Monthly Archives: November 2021

face on business card

Should You Put Your Picture on Your Business Cards?

Business Cards, , , ,

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!

Should You Invite People to a Party By Text?

Party Invitations, ,

When sending out party invitations, especially for an informal bash, it can be easy to default to simply sending a text message to your guests.
However, a text message (or e-mail, or Facebook event) is not always the best way to communicate important details about your party. It also runs the risk of coming across as too casual, meaning that your invitees may not feel the need to RSVP. This could cause havoc with your party planning!

Sending a text might work for a very last-minute party, if there’s no time to post or hand out paper invitations. But for all other scenarios, physical party invitations are by far superior. Designing your own invitations is a fun way to spread the word about your event, get your guests excited about the theme, and ensure everyone invited will have all the information they need. It also elevates your event and ensures that guests will take it seriously.

With thousands of designs to choose from, you can start collecting RSVPs in no time with help from your chosen party invitation!

Are Paper Party Invitations Better than a Text?

Party invitations come in a huge array of colours and designs, whereas a text message is just that – text on a screen. There’s so much more scope for theming and fun with personalised party invitations.

While it’s super convenient to send a text, it doesn’t get anyone excited for your party. It also comes across as a lot more casual, so if you really want people to RSVP (and actually turn up) then an paper invite is the way to go.

If your party doesn’t have a theme, you can go with a standard party invite in a relevant colour scheme. If your party does have a theme, you can make this the first thing your invitees see with a themed invitation.

Paper party invitations also allow you to be more specific about the dress code, gift list, start and end times – all because you’ve got the space to write whatever you’d like.

Is It Ever a Good Idea to Invite People to a Party Through Text?

That’s not to say that text messaging is never useful. It might be appropriate to send a text to your invitees in the following circumstances, for example:

1) You are hosting a children’s party and you want to make sure parents received invitations – especially if they were handed out at school
2) You haven’t heard back from one or more of your invitees, and you want to check they are attending
3) The details of your event have changed and you need to let guests know (for example, the date or venue)
4) You want to send a generic SMS a couple days before the party just to remind everyone
5) You’re planning a last-minute party (i.e. a few days in advance), and there simply isn’t enough time to send out paper invitations
6) You’re planning a surprise party for someone you live with, and can’t risk your paper invitations being intercepted

For most parties, however, paper invitations are definitely the way to go. You may worry that they’re too formal – but the beauty of party invitations is that they can be entirely customised. You can word the invitation as formally or as casually as you’d like.

Do Printed Party Invitations Work for All Guests?

Paper invitations work well for all ages, from kids to older family members. The same, unfortunately, can’t be said for party invitations sent through text.
There’s a strong chance your older guests may not use a mobile phone, or be proficient in SMS messaging. Because of this, there is a chance you could miss some of your important guests by only sending text invitations. Not only this, but even guests with mobile phones may miss a text (their inbox may be full, for example, or they may be too busy to check their notifications).

Paper invitations, either handed out in person or sent in the post, solve this issue. Sending out paper invitations will ensure no one is left out or misses the memo due to communication issues.

If you are sending out invitations for a children’s party, it’s also best to send a paper invitation. Kids particularly love handing out invites to all of their classmates at school! (That being said, you may want to follow up with a text to parents, on the off chance that an invite goes missing.)

Do Paper Party Invitations Work with Large Gatherings?

It is especially important to send out paper invitations if you are having a large event. If you are having caterers or hiring a venue, it is important you know who is coming to your party. Your venue and caterers will require a head count at least a few days in advance of the occasion.

When you send a text, it’s easy for it to get lost in people inboxes. Guests may forget they were invited, or never get back to you with an RSVP. This is because sending a text as a party invite comes across as very informal – guests may not realise the size or organisation going into your party.

To avoid this, send a paper invitation. Invitees are more likely to remember receiving your invite and may even stick or magnet it somewhere in their home. It also shows them that your party is more formal, or a larger occasion and therefore they need to RSVP.
Large parties like age milestone birthdays can take lot of organising and you may be worries about sending out such a large volume of invitations. With 123 print arranging invitations is easy and stress free, so you can focus on other tasks.

Why Should I Order Customised Party Invitations?

Ordering customised birthday invitations elevates the experience you and your guests have of your event. They also help you save time.

With personalised party invites, you can choose a template it and edit it to include your own wording. This means you can include all the necessary information (such as location, date, start time and dress code) on the invitation. This makes it easy for your guests to know where to go and when, and what’s expected of them. You can also change the colour scheme and font style, and even upload your own artwork directly to the invitation, for a truly personalised piece of stationery!

More importantly, you will not have to worry about writing or typing information over and over, as you might with a text. When you receive your personalised invitations in the post, all you have to do is address the envelope and send them on their way.

When Should I Send Out Party Invitations?

The best time to send out party invites is 3-6 weeks before your event. This gives your invitees a good amount of time to book off of work and arrange childcare, and for you to gather your RSVPs. However, if your guests will have to travel or if you’re planning a party at a busier time of year (such as Christmas), it’s best to give a couple of extra weeks’ notice.
Here at 123Print, we aim to dispatch all orders within 48 working hours of customer proof approval. This means that your invitations will be with you quickly – perfect for even a last-minute bash!

Where Can I Order Party Invitations?

At 123Print, we offer a large range of high quality invitations for any occasion. Having a casual children’s party? Try this fun Coloured Balloons invite. What about a housewarming party? You could consider the elegant Kitchen Trousseau invitation. Or maybe you are having a glamorous black tie party, which our ever-popular Enchanted Evening design would be perfect for. Hundreds more designs are available, including themed templates, all of which are fully customisable.

You can order stress free with our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee – if your invitations aren’t perfect, we’ll refund or re-print them with no questions asked. We also offer 48-hour dispatch and a low price guarantee, with no hidden charges to worry about. Our standard party invitations start at only 40p each.
Order today and start getting those RSVPs!

Party Invitation Dos and Don’ts: a Guide

Party Invitations, ,

Whether it’s a birthday, a housewarming, a holiday celebration or even an anniversary: there’s a special occasion coming up, and it’s party time! But how do you choose the perfect party invitation, and what should it say?
A classic paper party invitation is the easiest way to share valuable information about your event with guests. You can design and personalise your own party invitations with the click of a button.

Obviously, you know that you need to share when and where your party will be held: but as well as conveying details, a party invite should get your attendees excited, and prepare them for the theme and tone of the party.
In this article we will go over some of the dos and don’ts of designing the perfect invitations for any party.

DO – Match the Style of Your Event to the Invitation

Your invite design should perfectly reflect the theme of your party. This lets people know straight away what they can expect. A beautiful themed invitation also helps get people excited for your event, and ensures your invite won’t get swept away with unwanted junk mail.

If you are having a clear party theme, such as Hawaiian, try and select an invite that reflects that in its design. A good choice for this example would be Laid back Luau which clearly reflects the Hawaiian theme. Your guests will know to don their Hawaiian shirts and expect exotic cocktails!

If your party is less specific, try and choose the closest fit, and at least match the invitation to the overall tone. For example, if you are hosting a dinner party, an elegant, sophisticated design like Bliss Sophisticate would work well.
If you were having a relaxed garden party a fun floral design like Modern Romance may be a perfect fit.

DON’T – Put a Gift List on the Invitation

No one likes receiving gifts they don’t want, but there are ways to navigate this. Putting a large gift list (or a direct link to one) directly on your invitation could come across as rude and tacky – you might look as though you are “gift grabbing”, and care about presents more than your guests’ presence.

Instead of this, you could set up a website for your party, and include a list of gift ideas on a dedicated page on the site (NOT the homepage). Provide a link to the website on your invitation. That way, guests can choose something they know you’ll like if they want to get a gift. This will be appreciated, as choosing gifts can be hard.
Using an online wish list also declutters your party invites and keeps the key information at the forefront.

DO – Let Attendees Know the Dress Code

There is nothing worse than turning up to a party in jeans if everyone else in in their finest! Being underdressed – or, in fact, overdressed – is a social nightmare which your guests would all rather avoid.

Save your guests the embarrassment by making the dress code clear and easy to follow, if there is one. Popular dress codes include black tie, cocktail, and semi-formal. A simple P.S. on your invite stating this should be enough to ensure everyone gets the message.
If you are having your party at a restaurant, some have their own dress code. While they aren’t often as strict as black tie, it’s worth mentioning it if there is one. Common expectations are no shorts, trainers, or ripped jeans. If you are unsure if your venue has a dress code, it’s worth checking when you book.

DON’T – Leave the Guest List Open to Interpretation

Make it clear if your guests are allowed to bring plus ones or not. If the invite is vague, you may end up having more guests than you banked on, which can cause problems (particularly if you are having catering).

If you are happy to have someone bring a plus one, address the invite to the person you are inviting plus a guest. For example, “To John Smith and Guest”. If you know the name of the invitee’s significant other, you can also name them, to avoid ambiguity. Ask them to list the total number of att

endees on the RSVP, so you’ll know whether they’re bringing a plus one or not.
If you aren’t allowing plus ones, address the invitation to the named person you want to invite only. By using their name on not only the envelope but the invite, you should send a clear message that they are the only one invited.

DO – Give Your Invitees Clear and Useful Information

The most important information your party guests will need to know is –
1) What date and time is the event?
2) What time is the event likely to end? (“Until late” isn’t helpful for guests with children or other commitments!)
3) Where is the party being held?
4) What’s the event celebrating?
5) If it’s for a birthday, how old is the birthday person? (This is optional for adult birthdays, but it does help with choosing cards and gifts)
6) Is there a dress code?
7) How should guests RSVP? Do they have to return a reply card, send an email, or call a phone number?
8) Is there anything else they need to know? For example, is the party being held outside? If so, what weather should guests expect?

Make sure that the information is clear and precise, and not vague. If your venue is slightly hard to find, it could be worth giving some general directions, or linking your guests to the venue website.

It’s also considered polite to let guests who will be travelling know of hotels in the area where they may choose to stay.

DON’T – Provide Contact Information that You Won’t Use

If you never check your email, don’t use it as your RSPV method. You wouldn’t want to miss your guest’s correspondence as this could skew numbers. Use a contact that you check regularly like your phone, or a social media.
If you give your phone number, ask people to text if possible and leave their name. This is so if you don’t have them saved as a contact, you won’t be left guessing as to who they are. It also means you won’t be inundated with calls, although older friends or family members may feel more comfortable with calling.

If you’re worried about missing texts, calls or emails, it may be best to stick to a good old-fashioned reply card. Your guests can fill out their details and send it back to you in the post.
Sending a physical card also means you can leave room for your guests to add any notes or special considerations (such as food allergies or accessibility requirements).

DO – Create a Personalised Invitation

It’s your celebration – so why pick a generic pack of pre-printed party invitations? By far the most personal and rewarding option is to design your own custom party invitation, either from scratch or through editing a template.
By personalising a party invitation online, you can truly tailor your invitation to your event’s aesthetic, theme, tone, and specific celebration. You can edit the font colour, style, and wording to your heart’s content, and even upload your own artwork or photographs to the invitation itself on some designs.
No more trailing to the nearest party supply store and choosing between two or three premade designs to write on by hand!

Where Can I Order Custom Party Invitations?

Custom party invitations are a brilliant way to not only invite your guests, but also communicate important details. They are a fun way to spread information about your party, and are easy and stress free to order with 123Print.
Browse from our huge selection of templates to choose the perfect one for you. We offer both standard (A6) and large (A5) designs, so you can pick the perfect size. And if you can’t find a design that you like, you can always create your own. This allows you total freedom to design your invites specifically for your event. It’s quick and easy to do, and personalised invites are just as easy to order as any other.
Thanks to 123Print’s 48 hour shipping and 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, you won’t be disappointed. Simply place your order and let the RSPVs roll in!