Getting to Know Rack Cards

When you are checking out of a hotel, you are bound to see a stack of rack cards that promote the other services of the establishment that you just visited. You pick one for future reference, or to give to a friend who might be planning to stay in the same hotel in the future. Such is the effectiveness of marketing through rack cards. They hold a person’s attention enough to grab one card, read through it, and hopefully take it home.

If you would like to take advantage of the appeal of rack cards and use it as a way to advertise your business, here are a few things to learn about them:

  • Rack cards should be placed in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic.

Aside from hotel lobbies, you will usually see rack cards displayed in theaters, the waiting area of doctor’s offices, showrooms, booths in tradeshows – basically any area where there is a lot of foot traffic. Placement is important because the more that people will grab one of your rack cards, the more exposure your business will get.

  • Design, color, and overall look is important.

Since your goal is to capture the attention of anyone standing near the place where the rack card is set, the design of your card must be eye-catching. Think of the brochures distributed in airports which showcase the most beautiful tourist destinations in the country you’re visiting. The images are attention-grabbing and are professionally photographed. The same thing should apply when it comes to your own set of rack cards. Remember that design, color and the overall look of the card should compel passersby to grab one of your rack cards.

Offset has up to eight times better quality than desktop digital printing, so the extra investment is well worth it. You should also know which size and material is most effective for rack cards advertising. The standard sizes are 3.5” x 8.5” and 4” x 9”.

  • You can also incorporate special features in the rack card design.

Finally, you can incorporate special features when rack card printing. You can design it in such a way that the bottom part is detachable and can be used as a business card or a discount coupon. By  learning as much as you can about rack cards, you can turn printing them into a vital part of  your print promotional campaign.

 

 

 

 

A Glimpse at the Usefulness of Rack Card Printing

You may want to use rack card printing as a way to promote your business. You’ve seen one of these long, eye-catching cards at theatre shows, trade events, conferences, and other occasions which attract a huge group of people. When an image on the card is compelling enough, these cards are even taken home as a souvenir by lots of individuals. With such usefulness, there’s no reason for you not to include rack cards as part of your promotional campaign.

Rack Card Printing Tips

So what are the things that you need to remember when having rack cards printed out? Take a look at the following tips:

  • Choose the right size and printing process.

If you want to print rack cards, you can choose from two sizes and two printing options. There are 3.5” x 8.5” cards as well as 4” x 9” cards. Both will fit most card containers or can simply be laid face up on a table during promotional events. For the printing process, you can choose from digital and offset printing. The latter offers better quality than digital, although it’s a bit more expensive.

  • How about the layout of the card?

Let’s use a Broadway show rack card as an example. On the upper part of the card is the title of the show. A brief description of the event in the middle along with an image or two, and a call to action at the bottom. For the images or illustrations, make sure that they are high-resolution and eye-catching. See to it that your contact information is up-to-date, and the call to action should lead the reader of the card to act on your offer. If you want them to give you a call, if you want to offer discounts, or visit your social media accounts for more information about your business, the call to action takes care of that.

  • Go for the option where the lower part of the card can be torn off and turned into a coupon or a business card.

Finally, for the 3.5” x 8.5” cards, there is usually an option to have the lower part torn off and turned into a business card. These are die-cut with a perforation in the portion where you can tear off the rack card to be turned into a business card or coupon.

True enough, rack cards make for a perfect complimentary item for your overall promotional print campaign.

Make the Most Out of Your Advertising Campaign through Rack Card Printing

Rack card printing, when combined with other printed promotional materials like banners, flyers, and brochures, make for the perfect advertising campaign for print. No matter what product or service it is that you are offering, you can always use these eye-catching cards to spread the word about your brand.

Things to Remember when You Print Rack Cards

Rack cards should have an eye-catching design, high-quality print, and should be made from good quality material. The more time you spend taking into account every aspect of these rack cards, the more desirable the results would be.

Take a look at some more things that you need to remember when having rack cards made:

  • Take design and color into consideration.

Rack cards are bigger than business cards but have lesser space than brochures. This means that you should make the most out of the available space you have. If you are in the food business, for instance, you can order 4” x 9” or 3.5” x 8.5” rack cards. Print a sample menu at the upper part of the card and your contact information at the bottom.

At offset printing presses, you even have the option to get the cards printed out in such a way that the lower or upper part of the part can be detached. This portion can be your business card or a discount coupon that customers can use. This creative way of merging two cards together: a business card and a rack card – makes the recipient of the card even more interested with that you’re offering as a brand.

  • Learn about your printing options.

Decide whether you want to go for traditional digital printing or the more high-end offset printing. If you want to impress customers, it is better to go for the higher quality print, especially if the company uses top-of-the-line equipment like Heidelberg printing presses.

  • Keep the overall look simple but still eye catching.

Lastly, make sure that the overall look of your rack card is simple yet eye catching. It may have more space than a business card but you still should not overcrowd it with too much information. See to it that the images are high-resolution and attention-grabbing. Don’t forget to include a call to action. This states whether you want customers to give you a call, visit your website, engage on social media, or take advantage of a new product or service you’re offering.

Keep these things in mind when printing rack cards, which you can use as a major part of your advertising campaign.

The ABCs when Printing Rack Cards

Rack cards are an effective marketing tool that you will usually see in hotel lobbies, resorts, movie theatres, spas, and similar business establishments. These elongated cards usually have eye-catching images that feature the product or service that the company offers. If it’s a rack card for a spa, for example, you will see the image of a woman lying on her back with black stones on her back, looking utterly relaxed while getting a massage.

Along with the image, there is a list of the services offered by the spa – plus the prices or a brief description of the service. Doesn’t it make you want to get a massage, too? Such is the effectiveness of rack cards: it makes you want to take advantage of whatever is being offered by the business. If you’re an entrepreneur, this is something that you would also want to use to your advantage.

Print Rack Cards with these ABCs in Mind!

Now, what are the things that you need to keep in mind during rack card printing? Here are the basics:

  • Attract your target audience.

When you print rack cards or any other printed promotional material, always keep your target audience in mind. If you’re a legal firm, you wouldn’t print a rack card with a neon background and a fun font. You want something that’s elegant and befitting your establishment. Those who are on the creative industry, however, can go all out in creating unique, colourful content that would appeal to their target audience.

  • Build up your brand.

Next, make sure that the overall look of your rack card suits the image that you would like to create for your brand.  Incorporate your logo in the design and make sure to include your up-to-date contact information. Be careful not to overcrowd the pages with too much information, though.

  • Consider adding unique features like coupons or business cards to the rack card.

Finally, consider adding a detachable coupon or business card onto the layout of the business card. This is especially important for those who are introducing a new product or service to their clients.

With these key principles in mind, you can design a rack card that will truly represent what you are all about as a brand.

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Things to Remember when Printing Rack Cards

Rack cards are usually seen at Broadway shows, movie theatres, plays, restaurants, and other business establishments. Unlike business cards which can only indicate your contact information, there is more space for you to “talk” to your customers using rack cards. How you get your message across is entirely up to you, but these cards are truly an effective and budget-friendly way to market the service or product that you’re offering.

Top 5 Rack Card Printing Tips to Keep in Mind

Let’s say that you decided to have a set of rack cards printed out so that you can distribute them during a trade show that you’re participating in. What are the things that you must keep in mind when you print rack cards? Here are our top tips:

  1. Look for a good printing company.

You can choose between digital and offset printing companies. Digital printing is cheap and common, but the quality is not at par with offset printing. If you want something that will leave a lasting impression to your readers, go with offset printing.

  1. Do not overcrowd the card with too much information.

Rack cards are available in two sizes: 4” x 9” and 3.5’ x 8.5”. Unlike lengthier brochures and flyers, this does not give you too much space to work with – so maximize the space that you have available. However, do not make the mistake of overcrowding the card with too much information. Not only will it be an eyesore, but it will be difficult to layout and read.

  1. Let the image and content deliver your message.

If you’re in the food business, make sure to include one or two drool-worthy images of an item that you have on your menu. The pictures should be professionally shot with good lighting, while the copy should be on point when it comes to delivering the message.

  1. Make sure that the overall look of the card suits your image as a brand.

Use complementing colors that match the logo of your business. Once the layout is finished, review the overall look of the rack card. Is it eye-catching enough? Is it a printed product that you will be proud to distribute to your customers?  If the answer is yes, then you would have fulfilled your marketing objective.

  1. Consider having a rack card with a detachable business card.

Finally, consider printing our rack cards with a portion that’s a detachable business card.  This double purpose printed advertising material will save you money, can be a conversation starter, and is something that your customers will truly appreciate.