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10 Ideas for the back of your business card

December 28, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog

1. Print a calendar on the back of your business card for a year’s worth of cheap advertising
 

2. Print lines for writing in a quick price estimate

pocket calendar
Business card-size calendar

3. Include a map to your bricks-and-mortar business address

4. Leave the back of your business card blank for adding a personalised message at networking events

5. Use your business card as an appointment card and write dates/times on the back
 

6. Offer a loyalty program to your customers, marking off visits on the back

7. Include a referral program on the back of your business card to encourage clients to recommend you
 
8. Add a great photo of yourself with your direct contact details
appointment card

Appointment card

 

9. Use the back of your business card to list your online profile URLs, like Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, etc.

10. Fill it with colour and add a tagline or favourite quote that complements your brand

List your own ideas below!

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Business cards as calendars

December 28, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog

Printing business cards with a calendar on the back increases their chances of being held onto.

A handy pocket size calendar will be referred to again and again throughout the year, so for the cost of a set of business cards, you can get a whole year’s worth of advertising.

Many business cards go straight into the bin, so think about how you can turn your business cards into something useful that people will want to keep.

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Business cards – how much is ‘too much information’

November 30, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog

Business cards are traditionally a means to hand over your contact details and should display the minimum of your logo, name, business name, phone number and web address.

In the age of information overload, it’s tempting to squeeze an essay into the tiny 90x55mm space; but as the saying goes, “less is more”, and this is a good approach when deciding exactly what information to include on your business card.

The modern entrepreneur tends to have lots of online profiles and it’s great to include those urls on your business card, but keep it simple and small, preferably on the back. You can also use the back as a space to write appointment times or price quotes.

The front of your business card should show only the key information mentioned above, and perhaps a short marketing message or tagline. If you have 12 email addresses, include just the main one.

An important thing to keep in mind for your business card and any kind of marketing collateral, both in print or online, is to grab the attention of your audience in 3 seconds or less. Overload them with information and reading your business card will become a chore.

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High quality business cards are worth the effort

November 23, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, corporate id, the business card blog

High quality business cards do make a difference to your business image. Think about this…what’s your impression of a person when they hand over a business card on flimsy card stock with amateur-looking artwork?

High quality business cards give the impression that your products or services are quality products or services; it really is that simple.

So how do I get one?

There are a few things to consider when researching business card suppliers:

Design

A high quality business card is well designed, to suit your audience. Working with a graphic designer who understands your business and target market will give you the best results.

Information

Think carefully about which information you’d like to include on your business card. You don’t want to overload it with information, so be concise. Include any relevant contact information your clients may need, and if apprpriate, some marketing copy or list of services on the back.

Printing

Even the best design will be lost on a poorly printed business card. Choose a high quality card stock like 420gsm artboard, and consider additional finishes which could really make your business card pop, like matt celloglaze or custom die-cutting. Offset printing, rather than digital, will give a far higher quality result.

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The versatile business card

November 16, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog

 

business cards with calendar

Wallet size calendars

Business cards can be more than just a list of your contact details.

The business card size is ideal for a number of uses:

Appointment cards

The front of the card looks like a business card, but the back is set up for writing appointment details.

Loyalty cards

Show your regular clients you care, by offering a loyalty program. Stamp or sign the “visits” on the back so they receive a bonus on their fifth or tenth visit, for example.

Wallet calendars

Print your business card with a calendar on the back, and it will be pulled out of the wallet again and again. It’s a full year’s advertising for the cost of printing some business cards.

Discount cards

Add something like “present this card to receive 10% off your first visit”. Discount cards can be given to your regular clients as a “thank you”, or distributed as a letterbox drop.

Gift vouchers

The business card size is great as a gift voucher, as the recipient can pop it into their wallet. Include all your contact details to make it easier for them to arrange an appointment, or find your shop.

Reminder cards

Send a reminder to your clients to let them know they’re due for a car service, dental checkup, etc. Include space to write on the back so they can jot down their appointment details when they phone you.

Personal business cards

Provide your contact details and all your online profiles to friends and family with a personal business card.

Social media cards

Use a social media card to list your online profile information, eg. Twitter, Facebook and Linked In. This can be separate to your regular business card, or just list the profiles on the back.

High quality business cards are great for all sorts of promotional purposes. They’re economical to produce per unit, and the wallet-size ensures the business card is easy to keep for future reference.

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Business cards for fun

November 15, 2011 in business card design, business cards, corporate id, the business card blog

Business cards don’t always need to be business-like. I recently designed a card for a tradesperson who wanted his card to be a bit of fun, with a cartoon character and lots of colour. His quality of work will speak for itself, so the business card only needed to be memorable. We’re all guilty of taking things too seriously at times, so to celebrate the lighter side of life, tell us about a fun or quirky business card you’ve seen.

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What should you leave OFF your business card?

November 14, 2011 in business card design, business cards, corporate id, the business card blog

As a print designer, I’m often asked how much detail should be included on a business card. A while ago, a work-from-home friend complained about the volume of telemarketing calls she’d been receiving, since listing her phone number on her website contact page. Eventually, she deleted the phone number and her home address, leaving only her business name, ABN and a php contact form. The phone calls didn’t stop, but over time they’re dropping off. Her concern was whether the lack of detail would turn off potential customers. I advise clients to leave their home number off their business card, unless they’re offering an after hours service. But what about the address? The marketing advice floating around the web tends to be ‘include a physical address - not just a PO box – to gain trust’…But what if you work from home? Should you make your home address public? Let me know what you think here.

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Business cards to keep

November 12, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, corporate id, the business card blog

Most business cards end up in the bin, let’s face it. So what can you do to give your business card a better chance of survival?

It’s not about gimmicks. Wooden business cards, metal business cards, etc. may be a conversation piece, but it may be the card itself people remember, not you or your business.

A great business card will simply be well designed, well printed on a quality card stock, and show the reader just three things:

  1. Your logo / business name
  2. What you do / sell
  3. How to contact you

Anything else is just over-kill. Well, mostly.

For a networking card, include a great photo of yourself so people can put a face to the name. If your online presence is important, include your social media profiles with icons for Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Just remember, when it comes to business cards…”less is more”. Our wallets are already full of clutter, so keep it clean, to-the-point and nice to look at.

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About the Business Card Blog

November 11, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog

The Business Card Blog offers you some insight into the weird and wonderful world of business card design and printing.

The sheer volume of business card printing services can be overwhelming for many business operators. How do you sort through the trash to find a printing deal which offers true quality at a good price?

At the business card blog, I’ll help you understand what constitutes a good business card, what to look for when researching business card printers, and offer some tips on using business cards as an effective marketing tool.

 

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Personal business cards – it’s all about YOU!

November 11, 2011 in business card design, business card printing, business cards, the business card blog, WAHMs

 

 facebook twitter cards

A business card that’s all about You.

 
Personal business cards are great for networking events or enhancing client relations.

Invite visitors to your blog and social media profiles, add your photo, your expertise, your business – whatever you like.

Make it easy for others to find you on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn Flickr and more.

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