Rack Card Printing: Choosing the Right Material

When it comes to print advertising, choosing the right material is important. Unlike digital ads which can only be viewed from a screen, printed materials like brochures, business cards, notepads, envelopes, and rack cards are tangible. They can be seen, held, and felt by the recipient. If you will use thin cardboard material for a business card, for example, imagine the disappointment that a potential business partner would feel. Your goal should be to impress the client right away, so use premium materials for  rack card printing.

Tips for Choosing the Right Material

There are many offset or digital online printing service providers from where you can order rack cards. These are designed to be prominently displayed in rack cards or brochure cases so they should be attention-grabbing enough. The first thing that they will notice from afar is the design, so make sure to use colors that pop. However, you should still incorporate the hues which are present in your business logo to make a solid marketing statement. For the content, rack cards have lesser space than brochures but more space than postcards or business cards – making them perfect for advertising one-time events, for example. Don’t forget to include your contact information and a call-to-action when writing the copy for the rack card. 

The next thing that a person will notice once they pick up the rack card is the feel of the material. Check out these tips for choosing the right paper:

  • The card should have 50% the thickness of a credit card. The typical paper stock used is 16-pt. or 17-pt. A rack card should be able to stand on its own, yet still be handy enough to fit in a jeans back pocket – so the thickness of the paper is important.
  • There are two sizes available: 3.5” x 8.5” or 4” x 9”. You can choose either one since there’s only a slight difference. 
  • For the finish of the card, you can go with a matte or a glossy finish. Depending on the design and the colors use, a matte finish will make your rack cards look elegant and sophisticated. For an even more luxurious, fancy look, go with a glossy finish. This is perfect if you have HD photographs included in your rack cards layout. Restaurant rack cards can be made with a glossy finish for that full, mouth-watering impact. 

If you still have more questions about your options for the material of the rack cards, you can always ask your chosen online printing service provider.

Rack Card Printing: Elements of a Good Design

If you want to have an affordable marketing campaign, printing business cards might be the solution. But what if you want to print more information than can be contained in a US standard sized 2” x 3.5” card? You may want to go with brochures. These have panels that range from two to twelve, depending on the folding option and the size. However, this can be too much especially if you just want to tell customers about an upcoming event or if you simply want them to visit your website or your store. A good balance between a business card and a brochure is a rack card. These come in two sizes: 3.5” x 8.5” or 4” x 9”. Rack cards are displayed in areas where there is high foot traffic, for people to pick up and read. 

Elements of a Good Rack Card Design

For rack card printing, you need to work with a good print shop to create the stacks of cards for you. Make sure that they use good quality material and a reliable printing process. But before you can even place your order, you need to make sure that your rack card is well-designed for you to receive good response from your target market. Here are the elements of a good rack card design:

  • Branded look

Most online printing companies would advise you to use the same colors as your business logo when designing rack cards. This creates a cohesive, instantly recognizable look for your brand. 

  • High-quality material

Your goal is to impress so rack cards should never be printed in cheap cardboard paper. Premium 16-pt. stock paper is recommended. For the finish, choose between ultra-smooth matte or ultra-smooth gloss. 

  • State-of-the-art printing process

Digital and offset are the available printing options. Some print shops offer both, while others just have either a digital or an offset printer. Digital printers can handle small print jobs and the quality is passable. But if you are placing a big order and you want fast results with excellent quality, go for offset printers that use state-of-the-art printing process. This ensures that the colors on your rack cards are vivid and the images are sharp. 

  • Unique features

Finally, go for unique features such as a detachable business card. You want your rack card to stand out in a brochure display – so by having a good foundational design, you can achieve exactly that. 

Come Up with Stylish Rack Card Printing Products

Walk into any hotel lobby or a tourist center and you are bound to see a stand where a stack of cards is prominently displayed. Called rack cards, these are printed advertising materials used to promote businesses. Rack card printing can be combined with other promotional materials like notepads, brochures, business cards, envelopes, flyers, letterheads, and postcards. Since you are promoting just one service or one line of products with these marketing materials, the theme should be coherent. Here, we will delve a bit deeper into how you can come up with stylish rack cards that will grab and hold the attention of your target market.

Things to Consider when Printing Rack Cards

When you print rack cards, the first thing that you need to do is look for an online printing company that will do a good job of it for you. These are a few things to consider when looking for a printing company so that you can come up with stylish rack cards that will suit your brand’s image to a tee:

  • Offset is best.

You can take your pick from digital or offset printing, but the latter is the better choice. Digital printing companies use desktop printers. They may do the job well, but they cannot process orders in bulk and in terms of print quality, offset is simply far superior. With offset printing, full high definition (HD) color is used, and the resolution is super sharp. The turnaround time is also fast so even if you place orders in bulk, you can have it finished in no time.

  • Use your business logo as basis for the color palette.

If you’re producing an organic beauty product for women, you may want to use colors that appeal to them. Use your logo as a basis for the color palette when designing your rack cards so that all your printed marketing materials will have the same look and feel.

  • Include sharp illustrations or HD photos.

Invest in professional photography if you want to include photos in your rack cards. Images should be clear and sharp, with the pictures well-lit.

  • Use an overall look and design that appeals to your target market.

Lastly, make sure that the overall look and design of your rack cards appeal to your target market. Based on the age bracket of your customers, there is a certain design that will immediately catch their eye.

Stylish rack cards are a must-have if you want to take full advantage of the benefits of printed marketing materials for your business.

Enumerating the Businesses that Benefit from Rack Card Printing

Rack card printing may sound like an old-fashioned way to promote a business, but it is still very effective nowadays. With everyone going digital when it comes to their advertising campaign, the novelty of receiving and reading printed advertising materials makes brands more memorable. Also, printed marketing materials are easy and cheap to produce. They last for a very long time, they can be kept for future reference, and can be given away to family and friends for referrals.

Think of rack cards as a torn off panel from a brochure. The typical sizes are 4” x 9” and 3.5” x 8.5”, with print on just one side or both sides. The information contained in a rack card could be the summarized version of what’s in a brochure. Since there is limited space, you would have to include only the most pertinent information. Make sure that it has your business name, updated contact information, a map of your location, or a QR code that leads to your website. Then, describe the products or services that you are offering. The last part should contain a call to action, or a benefit which could be a discount code or other promotional options.

Next, which businesses can benefit when they print rack cards? Here’s a quick list:

  • Hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts
  • Restaurants and other food establishments
  • Theme parks, theatres, and movie houses
  • Stores at gasoline stations
  • Convention centers and tourist centers
  • Clinics and other health care providers
  • Convenience and retail stores
  • Specialty shops

As you can see, almost any type of business can reap the benefits of rack cards marketing. To have a stack of them made, check out the cheap printing services available online. Just because it’s cost-effective doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on quality. There are many offset printing service providers offering high-quality prints at still affordable prices.

Lastly, make sure to place the rack cards strategically. They can be given away personally, prominently displayed in areas where a lot of people pass by, or they can be included in marketing mailers.

Quick Tips for Rack Card Printing

Along with brochures, business cards, flyers, notepads, envelopes, and similar products, rack card printing is a great way to promote your business. But what exactly are rack cards? Unlike brochures which have folded pages that contain a lot of information to read through, rack cards  are 4” x 9” or slightly smaller cards with print on the front and the back. A rack card is displayed on brochure or rack stands, which is how it got its name. These are used as advertising material for hotels, theme parks, bed and breakfasts, and theatre companies – although any other business will benefit from them as well.

Now, if you would like to print rack cards to spread the word about your brand, the first thing to do is look for an online printing service provider. Here are more tips on how you can best go about rack cards printing:

  • There are digital and offset printing services available. Digital may be a bit cheaper, but offset offers far superior quality. With rack cards, you want to leave a great first impression to your clients, so it pays to invest in full color, HD printing.
  • Since your marketing material is tangible, a reader will pay close attention to even the tiniest details of the design. What font and colors are used? For the material, how thick is the paper? Did you use a glossy or matte finish for the print? How about the size of the rack card itself? By paying close attention to detail, you can come up with a well-designed rack card with an eye-catching design.
  • When writing the content of the rack card, make sure that there are no typographical errors. Your business contact details should be updated and accurate. If your address is difficult to find, include a QR code, a location map, or use a famous landmark as reference.
  • Always include a call to action when writing the content of your rack card. Part of your marketing strategy should be to entice people to take advantage of your products or services. The best way to accomplish this is by offering discounts, freebies, or even use the card as entry for raffles where they can earn prizes.

Lastly, know how to distribute the rack cards effectively. Place them in strategic areas with high foot traffic. Or, you can include them in mailers. With these tips, your sales should increase in no time at all because of the effectiveness of rack cards marketing.

Rack Card Printing: Make It Easy for Customers to Find You

If you are thinking of adding another item to your print advertising arsenal, why not go for rack card printing? Rack cards come in two sizes: 3.5” x 8.5” and 4” x 9”. They are larger than postcards but smaller than brochures, so you have this paper area that can contain just the right amount of information about your brand. Your goal in printing rack cards in the first place is to let people know that your brand exists. As such, your copy should be enticing, the design easily noticeable and aesthetically pleasing to your target market.

Rack cards are called such because they are displayed in brochure or rack stands. These are displayed in hotel lobbies, theatres, office reception areas, clinics, restaurants, tourist facilities, etc. People usually get one from the rack and read the information so that they can learn more about your business. If they like what they see, they will keep the rack card for future reference.

Now, if you want to print rack cards, the first thing to do is write the content. Use language that your target audience can easily relate to. The first part should contain your business name, address, contact information, website or email address, and other pertinent information. The crucial part about this is that the info should be accurate and up to date. To make it easy for customers to find you, you can include a QR code which, when scanned, leads to your website URL or a pinned location of your address in Google Maps. If your office is a bit tricky to locate, use more famous landmarks. Be creative in giving directions so that customers will be interested instead of frustrated when looking for your place of business.

The second part can indicate what your business is all about. Are you operating a bed-and-breakfast? Are you running a diner or a restaurant? Do you have a shop selling unique finds or antiques? Are you a theatre company producing shows? Describe your product or services in a clear manner that will immediately grab the interest of the reader.

Finally, there are rack card printing companies that can include a detachable business card during the printing process. This is a great option to have if you are mailing out the rack cards to your list of customer’s addresses.

With compelling content, eye-catching designs, and a sharply printed rack card, you have a marketing material that you will be proud to show off to your existing and prospective customers.

Rack Card Printing: Get the Best Bang for Your Buck

Rack card printing is one of the best printed advertising materials available. Unlike postcards which have limited space or brochures which have too much space, rack cards offer just-the-right amount of paper area to fill with information about your business. They can be displayed in prominent areas where a lot of people pass by. Once picked up, rack cards can be brought home for future reference, or given away as referral to other people.

So if you are planning to print rack cards to promote your business, how can you get the best deal? Here are a few tips to remember:

  • Know where to scrimp, know where to splurge.

For rack cards, you want to get the best print possible because they are representative of your brand. Imagine how disappointed a customer might feel if your rack cards, which are supposed to promote your restaurant, are printed with poorly lit images of food on thin paper with hardly any gloss on it. Instead of saving some money on digital prints, go with offset printing because the quality is far more stellar. The additional investment is worth it.

  • Do not place rush orders.

Just as it is with any print job, you would have to pay extra for rush orders so take your time in designing and ordering rack cards.

  • Size the competition.

Your rack cards should at least match – if not outshine – the competition. Collect rack cards from your direct competitors to check out the type and thickness of paper that they used, the design, and the printing process.

  • Compare different printing companies.

Make a list of the cheap printing services available online and compare it with offset printing deals. Narrow down your choices to ones with the best reviews and feedback, then make an informed selection from there.

  • Order more to save more.

When it comes to any printed material, the more pieces you order, the lower the per piece price gets. For example, ordering 500 pieces of rack cards is more expensive per piece than ordering 1,000 or 1,500 pieces.

With these tips in mind, you can get the best bang for your buck when ordering rack cards to promote your brand.

Steps to Follow when Printing Rack Cards

If you want to launch a full-blast print marketing campaign, you should print rack cards along with business cards, flyers, brochures, notepads, letterheads, envelopes, and similar materials. Everyone may be going digital these days, but print advertising is still very effective in reaching out to your target market. Rack cards in particular work great because they are displayed in areas where there is high foot traffic. In a hotel lobby, for example, guests can pick up one or two rack cards if they are displayed in brochure stands. Not only will it service as reference for future check-ins, but they can be passed on to friends and family for referral – thereby increasing the number of prospective clients in the future.

So what are the steps that you need to follow for rack cards printing? Here’s a quick list:

  • First, look for an online printing services provider.

You have the option to go with digital or offset printers. Digital service providers typically use desktop printers for printing rack cards. This does the job well, but if you want excellent print quality, it’s better to go with offset printing. This uses state-of-the-art printing technology so the cards will be made with vivid colors and sharp resolution. Of course, you also need to consider the price when having rack cards printed out. The more cards you need, the lower the per piece price is.

  • Second, come up with the design for your rack cards.

Who is your target audience? If you’re running a family-friendly restaurant, you may want to use family-oriented illustrations and attractive colors. If you have a law firm, the colors and design need to be more elegant. Make sure that the colors of your logo also appear in your rack cards for uniformity. The overall design should be eye-catching, and fits the image of your brand.

  • Third, upload your design on the website of the printing company.

There are printing companies that offer to check the correctness of the colors in your design for an additional fee. Take advantage of this so that your rack cards would come out professional-looking. Upload the design on their website and wait for the turnaround time.

  • Fourth, wait for the package to be delivered then distribute the rack cards accordingly.

Once you receive the rack cards, look for strategic places to display them. Make sure that they are prominently displayed, on eye level of people walking by, in areas where there is high foot traffic. Another option for distribution is to include rack cards in mailers.

By following these steps, you can include rack cards in your print advertising 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.