Save money by printing your own Business cards.

Business cards are necessity for every business owner. It is nowadays corporate custom to exchange business cards during professional seminars or conventions. People say it helps in increasing personal relations for business. Therefore, nowadays people prefer having professional business cards to maximize the impact.

Well, what is so important about business cards? Why is everybody so serious about it? What are the most important reasons related with business cards? A few reasons about why business cards are important are given below:

Representation of Business

Business cards are the first impression of any business in front of its potential customers. It represents your business. Well-designed and professional looking business cards can increase the credibility of your business in front of others. The quality of your business cards directly affects the image of your business, products, or services in customer’s view.

Primary Mode of Contact

Business cards hold essential contact information of the company as well as the individual who is carrying the card on behalf of an organization. Whether it is a trade show, business meetings, or routine promotion of products & services first think that people handover to their potential customers is the business card. For others (potential customers and business associates), business card acts as the primary mode of contacting an organization.

Decision Factor for Sales

Business cards can directly influence the sales and revenue of an organization. As said earlier, it is the first impression of a business in front of its potential customers. If the first impression is powerful and emphatic, potential customers are more likely to buy the products. If business cards are not impressive, it will certainly create negative impact of the respective organization affecting the sales and revenues.

Aforementioned reasons are enough to describe why business cards are so important, and why people give excess stress on designing and printing of quality business cards. They know very well, that the money invested in printing and designing of business cards is going to return a lot of sales lead, which will directly affect the overall sales and revenues.

Nowadays, people prefer printing of business card through online print service providers. They offer best quality printing at affordable prices. A majority of business owners who want to excel in their business knows very well that what is so important in business cards. Therefore they only rely upon online business card printers.

uvcards.com specialize in high quality printing of business cards, plastic cards, postcards, club flyer, Brochures, Letterheads and so much more. For more information please visit: – http://uvcards.com/

My promotional pack project has finally finished. I really did enjoy it though, was interesting to create a professional looking package as well as helping others with some of their stuff. As you can see my blog also matches the rest of my Promo-package.

This is my business card currently. The Front:

The Back with details:

It has been a great learning process. I cannot wait to get my marks. I’ve moved on however and am currently working on an A6 Multipage publication of a speech.

Good business cards are the most valuable assets so far for one’s career. It is the brief of your company or qualification prelude to further conversation. These cards serve a great reminder of your company or your service as and when your clients need it. That’s why making your business cards memorable for potential people and agency heads is crucial. Here are some designing practices and considerations that are proven to heighten the popularity index of business cards –

1. Do your business cards make you feel different? – Make your cards feel different by using a different texture like rubbery materials, plastic materials or opt for engraved lettering to stand out and show the differences.
2. Can your business cards be scanned? – Your business cards got to be scanned through scanner or business card reader. This is one important rule today as there are number of devices that give the geeks chances to scan the cards and store to their handheld devices.
3. Do your business cards contain the basic information? – Your business cards must contain the basic information such as your name, designation or title, company name, address, phone numbers and fax numbers, email ids, URLs of the site and the blogs and of course the logo.     
4. Have you written lines on what you do? – Those business cards that do not speak sufficiently about the company or card owner’s personal profile unless the company is well and widely established or have a national or global repute so that people will identify it just by the name.
5. Integrate the tagline to the card for better branding effects – The tagline of the company play quite important role in spreading the brand awareness. The tagline written down the name of the company must be included to the business cards for spreading the message of your company and get recognised by it.

Write your business cards in two languages of the countries where you do business. In this regard, utilise both sides of the card by writing business cards in English as well as an additional regional language where you are doing business.

Couple of months ago, I had a computer part fail on me while under warranty. Diligently I tracked down my serial number, part number, make and model. I called the company’s 800 support line and hoped that being prepared, I could complete the task of ordering a new part within 15 minutes.

Unfortunately I was too optimistic. First it took me a good 15 minutes to navigate through the complicated menu selection. It reminded me of the old video games I used to play dodging incorrect menu options and making sure I do not get disconnected.

At last I had success! I reached a live human being. The joy was short lived as I discovered I was no longer connected within the continent as my call had been routed to a third party support group in another country. They were very nice and having all the necessary information for my part, they put in a request for a new one to be shipped to me within the next 4 to 8 weeks. I no longer had the energy to request a quicker turn around.

And while I thought most of the hard hurdles were behind me, I was surprised with one last task. It ended up being the hardest part of my transaction.

I had to provide them with my address.

Yes, folks; the address part took the longest part of the entire phone call. I had to litterally spell every letter for my address, it was at that time I had wished that there was no lane in my address and why did they really need to pick an artistic name for my street? Yes it was unique but hard to understand over a 5000 mile land line. I spent the next 30 minutes going over my address. Yes, T as in Tom, what? No not dumb, Tom. You get the picture.

Eight weeks later my part arrived, my name misspelled as was the city I was in. But the zip code was correct. Then it clicked for me.

If the agent on the phone had access to Cardesh, I could have them log into the site. Look for my card by putting in my Cardesh ID and get my address from there. The whole process would have taken only minutes with no chance of misspelling.

To ensure that your contact information is received by your connection without any errors, use your Cardesh business card.

As I visit a number of nonprofit firms, I notice that most lack what I term, ‘essential pieces.’  Sadly, even when a nonprofit has these essential pieces, they are often inconsistent in terms of branding, design, language—as if several firms were communicating, not just one.

Essential pieces are marketing materials that each nonprofit should publish as soon as it is financially possible to do so. Such materials build the foundation for 1) increasing public awareness of/interest in the given cause, 2) recruiting volunteers for the cause, and 3) motivating donor gifts to the cause.  They include:

Stationery Suite – business card, letterhead, and envelope

Brochure – an overview of the nonprofit’s mission; includes contact persons/numbers/e-mail addresses for reader follow-up

Newsletter – published twice annually at minimum, this publication keeps donors up-to-date on how the nonprofit stewards their donations

Thank-You Notecards – these should be sent whenever donations are received; they build donor loyalty; no one likes an ingrate…. 

Applause Piece – sorely lacking among nonprofits, this piece lauds the nonprofit for its major successes (e.g., Dollars for Doggies wins Nonprofit of the Year from the National Association of Nonprofits)

Annual Report – when well done, this publication gives a stunning overview of the nonprofit’s accomplishments over the past year and shows a big picture of financial performance

Powerpoint Presentation(s) – an electronic version of the nonprofit’s brochure, with in-depth information added about program participation, volunteering, or donation needs, as appropriate for different audiences

Conference/Fair Trifold Display – a portable, large-scale version of your brochure. At minimum, each nonprofit should have the standard trifold display; if your nonprofit has the budget for a larger, more impressive display, invest in one.  You want your brand to stand out among several others at any given nonprofit conference/fair.

A well-done set of essential pieces calls for someone with an eye for integrated marketing, which aims to ensure consistency of message.  If your nonprofit has a staff person with this skill, capitalize on his/her expertise!  Your marketing (and its results) will greatly improve.

If you don’t have such a person, contact Trottlebee.  The Marketing Doc will consult with you and show you how your essential pieces can work to your cause’s benefit.  One of our initial steps will be a Visual Communications Audit, where we place all of your current publications on a table and view them as a group.  You will be surprised–perhaps aghast–at the overall impression your suite of materials gives.

Don’t let inconsistus afflict your brand!  It is the number one enemy of proper branding and next week’s featured malady….

trottlebee@gmail.com

Networking is one of the most important things any entrepreneur or business person can do. Some of us do it naturally, many of us don’t. If you’re still friends with the majority of the people you made friends with during college or university – you’re likely a natural. For those of us who aren’t here are a few tips.

#1 Be genuine. Use your real interest to find common ground with people you meet. Don’t lie, don’t even stretch the truth. This is your chance to make an impact for who you are. Be friendly – outgoing – interested – unique. People can generally tell if you’re faking. After all – 55% of what people understand comes from body language and 38% from your tone and how you say it. That only leaves 7% for the words you’re saying. This doesn’t mean your words don’t matter – just that first impressions and how people see you comes from the whole experience.

#2 Be specific and precise. If your words only count for 7% of the message – make sure what they do remember really counts. Don’t give them a verbal overview of your resume – tell them of your greatest accomplishment or selling point. Giving too much information all at once leaves your message open to interpretation, and your audience likely won’t remember the point you wanted them to. Have a specialty. This will make you stand out from the crowd and make you more memorable.

#3 Your business card is one of your best tools when meeting new people. This is what people take away to remember you with once you’ve put that quick meeting in their mind. Keep your business card professional, but don’t be afraid to put a bit of personality into it. Especially if you want to be different and stand out. Most importantly – use them! Even if you only meet someone briefly, give them a card and ask if they have one to give you in return. Now you can both get connected once you’ve gone back to the office.  This leads to my next point.

#4 Follow up! Just because they have your card and you have theirs doesn’t mean they’ll remember you in two months when you call them for an interview or to make a pitch. Send an email soon after meeting them, but don’t stop there. Try sending a letter – not everyone pours over their email daily. Call them – either soon after you first meet or as a follow up to an email. Actually speaking to the person reinforces your connection. Your best bet? Make an appointment to meet in person, even if it’s just for a quick coffee.

Networking expands your resources and creates positive connections that will likely come in handy in the future. Look at it as a chance to sell yourself to others before you need them – or they need you. You can never have too many good connections, and the more you practice your networking skills the easier it will come. Never let an opportunity pass you by.

I think you get the idea. Just like the American Express slogan says, “Don’t leave home without it.” In this case, I’m referring to your business card. Generally speaking, it’s an inexpensive way to get your name and brand out there, market yourself, stay in front of clients, and quite frankly, look professional.

Here’s Joel Bauer’s take on business cards. Love him or hate him, he’s got his opinions. This comes to you courtesy of Matt Arndt at Turbo Social Media.

4. Think outside the business card box. What are you doing to get noticed…or at least your card? Whether it’s throwing your card into a bowl for a prize drawing, pinning it to a bulletin board, partnering with someone who can get it to the right people, mailing it to a distribution list, leaving it with a tip at a restaurant (if your in that business)…. You get the idea. Joel Bauer’s business card is $4. Yours doesn’t have to be. Most are just pennies each. But if you’re so inclined, perhaps you can have two – the fancy one for important clients/occasions and a less expensive one for others. Just a thought.

Remember, make sure, after a meeting, you jot down some notes on the card you received, so that you’ll remember the conversation later. Don’t write on the card in front of the person, as they might take offense to it. As for your card, you can write additional information on it, before you hand it over, leave it behind or mail it out. This tends to increase the likelihood of it being kept.

So no excuses. Get a business card! Never be in a position to say, “Umm, sorry, I don’t have one.”

If you’re interested in a consultation, for more information, please refer to Behind the Scenes Consulting. If you have questions, please email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com. If you have any comments, please write them below. Thank you.

Back to business…and business cards. I can’t stress enough the importance of having a card. You know the old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Well, a business card can make sure that doesn’t happen. Personally, I have so many cards I’ve collected over the years. Granted I put the contact’s information into my Outlook, which I sync with my iPhone, so I’ve got everyone with me all the time…but I don’t throw out the cards. It’s my old fashion backup. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of you do the same thing.

3. Put it in writing. Never lose sight of the fact that your business card is part of your branding…as is your stationary (letters, envelopes, etc.). They should all represent you the same way. This being said, after a meeting or an occasion, consider following up with a written note, and of course, include business cards. Even after a phone call, you can do the same. Provide a summary of the details discussed during the call. I know you can do that in an email, but as of today, your physical business card won’t be attached when you hit “Send.”

Get your card, and a few extras, into their hands…and keep you on their minds.

If you’re interested in a consultation, for more information, please refer to my Behind the Scenes Consulting. If you have questions, please email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com. If you have any comments, please write them below. Thank you.

my personal business card, it feels very mature to have one…

I was advised to make business cards, what a great idea! That way at networking events, I can give people my contact info and don’t look like a schmoe. In honor of my business card quest, and for some Friday fun, enjoy the following video.

Priceless.

The trend of using online services for different purposes is becoming popular. Nowadays, people are even going online for the more traditional services like business cards printing. Yes, online business card printing services have seen tremendous growth in recent few years. There are different benefits of using online service providers for business cards and other business stationary printing.

Some major benefits of using online business cards printing services are as follows:

Time Saving – Using online services are always a time saving process of doing any work. It saves your precious time. For printing of your business stationary, you need to find an experienced and reliable print service provider. Finding one such service provider in your area may be time taking, as you have to assess their quality and credibility.

However, you can easily find an online quality print service provider. You can have a closer look at their print samples, customer’s testimonials, printing costs, and refund policy. You can compare the services offered by different online business cards print service provider. They also offer instant delivery of printed materials. It will save your valuable time.

Cost Effectiveness – Costs of printing by online service providers are comparatively less. There is intense competition among different service providers. Due to that, they have to cut their costs in order to attract more and more customers. Apart from that, use of latest technology and most advanced printing mechanisms further helps in decreasing their costs.

Enhanced Technology – A majority of online prints service provider use the most advanced technology of printing. They are far ahead of traditional print service providers. You can have your business cards printed with UV coating, matte finish, or plastic lamination.

Online print service providers utilize most advanced technology to provide you best services. You can upload your existing business cards design or logos on their website for printing. If you do not have the design ready, you can talk to the Customer Service Representative and discuss your requirements. They will present you a design exceeding your expectations.

Customer Service – By selecting an online service provider for business card printing, you can enjoy seamless sales and service supports. Usually they provide round the clock service. That means, you can track the status of your order, or make modifications in existing orders, or reorder prints anytime.

In summary, selecting online providers for business stationary prints is a wise decision. They can have the most professional designs with best quality prints, in short a win-win situation for you.

uvcards.com specialize in high quality printing of business cards, plastic cards, postcards, club flyer, Brochures, Letterheads and so much more. For more information please visit: – http://uvcards.com/

…stuck to our front gate today:

Roofing… with a biblical integrity.

Thank Christ, because I want to make sure that my roof is up to God’s standards.

Still laughing at “Shingles” on the card,

-Shady

Today has been so tiring… had loads of college work to do. It’s hand in week this week so the tutors are basically on our backs stressing at us to get the work handed in. I hate hand-in weeks because it’s like the only week they seem to be bothered about you getting the work done and all in the short time of a few hours. I got quite a bit of work done today. Produced a simple logo for the Grange Arts along with a business card etc.

What do you think? I know it’s simple but I whipped it up in like an hour after trying a few logo ideas this was the best and most simple but effective. I won’t upload hi-res versions of these since I don’t want anyone claiming my work as there own. I’ve had problems with people ripping my work in the past so I don’t need that hassle again.

I also produced a website. I’ll upload it when it’s pretty much finished being coded. It’s nothing special just a fan based site for the Dead Space video game. Our brief was to produce a simple web page based either on a band, video game or movie. So I chose Dead Space since at the time I was addicted to that game and still think it’s one of the best games I’ve played. Can’t fault it! If you haven’t tried it make sure you give it a spin sometime it will scare the living day lights out of you!! There’s been many times were it made me scream like a little girl haha.

Anyway that’s all for now, I shall blog again in a short while as I’m in a very talkative mood tonight!

Business Card

How many times have you spoken like a pro at a networking session only to realize that you don’t have the person’s business card and worse yet, you don’t recall their name? The best business method I have seen for memory like a champ comes from the Japanese. In a business meeting, the Japanese sit in seniority order so there is no mistake whom the boss is. They treat their business card as an extension of their soul, so what is on their card is extremely important and handled with care. Better yet, they place their colleagues’ business cards on the table in front of them in order of how they sit in the room, so they always address the person respectfully and by name. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could cut to the chase and have the place setting tell us who the hiring manager is? If you don’t get a business card, use a paper or napkin to jot down their names in order of how they appear in the room while they introduce themselves. Listen for their company name. If you are at a conference, use your internet enabled phone, laptop or hotel computer to look up some press releases, stock value or other useful information so you can score with a winning conversation opener. You’re the champ, now you’re in the ring!