your social media information, especially if this is one of the main ways that you interact with customers.

• Close attention is paid to the even the smallest details when printing out the card.

Another key characteristic of high-end business cards is that they are printed with close attention to detail. The US standard size of spot gloss business cards is 3.5”x 2”. With very little space, every typographical error or printing mistake will painfully stand out.

• There are special features to make the card stand out.

In a stack of plain linen business cards, what will make high end business cards stand out? Unique features like rounded edge, or plastic or recycled paper material are a few examples. Spot gloss business cards are also considered high-end cards because gloss is added to outline specific areas like logos or a name. Do take note that some features are only available if you will go with offset printing, so it is better to choose offset printers in the first place.

If you want attention-grabbing, high-end business cards, go for something like spot gloss business cards that will truly make your brand stand out.

Will You Really Save Money with DIY Inexpensive Business Cards?

If you’re a small business owner, you might think that you are saving money by purchasing a desktop printer for all your printed marketing needs instead of ordering inexpensive business cards from professional printing companies. Although there might be some advantages to taking the DIY or do-it-yourself route when it comes to printing promotional materials, there are a few downsides to it as well. In the next section, we will look at the pros and cons of DIY versus professional printing.

DIY versus Professional Printing

• DIY Printing 

DIY or do-it-yourself printing involves purchasing a decent desktop printer so that you can print out business cards, postcards, brochures, flyers, and similar marketing materials. Using a computer desktop printer may allow you to produce inexpensive business cards but when it comes to results, nothing beats the quality of professional printing. Business cards will make a huge impression to your customers because it’s a representation of your brand. If your desktop printer can only produce business cards that look homemade, your clients and customers will definitely not be impressed. Perhaps the only exception is when you are offering affordable products or services, so you want to create business cards that are quite simple.

Another disadvantage of DIY printing is that you still have to spend money on the hardware, paper, ink, and maintenance. If you have inexperienced staff, they might not set up the printer properly so instead of saving money, you might end up wasting even more of it due to rookie mistakes.

• Professional Printing 

With professional printing, you can order inexpensive business cards without compromising on quality. There are many professional printing companies that have a purely online ordering process, so you won’t even have to visit their office. You can make use of their online design tools or downloadable templates so that you can create a design for inexpensive business cards. They might be inexpensive to order, but the results are still professional-looking and impressive.
In the end, any extra investment on hiring a professional company to print inexpensive business cards is still worth it. By leaving it to the pros, you can have high-quality business cards that will impress your customers – without spending any more than what’s necessary.

Business Card Printing 101 for Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner or a start-up company, do you still need business card printing or is it enough to have a website and social media presence? Even if you’re a purely digital business, you still need to complement your online advertising with print advertising. Business card printing, for example, is something that you can easily do. It’s cheap, effective, and business cards are tangible – which means that it is something that customers can hold in their hands, making your brand mark easily into their minds. So how can you go about the process of business card printing? Here are a few steps to follow:

1. Include your logo and only the necessary contact information.

Before you can look for a company that can print business cards online for you, the design of the card should first be prepared. For this, make sure to include your official logo. For the contact information, you do not have to include everything. Skip your office address if you’re a purely online business. If you do have a physical office, do include the address and contact number – as well as your online information. For entrepreneurs, your name, job title, email address, phone number, and maybe a short tagline will do.

2. Design the card in such a way that it reflects your brand’s image.

When you print business cards online, make sure that you already have an official logo which you need to incorporate in all your printed promotional materials. Also, there are print business cards online companies that have templates which you can download or online design tools that you can use for business card printing – take advantage of such features. Design your card in such a way that it is a clear reflection of what you are all about as a brand.

3. Decide on the material, finish, and overall look of the card.

The next thing to do when you print business cards online is to decide on the material and finish. The most common is paper cards but there are varying thicknesses – from 14-pt. to 32-pt. paper stock which is as thick as a credit card. For the finish, you can take your pick from fabric-like textures like silk, cotton, suede, or linen. There are also unique features for business card printing like rounded edges, spot UV treatment, foil stamped cards, or materials like plastic and recycled paper. Pay attention to the small details and make sure that all the tiny elements you incorporate in the design of the card contributes to a coherent whole which is a perfect reflection of your brand.

4. Look for a good printing company.

Finally, look for a company that will print business cards online for you. There are ones using digital printing presses while others use the offset printing method. The latter produces more professional-looking results, while digital printers are cheaper and get the job done. Also check on the turnaround time, quality of customer service offered, and the minimum number of cards that you can order.

Professional Printing Basics: Which Printed Materials to Choose for Advertising

If you are considering getting a professional printing service provider, you need to know which products to print out in the first place. If you are newly building your brand, for example, you must order business cards so that potential customers would know how to get in touch with you. If you are launching a new product or service, brochures will give you more space to tell readers about your new offering. The good news is that there are many professional printing companies where you can order business cards and other printed promotional materials. You just need to know which among these products you should have printed out first:

• Business Cards

The standard size of business cards in the US is 2” x 3.5”. With very little space available, you only need to include only the essential contact information. When you order business cards and you don’t have a physical store, there is no need for you to include an office address. If you’re a purely online business, you must include your website, email address, and social media accounts. If you’re a solo entrepreneur, you must include your name and job title when you order business cards.

• Brochures or Flyers

The smallest brochure measures 4.25” x 11” while the smallest flyer measures 4” x 6”. These two can carry more information than when you order business cards, making it a good choice if you have a lot to say. Brochures are great for introducing a company, while flyers can be used for introducing a new product or service.

• Postcards

Another product of professional printing companies is postcards. These are usually mailed out to customers as greeting cards and they can double as discount coupons. Regularly mailing out postcards is an effective way of building customer loyalty.

• Rack Cards

Rack cards are usually seen in hotel lobbies and they have a specialized display case. The design of rack cards should be attention-grabbing, and they are usually displayed in areas where there is heavy foot traffic.

• Menus

If you are in the food business, you should look for a professional printing company that specializes in creating to go menus. These are perfect as inserts for supplier receipts, mailers, and should be included in every delivery or to go order.

Whether you order business cards, brochures, flyers, or all types of printed materials for a full-blast promotional campaign, it is important to work with a professional printing with plenty of experience in the field. This way, you can get professional results while also getting the best value for your money.

On a Tight Budget? Inexpensive Business Cards to Choose from

You already have an eye-catching design and you only plan to order inexpensive business cards. But if you want to make a lasting first impression, you need to think about the base material as well. The overall look of your business card will be remembered by the recipient of the card, so you need to come up with a cost-effective option that still looks mighty impressive. So what are your options? The good news is that there are many inexpensive materials for business cards, as well as finishes that would not cost so much, but the end result would still look great.

Here are a few examples:

• 14-pt. Business Cards

There are printing companies that can create inexpensive business cards for you, without compromising on quality. 14-pt. card stock business cards have 43% the thickness of a credit card. In terms of finish, you can go for smooth matte, glossy, or silk spot UV. Smooth matte business cards are a simple but elegant option. If you want a bit of flare, choose glossy business cards – especially if your design has photos or illustrations on it. The application of gloss enhances the colors in a photograph. For designs where there is a stark color contrast, silk spot UV business cards are your best bet. For this, a flat gloss layer is added onto the logo or a name, to highlight that specific portion.

• Cheap Business Cards with a Pearl Metallic Finish

Another elegant yet inexpensive option is pearl metallic business cards. These also use 14-pt. paper stock, while the base material is a metallic cotton blend. The resulting texture is that of a brilliant pearl color with a metallic sheen to it – similar to what is used in wedding invitations.

Even if you are on a tight budget, you do not have to end up handing out cheap-looking, cardboard-thin business cards. By choosing a suitable material, coming up with a striking design, and choosing a reliable printing company, you can have elegant-looking cards that will truly impress your business clients.

Steps to Follow when You Order the Best Business Cards

Would you like to order the best business cards but don’t know where to start? Here are a few easy steps that you can follow:

1. Know what information to include in the business card.

Whether it’s your first time to design a business card or if you simply want to update your existing one, it pays to do your research and learn which information to include. Business cards are a representation of your work as a professional or your company if you’re an employee. For entrepreneurs, it is important to include your company name and logo – as well as your name and position. If you’re an employee, the company logo and your job position should be included.

Also consider including your website URL, telephone or mobile number, office address, and email address. You don’t have to include everything, however. If you are running a purely online business, for example, there is no need for you to include an office address. You can also include cool features like a QR code which, when scanned, will lead customers to your website.

2. Come up with a design.

Next, come up with a design that suits your brand’s image. If you are printing out personal business cards and you’re in real estate, for example, you might want to include your photo or a collage of the properties you recently sold. If you are selling handmade jewelry, make sure that the design of the card is as creative as your line of products. Those in the legal industry may opt for a more formal design. The gist is that you should use a design that complements your brand and industry.

3. Decide on the paper stock, size, and finish.

Next, choose the size of the business card. The standard is 3.5” x 2”, but you can go with square business cards or European size which is a bit larger than the standard US size. In terms of paper stock, the thicker the paper, the better. When it comes to finish, you can choose from linen, suede, cotton, silk, brown kraft, metallic ink, foil stamped, spot UV – the possibilities are endless. You also have the option to go with a non-landscape orientation or rounded edges to make your card stand out.

4. Look for a reliable printing company.

Finally, when you order business cards, make sure to look for a reliable printing company with extensive experience in the field. There are digital and offset printing service providers out there. Digital printing is good for small batches but if you’re ordering in bulk and you want more professional-looking results, offset is the way to go. These make use of huge printing presses and can produce hundreds to thousands of copies almost instantaneously once the design is set. Also check on the turnaround time, costs, minimum order, and quality of customer service offered.

By following these steps, you can order the best business cards to represent your brand with.

Luxuriously Smooth: Soft Touch Business Cards

Did you know that with a special lamination process, paper can be turned into something with a fabric-like texture, examples of which are suede business cards? Similar to silk and linen, suede business cards are finished using a lamination process to achieve that fabric-like effect. When you give business cards like these to your clients, they will truly be impressed because of how luxurious the material feels once held. Another advantage of going with soft touch business cards with a fabric-like finish is that they are made from thick paper stock. Soft touch suede business cards, for example, are made using 19-pt. laminated cardstock which has 60% the thickness of a credit card. When combined with high-quality offset printing, you can have an impressive business card that will last for practically a lifetime.

Special Add-On Finish for Soft Touch Business Cards

When looking for printing companies to create your soft touch business cards, make sure that they use the offset printing method. Unlike digital printers, offset printers can handle complex laminating processes – and the printing results are more professional-looking. If you would like to order soft touch laminate business cards from printing companies, here are the top three finishes that you can choose from:

 

1. Ultra-Soft Touch Matte Suede

If you think that your design would not look good on shiny surface, go for ultra-soft touch matte suede business cards. These have the same thickness as other soft touch business cards, minus the shine or gloss.

2. Raised Spot UV Gloss Suede

For elegant business cards with a formal design, raised spot UV gloss suede might just be the finish you’re looking for. The uncoated surface is designed with chrome foil on top to achieve a metallic color which can be gold, silver, or copper.

3. Raised Foil Stamped Suede

If you want to have an almost engraved effect on your business card, go with the raised foil stamped suede finish. Unlike raised spot UV gloss, this effect can be done in non-metallic colors like blue, orange, yellow, purple, red, or pink. This is perfect for business card designs for more creative industries.

If you’re planning to have business cards made, which of these soft touch finishes would you choose?

High Impact, Low Maintenance: Why It Pays to Invest in Silk Cards

When you compare handing over a business card printed in thin linen cardboard with thick, laminated business cards that have professional-looking print – which do you think will impress customers? The latter, of course. These days, branding is all about image. If a customer perceives your business card as cheap and haphazardly put together, they will equate the same characteristics to your business. On the other hand, if your business cards are luxurious, thick, and professional-looking, customers will be equally impressed with your brand. This is precisely the reason why it pays to invest in silk cards.

Silk Cards are High Impact, Low Maintenance

Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out: Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out:

1. Matte Silk

Matte silk business cards are non-shiny, but the surface retains that silky-smooth finish. If you want something that’s straightforward, this is for you.

2. Foil Stamped

Silk If you want to highlight your company name or logo and you have a bold business card design, foil stamped silk is the way to go. This lamination process uses heat rolling to add red, blue, silver, gold, black, or copper-colored foil on the card. This is great for those who want their business cards to stand out.

3. Silk Spot UV

There’s also the spot UV treatment where a flat layer of gloss is added to specific areas on the card. This could be the border, the brand name, or logo. This is a great choice for business card designs with highly contrasting colors.

Silk cards are usually made from 17-pt. cardstock which has 54% the thickness of a credit card. This feels thick to the hand, while the silky-smooth surface of the laminated paper feels extra luxurious. Another advantage of going for this type of business card is that the lamination process makes the material ten times stronger than non-laminated cards.

All in all, silk business cards high impact – which means that they leave a lasting impression and they’re also low maintenance because of the durability of the material. What more can you ask for from a printed promotional material?