One of the most important things to consider when printing business cards is the type of material used. Let’s say that you are a supplier of raw materials and you are meeting a potential buyer. This buyer wants to get your contact information. When you hand over a thin, barely readable card, what impression do you think that person will have about your business? Since the card is cheap and low-quality, he or she might think that the same things apply to the quality of products that you will deliver. Will this person still want to do business with you? Probably not. On the other hand, when you give a thick business card that’s made from high-quality material with an eye-catching design, the impression it leaves is that you are a high-end product manufacturer as well. It’s all about first impressions. This is precisely why you need to distribute the best business cards to your network of contacts.
Since you have very limited space to convey your marketing message, every detail about your business card will be scrutinized. As such, it is crucial to pay attention to the smallest details – from the font size and font type, to the type of paper used. For the latter, here are two factors to consider when choosing the material for printing business cards:
- Card stock
The thicker the business card, the more significant it feels to the hand. You can take your pick from card stock that ranges from 12-pt. which is the thinnest, to 32-pt. which is the thickest – as thick as a credit card. Even if you don’t have the budget for the thickest card stock, you can still have the best business cards by making sure that it has an eye-catching design and overall look.
- Finish
This refers to any special coating applied to the paper stock to give it that extra texture. For a more organic look, you can go for 18-pt. brown kraft business card, or a 14-pt. uncoated business card with a pearl metallic effect. If you want something smooth, go for a 19-pt. soft touch suede finish, or a 17-pt. silk laminated. There are also glossy business cards which have a laminated surface. Or, you can opt for a unique material like plastic that comes in white, clear, or frosted variants – if you really want your business name to stand out.
Be it plain paper, coated card stock, or plastic, taking your time in choosing the material for your business card will make its overall look worthy of representing what you are all about as a brand.
