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Miles Cake Flyer

How to Hand Out Business Flyers Legally and Effectively

Marketing, Uncategorized, , ,

Business flyers (also known as leaflets or pamphlets) are a popular and traditional form of paper marketing. They’re perfect for advertising a particular product, service, sale or promotion, or your company as a whole.

Flyers have been used to advertise businesses, political viewpoints and more for hundreds of years, since the invention of the printing press – and they’re no less relevant today. You can hand out flyers to passers-by on the street, distribute them directly to letterboxes, or send them out with an order. You can even have a box of flyers on your premises for members of the public to help themselves.

This guide will describe what business flyers are used for, and the benefits and drawbacks of the four main methods of flyer distribution. We’ll also discuss the legalities of handing out flyers in the UK, and when you might need to apply for a license.

What Are Business Flyers Used For?

Flyers are one of the most valuable forms of advertising for small, medium and large businesses. You can use flyers to:

Spread awareness of your company, and get your name out there
Attract new customers with discounts or limited time offers
Make past customers aware of new products or services, and increase the likelihood that they’ll purchase again
Flyers are considered single-use promotional products, as most people will throw a flyer away after reading it.
But the important thing is that they do read it before discarding it. Most people can’t help reading a leaflet that comes through their letterbox, purely out of curiosity. Even if they’re not interested in your company at that precise moment, they’ll remember your name for the future.

Do Flyers Actually Work?

You may wonder, in today’s increasingly digital world, whether paper flyers are still effective at drawing in potential customers. Wouldn’t a Facebook ad, for example, be a better way of marketing your business?

While digital ads have their place, there’s still something that catches the eye about traditional paper letterbox marketing. It’s easy to scroll past an advertisement on a webpage without even giving it a glance. You’ve probably seen dozens of online ads today – yet how many of them can you name?

But if you receive a physical leaflet in your letterbox, you’ll almost always give it a cursory read-over, even if you end up discarding it. And the company’s name will likely come back to you when you are in need of that particular product or service.

This is because we pay more attention to what we read when it’s on paper, versus a screen. According to the DMA, 60.5% of people will read a flyer that comes through their letterbox.
And don’t forget, not everybody is online. Paper marketing is pretty much the only way to capture offline customers, such as older people who might not use the internet at all.

What Is the Best Way to Give Out Flyers?

Now you know what flyers are, and how they’ll give your business a boost. But how do you actually go about getting your flyers to potential customers?
There are four main ways of distributing advertising literature.

1) Letterbox Marketing (Door Drop)

The most popular form of flyer distribution is called letterbox marketing, otherwise known as “door drop”. If you’ve ever found a leaflet in your letterbox advertising a local takeaway, double glazing company or broadband provider, then you’ll already be well aware of this kind of marketing.
You can either hire someone to go door-to-door and drop leaflets into letterboxes, or you can mail flyers through the postal service, if you have a list of addresses (e.g. of past customers). This is known as “direct mail”.
With letterbox marketing, you’re able to target specific homes – such as people who live in a specific postcode area, or certain types of accommodation.

2) On the Premises

If your company has a physical premises which customers are allowed to visit – such as a shop – you can always hand out flyers inside the building. You could have a box on the counter full of free flyers that your visitors are welcome to help themselves to, for example.
Alternatively, you could have an employee standing near the door, handing out leaflets to people as they leave. This will keep your products or services fresh in their minds, even if they didn’t purchase anything that day.

3) With an Order

Another quick and easy way to get flyers out to clients is to include them for free with every order that a customer places. Simply pop a leaflet into the box with the customer’s order, and they’ll instantly be exposed to other products that you offer, which they may not have been aware of before. You could also include a coupon for a discount on future orders, for example.

Of course, this only really works if you’re selling a physical product, rather than a service. And you’re only able to target existing customers, rather than drawing in new clients. However, it may make customers more likely to shop with you again.

4) Hand to Hand Flyer Distribution

Hand to hand flyer distribution involves, as the name suggests, handing leaflets or flyers directly to customers or potential customers.
If you’ve ever seen someone standing in a busy town centre, offering flyers to shoppers as they pass by, this is an example of a hand to hand flyer campaign. They might also be dressed up in branded clothing or holding a sign to direct shoppers to the store or business premises.

Hand to hand flyer distribution is generally not as cost-effective as letterbox marketing. This is because you’re handing out leaflets to anyone who walks past – so you’re unable to target your distribution to certain demographics (such as age, affluence level, postcode area, and so on).
You’ll also need to apply for a license if you want to hand out leaflets in the street. We’ll get onto this now.

Is It Legal to Hand Out Flyers in the UK?

The U.K.’s laws on flyer distribution are fairly simple, but it’s essential that you know them well. Before you decide how, when, and where you want to hand out your company’s flyers, you must make sure you can do so legally, or that you have the correct licence (when applicable).

You do not need a license to hand out flyers if:
The flyers are for a charity, or based on political, religious or ethical beliefs
You place the flyers directly into people’s letterboxes (door drop), or you send them out via the postal service
You’re handing out flyers inside a building, bus, or taxi
You’re including the flyer for free with an order that a customer has placed

If you’re using any of the above methods, you don’t need anyone’s permission. You can get started straight away. However, if you plan to hand out flyers to people in the street, the rules are different.

Handing Out Flyers in the Street (Hand to Hand Distribution)

If you want to hand your flyers out in the street (hand to hand flyer distribution), you must apply for (and be granted) a license first.
For example, let’s say you plan to hire someone to stand outside your premises to hand out leaflets in the street. You’d need a license for this kind of distribution. If you were to hand them out inside the building, you wouldn’t. But as soon as you set foot outside the door, it’s another ball game.

It’s illegal to hand out business flyers on the street without a license. If you are caught doing so, or you breach the terms of your license (e.g. hand out flyers in an area that your license doesn’t cover), you could receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £150.
For repeat offences, or if the matter goes to court, you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record. So, it’s well worth making absolutely sure that you know the rules!

How to Get Permission to Distribute Leaflets

If you’re planning on distributing your company’s leaflets in letterboxes, in the post, with an order, or inside a building, you don’t need to seek any sort of permission or license. You can go ahead and order your flyers straight away.
However, if you’ve decided that you’d like to go the hand to hand route, and hand out flyers on the street (outside your premises, for example) you’ll need to seek permission from the relevant local authority.

Different local authorities (councils) will have different rules on when, where and how you can hand flyers out. The fee you’ll have to pay to obtain the license may also vary. Some councils may issue a badge that whoever is handing out the leaflets will need to wear.
If you’re in England or Wales, head over to this page and input your business’s postcode to find out how to apply for the relevant license.

Can I Hire a Company to Distribute Flyers For Me?

There are plenty of companies that exist purely to assist small, medium and large businesses with leaflet and flyer distribution.
These companies are well-versed on the law and will ensure they operate within the parameters set out by your local council. They will work with you to determine which households will be most likely to respond to your advertising campaign, and outline a target distribution area.

There are two main services offered by leaflet distribution companies:

Direct mail. This involves using the postal system to directly mail flyers and leaflets to potential customers.
Door drop. This involves the hiring of one or more individuals to go door-to-door in your chosen area and drop flyers into letterboxes.

Both services often incur a hefty fee. You can save money by designing and ordering flyers yourself, and having your employees hand them out.

Where Can I Order Flyers for My Business?

At 123Print.co.uk, you can use our handy flyer printing service to design fully personalised flyers for your business. To get started, choose whether you’d like A4, A5 or DL flyers, and quickly and easily upload your own artwork (e.g. your company’s logo, and a background image).

Miles Cake Flyer

You can select your preferred font and colour scheme, and add text anywhere on your design. If you don’t have time to finish your design in one sitting, you can save it and come back to it later. Once you’re finished we’ll print your flyers on high quality 130 gsm paper and ship your order directly to your door.

Our prices start from only £10 for 50 flyers, and we aim to dispatch all orders within 2 working days. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your order for any reason, we’ll give you a full refund. What are you waiting for?

Blue Flyer

Are Flyers Really Cost-Effective for Small Businesses?

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One often debated topic in marketing is whether or not flyers are still a cost-effective tactic for small businesses.
When done correctly, flyers (also called leaflets or pamphlets) are an excellent marketing tool – both affordable to produce and effective in making your business known. But there are a few ground rules to follow.

We’re going to give you advice on crafting a flyer so it’s even more effective at getting people to respond. We’ll discuss the best time to send your flyer, and how you can make them more compelling. You want your business flyers to pull people in, engage them and get them interested in what you’re offering!
By following these best practices, you’ll start to see how flyers are still an affordable and effective marketing tool for small businesses.

Understanding Junk Mail Blindness

People receive so many advertisements in the post these days that they’ve developed what’s known as “junk mail blindness”. Their minds don’t even process what’s in their mailbox – they simply see that it’s an advert, and throw it away.
This creates a problem for small businesses. Even if your flyer is delivered to the right person at the right time, they may overlook it since their brain isn’t processing advertisements.

So how do you get around junk mail blindness?

The first thing to understand is that most people will not read a flyer unless it speaks directly to them. So here’s a piece of advice: don’t try to be everything to everyone.
If your business is local, then target your flyer at a specific location or group of people. For example:

• If you run a nursery and only service the local area, focus on distributing flyers to the districts that you cover
• If you’re running a landscaping business and have many customers in one neighbourhood, target that area in particular
• If your company is particularly popular with older customers, focus on postcodes that are more likely to be home to those age groups – for example, small towns rather than city centres
If you’ve got an evergreen business (one with customers all year), then target your flyer in the same way. For example, if it’s a local hairdresser, send flyers to anyone within a 20-mile radius of your shop.

The AIDA principle (Attention Interest Desire Action)

Another way to combat junk mail blindness is to use the AIDA framework. This is one of the oldest marketing techniques around. It stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action.

This means your flyer should:

• Capture their attention immediately
• Pique their interest with a compelling offer
• Focus on their desires to solidify that interest
• And tell them what action to take to claim your offer
People have been seeing advertisements using this framework for so many years that they are almost conditioned to respond if it is used effectively. So be sure to take advantage of decades of marketing research and incorporate the AIDA principle into your flyers.
Here’s an example of an AIDA framework for a flower shop called “Sally’s Flowers.”

Attention:
Do you love fresh flowers?
Interest:
We have a fantastic selection of fresh, high-quality bouquets and arrangements that are perfect for any occasion. You’ll find something for everyone at Sally’s Flowers.
Desire:
We want you to see our beautiful selection and pick out your favourite flowers today! Get 10% off on all purchases over £50 with the code “10OFF”.
Action:
Bring this flyer to our shop at 123 High St., or visit us online at sallysflowers.com and enter the coupon code for your special discount. But hurry! This offer expires on August 12th!
By following this flow, you’ll quickly move through all of the psychological triggers that compel people to act on an offer.

How to Create a Cost-effective Flyer

Flyers can absolutely be cost-effective for small business, provided that you follow the AIDA principle and target your specific audience. But what’s also key is creating a flyer design that will immediately catch your readers’ attention, and make people want to read it, rather than discarding it without a second glance.
Here are our top tips on creating a flyer that will effectively spread brand awareness, and translate into sales for your company.

Make People Notice Your Flyers

Flyers are more likely to get picked up or opened if they’re different from what people typically see. You’ll get more responses if you utilise a colourful flyer that includes photos and has an exciting design. It’s a better idea for your flyers to be eye-catching than bland and simple. Ensure you include your business’s logo prominently on the design, to help build brand recognition.
123Print’s flyer creation tool allows you to design striking flyers with the click of a button. You can customise the background colour, add your own artwork, and choose an attention-grabbing font with ease.

Make It Clear What You’re Offering

If you’re trying to sell something in particular, then let people know what it is that you’re offering. If someone doesn’t know what you’re selling, how will they be able to respond?
Keep the number of words on your flyer limited so people can see in a second or two precisely what it is that you want them to do. Less writing and more design will mean more responses because people won’t have to stop and read a novel on your flyer.
Use “Free” to Draw People In

If you’re trying to get people interested in sampling your products or services, or pull in new customers, then put something free in their hands. It’s incredible how many people look at flyers but immediately discard them if the offer isn’t compelling enough. It’s the free stuff that will get people to look at your flyer, but it’s also what may give them an idea about how you can assist them with their problems.

Include a Personal Note

When you have flyers made up for your business, include a note on each of them, which lets people know who they’re talking to. Tell them a little about yourself and what your company does in a friendly, conversational tone.
This reveals the human side of your business, and makes you seem more appealing. People are always more willing to spend money on companies that they perceive as having real people behind them, rather than faceless corporations.

Include a Call to Action

Don’t just advertise your products or services: give whoever is reading the flyer a clear action that you want them to take. For example:
• Visit our website today!
• Call us now to place an order – spend over £50 and get free shipping!
• Order before 1st December and receive 10% off!
You don’t necessarily need to have a long list of things that people should do if they want to get in touch with you. In fact, the more detail you go into, the less likely your customers will read it all. Make the call to action simple, attractive, and easy to follow.

Make Your Flyers Time Sensitive

If you don’t give people a nudge, then they’re going to forget about what you’re offering them. So, when introducing a special offer, sale, voucher or coupon code, always include a deadline.
By including a deadline for action (i.e., “Sale ends this Friday”), you’ll add an element of time-sensitivity to the message that will keep your offer at the forefront of their minds. If you don’t, they might place your flyer in a drawer and think “I’ll do that tomorrow” – and tomorrow never comes.

Keep Things Short and Sweet

Don’t be tempted to include several paragraphs of text on your flyer – keep things brief and easy to read. Nobody wants to read an essay that they didn’t even ask for!
Short, punchy copy is the key to capturing attention and motivating people to action. So be concise and to the point on your flyers. Tell them your offer, the timeframe available, and what they need to do to act.

Get Others’ Opinions

Even if you’ve designed several different flyers on your own, it’s still a good idea to take some time and get feedback from other people on what they think. You can either ask friends and family members for their honest opinions or post the flyer online and try getting responses from potential customers and clients about what they think of it.
By asking for open and honest opinions of your designs, you can save money by catching a bad campaign before it even gets started.

Order Professional Flyers Today with 123Print

Flyers are a very effective marketing tool for small businesses when done effectively. So there is no need to feel like you have to abandon this time-tested marketing tactic just because it’s not a digital medium – especially if your budget doesn’t allow for more expensive advertising methods.

It’s always best to source your flyers from a true industry professional, like 123Print. We offer high-quality, full colour, glossy flyers professionally printed at unbeatable prices.
Using our easy editor, you can create the perfect design in no time at all – and we always aim to dispatch orders within 48 working hours. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee offered with all orders, you have nothing to lose!

recycled business cards

How Many Business Cards Should I Order?

Business Cards, Uncategorized, , ,

Whether you’re venturing into your first professional career or you’re the owner of a small business, you’re probably already well-versed on the importance of business cards. A well-designed, professionally printed business card helps to get your name out there – it’s vital for increasing brand recognition and turning passing interest into sales.

But how many business cards should you order, exactly? Printing websites often allow you to order as few as 50 or as many as 15,000 business cards at once, but how many is right for you? And is there any downside to having too many business cards on hand?
There’s nothing more crucial than ensuring you never run out of business cards to hand to interested peers, professional contacts and clients. Today, we’re going to talk about the various factors that might affect the number of cards you need to order to ensure your success.

What Are Business Cards Used For?

A business card is an important advertising tool that allows you to get your company name and information out there. The purpose of a business card is:

1. To increase brand recognition and awareness (if the card is for a company)
2. To make it easier for clients and potential customers to contact you
3. To keep your business in the forefront of your target audience’s mind
4. To advertise your branding, company ethos, products and services
5. In the case of personal business cards, to introduce yourself to potential professional contacts, and get your name out there

If your customers and clients don’t have one of your business cards on hand, it will be more difficult for them to find out about the products and services you’re offering. You need to have enough business cards on hand that you can easily whip one out when needed, and won’t be frantically patting your pockets or tearing your office apart when someone asks for one.

Mistakes are often made by those unknowledgeable of how many business cards they need to advertise for their business successfully. You may think that 100 business cards, for example, sounds like a lot – but in the grand scheme of things, it really isn’t. They can fly away from you all too quickly.
When you consider just how important business cards are for your business, it will become obvious why ordering enough of them is a necessity.

What Will You Do with Your Business Cards?

The best way to determine how many business cards you should order is to look at what you intend to do with them.

1. Are you going to hand them out in person – for example, to customers that come into your place of work?
2. Are you going to pass them out at events (such as trade shows, conventions, or markets)?
3. Are you going to glue them onto your packages, or include them with every customer’s order?

These are all questions that should be answered to determine just how many business cards you need.

Handing Out Business Cards in Person

If you’re going to hand out your business cards in person (for example, to customers who visit your store or premises) then there’s no doubt that you’ll want to order a large quantity.

You’re almost guaranteed to be handing them out during business hours, so you’ll want enough business cards so that you can hand them out for the entire day while also being able to order more if need be. (Here’s a handy hint – if you use a printing site such as 123Print, you’ll be able to save your design and easily order more when needed.)
You’ll also need a business card holder to keep on your desk or at your shop’s checkout, so that clients can help themselves to a card whenever they please. Ensure you’ve got a stockpile of business cards nearby, so that staff can top up the card holder regularly.
We’d recommend ordering at least 1,000 cards for this use, depending on the size of your business and how quickly you get through them.

Distributing at Events

If you’re planning on passing out business cards at trade shows, conventions, festivals or markets, it’s easy to underestimate the amount needed. You’ll find that your target market will be there in person (whether it’s customers or peers), so they can easily take them from you.

The other thing that you need to consider is how many people will be at the event itself. The more people who attend the event, the more business cards you’ll need.
If you bring only a few dozen cards with you, you may find that you run out halfway through the day. This is a disaster, as you likely won’t be able to just nip away and get more – leaving anyone else who’s interested in your business high and dry.
If you bring more cards than you think you’ll need – say, around 500 cards – there’s a lower possibility of this happening. (You can always take the excess home with you to use another time.)

Including Business Cards with Customer Orders

If you are going to glue your business cards onto your packages, or slip a business card into every customer’s order, you will most likely need many business cards to ensure you don’t run out.

When existing customers have easy access to a business card with your logo and company information on it, you know they will be more likely to remember you, which can turn them into repeat customers.

Take an estimate of how many orders you’ve fulfilled in the past weeks or months, and then factor in any sales growth that you expect in the near future, based on things like seasonality and marketing campaigns. Then, take the number of orders that you expect to receive in your designated time period (6 months? A year?) and order at least twice as many business cards – so that you can be sure you won’t run out.

How Big is Your Business?

1000 business cards would be plenty for the vast majority of businesses and sole traders, at least to begin with. But if you’re an entrepreneur or have a high-ticket product, then something like 5000 would be more appropriate.
You’ll also want more if your company has multiple sales channels (i.e., direct mail, distributors). You’ll want to order them as soon as possible and make sure you set up a schedule to order more regularly.

It’s also important to keep in mind that if you’re handing out cards, they should be memorable — not just flimsy pieces of cardboard with your name, company name, and logo printed on them. The most practical way to do this is with personalised, full-colour business cards.

The following are some of the main factors that determine how many business cards you should order:

1. The extent to which you’re going to distribute your business cards beyond the sales staff and clients you already have. For instance, if you’re going to be distributing cards to potential distributors, then suddenly it becomes necessary for you to order more.
2. How many employees and/or salespeople do you have in your company — will they all be distributing business cards too? How many clients and customers will they each meet on a daily or weekly basis?

Do You Have Expansion Plans?

In other words, how quickly does the company need to grow? Take a look at your forecasting, and the number of potential new customers that your company might need to target within a specified period. This can sometimes be difficult to determine because it depends on market conditions and growth opportunities. It also depends on the nature of the industry. But in general, if you’ve got plans for your business to grow and expand, think ahead and order more cards than you currently need.

However, if you are a growing business, be mindful of the fact that if you’re planning to do any of the following in the near future:

1. Move to a different premises
2. Change the name of your business
3. Change your website domain address
4. Expand your social media accounts (start a TikTok or a Facebook page, for example)
5. Change your phone number

Then it’s probably best to avoid ordering thousands of business cards right now. If you change any details that are included on the card, you’ll need to replace them.

Where Can I Order Business Cards?

Some of the most common mistakes that people make when ordering business cards are:

1. They erroneously believe that a small order of business cards will do “for now” – and then end up having to place another order fairly quickly, and paying postage again. This postage cost adds up over time!
2. They go for the cheaper option – or even try to print business cards themselves (never a good idea unless you’re a professional!)
3. They fail to consider their business’s potential long-term and short-term growth, and therefore fail to plan for the future

The bottom line is that if you’re unsure how many business cards to order, then the best bet is to order more than what you think is necessary. Having too many business cards is always better than running out.
High-quality business card printing has never been more affordable or more accessible at 123Print.

With the introduction of the web, people are finally waking up to the fact that they can get anything they want, whenever they want it. This includes designing their own personalised business cards, and having them professionally printed on demand.

Check out our website to see our full range of products and services, including thousands of business card templates to get you started. Our easy editor allows you to quickly and effortlessly edit the design to your liking, and we always aim to ship orders within 48 working hours. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back, what’s not to love?

Do People Throw Away Business Cards?

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There’s no doubt that people do throw away business cards – especially if they didn’t ask for them in the first place. In fact, it is estimated that around 63% of people who receive business cards throw them away because they don’t think that they need the service right now.
The good news is that there are things that you can do which can increase your chances of prospects saving your cards, rather than tossing them out.
By reading on, you’ll discover the top reasons why people throw away business cards. We’ll also share our top tips on designing an impressive business card that nobody will want to throw away.

The Top 6 Reasons People Throw Away Business Cards

The first thing to address is that not every business card is going to get thrown away. Obviously, no-one would bother using business cards if nobody ever kept them.
There are several distinguishing features of business cards that make it more likely that prospects will discard the cards, instead of giving them a proper read over. Without further ado, here are the top six reasons why people throw away business cards.

1. The Design is Unprofessional

Easily one of the biggest reasons why people throw out business cards is because the design looks unprofessional. It’s easy to try to save money by doing some generic or very basic business card. However, you need to invest in a business card that is well-designed to represent your business. With a generic, unprofessional design, your card won’t stand out against the other companies out there. A memorable business card, one that is well-designed and visually appealing, won’t just get tossed aside.

2. It Doesn’t Stand Out

If your business card is printed in a basic black-and-white design, in a traditional serif font with centralised text and absolutely no distinguishing features, it’s not going to stand out. It will blend in with every other business card your peer or client has ever seen, and will not grab their attention.
This means they’re more likely to throw it away, or toss it in the back of a drawer where it’s never seen again. You can find plenty of eye-catching full colour templates here at 123Print.

3. Bad Printing

Business cards that you use for your company should not just be printed on any old printer at the office. When you do, you end up with a whole slew of problems that can have a negative impact on how people view you. For example:

1. Printed on low-gsm (thin) cardstock, giving it a flimsy feeling
2. Low-resolution or grainy images
3. Uneven text or borders
4. Variations in ink colour or quality
5. Sharp or uneven edges to the card

All of the above issues can cause people to perceive your business as unprofessional, making it less likely that they will want to work with you.

4. Lack of Added Value

Business cards are supposed to show your value to prospects. If yours doesn’t, prospects will toss your business card aside. Many businesses don’t take the opportunity to ensure that their cards are made for building up relationships with prospects.

For instance, they don’t take advantage of the back of the card, which can be used for a variety of different purposes. The backs of the cards can be used to offer discounts to prospects for checking out your business or some other appealing offer. This will ensure that prospects keep your card in a safe spot.

5. It Has Incorrect Information or Typos

If a prospect tries to get a hold of you through the contact information on your card and can’t because the information is wrong, they will throw away the card. A card with incorrect information is no good to anyone. Typographical errors and spelling mistakes will also be instantly off-putting – it makes you seem incompetent and unprofessional.
This is why it’s so important to make sure that all of the information on your cards are correct, and that you update your business cards with any new contact information. Always double- and triple-check the proof before ordering your business cards.

6. Poor Presentation of the Cards

If you don’t care about your business cards, how can you expect your prospects to? Where do you store your business cards?

Are they safely stored on you for when you need them – in a protective case, for example – or are they just tossed in your back pocket? When you pull out business cards that are folded, dirty, or wrinkled, people will not get the best impression of you. It won’t give them much reason to keep your card on hand.

How to Design a Business Card People Won’t Throw Away

The main take away from that last section is that business cards are representative of who you are as a business. This means that you need to take a great deal of care when designing your business cards. Create a design that will appeal to your prospects, so that your business cards stand out, and there’s more incentive to keep them.
Here are our top tips for creating eye-catching and professional business cards that your contacts will want to keep.

Be Creative

Don’t just design a generic business card, because you’re not going to be memorable. Memorable cards make their way on the fridge or bulletin board. Boring cards find their way in the trash. The most important thing is to be memorable and to leave a positive first impression.
You want to take the time to really come up with a creative idea that will make your business card visually appealing and leave an impact on your prospects. For example, experiment with bright and bold colour schemes that will stand out from the crowd.

Vary the Shape

You’ve probably only seen the standard rectangle business cards. But, you can do so much and have such an impact if you decide to experiment with the shapes of the cards. Rectangles may be the easiest option, but is it the best option? You can make your card a part of your brand identity by going a more creative route.
Maybe you could just go with a rectangle with rounded corners, so that it feels different in the hand. Or, perhaps choose a vertical business card, so that the recipient will have to hold it a different way to read it – this will catch their attention a lot better than a traditional horizontal card.

Add Pictures

Photos and images have a great way of adding value to business cards as they give something for people to look at on the card. These pictures could be professional headshots of you or your products, or stylistic images related to your profession. A more visually interesting card is less likely to get thrown away.
It’s really important that you take the time and money to get high quality pictures if this is the route that you’re going to take. Use a professional service like 123Print rather than attempting to print images on your office printer – it’s well worth the difference in quality.

Add Interesting Texture or Feeling

Adding textural elements to the business card is another way that you can make your business card more appealing. Interesting textures or feelings to the card can make your business card stand out.

There are different options that you can choose from, including adding embossed elements or by going with a thicker cardstock that will feel nicer in the recipient’s hand. Making your business card look and feel more interesting can inspire people to notice your business card.

Add an Incentive for Keeping the Card

Another way to guarantee that contacts will keep your business card is by adding some incentive for keeping it. This is particularly easy if you sell physical products, or you run an establishment such as a café or hair salon. Here are some ideas:
• Include a section on the card where customers can collect loyalty stamps
• Add a voucher code for 10% off their next visit – they’ll need to keep the card so that they can bring it with them
You should also add a call to action: a phrase that’s tells the reader to do something, such as “check out our full range of products here”.

Triple-Check for Mistakes

A major reason why people throw away business cards is because of the mistakes on the cards. This could be typos, or it could be mistakes with your address or contact information.
Double- and triple-check your cards to make sure that any contact information is updated and correct. It’s also important to make sure that there aren’t any misprints as this could reflect poorly on your business. Get someone else to take a look before you order – a pair of fresh eyes can be helpful.
At 123Print, we aim to dispatch all orders within 48 working hours of customer proof approval. So, within a few days, you’ll be holding your brand new business cards! Browse our full range of templates today and start perfecting your design.