Category: Business Cards

Business Cards Online: Should I Opt for Suede or Silk when Ordering?

When ordering business cards online, there are several choices that you have to make. For instance, should you go with a standard-sized business card – or something larger or smaller to make your brand stand out? Which paper stock should you use? How about the printing effect? For this, there are over a dozen options to choose from: textured linen, metallic, foil-stamped, brown kraft, suede, ultra-high gloss, black edge with three layers, plastic, spot gloss, and rounded corner.

Here, however, we will focus our attention on two types of soft touch business cards: suede and silk. Why are they called “soft touch” business cards in the first place? Because the printing and laminating effect on the paper stock produces a fabric-like effect that is soft to the touch. If you want to impress the heck out of your customers, you should definitely consider having silk or suede business cards made.

 

Next, what is the difference between suede and silk business cards? Here’s a quick look:

  • Suede

The difference between suede and silk, when it comes to business cards printing, is actually very subtle. It all depends on your color palette. When designing your business card, what color is the background and the font? Are there any images or hand-drawn illustrations that you would like to highlight? Suede is perfect for card designs where a deep black is used. When viewed under bright lights, suede reflects less light as compared to silk. As such, business card designs where high-contrast colors are required may opt for that luxurious suede, fabric-like effect.

 

  • Silk

Just like the fabric, silk business cards feel smooth and silky to the touch. Both suede and silk cards are finished with a matte laminate after printing to create that fabric-like effect.  Silk printing has been around longer than suede, so it has a more classic feel to it. Suede has a richer, velvety texture while silk is a lot sleeker and smoother. Color-wise, silk reflects more light than suede so keep that in mind when using high-contrast hues for the background or font.

 

As compared to plain, uncoated cards, silk or suede business cards give off that ultra-luxurious vibe. When having cards printed out for your business, you should definitely consider going for these fabric-like textures.

Why It Pays to Invest in Printing High-Quality: Business Cards Online

You will find a lot of companies offering business cards online services, but not all are created equal. Some will offer you cheap packages, especially if you are ordering in bulk. Others provide 24-hour printing services, which is a very fast turnaround time. But quality-wise, how do the cards look? If you want to leave a lasting impression to your customers, you do need to invest in professional-looking business cards.

Are Cheap Business Cards a Bad Idea? Yes!  

Sure, you might find printing packages for a set of plastic business cards to be quite affordable or cost-effective. But if they end up looking like a set of cheap business cards, it really is a bad idea. Why? Take a look at these reasons:

  • It leaves an impression that you don’t care about the customers.

Let’s say that you are participating in a trade show and there’s a booth opposite yours that is offering the same product or services. A participant walks in, visits your booth and that of your direct competitor. The customer will be holding two business cards after learning about what you both have to offer as a business. How does your business card compare with the other company? If you hand over a cheap-looking business card made of thin cardboard and has a barely readable print, you won’t create a good first impression. This customer will naturally choose the better-looking card, because that is what he or she will be impressed with.

  • It’s a reflection of the quality of your products and services.

When you walk into a beauty salon, you naturally expect the hair and makeup artists to look their best. The same thing applies to business cards, which are a reflection of what you are all about as a brand. If you hand over cheap-looking business cards, they will have an impression that they will receive the same cheap quality from you. On the other hand, if they receive a thick business card that they can ooh and ahh over, they’ll think that you are only offering the best quality product or service.

  • It’s something that a person can easily forget or worse, throw in the trash!

Business cards are still a must-have in this digital age but if you distribute cheap-looking or forgettable ones, a customer can easily forget about it. Or worse, once they see the poor quality of the print or the paper, they will throw it in the trash the minute your back is turned! To prevent this from happening, make sure to invest in high-quality products like silk business cards or ones made from thick paper grade with high-quality offset print.

You might be saving a lot of money when ordering cheap business cards, but it’s really not worth it if it will leave your customers with an ill or poor impression of your brand.

 

 

Printing Business Cards Online? Know When to go for the One- or Two-Sided Option

You have to go through a series of steps if you want to order business cards online. When doing so, you’re already aware that this tiny 3.5” x 2” card is your representation as a business owner – so it has to suit the image that you’d like to project to your target market.

First, you need to look for a good print service provider. It’s recommended that you go for ones that offer offset printing instead of desktop digital printing. The former uses state-of-the-art printing presses, as well as an offset printing method for professional-looking results.

Second, you must come up with the design of the business card. You have very limited space so make the most of it. See to it that the font type and size, colors, logo, and images, if any, all combine to create a coherent whole.

Third, pay attention to the small details that make the card. Choose the material – you can go for plastic business cards or silk business cards which are made from thick cardboard, but are laminated to create a fabric-like effect.

Fourth, decide whether you will use just one or both sides of the business card. Here are a few key points for each option:

  • Printing on one side

You will save on printing costs if you will go for the one-sided option – and this is actually a popular choice among business owners. From a customer’s perspective, some prefer to receive one-sided business cards so they can write notes on the blank side. If this is your goal, make sure that the blank side of the card is pen-friendly – which means that the finish should not be shiny. Otherwise, clients cannot write notes on it like a brief introduction, the time and date of their next appointment, etc.

  • Printing on both sides

If you think that one side of the business card is not enough to contain your contact information, you can definitely print on both sides of the card. It may be a bit more expensive but if it will convey more of your marketing message, the extra investment is well worth it in the end. Aside from doubling the available space, you can also use the other side of the business card to make a standout statement. You can print a pattern of your logo on the other side; a small graphic or hand-drawn illustration, or even something like: Write down your next appointment with us on this space: then leave a couple of blank lines. Aside from increased printing costs, two-sided business cards may take a longer time to print – but overall, it is a lot more impressive.

Based on the pros and cons of each, you can make an informed decision about whether a one-sided or two-sided business card will work for your business.

 

Things to Remember when Designing Color Business Cards

When a customer asks for your contact information, do you pull out a bunch of color business cards with an eye-catching design that will impress the recipient? If not, then you definitely need to think about having a new set of business cards online. The good news is that during the design process, there are ways for you to incorporate color and get the marketing results you want.

How to Use Color when Designing Business Cards

When you print business cards, you must look for a printing company with a wide range of products, plenty of experience, and high-end printing presses, preferably using the offset printing process.

Next, here’s how you can incorporate color into the design:

  • What’s your goal in designing the business card in the first place?

The standard size for a business card is 3.5” x 2”. With such a limited space, you need to really think about the design elements so that you can achieve your goal in having the card made. Would you like to stand out among other business owners? If yes, use color in such a way that your card will really grab someone’s attention. If you’re an interior designer, for example, you’d want to show off your creativity. Think of a business card design with a unique shape, folding option or material to give customers a preview of your design perspective.

  • Apply color psychology when designing your business cards.

Did you know that you can actually use psychology when designing business cards or any printed marketing material? White is the standard background but when you mix it with yellow, you are conveying a message of optimism. Blue means that you’re a dependable business; green is associated with nature and health; grey is neutral; while red is perfect for when you have a young target market.

  • Learn about color placement.

If you already have a business logo, what are its dominant colors? How can you blend it with a black background or make it stand out against a white background? If you have an image or a drawing in the design, which complementing colors should you choose?

  • Pay attention to the smallest details of the card’s design.

Finally, think about the finer details like font type and size; the type and thickness of paper that you will use; and the print finish. You can go for textured linen, metallic, foil-stamped, brown kraft, suede, ultra high-gloss or even plastic business cards.

With the use of color, you can come up with an overall business card design that will leave a truly lasting impression to your clients.

 

Learn the Symbolism behind Different Color Business Cards

Did you know that there is a psychology behind using different hues which you can apply on color business card printing? Similar to designing a house, choosing a specific color will attract different results and convey a particular message to your target market. Here, we will take a look at a rainbow of colors that you can use when printing business cards and understand the effect that it will have on your audience.

What’s the Effect of Using Different Colors on Business Cards?

Before you order a batch of business cards online, the first thing that you need to do is have a design for your business card. What’s the background color? How about the font? You also need to make sure that the information is concise and up to date. Which paper stock and finish would you like your business card to have? It’s important to pay attention to even the smallest details because of the limited space that you have.

For the background and the letters or images, here are a few colors to choose from – as well as a quick look at what each color conveys:

  • Black

Black is bold, formal, and elegant. This is perfect for those in the legal industry and business owners who want to exude sophistication. You can mix it with metallic hues like gold, silver, or copper – or more fun colors if you want to make a standout statement.

  • Blue

The color of the sea is tranquil and when used in business cards, it conveys a message of being trustworthy and honest. A lighter shade injects a bit more fun into the design, while the darker shades of blue lean towards a more serious, formal image.

  • Green

If you’re marketing yourself as an eco-friendly company, you can choose green as the background color or the color of the font in your business card. Green is associated with nature, the environment, healing, compassion, balance, and security.

  • Gold

If you’re offering a luxury product or service, you can probably go with a gold-themed business card. Just make sure to keep it muted to prevent the card from looking too pretentious or crass. Gold is the symbol for opulence and premium quality – but on business cards, it looks best when mixed with subtler colors like ivory.

  • Grey

Grey is a neutral color that suggests being conservative and neutral. It’s always a safe color choice on business cards, but is not recommended if you want something that stands out.

  • Red

Red symbolizes passion and when used in a business card, it definitely will grab someone’s attention. It’s stimulating but be careful in choosing the exact shade of red since it can also convey anger or aggression. If you must use red, go for the darker shades like maroon or burgundy to make it a bit more formal.

  • Silver

Like gold, silver-based business cards are stylish and formal. It can be used by companies in the Information Technology industry, or combined with other fun colors to make it look more elegant.

  • White

White is the standard background for most business cards and there is absolutely nothing wrong in going for this safe choice. It’s a blank canvas, making it perfect for almost any type of business. However, if you want to also stand out, make sure that the overall design of the card adds up to a pleasant whole. It should also fit the image that you’d like to project as a business.

Keep these tips in mind when you print business cards so that you can send out the right message through the colors, font, and overall design of the card.

Suede, Foil Stamped, Spot Gloss Business Cards: Which Do You Prefer?

Are you considering ordering spot gloss business cards? This is a type of business card that offer an extra oomph, leaving customers impressed with what you have to offer as a company. By going for something that’s luxurious and extra special, you can easily achieve your marketing objectives.

Take Your Pick from these Luxurious Business Cards

Traditional business cards are sized 3.5” x 2” and are made from thin or thick cardboard material. But if you want to veer away from the traditional, there are many types of luxurious business cards to choose from. Here are a few options:

  • Suede business cards

Just like silk business cards, suede business cards feel like fabric to the touch. If you want to give your customers a glowing impression of your brand, this is definitely something that you must consider printing for your business. Made with 19-pt. paper, it has 70% the thickness of a credit card. The soft suede effect is achieved by using velvet lamination, something that cannot be done using simple desktop printing. If you want an organic theme for your business card, suede is the way to go.

  • Foil stamped business cards

Another luxurious business card option is foil-stamped cards. If you’re a lawyer, for example, and you want to impress clients, gold foil business cards is your best bet. Gold, silver, copper, or colored foil is used – not metallic ink – to ensure that a real metallic lustrous effect is achieved for the card. 17-pt. paper stock is used, and it is best to design the card with dark colors in mind to make the metallic glint pop out.

  • Spot gloss business cards

Finally, there’s the spot gloss business cards. As the name suggests, these are cards which have glossy ink applied only to certain spots on the card. It could be the logo, the name, a box with an image, etc. The combination of matte and glossy ink makes the spot appear raised or embossed for a fully impressive effect.

No matter which among these luxurious business cards you end up ordering, you are bound to leave a lasting impression to your customers because they’re extra special.

 

 

A Preview at How Luxurious Spot Gloss Business Cards are Made

There is absolutely nothing wrong when you go with traditional business cards – but why stick with it when you can go for something extra special like spot gloss business cards? Just like

silk business cards and gold foil business cards, spot gloss cards has an extra layer of printing that makes colors pop and the design stand out. Here, we will have a quick preview of how these ultra-specialty business cards are made.

Outlining the Process behind Making Spot Gloss Business Cards

There are many companies specializing in printing business cards, brochures, flyers, rack cards, and similar products. When looking for one, make sure that spot gloss business cards is included in their products list, or you might not achieve the same effect.

Now, here’s a quick preview at how luxurious spot gloss business cards are made:

  • Offset printing is used, not digital.

Companies that specialize in printing brochures use state-of-the-art printing presses that apply the offset printing process, as well as features like Heidelberg color technology. Although there are cheaper digital printers out there, it is better to go with offset printing if you want superior and professional-looking results.

  • After the first layer of printing is done, a second layer of glossy printing is applied on specific areas of the card.

The first application of ink on the business card paper has a matte effect. Then, specialized ink to achieve a high-level of gloss is applied – but only on certain areas of the card. If you want to outline an image, the logo, or a specific part of the card, this is where the gloss is applied. The combination of matte and glossy ink raises the part of the card that’s printed in spot gloss, making the colors pop and highlighting the name, logo, or image.

  • Thick paper stock is used on standard-sized business cards.

Because there are two layers of ink applied, it is best to use thick paper stock for spot gloss business cards. Printing companies recommend using thick 16-pt. or super thick 17-pt. paper. You may also want to place your orders in advance to give the printing company plenty of time to perfectly finish the process.

Indeed, spot business cards are an excellent option if you want your brand name to really stand out.

 

Get that Super Cool Effect from Spot Gloss Business Cards

If you want to up the ante in representing your brand, why not distribute spot gloss business cards? This is a super cool printing effect that can only be achieved using the offset printing method from companies with state-of-the-art printing presses. If you’re going for something cheaper like digital printing, it might be difficult – if not impossible – to achieve the same luxurious effect.

How is the Spot Gloss Effect Achieved?

Just like gold foil business cards, a specialized printing process is used to achieve the spot gloss effect. As the name implies, gloss is applied to certain parts of the business card. If you have a standard-sized 3.5” x 2” card, for example, a high-gloss layer can be applied to the logo. If the design is black-and-white, gloss can be applied on the white parts of the card to highlight certain aspects of the design. The application of a glossy layer makes the colors pop. Since the rest of the surface has a matte effect, running your fingers through the parts with the glossy layer makes the business card feel extra luxurious. It adds another dimension to the design, making your brand stand out.

Here’s a quick list of other things to remember when ordering spot gloss business cards:

  • Consider adding gloss to logos, illustrations, a name, or just the parts of the card’s design that you wish to highlight.
  • The spot gloss effect works best with a thick card stock, so go for thick 16 pt. or super thick 17 pt. paper.
  • The ‘gloss’ part is a combination of matte and glossy layers, making the area raised – which is something that you need to consider when creating the design. If you want to highlight a name, for example, make sure that it’s in a large font – otherwise, the glossiness of the design might be indistinguishable.
  • Similar products are silk business cards, silver or gold foil stamped business cards. All these add that extra layer of dimension to otherwise plain contact cards.

All in all, if you want your brand to stand out, you really must consider going with super cool spot gloss business cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper or Not? Why It Pays to Go for Plastic Business Cards

If you are thinking about using plastic business cards to promote your business, you are definitely on the right path. These business cards are thick, durable, waterproof, and fade-proof. With such characteristics, not only will you get the best value for your money but you will also make an excellent first impression to your prospective customers.

As compared to paper, here are the many reasons why you should consider going for plastic business cards:

  • Plastic falls under the category of premium business cards. On a side-by-side comparison with thin paper or thick cardboard cards, plastic is extremely durable so it will last you for practically a lifetime.
  • Because of the uniqueness of plastic as a printing material, offset printing is better than digital printing. See-through ink is used and depending on the type of plastic that will be used, you can achieve different effects.
  • The see-through effect is achieved when clear plastic is used; the colors are a bit more solid with frosted plastic; while white plastic is similar to printing on regular paper – only the material is different.
  • Using plastic business cards will make you stand out from your direct competitors. If a company offering the same services that you have in your business has thin, cardboard business cards and yours is made from plastic with high-quality print, which one do you think will stand out?
  • Plastic business cards are similar to credit cards so they have a higher perceived value. Instead of tossing a cardboard card inside an office drawer, customers will most likely keep your plastic business cards inside their wallet or in a prominent place in their office desk.

When looking for a business cards online company to print your plastic cards, make sure that they use state-of-the-art printing presses. Again, plastic has an entirely different surface than paper so a different kind of ink and printing process must be used. Called offset printing, this offers much higher quality than desktop digital printing. With the right printing process, what’s printed on the plastic business card is practically fade-proof, so you won’t worry about customers forgetting about your contact information anytime soon.

With all these benefits, there’s really no reason for you to say no to the prospect of using plastic business cards.

Plastic Business Cards: Durable, Flexible, Impressive

Competition in any business is very tough so you need to have something that makes you stand out – and plastic business cards do exactly that. Durable and flexible, these unique business cards will impress the heck out of your customers.

The Characteristics that Make Business Cards Stand Out

So what exactly are the characteristics that make business cards made from plastic stand out? Here’s a preview:

Clients will definitely not be impressed with thin linen cards which look like they just came out from a desktop printer. Cards which are as thick as a credit card and plastic cards are considered premium because of the quality of material used. By showing customers that you are investing in high-quality material, they will have the impression that you are also delivering the same level of quality when it comes to the products or services that you are offering.

  • The material is durable and flexible.

As compared to paper, no matter how thick, plastic is waterproof, durable, and fade-proof. Just make sure to look for a business cards online printing company that specializes in printing plastic business cards.

  • The uniqueness of the material will make your business card stand out.

If a customer has a stack of business cards collected over the years, they will most likely be made from standard-sized cardboard material. If your plastic business card is inserted in such a stack, it will really stand out and it will increase the likelihood of a customer calling you. Another thing that makes plastic cards stand out is the fact that there are different styles or finishes to choose from: white, clear-colored, frosted, or textured. When designing the card, make sure that the layout, font, and colors used will be a good fit for the material used.

Size-wise, you can go for the standard 2” x 3.5” option – or something a bit bigger like 2.125” x 3.375”. Square, oval, or standard-sized business cards with rounded edge are the other options that you can choose from. Stylish, durable, and flexible, plastic business cards are a must-have if you want to leave a lasting impression to your clients.