Let’s Know 8 Key Questions to Ask Before Buying Business Cards
The versatility of business uses for business card has made them a must-have for any professional. Think of them as miniature billboards people use to make first impressions about their brand. They allow you to make the most of each marketing opportunity with a well-designed and informative card. One study found that 72% of people judge a company or individual based on the quality of their business card; so, make sure you are buying quality and ask a few key questions before you commit to buying them.
How are business cards created from scratch?
Making a great first impression with well-crafted business cards isn’t just hearsay. Over 60% of small business owners believe business cards are an essential tool for their company’s growth. There are a few steps you can take to design an eye-catching card that will help you generate new business leads.
First, you need to determine your logo and color palette to establish clear branding. Next, you need to decide on a layout. If you get stuck along the way, hire a designer who can add your graphics or choose from an array of existing card templates. Finally, you need to make sure the color, design, card shape, and texture you choose reflect your company’s style and message. Now it’s time to determine your best card size and card quantity.
How big should business cards be?
In the United States, the average business card is 3.5 × 2 inches. This size works well since it is small enough to fit in a wallet or pocket and has adequate space to print important professional information. You may opt for the traditional credit card-sized option or get creative with custom die-cut options. Rounded edges or unique shapes are great ways to stand out from the competition but make sure whichever shape you choose is practical for networking purposes.
What details do you include on personal business cards?
There are a few critical pieces of information that need to be printed on a business card so individuals or companies know how to contact you. First, print your name and the name of the company as it appears on LinkedIn or the company website. Include your professional phone number, email address, and job title too. You can even digitize your business card with QR codes that direct people to your website or portfolio-this is a great option for ecommerce-based businesses and creatives.
Some business card templates are one-sided while others have two-sided printing capabilities. If you choose a two-sided option, you can decide if you want the same information printed on both sides, or if you want to add store location, operating hours, and social media handles to the other side. According to Forbes, business cards are still the quickest way to exchange information, so make sure your card isn’t crowded with unnecessary details. Only put the most pertinent information on your business card so interested parties can contact you for more details.
Are business cards expensive?
Color printing, custom shape and design, card material and quantity will all affect pricing. One study found that 39% of people choose not to do business with a certain company if they have “cheap looking” business cards. Since business cards are used to make important first impressions, it is essential to invest in quality.
You will want to shop around for great looking cards that fit your budget. Some printing companies offer premium business cards at a rate of $9 per 50 cards. You do not have to sacrifice quality to save money. Just decide which business card features are most important to you and prioritize spending on those items.
In how many cards does a box contain?
Determining the number of business cards you need will depend upon the scale of the networking events you attend and the average new business touch points you set out to make. Take these numbers into account when you place your custom business card order.
Most companies offer business cards in increments of 50 or 100, so you could order as little as 50 or as many as 2,000. It is probably a good idea to err on the side of caution and order a few more than you expect you will need. Afterall, for every 2,000 business cards that are passed out, sales increase by 2.5%. If you run out of cards, you could miss out on a golden opportunity.
Where can you buy or print cards?
There are several ways to buy or print business cards. Many office supply stores offer card printing services, but this traditional route typically has higher markups. You can choose the DIY option and develop your business card from the comfort of your own home.
Designing business cards online and having them shipped to your house is a great way to get high-quality cards for a fraction of the cost. Online business card options typically offer a greater selection of templates and fast shipping.
How can you create business cards online?
Creating business cards online is a great way to personalize your cards and promote your business. Choose from a wide selection of professionally designed templates or create your own unique design. Choose your card template, color palette, and card size.
Take your business cards next level with premium cardstock, where you can choose from gloss, matte, or uncoated print finishes. Full color printing options will help your cards stand out from the crowd as well. In fact, people hold onto color-printed business cards ten times longer than standard ones.
Remember, it’s critical that you order enough cards to effectively network. For some companies, those that regularly gear up for tradeshows or big events for example, not only do you need a larger volume of cards but you should also consider customizing banners to match your business cards to create a perfectly branded presentation. Over half of all companies use at least eight marketing channels. Business cards and branded signage are cost-effective marketing channels you can utilize at industry events, in store, or on the go.
Your organization’s security and identification requirements are unique to your individual specifications, and the ID card printer you decide to choose needs to be up to the task or meeting or exceeding those expectations and specifications.
So how do you narrow down your choices from the myriad of ID card printer systems available today? Your answers to the following 3 questions will provide you with a guide to choose the best option to meet your needs.
What volume of cards are you printing?
Or in other words, how many cards a day do you anticipate printing? If it’s just a few, say less than 100 cards a day, you can choose a value or economical printer that won’t have all of the bells and whistles of higher priced models, but still reliably prints what you need for your ID card purposes.
Other models that are a step up from this range can typically handle 100 to 500 cards per day, and also allow for more options like dual side and color printing.
Finally, there are premium systems for applications needing more than 500 cards per day with high security requirements. And at the pinnacle of the ID card printer systems are the enterprise solutions that are the most reliable, high performance ID card printers on the market. These industrial printers can handle laborious and demanding printing volumes and environments.
What features are important to your application?
Next you need to determine what features you need to ensure that the system you choose can meet or exceed your requirements for ID cards.
Consider if you need single or double-sided printing. If you plan on using both sides of your ID card for information and security purposes, you’ll need to choose a printer with a double-sided option.
Are you printing in full color or monochrome? If you want full color cards, you’ll need to select a printer that can print them.
Finally, do you want encoding on your cards? This includes magnetic stripes, bar codes, QR codes, or other ID card technology that lets you add information and store data on your cards. If you plan on having your ID cards scanned, you’ll need to choose a printer with an encoder option to let you add that functionality.
What do you need in quality and durability?
If you need a highly professional, quality ID card that represents your company in the best possible light, you might choose a reverse transfer printer over a direct-to-card printer. Re-transfer printers print over the entire card, edge-to-edge, while direct-to-card printers leave a white border around the cards.
And if durability is very important, consider an ID card printer with a laminating module that laminates your ID cards as part of the printing process. This will greatly increase the life span of your ID cards.
What are your next steps?
With the answers to these questions firmly in hand, pick up the phone and call IDSecurityOnline. Our experts have helped hundreds of satisfied customers find just the right solution for their security requirements, design specifications, and their budget.
Your answers to the above three questions and our expertise in security, design, and budgetary considerations combine to create a comprehensive solution that will meet your current needs and your future wants and desires, all within your budget.
In fact, we have the best prices–guaranteed. The IDSecurityOnline price guarantee means you’ll never pay too much when you choose IDSecurityOnline for all your ID card printing needs.
Call one of our experts today, and let us help you find the perfect ID card printing solution.