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9 Features You Need on Your Next Business Card

Building your small business, Business Cards, Marketing, Small Business tips, , , , ,

Whether you’re self-employed, own your own business, or are a high-achieving professional with big dreams in your industry, you want to make a good impression on people. You want your colleagues, peers, and clients to think you’re competent, confident, and professional.

Your business card is a powerful tool with which to achieve this. After all, your business card is the first thing people will see when they meet you or hear about your company. It’s important that it looks sharp and professional, and separates you from the rest of the competition!

If you don’t have a business card yet, or it’s been a while since you last updated yours, now’s the time to start thinking about how to approach your new card design. In this guide, we’re going to share 9 features that you need on your next business card to help you stand out from the crowd and make the best first impression possible.

1. Vertical Orientation

Did you know that business cards don’t have to be horizontal? Vertical business cards are still easy-to-read and will fit into a standard business card holder or rolodex, but they look fancier and will set you apart from the crowd.

When handed a vertical business card, the reader will have to turn it on its side, automatically engaging their brain in a different way than a standard horizontal card – forcing them to pay more attention to what they’re reading. It’ll help create the impression that your business card is more important or worthy of remembering than others.

At 123Print, we stock a wide range of vertically-oriented business card templates to suit a wide range of professions and niches. For example, this bright and bold Colour Swatches design would be perfect for anyone working in the paint, textile, or fashion industry.

2. A Clear Call to Action

The whole point of a business card is to drive business to you or your company. As such, it helps if there’s a clear call to action designed into the card itself, as well as your contact details and social media handles.

A call to action is a clear request for the reader to make contact. For example:

1) Check out our new summer range today on our website!
2) Show this business card when you’re next in-store for 5% off your purchase.
3) Scan the QR code to learn more about our new product line
4) Call us today for a free quote

The goal here is to make it as appealing as possible for your business card’s recipient to contact you and do business with you – so make sure to give them an incentive to do so!

3. Magnetic Backing

A business card should be easy for its recipient to keep hold of, and refer back to when necessary. That’s where magnetic business cards really come into their own.
Any standard business card can be set out on a table at a networking event so they catch people’s attention, but the next step is to ensure that they aren’t going to get lost, or shoved in a drawer and forgotten about.

By making your business card magnetic, your client or professional contact will be able to stick it to their refrigerator or filing cabinet, for easy access in the future. It’s also just a bit of a novelty that people will find fun, and again will help you to stand out from the crowd.
A magnetic business card shows that you’ve given some thought to how you can keep your card fresh in people’s minds after they have it in their hands. It’s also great for spreading brand recognition, as your card will be right in front of them whenever they go to the fridge to grab the milk.

4. Double-Sided Printing

If you’re not going with the magnetic option, you should at least ensure that you make full use of the space by giving your business card a double-sided design.
A business card with two sides is more professional and gives you the freedom to express yourself even further. It also lets you include extra information that wouldn’t necessarily fit on the front of the card, such as your store opening times, a tempting special offer or a fun fact about your business that might leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Sure, it might cost a little more to pay for printing on both sides, but it’s definitely worth it from a business point of view. You want to be as memorable as possible so that the recipient will be more likely to do business with you in future.

5. Your Photo

A business card should reflect who you are, what you do and the kind of image you want to project to others.
This is why you should include your photo on your business card: so that the reader can put a face to the name, and identify you as an individual, rather than a faceless corporation. You could add a photo of yourself standing in front of your shop, on the manufacturing line at work, or relaxing at home – whatever it is, make sure you look sharp and confident!

Including your photo is also a great way to inject your personality into your business card. You don’t want to go too overboard – your card should be professional and business-like, after all – but a photo of yourself can certainly help you to stand out and make a good first impression.

6. Your Logo

Your logo is the ultimate branding that defines you as an individual or company. It’s important that it appears on your business card so that people know what your business is all about before they even pick up the phone or meet you in person.

If you don’t have a logo, now is the time to think about getting one! Having a logo consistently implemented across your products and mailings will go a long way to helping your business stand out and be remembered by your clients.

Your logo must be eye-catching and impactful, so spend some time creating it – use professional designers if you don’t have any design skills yourself! It should reflect your brand personality – are you fun, flamboyant and friendly, for example? Or are you serious, slick and professional?

7. A QR Code

Including a QR code on your business card is an innovative way of making sure that your business card doesn’t go to waste after it’s been handed over.

A QR code is a great way to maximise your business card’s potential, as it eliminates the need for the recipient to type your website address into their browser. Instead, they can simply whip out their phone and follow the QR code using their camera to take them straight there. This will give them the chance to do more research on you and what you have to offer, which could increase interest in you or even lead to new business opportunities.

Simply save your QR code as an image file and you’ll be able to upload it directly to a template of your choice at 123Print. All of our business card templates can be fully customised with your own images.

8. A Full-Colour Design

Your business card should be as unique and memorable as you and your brand. If you want to make a lasting impression on someone, it needs to stand out from all of the boring, black-and-white cards out there.

A full-colour design is one way in which you can make sure that your business cards jump out and catch people’s attention. The extra costs involved in going for a higher-quality, multicoloured design will almost always be recouped through higher sales and greater profits.

A full-colour business card is the perfect place to show off your creative side, too. You might want to consider including some cool infographic or photography – anything that reflects your brand personality and makes an impression. And think carefully about your colour scheme – it should tie into your business’s overall aesthetic, and stand out in a good way (not like a sore thumb).

9. Recycled Cardstock

In today’s eco-conscious world, when most consumers are looking to shop with businesses that care about the planet, it’s vitally important that you make sure your business card is eco-friendly.

Recycled paper is a perfect option for your business cards, as it makes use of post-consumer waste which would otherwise have been thrown away. It’s just another way for you to portray yourself as being sensitive towards environmental issues and reinforce your brand image.

Using recycled materials for your business cards doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on quality. The 100% recycled cardstock that we use at 123Print is 300gsm, and looks and feels just as nice as any standard business card. And as a nice bonus, it’s slightly cheaper!

Where Can I Buy Business Cards?

If you’re looking for professionally printed, high-quality business cards, look no further than 123Print. We offer a huge selection of business card templates which you can completely customise to reflect your unique brand personality, as well as a range of other printing products for your business and personal needs.

Visit our website today to choose the perfect design, and personalise it quickly and easily with our free-to-use online editor. Add your own artwork, photos and logos with our upload tool, and customise the font and colour scheme to your preferences.

Your order will be dispatched within 2 working days, so you’ll soon be holding your new, stand-out business cards in your hands. When it comes to getting business cards printed, there’s no need to go anywhere else!

face on business card

Should You Put Your Picture on Your Business Cards?

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In a business and tech-driven world where we are bombarded with advertisements, sales pitches, and often the same old boring text on someone’s business card, it is refreshing to see that some people have tried something different. In fact, if you look around, you’ll find all kinds of interesting variations on what a standard business card might look like.
As you may imagine, the creative possibilities are endless. One popular stylistic choice for modern business cards is the addition of your photograph. Yes, you read that right – many professionals are now choosing to make an impression by uploading their own picture directly onto their business card!

But is this a good idea? What are the advantages of including your photo on a business card? Let’s find out.

How Do Photo Business Cards Work?

The idea is simple. By adding your picture to a business card, you will help potential customers remember who you are and what you do.
It’s been shown that people look at other people’s faces more than any other part of the body. In fact, right from when our eyesight begins to develop, we hard-wired to notice, recognize and pay attention to human faces.
We’re also more inclined to trust someone with whom we relate. If your potential customer, client, or professional contact sees your picture on your business card, they’re more likely to pay attention, remember and trust you.

face on business card

What’s the Psychology Behind it?

We are social creatures, and we form opinions about a person based on whether we like them or not. If you’re in sales, then the odds are that you want to develop an immediate bond with your customer so they will trust you and listen to what you have to say.
Furthermore, if people are more inclined to trust you, they will be more likely to buy from you. So, when you think about it, having your picture on the business card makes perfect sense.
If you’ve got a photo on your business card, you also instantly seem more “human” to your customers and clients – you’re not a faceless corporation any more, but an actual person.

Why Should You Use Photo Business Cards?

If you’re still not sold on photo business cards, here are the top 9 reasons why you should use them.

1. Make Your Presence Known

If you’re a salesperson whose main job is to pitch products and find customers, then it’s a no-brainer that you should use a photo on your business card.
Having your picture will make it easier for you to form an instant bond with the customer, and since you’ll be trying to get them to buy something they don’t know very much about, this will help seal the deal.
A photo business card will instantly catch the viewer’s eye, and they’re less likely to toss it aside.

2. Help Your Business Cards Stand Out

Having a picture on your card will help you stand out from the card. It will make you unique, and it will help bring you attention. Not only that, but if your business card is something memorable, there is a possibility that people might keep it for future use or even refer to your picture when trying to contact you.
Also, don’t underestimate your appearance. If you’re in sales, having a friendly smile and looking well-groomed can help sell more than just the product; it can also help sell yourself. This is especially true of younger people who are trying to make their way in the world.

3. Match Your Image to the Product

There’s one thing that you want to be careful about when using your picture on your business card, and this is making sure that it matches what you’re selling. For example, if you’re trying to sell an expensive product, having a fun-looking photo might not be appropriate because it might not reflect the kind of business you are trying to run.
If you want to use your picture and make sure it’s appropriate, then a good tip is to think about the message that your card will convey and match it with a serious look on your face or even something that exudes confidence. After all, if a person trusts what you say and your picture matches, they will be more apt to do business with you.

4. Build Trust and Form Connections

Most business cards are left in wallets or desk drawers, where they aren’t looked at until they’re needed. However, having a picture on your card means that they will see your face every time they run across it.
Having a picture on your card means that they might remember you later or be able to connect you with someone else if the need arose. This is true of people who make business cards for themselves and then give them out to everyone just to leave their own personal impression.
Making use of your cards isn’t limited to just business people. These days anyone can make and use their own card, even if they aren’t working for themselves. If you want to make an impression, then putting a picture on it is one of the best things that you can do.

5. Create a Professional Image

Over the years, many business owners have realised that having their picture on their business card helps people remember the name and gives it a more professional appearance. Dress up for the shot – do your hair, don your finest suit, and it will work wonders for your professional image.
Making yourself look more professional shows others that you are here to stay and you have legitimate products that you are selling. That can help a business grow when someone is trying to evaluate the merits of doing business with you or your company.

6. Make Your Name More Memorable

I’m sure we’ve all been in situations where we couldn’t remember someone’s name, but as soon as we saw them (or a photo of them), then we remembered it. Faces are powerful!
Putting your picture on your cards lets people remember you and associate your name with your product or service. It can also help customers and clients remember your business’s name, your logo, or even your phone number!

7. Building Rapport with Others

It’s essential to build trust and rapport when you are in the business world or anywhere else, for that matter, but it can be even more difficult if you use one of those cards with no personal connection.
When you have your picture on one of your cards, others that see it will instantly see your company as more human and personable than your competitors. They’ll associate your face with the name and company so they can remember that connection easier. They then will be more likely to trust you when they are doing business with you.

8. Reinforce Your Personality

Including your photo on your business card allows other people to see more than just what you look like. It also lets them get a feel for your personality. Making people feel more comfortable with you and your brand can be critical when evaluating what to buy. Once again, putting a photo on your card will help reinforce that personality.

Not only does it make you look better in the eyes of others, but it also helps them see how customer-friendly you really are. When they are looking at other options, your picture on the card will have an emotional impact that will make people feel more comfortable doing business with you and your company.

9. Have an Easier Time at Networking Events

One of the biggest reasons people put so much time and energy into getting their pictures taken is networking events – such as a Chamber of Commerce breakfast, a conference, or even a happy hour. It can be challenging to build relationships with other people when you don’t remember what they look like, but having your picture on the card helps a lot in this situation.

Putting your picture on the card will be a plus when you are at networking events because people will remember you better. After they come home, they’ll have dozens of business cards stuffed into their pockets, and they probably won’t remember many of the people they spoke to – but they’ll remember you, because your face is right in front of them!

Where Can I Order Photo Business Cards?

When you’re having a photo business card made, it’s not an area where you want to skimp on quality. On the contrary, it’s critical to have a high-quality photo printed on high-quality cardstock. A photograph that’s grainy, lined or badly printed will instantly make you (and your company) seem less professional.

At 123 Print, we can make the perfect photo business card to project warmth, knowledgeability, and professionalism for your business or brand. Visit our site to get started today by choosing from one of our thousands of business card templates. Simply click the “upload artwork” button to inject your personality into your chosen design!

27 Quick Tips for Creating the Ultimate Business Card

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Are you wondering how you can make your business card that bit more effective? Or looking at making a first time business card purchase? No matter whether you’re a graphic design professional or a veteran business card user, it’s always a good idea to review some of the basics when creating your new business cards. This post includes 27 tips for making your business cards more effective and a handy cheat sheet to guide you on the way…

Business Card Cheat Sheet
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Introducing Chat Up Cards at 123Print UK

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April Fools!
Here at 123Print UK we are excited to announce a new product range will be joining our existing range of business card templates for 2014. After extensive market research, we know what you’ve been looking for and finally after many months of hard work we are proud to introduce Chat Up Cards!

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