Which Business Card Stock is Right for You?

imageUnless you work in the printing industry, you are probably at least a little confused by all the business card stock options available in the market today.  Aggregating the options from multiple printers would result in over 100 choices!  Luckily, the choice can be narrowed down dramatically by categorizing your options and considering things such as the nature of your target customer, your desired brand perception, and of course, your budget.

 

Most business card stock options fall into one of these categories: paper stock, card stock, and other stock. 

 

Paper Stock

 

As you might expect, paper stock is the least expensive option simply due to the nature of the material.  Simply put, paper is not as sturdy or as “high-end” as the other 2 stock types.  The low relative price of this option has made paper, or “matte,” stock by far the most common type of business card stock you will see on a daily basis.  Of course, this cheapness applies to the perception of the card as well.  The bottom line is that a regular matte card does very little – if anything – to generate a potentially market-differentiating first impression.

 

Card Stock

 

For most companies, real cardstock is a better choice.  As the name implies, cardstock is cardboard whereas paper stock is…well, paper.  Therefore you can expect cardstock to be much more durable, long-lasting, and much better at representing your company to potential customers, clients and business partners in the best possible light. 

 

There are a variety of cardstocks available in the marketplace, such as glossy-ultra violet (UV), silk laminated, ivory, and synthetics.  The lowest-cost option is glossy business cards .  Glossy UV cards are appropriate for companies with limited budgets because despite the inexpensive price tag, the glossy coating ensures that they will stand out from dull and boring paper stock matte cards.  The main limitation of glossy cardstock is that the coating makes it non-writeable, and it tends to easily pick up fingerprints and miscellaneous smudges. 

 

For companies looking to generate an impression of class and elegance, high-quality silk is the better option.  Silk business cards are not glossy, thereby eliminating the primary limitations of glossy coated cards.  Silk cards, as the name suggests, have a silky smooth texture and are truly unique.  Even though they are a little more expensive than glossy business cards, silk business cards are still very cost-effective and thus are appropriate for companies of all sizes that occupy the higher ends of their respective niches. 

 

Other Stock

 

The third type, referred to as “other stock,” covers things like metal business cards, plastic business cards, translucent poly frost plastic business cards, and even magnetic cards.  Any of these options represent the highest end of all the possibilities, but with that comes a steep price.  You are probably looking at double or triple the price of any cardstock-based card product.  The product within this category offering the best mix of uniqueness and value is the translucent poly frost card .  This is comprised of a slim, translucent card stock, yet it is generally priced in the same ballpark as “regular” cardstocks.

 

Conclusion and Summary

 

Business cards can be split into 3 categories depending on whether they are printed on paper, cardboard, or something else.  Never settle for a paper stock business card because your customers will perceive your cards – and your company – to be on the low end of the quality scale.

 

Other stock, like a plastic or metal business card, is not cost effective for most companies other than those with highly specialized needs.  The only exception is poly frost plastic business card stock, which is highly unique yet still cost effective.

 

The best choice for the vast majority of companies is card stock due to its durability and thickness.  Glossy business cards are the least expensive, but silk business cards are usually the best choice because they are very high quality, unique, elegant, and also relatively cost effective.

 

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Photoshop Cs3 / Cs4: How to make a Professional business card

Creative ice designs Comment rate and subscribe In this video i show you how to make a professional simple business card using photoshop cs3 however it is the same on cs2 and cs4.

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Get Hired with Student Business Cards

imageStudent Business Cards can be your Mini-resume In preparation for the real world students attend seminars, finish all their requirements and search for possible job opportunities. Aside from your power resume, you should also be armed with student business cards.  Student business cards are very convenient for you especially at times when you meet business professionals in student conventions or seminars. You can hand your student business cards to possible employers. Your student business cards show your professionalism and leave a good impression to employers. Below is a list of essential information that you can include on your business cards.

•    Basic Information: This covers your name, contact number, email and mailing address. Your name should be the most prominent detail on your business cards. Use bold letters for your name so employers can easily read it. Provide accurate contact information so you won’t miss out on any job opportunity. Remember that companies won’t waste their time calling the wrong number, so proofread your business cards before having them printed by an online printer like UPrinting .

•    Career Focus: Including this on your student business cards will help possible employers know if you can be the right person for the job. Be particular with the field that you want to concentrate on for employers’ reference.  Doing so makes you look confident and determined to land a job at their company.

•    Skills: Determine the skills that you are good at and add them to your business card’s information. Like work experience, your skills also contributes a lot to the possibility of getting hired. “Sell” yourself using the skills that you possess.

•    Internships: Include all the internships that you had on your business cards so employers will know your work experience. For instance, an internship at a huge advertising agency will help convince possible employers that you have what it takes to be a part of their company.

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Improve your Business Correspondence with Business Cards and These Products

imageIn many ways, the hardest part about maintaining a successful business is being able to keep track of the vast network of connections that are established with customers, investors and employees. Not only is the challenge of maintaining a solid communication infrastructure difficult, the task of then growing and bringing in new customers can seem insurmountable.  The answer to these troubles can often be found in using the right tools to connect to everybody possible.

One of the best tools to use in reaching out to potential customers is the business card.  These simple items can do incredible things for any company.  First, there is the benefit of being good ways to give people the basic information that they need about the services you provide.  This initial contact and basic advertising technique is a great way to bring in new customers, and take advantage of word of mouth in your local community.  Furthermore, quality placement of business cards in local retail locations or restaurants can provide a free advertisement that many people will see.

Be careful not to go overboard. There are rules of etiquette that govern the spreading of business cards.  One easy mistake to make is to include business cards in personal items.  While it may seem harmless in Christmas cards or other such items, it tends to become a situation in which the focus is turned back on to you, when really you want to be giving something to somebody else.  Despite these potential pitfalls, business cards are still a very reliable way of getting your name out, and corresponding effectively.

Aside from business cards, post cards can actually be a great way to stay in touch with customers as well.  Postcards are especially handy at keeping in touch with long held customers, or announcing major promotions.  Since postcards are relatively inexpensive, and can be sent in the mail for a small amount of money, they are excellent ways to reach people at home.

Furthermore, they are simple, and not as intrusive as more complex mailings.  If your company has a solid base of consistent customers, but wants to hold a special sale or event to get many of them in at once, a post card is a great idea.  Announcing the sale on the front with some sort of fitting image will grab attention, and then there is ample space on the back to give important details.  The same goes for any sort of grand opening or clearance type of activity.  By getting local addresses together you can mass mail announcements and be sure that they will reach a substantial number of people.  Sure, some will just throw it away immediately, but people are always looking to save many and experience better service.  Bringing to their attention, through a postcard, that you are planning something special is a great way to get people’s attention.

Another way to reach people is to use magnets. They hold basically the same overall function as business cards, presenting essential information in a small space.  The difference is that magnets provide a service to the person who gets them.  While business cards and other such items are easily discarded, magnets often end up on the refrigerator.  Then, when parents show off the various things they like to hang up, people will also see the information about your work.  There is also more freedom in designing magnets.  The standards of professionalism that are required by business cards are not nearly as strict when it comes to magnetic art.  Magnets should be presentable and attractive, but creative as well.

A more common way to keep people up to date with what is going on in your company is a simple newsletter.  While the process sounds simple, newsletters are surprisingly difficult to make useful.  Unless you include important, relevant information in the newsletter, people will likely throw it away quickly.

It is important, if you are going to use a newsletter, to make it a worthwhile read.  There are a few general ways to accomplish this. Start by maintaining a consistent format. Your audience needs to know where to look for different types of news, or they will be quick to simply ignore it, and use a different source for information.  A second rule of thumb is to use enough pictures and other images to attract attention, but not so much that they are dominant.  Content should still be the focus. Also, there should never be mistakes in a good newsletter.  This will turn people off immediately, and make your efforts fruitless.  If done well, a newsletter can be an invaluable tool for promotion.

There are plenty of effective ways to keep your company’s name ringing in the ears of your customers. Utilizing business cards, postcards and newsletters can provide the level of promotion unmated by other means. Quality business cards, postcards, magnets and newsletters are tools that can help drive any institution towards success.  However, you should be sure to put the effort into these items that is needed, or they could backfire.

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Be Different–Buy Custom Business Cards

imageCustom business cards are one sure fire way to set your company apart from the hundreds of others out there. Many companies get their business cards from a printer who uses the same template for everyone. This makes everyone’s business cards look the same except for the text. This does not help when you are trying to create a unique image. If you want to be different, be sure to order custom business cards. There is a slightly higher price for custom cards, but that is a small price to pay in order to make your comapny stand out from the rest. You may even increase business with a unique image.
Ordering custom business cards can be done very easily online. Online business card companies allow you to design your own custom cards right on their web site. You can design everything from the layout of the card to the colors. Of course, you also get to customize the text that appears. Additionally, these companies allow for you to see the print of the card before you place an order. This way, if you do not like the color scheme or the layout, you can make another selection. This is something that is sometimes difficult with traditional printers. One of the best and most well known online business card printers is Vistaprints. Check them out today for the latest specials. I have personnaly used them and boosted my own business almost overnight.
Printing your own custom business cards is also a great option. You can purchase blank business cards and then print out your own design. This way you have full control over what you are getting. With this option, you can change designs as often as you want. If you choose a design and it is not working out after a month, you can buy some more blanks and print out another batch of custom business cards with a totally different design. There are many software programs available to allow you to design the bussiness card that is right for your comapny.
Custom business cards are a great way to set your company apart from the others. Do not overlook the power of purchasing custom business cards. Custom business cards are very powerful. Though you may have to pay a little bit extra up front, it will certainly be worth it. Your company will have a recognizable image which will surely increase business. And who does not want an increase in business?

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Premium Color Business Cards W/blockbusterprint

imageThere are several factors that can uplift your business. For successful running of your business it is imperative that you should opt for best strategy and apply the right steps at the right time.

Even small things can play a very prominent role. To declare the existence of your business it is necessary that you should not only deliver better service results but also the best possible marketing of your objectives, services and products. This will certainly help you to attain fairly good results. You can do the same in the best way with the help of color business cards, brochures, business letterhead, etc.

It is considered to be simple and inexpensive. If you are going to print color business cards online then it is necessary that you should acquire all the details about that print company in advance. This way you do not face any kind of trouble later on. These include the quality standard of printing, the past record of customer service and the prices offered for the services and products. A great company for color business cards is BlockbusterPrint

Although there are a large number of online printing companies existing on the internet, not all of them are capable of understand your business needs. BlockbusterPrint specializes in color business cards and their customer service is there in a flash.

There are a large number of companies existing online which do not provide the same quality or service they actually clam. This is the reason why it is significant that you should trust only a proven name. When it comes to color business cards, postcards, business letterhead, brochures, club flyers, custom notepads, custom stickers, magnetic business cards as well as posters then BlockbusterPrint is a name which you trust upon without any hesitation.    

Here are a few reason as to why BlockbusterPrint is your choice for color business cards/

1)      Exclusive quality: One of the major objectives of Blockbusterprint is to provide services with full honesty. There are some of the remarkable features associated with the printing of color business cards offered by this site. You can purchase full color print without offering any additional charges. There are some other unique features available as well including free business card templates and free uv gloss coating.

2)      Free samples; Additionally, BlockbusterPrint offers free samples to those customers who are not sure about the paper products available with this company. Once you select a paper sample online and it will be shipped on the same day absolutely for free. Some of the samples include color business cards samples, flyer sample, postcard sample, brochure sample, etc.

3)      File help: this is one unique section of their site available for any help you may need with your files. Here you can receive information on various questions asked by the customers of this company. You can also see details about various products including color business cards, bleed size, their resolution, etc.

4)      References: Like other smart customers you can also go for the unbiased references offered by other customers and market experts. You can ask for the best printing company offering color business cards and other business needs. It is fully assured that most of the well-informed people will suggest you the name of BlockbusterPrint only!

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The Dark Knight | Limited Press Kit | Trailer DVD and Businesscard Holder (R0US)

Video in high quality: www.vimeo.com A video review om my Dark Knight trailer kit. More info will be added to discjunkie.se as soon as possible. www.discjunkie.se … “dark knight” “limited edition” “press kit” trailer dvd “business card” holder tin case metall box rare promo batman “christian bale” “heath ledger”

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Printeca.com – Business Card & Full Color Printing Solutions

Looking for Printing Solutions? Printeca.com provides business card printing as well as full color printing solutions throughout USA & Canada at an affordable price. Visit – www.printeca.com

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trying to find a website that i can order business cards?

i have a business and like to order cards for me and need a website to do so please help.

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From Playing Card to Business Card

imageWithout the development of the printing press in 1445 the
Renaissance may never have happened, and Johann Gutenberg the
inventor certainly did not know he was sowing the seeds of the
business card entrepreneur’s bonanza we have today. What
civilisation gained from Gutenberg’s invention is incalculable.
Visting Cards
Visiting cards (also known as calling cards) first appeared in
China in the 15th century, and the earliest European form of
visiting cards appeared in France in the 17th century during the
reign of Louis XIV – “Le Roi Soleil”. They were normal playing
cards on which visitors wrote their signatures, promissory notes
and other messages. The cards were just a little smaller than
the size of a man’s hand. As time went by, these visiting cards
further developed into greeting and other cards.
The business card evolved from the Visiting card over time, but
through it’s evolution it’s purpose remains the same.
Trade Cards
Trade cards, another early form of the Business card, existed in
England around the same time. Trade cards were used as a form of
advertising and sometimes contained a map directing potential
customers to merchant stores, as there was no form of street
numbering system at the time.
Other printing materials, such as newspapers, has not yet caught
on as a vehicle for business marketing, so the earliest Trade
cards were printed and issued using a letterpress method.
However, copperplate engraving became the most popular method of
producing the cards by the 18th century, and up to the 19th
century, Trade cards were printed using a single colour
(monotone). But as businesses thrived throughout the Industrial
Revolution, so did the production and distribution of Trade
cards.
Lithography
Around 1830, lithography using several colours became an
established method in Europe and was the primary method for
printing cards. As printing techniques became increasingly
advanced, Trade cards became more elaborate, with pictures and
full colour designs. Since colour images were not widely
available, these cards became collector’s items, and as the
hobby elevated, many tobacco companies put the sporting
celebrities on one side and photos with text about their
products on the reverse. This was the start of the modern day
trading cards. Meanwhile, Visiting Cards arrived in Europe
around the middle of the 1800’s.
Calling Cards arrived
Visiting Cards, or “Calling Cards” as they became known, were
essential to the 19th century middle classes. The initial
letters on personal Visiting “Calling Cards” denote French words:
p. f. – congratulations (pour feliciter) p. r. – expressing
one’s thanks (pour remercier) – even if one is presented with
flowers
p. c. – mourning expression (pour condolence) p. f. N. A – Happy
New Year (pour feliciter Nouvel An) p. p. c. – meaning to take
leave (pour prendre conge) p. p. – if you want to be introduced
to anybody, send your visiting card (pour presenter)
Soon, the Business card evolved from a fusion of traditional
trade cards and visiting cards. A distinction between “business”
and “visiting” cards quickly developed with the ornate Visiting
card serving social obligations only, whilst Business cards on
the other hand, were used solely for promoting business. It was
considered to be in very poor taste to use a Business card when
making a social call.
These days, the modern business card is used primarily for the
purpose of promoting a business, but it also serves as a calling
card.
First Salesman’s Business card
Whilst Visiting Cards were at first the domain of the upper
classes, and trade cards were made to advertise and promote
particular firms, the salesman who did the footwork calling on
prospective clients needed a means to exchange information in a
simple, concise manner. To fill this void the Business card was
introduced with address or telephone contact information in
fancy printing and graphics.
Today, the salesman’s Business card takes on many forms,
including custom die cut shapes and sizes, with glossy coatings
and top quality photo graphics.
Business Card Printers Turn to Plastic
Known for their durability, plastic business cards were
manufactured using a variety of plastic substrates, including
but not limited to: Polystyrene, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyester and
synthetic Papers.
20th century advances in printing technologies and synthetic
materials made it possible to print liquid inks onto plastics.
In addition to the wide range of commercial applications of this
technology.
Today in the 21st century the more adventurous entrepreneur
Business card printer has developed an array of sophisticated
products. These include Silk art board, single and double sided
Business cards, quality labels, complimentary slips, letterheads
for all industries in superior quality papers, and laminated
single and double sided Postcards for all occasions. All of
which can be designed on line and uploaded to your personal
computer. A boon to the busy firm requiring special needs.
For the rest of the world, the exchange of business cards has
become common even for social introductions. Even today, some
people still carry “personal” Business cards which contain only
personal contact information and have no relation to their
employer or business.

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