Go Natural with Cotton Business Cards
Card stock may be the base material of business cards but did you know that you can actually have them made to have the look and feel of fabrics like suede, linen, silk, and cotton? These are considered soft touch business cards because they do feel soft to the touch. What makes them fabric-like is the application of a special coating, or the lamination process used as finishing. Whichever industry it is that your business is in, you must consider going with natural-looking cotton business cards.
Merging Print with Digital Advertising through Business Cards
Before going deeper into the benefits of cotton business cards, let us first take a quick look at why it still pays to print business cards. Since everything is digital these days, why should you even bother printing out these 3.5” x 2” cards which only contain your contact information, and perhaps a short marketing tagline?
First, there are still old school customers out there who prefer something tangible when doing business with you. If you’re in the legal industry, for example, handing over simple business cards to potential clients would legitimize your practice in their eyes. One glimpse at the card will give them an idea about your specialization, where your office is located, how you can be contacted over the phone, etc. It will be so much better if you will keep the back of the card blank because they can scribble notes in it. Once they look up their stack of cards in case they need legal services in the future, there will be a note at the back of the card which will trigger memory of your interaction.
Second, business cards should be part of your overall print marketing campaign. If you already have a business logo, you should make sure that your business cards have the same logo incorporated in the design. The same thing holds true for all your other print marketing materials: brochures, letterheads, flyers, postcards, posters, notepads, etc.
Third, you can use printed promotional materials alongside an interactive digital marketing campaign. This way, you can target both tech-savvy and old school customers. If you’re ordering uncoated business cards, you can print your contact information in front and a QR code at the back. When scanned, the QR code can lead the user to your website, or give them a discount code that they can use when purchasing your products or services.
Whether your customer is old school or tech-savvy, handing out a piece of business card helps them remember your brand name more distinctly. Aside from easy recall, there is just that touch of human connection associated with handing out business cards which is why it’s still an in thing these days – despite everything going digital. Another good thing about keeping business cards is that they can be scanned and stored digitally, so there really is a merging between the traditional and the digital.
Cotton Business Cards: Minimalist & Cost-Effective
If you are looking for business cards to print, there are many options available for you. Uncoated business cards can be printed at really cost-effective rates. If you want to add that extra oomph to your brand, go for extreme gloss, foil stamped, metallic ink, ultra-thick or spot UV gloss cards. For something that sets you apart from the rest, rounded corner business cards are a great option. Soft touch cards are ones laminated to mimic the feel of fabrics like cotton, silk, suede, and linen.
If you only want simple business cards that will plainly but effectively sell your brand, go for cotton business cards. Here are some of the reasons why it pays to go with this option:
- Cotton business cards are minimalist yet classy.
For most business owners, plain and simple is the way to go. But just because a design is plain and simple doesn’t mean that it has to look boring or inelegant. When you go for cotton plain business cards, the material used is a blend of paper and cotton. The combination of material makes the card look balanced and elegant. The texture also makes the look a bit more distinct than smoother cardboard business cards.
- They are a cost-effective printing option.
Since there is no extra laminating material used, uncoated business cards are probably the most cost-effective option. Still, make sure that the sharpness of the print is good so that the card will not look cheap.
- They are thick enough to be considered luxury business cards.
For uncoated business cards to look premium, make sure that to choose a thick-enough paper stock. An above average 18-pt. thickness should be good enough. When combined with the uncoated natural cotton and paper blend, even a seemingly plain-looking design will look ultra classy and expensive.
Simple Business Cards Printing Tips
Next, how can you look for the best printing company to create high-quality uncoated business cards for you? Here are some of the questions that you need to ask:
- How long have you been in business?
Go online and look for printing companies that specialize in creating simple business cards. One factor that you should consider in the selection process is the length of time that the company has been in business. The more experience they have, the better their quality of service usually is. Also check on client testimonials to see how they fare when it comes to offering good quality customer service.
- What printing process do you use?
Since plain business cards do not require special lamination, digital printing companies might do a good job of printing cotton business cards. But you still need to check if they do deliver sharp prints and if they pay close attention to details, especially considering the fact that you have very limited space to work with when it comes to business cards.
If you want professional-looking results, however, go with companies that use the offset printing method. For this, they will utilize huge printing presses for simple business cards that have a cotton or uncoated finish. Offset printing delivers sharper colours, and once the printing process is set, the machine can churn out dozens, hundreds or even thousands of prints quickly and with smooth precision.
- Can I see samples of your work?
Whether you’re ordering uncoated business cards or ones with a more complex business process like foil stamping or silk laminate, always ask if you can see samples of their work. Most printing companies should be able to send you samples in the mail but for others, you would need to place a minimum order before you can get your hands on the actual card.
- Can you help me design my business card?
One way that printing companies set their businesses apart from their direct competitors is by offering additional tools. For instance, you can go for a DIY or do-it-yourself method of designing a business card. You will save a lot of money designing simple business cards this way because you don’t need to hire the services of a professional graphic designer. You can either use the downloadable business card templates or use an online design tool. Before doing so, make sure that you have a solid design for the logo that you can use in all your printed promotional materials.
- What if I make mistakes in the design? Can you help me fix art issues?
This is another way of offering good customer service. Even if you are just ordering 100 pieces of plain business cards, a good printing company should be able to help you fix art issues for tree – especially minor ones.
- What is the price for the minimum order?
The minimum order for most companies is 100 pieces. However, if you need just a small number of cotton business cards, digital printing companies might be able to offer you good deals since digital printing is suitable for small batches. For offset printing, the more simple business cards you order, the lower the per piece price would be.
- What is the order process like?
Some printing companies have a fully online ordering process. You can select the product, size, quantity, print options (whether you want to use the back or not), and other features like paper type and rounded corners. If you are uploading the design yourself, you also have the option to have a designer examine the file and fix any issues that may come up. This is highly recommended, especially if you did not have a professional graphic designer lay out the card for you.
- How long can I get my hands on a batch of plain business cards?
Depending on the type, volume, and finish of the business cards, you can select from different printing speeds. For an additional fee, you can have the order rushed and wait for the cards to be delivered to your address within 24 hours. The most popular options are 3 to 5 or 5 to 7 business days. If you’re in no rush, go for the 7 to 10 business days option to give the printing company plenty of time to go over the design of your card.
What Else Do I Need to Know when Printing Cotton Business Cards?
Whether it’s plain business cards or laminated business cards that you decide to go with, it is important to distribute them properly. Remember that print advertising materials must be distributed to your target audience. Even if they are made from ultra-thick cards, they will not leave a lasting impression to your customers if they do not leave your office desk.
As such, it’s important to bring along with you a stack of business cards when going out. You might run into a possible client or prospective customer. Handing over a thick, elegantly designed business card will make you leave a lasting impression.
You can also include business cards in client or supplier receipts. If you have a physical store, leave a stack of business cards near the cashier or counter for customers to collect and give out to their friends and family. If you are participating in trade shows, you should definitely bring a good amount of business cards for distribution.
Make sure that the information is accurate and updated. If you must include photos or illustrations in the design of the card, make sure that its overall design does not look too crowded against the very small space. Pay attention to details. Again, you have a very small space to work with so you need to make sure that there are no spelling errors. Choose a font style and size that works well with the size of the card.
The US standard size is 3.5” x 2”, but you can go for European, square, or slim skinny. Square business cards measure 2.5” on all sides, European cards measure 2.125” x 3.375”, while slim skinny business cards measure 1.75” x 3.5”. Another way for you to stand out is by using the portrait instead of the landscape orientation. Just make sure that the overall design of the portrait-oriented business card does not distract from the image that you are trying to create for your brand.
All in all, cotton business cards are an elegant printed promotional material. They may look plain and uninteresting from afar but upon closer look, you will see just how elegant and classy the minimalist card actually is. Giving out these cards will make customers equate the classiness of your card with the quality of products or services that you are offering as a brand.
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