Category: Compelling Business Cards

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Tips on how to design a business card

Tips on how to

Design Business Cards

design notes  |  compelling business cards

A good business card should convey the overall image of your business — not easy, considering the card measures only 2 inches by 3.5 inches. How can you possibly get a message across in such a small amount of space?

Some of our favorite tips:

  • Use your logo as the basis. Make it the largest element on the card.
  • Keep it simple. Do not cram too much information on the card.
  • Do include the essentials — your name, title, company name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email and website addresses.
  • Make sure the typeface is easily readable
  • Stick to one or two colors.

Once you’ve got business cards, make the most of them:

  • Always give people more than one card (so they can give it to others).
  • Include your card in all correspondence.
  • Carry cards with you at all times, in a card case so they’re clean and neat.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225962#

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The brilliance of Akuafoil

The brilliance

of Akuafoil

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

Instead of just putting silver or gold foil on a business card, imagine getting foil in full color on your business cards. Its dazzling radiance will definitely make your cards stand out from the crowd.  With Akuafoil, your cards can be foiled with half tones and gradients, and you can even have multiple foil colors in the same design!  The design possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Order your Akuafoil cards today!

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What are silk business cards?

What are

Silk Business Cards

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

When you choose a card stock, it pays to pick one that will leave a positive impression on clients. Silk business cards impart a luxurious elegance because they are so smooth and soft to the touch.

After the cards are cut, a microscopically thin clear laminate is fused on both sides of the card. The resultant silk business card is water resistant and tare resistant. Its smooth surface doesn’t hold smudges or other contaminants. The laminate coating, although undetectable, gives the card amazing strength. Technicians give the card a strength rating 250% higher than a regular matte card.

The matte surface lends itself to special effects such as spot UV (gloss) and reflective stamp foil. Nexcards offers premium silk cards in ultra-heavy 16pt.

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Durable and Different Plastic Business Cards

Durable and Different:

Plastic Business Cards

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

f you are looking for something different in business cards, consider plastic business cards. They are the most durable of business cards and won’t rip, stain, or exhibit wear.  Here we examine the three types of plastic cards for sale on NexCards.com.

Clear: This card is perfectly clear. Drop it on the floor and you might have a hard time finding it. This card we print is 20pt (.020 inch). The average cardstock is 14pt and a credit card is 30 pt so our plastic cards are comfortably between. There is no white background as we don’t print white (white is no ink in the CMYK color spectrum). This card benefits from high contrast elements with bold color. Be sure to leave plenty of open background so natural light can shine through to “light up” the card. Black text is the clearest to read.

Frosted: Frosted plastic is more easily seen than described. See the image. The card is not transparent but translucent. Like the clear card, white does not print and bold coloring with an open background looks best. You can simulate white/silver by using a light grey (C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=30).  This card and the clear allow printing on one side only

White: These cards are matte white on both sides. As these are not transparent, you can print on both sides. NexCards has these in the popular 20pt weight. Rounded corners are standard ( as are the Clear and 20pt Frosted cards). These cards will appear much like on cardstock. Colors will be vivid and smaller pastels or fancy type will be immediately discernible.  This the safe choice if you want plastic but the other card types make you nervous as to the result. If that is the case, fill out the samples form and to receive samples of plastic cards.

NexCards offers plastic at cardstock prices. Go here to learn more about plastic business cards and prices. Click “Get Started” to hone in on the details.

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Magnetic business cards for extended exposure

Magnetic Business Cards

for extended exposure

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

Magnetic business cards are an inexpensive marketing tool that never quits working for you.  Rather than just another card stuffed into a wallet, magnetic business cards typically wind up on a refrigerator. The American Association of Advertising Specialties (AAAS) states that the average refrigerator magnet is viewed 23.4 times per day. That makes the magnetic business card one heck of a communication tool! These durable cards are much harder to just throw away. You can count on the extended exposure to benefit your business in the long term.

Hand out these magnetic cards at trade shows, business meetings, open houses, product launches, and professional appointment reminders. Our cards use a full sheet of magnet, not the small dots you see on some other cards. These will stick to anything magnetic, like filing cabinets, metal doors, lockers, and some auto surfaces. We offer full-color printing on a durable 17pt magnetic stock.

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The high-impact special effects of foiling and embossing

The high-impact special effects

of foiling and embossing

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

These are some of the most striking special effects you can add to your card. Foiling, sometimes called foil stamp or hot foil is a technique where the actual foil is laid upon a design element or text resulting in a shimmering reflection. It’s quite dazzling in the light! Common colors are silver and gold. In certain cases, we can do other colors.

A new twist on traditional foil stamping is called Akuafoil. In this technique we lay down a reflective disc and print on top of it. This allows us to foil all the colors in the CMYK color spectrum! So we can match the color on your artwork. Gradients and multiple colors is no problem with this technique. We do caution you again to stay away from too small print.

Embossing is an effect that pushes your chosen printed area from the back to raise it beyond the card surface. You’ve seen this on notary seals and the numbers on your credit card. A design shape or logo is a frequent target for embossing. The raised surface is one height and again avoid using thin fonts and thin lines. An embossment of a foil can be done under certain circumstances.

Typically these techniques are done on one side of the card. If your foil stamp is gold or silver, we can do both sides of a 16p silk card. An embossed business card is usually only one side because the back of the card will show the reverse of your embossment. Because these are delicate processes, we recommend you send us your file through email before ordering.  Let us know what you want to do and we’ll tell you what is feasible.

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The beauty of raised spot uv business cards

The beauty of

Raised Spot UV Business Cards

compelling business cards  |  printing terminology

To define a raised Spot UV business card, we first need to discuss Spot UV business cards in general. In this technique, we highlight customer-defined design elements and apply a gloss to those elements. For the best overall look and feel, we do this on a matte high-end silk laminated card. This way, we have a quality effect done on a custom card stock.

The “UV” stands for ultraviolet. This wavelength of light is used to cure the varnish which results in a very high gloss. Typically, these effects are done on logos or company names. Occasionally a customer may choose other elements, such as the name or title.

An interesting effect can be achieved by using spot UV in a pattern on the background of the design. Various honeycomb effects are becoming more common as more customers learn about the benefits of using Spot UV on their business cards, postcards, or brochures.

There are two types of Spot UV, flat and raised. Flat UV is just that, glossy but not raised above the surface of the cards. It can be added to a number of our business cards and marketing materials. Alternatively, you can order Raised Spot UV which is slightly raised providing an extra dimension and enhanced sparkle.

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Enhancing your brand with business cards

Enhancing your brand

with Business Cards

design notes  |  compelling business cards

Business cards can be very effective to build a professional and thoughtful reflection of you and your company. You can make your business cards really appealing to valuable prospects; your business card will depict the core values of your company. Wonderfully presented information on quality business cards surely reflects well on your company’s integrity. Well presented business cards with your personal and corporate details can improve the way people see you by the professionalism displayed on the card. Your business card must be excellent quality to reflect good quality.

There are certain unique strategies through which you can make your business card effective and that will enhance your profitability:

Your business card is what you are advertising to other people. Advertising is all about making associations and building interactions. Using your business card is an influential and cost-effective way to do that. If you are designing a traditional business card, make sure to use both sides of the card. Give ample information so you can start making connections.

Some important details that can be helpful to you are:

  • Name
  • Testimonials
  • Information
  • Your mission and vision

Make sure it is apparent what you do. If your company has a creative name add a tag line or provide a list of services and solutions in the text on your card so that it becomes clear to the client what actually you are providing.

Make an impact and a long-term impression with your quality business card. You desire people to consider you and either keep your card handy or pass it along to a hot prospect. Exclusive colors and textures give fresh look and attract customers. There are also fascinating shapes and sizes but are careful not to get too large, the magnificence of business cards is that they are small and fit in a wallet.

Business cards are practical because they are an economical way to communicate the exclusive qualities that you are offering. Because they are trouble-free to hold and fit in your probable customer’s wallet, purse, or pocket and easy to pass to other people who might be seeking the same service that your firm is offering makes it valuable hence increasing your profitability

Make certain key information like your phone number, email, and website address are mentioned in your business card. It is also important to have your mailing address or cell phone on the card as well. Providing this basic information on your business card will be helpful for potential customers to interact with you when they need to.

Include your website address significantly on your quality business card. Your website is one of the most successful ways to build an association with probable customers.

It is important to add a logo to your business card. Your logo should be something interesting, something that calls attention to your business and marketing materials. This will help your clients remember you for a longer time.

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Getting the most from your custom business cards

Getting the most from

your custom Business Cards

design notes  |  compelling business cards

First impressions are everything, a fact proven over and over again by countless scientific studies. It is this basic facet of human nature that necessitates having a high quality, professional business card.

Because your business card is often the very first marketing piece given to your clients, it is critical that it represents you and your company in the best possible light. Whether you’re looking for silk business cards, glossy business cards, plastic business cards, follow the tips below for maximum positive impact.

Design Tip #1: Include Relevant Contact Details but Avoid Clutter

At a minimum, your business card should include your name, title, phone number, fax number, email address, and your company’s name, address, and logo. In addition, it’s a good idea to include a memorable and descriptive tag line that explains your position or what your company does. However, do not put so much information on your card that your message gets lost in a sea of clutter.

Design Tip #2: Consider Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd

There are many ways to make your business card jump out. For example, you could print your cards on premium cardstock – silk business cards, suede business cards, one of our deluxe, or even plastic business cards definitely stand out from the crowd.

Also, unique features like rounded corners, foil stamping, embossing, or spot UV are all terrific ways to differentiate your business card. One of the most creative examples I’ve seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.

Design Tip #3: Keep Your Layout Simple

Always try to use a clean layout – white space is your friend because it facilitates easy reading. After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card, but make sure that all the information is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.

Design Tip #4: Synergize with Your Company or Professional Image

Since your business card is an important part of branding, it should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your marketing materials. Additionally, its look & feel should synergize with whatever image you are trying to portray.

For example, if you are an artist or designer, it is OK to use hip colors and non-traditional cardstocks such as metal business cards or plastic business cards. If you are a banker, a less flamboyant color scheme (blues, grays), and traditional cardstocks such as silk business cards or glossy business cards, will work better.

Design Tip #5: Have Them Professionally Printed

Finally, always have your cards professionally made by a printing company. Remember that your business card will be the first impression your prospects receive of your business, so do not skimp on this critical marketing tool.