Cheap Business Cards

[cowgirlrae]

As a customer I appreciate a nice card, I believe in first impressions, if the card itself is the introduction then later they see the great product then the card was the intro to the goods, if the goods are lacking all the fancy cards are wasted.

I produced 4H and commercial hogs, about 1/3 were show pigs to 4H and FFA kids they were all born in the late winter and I needed to market for them the season prior, in addition to the year before sales, shows and fairs I only had business cards and fliers showing the potential of the pigs to come, I can only sell pigs for the following season based on the clients perception that I had in the past produced quality pigs and the literature and business cards helped promote that expectation that the pigs to come were indeed as nice as had been produced in the past. I also ran a horse boarding and training barn, most folks first impression is only my word and the literature I give them, I made it as nice as I could. I found nice quality cards helpful to catch prospective clients, later as they saw the hogs and the facilities the quality cards were a reminder and well as an introduction to the type of product we offered. Besides in the scheme of things the total expense of cards was minimal compared to other forms of promotion. I did on occasion have card made up the same as the best cards using cheaper paper and flat ink for mass distribution, but they still were much nicer than home made and NEVER those perforated DIY types on the home printer.

I have been reading this fellows articles, while he is focused on the horse industry the principles can easily be applied to any business. Many inexpensive and common things can be done to boost exposure.

Convert Prospects Into Clients

The Profitable Horseman

JMO

[cem]

laminating you inkjet/laser business cards also works wonders I made my sisters cards this way as she only needed a few at a time. Another online print place is www.moo.com which I've heard good things about.

Cheers,

Clair

[Ken Nelson]

laminating you inkjet/laser business cards also works wonders I made my sisters cards this way as she only needed a few at a time. Another online print place is www.moo.com which I've heard good things about.

Cheers,

Clair

I have my cards professionally done and buy 1000 at a time. They are very reasonable, cost effective. $90 per 1000. I get a lot of compliments on them. A retired, very successful businessman told me when I first started that business cards are a true representation of your business. Cheap or homemade business cards SCREAM all the things you don't want the public, your customers to think about you.

Like you are a novice, no confidence, cheap, little substance, very little pride in your business and a corner cutter. I threw my "nice" home made cards away that afternoon and ordered some professional cards and have used them ever since. He might have been wrong but success is hard to argue with. Just my view! Ken

[BustedThumb]

I have my cards professionally done and buy 1000 at a time. They are very reasonable, cost effective. $90 per 1000. I get a lot of compliments on them. A retired, very successful businessman told me when I first started that business cards are a true representation of your business. Cheap or homemade business cards SCREAM all the things you don't want the public, your customers to think about you.

Like you are a novice, no confidence, cheap, little substance, very little pride in your business and a corner cutter. I threw my "nice" home made cards away that afternoon and ordered some professional cards and have used them ever since. He might have been wrong but success is hard to argue with. Just my view! Ken

I guess that's kindof my point. Even if you have the best inkjet printer available, those ink cartridges are obscenely expensive, you're losing time printing and cutting, and the end product still isn't as good as it could be. In my opinion, if you plan on handing out 50 of them before the information on it would change, it's totally worth the $20-40 to get the minimum amount printed and then you'll have double or even more to just throw around willy nilly. When you have 1000, it's easy to make sure everyone walks away with one. You have business cards for 2 types of people: those who have bought from you already but sometime might buy from you again, and those who haven't bought from you... yet.

Edited March 24, 2010 by BustedThumb

[cem]

I have my cards professionally done and buy 1000 at a time. They are very reasonable, cost effective. $90 per 1000. I get a lot of compliments on them. A retired, very successful businessman told me when I first started that business cards are a true representation of your business. Cheap or homemade business cards SCREAM all the things you don't want the public, your customers to think about you.

Like you are a novice, no confidence, cheap, little substance, very little pride in your business and a corner cutter. I threw my "nice" home made cards away that afternoon and ordered some professional cards and have used them ever since. He might have been wrong but success is hard to argue with. Just my view! Ken

Well I'm glad that worked out for you for you my sister needed twenty cards for the twenty shops she dealt with as that is all there is in Perth for the type of business she was in.

You also don't know that I am a professional graphic designer/illustrator with actual formal training oh my and have access to professional quality large format printers which these cards were printed on so before you scream homemade at me perhaps you should of found out some more information first. For even more information the cards were laminated for extra durability as the shops they were going into have wet enviroments.Even if they weren't printed on these machines laminating does bring them up a notch on normal printers and for people just starting out this maybe an option for them until they can afford your "professionally done". You don't know everyones circumstances and I don't think there is any need to be judgemental if someone does have to start out the cheaper way.

In regards to Moo many professional business's use their service including award winning photographers so perhaps a visit to their website should be in order before you scream cheap at them as well.

Have a nice day

Clair

[UKRay]

Well I'm glad that worked out for you for you my sister needed twenty cards for the twenty shops she dealt with as that is all there is in Perth for the type of business she was in.

You also don't know that I am a professional graphic designer/illustrator with actual formal training ...

...I don't think there is any need to be judgemental if someone does have to start out the cheaper way.

In regards to Moo many professional business's use their service including award winning photographers so perhaps a visit to their website should be in order before you scream cheap at them as well.

Have a nice day

Clair

Hey Clair, I asked for people's views on this subject and they were kind enough to give them. IMO your view is as valid as any other, but it is always helpful if a poster makes their standpoint clear from the outset. I value your expertise and agree that if all you need is twenty cards and have a sister who is a professional graphic designer then the decision is made. Unfortunately, most of us aren't lucky enough to have our own Clair on standby to 'homemake' amazing business cards!

After your recommendation, I took a good look at Moo - they operate here in the UK as well and they seem very much like ProntaPrint/VistaPrint and the others. Can you explain, from a professional standpoint, how they are different and how to get the best from their service. That would be really helpful.

Although I have a laminating machine, I find it temperamental at best and hadn't thought it could add value to my cards - I guess I need to take another look. Do you have any tips on using the things to best advantage?

BTW: I just read the last few posts a few times and I can't see that Ken (or anyone else) is being judgemental here - like you they are just giving their opinions. Nobody is having a personal pop at you or your abilities. It just seems to me that your sister is lucky to have you handy!

Ray

[Ken Nelson]

Hey Clair, I asked for people's views on this subject and they were kind enough to give them. IMO your view is as valid as any other, but it is always helpful if a poster makes their standpoint clear from the outset. I value your expertise and agree that if all you need is twenty cards and have a sister who is a professional graphic designer then the decision is made. Unfortunately, most of us aren't lucky enough to have our own Clair on standby to 'homemake' amazing business cards!

After your recommendation, I took a good look at Moo - they operate here in the UK as well and they seem very much like ProntaPrint/VistaPrint and the others. Can you explain, from a professional standpoint, how they are different and how to get the best from their service. That would be really helpful.

Although I have a laminating machine, I find it temperamental at best and hadn't thought it could add value to my cards - I guess I need to take another look. Do you have any tips on using the things to best advantage?

BTW: I just read the last few posts a few times and I can't see that Ken (or anyone else) is being judgemental here - like you they are just giving their opinions. Nobody is having a personal pop at you or your abilities. It just seems to me that your sister is lucky to have you handy!

Ray

Apparently someone missed my point completely. If you can design a professional business card at home at a competetive price, you are best off to do so. Most, and I see quite a few, homemade cards do exactly what I stated in the last post. They look cheap, are on poor quality paper and look terrible after just a few weeks in a wallet. I have a friend whose daughter works in a print shop. She makes him high quality cards and laminates the ones he gives to really important customers. I would like to be able to afford lamimated cards to give to a few of my best customers and friends. Few people that make their own cards end up with professional cards but a few do. I think it is about projecting the right image to the consumer and prospective consumer. Another observation, I have never had a person say something to the effect of "I REALLY NEED TO GET BETTER CARDS"! Another consideration to consider, is how good do they last. Laminating them or doing plastic ones are the best for lasting but cost prohibitive for me. I do not intend to judge anyone's cards, or abilities here. I made the mistake and just trying to help others starting out to not make the same mistakes I have made. MY long 2 cents worth. Ken

[cem]

Cheap or homemade business cards SCREAM all the things you don't want the public, your customers to think about you.

Like you are a novice, no confidence, cheap, little substance, very little pride in your business and a corner cutter.

Hey Clair, I asked for people's views on this subject and they were kind enough to give them. IMO your view is as valid as any other, but it is always helpful if a poster makes their standpoint clear from the outset. I value your expertise and agree that if all you need is twenty cards and have a sister who is a professional graphic designer then the decision is made. Unfortunately, most of us aren't lucky enough to have our own Clair on standby to 'homemake' amazing business cards!

After your recommendation, I took a good look at Moo - they operate here in the UK as well and they seem very much like ProntaPrint/VistaPrint and the others. Can you explain, from a professional standpoint, how they are different and how to get the best from their service. That would be really helpful.

Although I have a laminating machine, I find it temperamental at best and hadn't thought it could add value to my cards - I guess I need to take another look. Do you have any tips on using the things to best advantage?

BTW: I just read the last few posts a few times and I can't see that Ken (or anyone else) is being judgemental here - like you they are just giving their opinions. Nobody is having a personal pop at you or your abilities. It just seems to me that your sister is lucky to have you handy!

Ray

No problem Ray, I'm sorry if I jumped off the handle a bit, today wasn't going to be a happy day I had a funeral to attend midday for a dear friend/workmate who had been with the company for 10 years and Kens above comment got my back up this morning.

I probably do have access to better graphics equipment than the average leatherworker as that is my profession and not leatherwork at the moment. But for others just starting out a simple card with coloured fonts on a plain white background laminated can look neat and tidy. I look at this way what if the leatherworker has been a hobbyist and wants to move into paid work but has forgotton to take photos of their work. When they look at the work again they realise that they are alot better now or the items have become worn and wouldn't photograph well anyway. So with a tight budget to get started should they buy some leatherwork supplies or business cards, what are they going to do when a potential customer asks to see samples of their work umm sorry I dont have any but please come and look at my many business cards. I know I wouldn't buy from anyone until I had seen a sample of their work and I guess many others here would be the same.

I think you are probably past this category now Ray and should go for a print shop where volume is likely to be a higher priority, I haven't used Moo myself but it was recommended to me by an animator friend who has been most happy with their cards so I don't know what their complete service is like but after looking at the finished cards I found them to be off equal quality to a print shop. But I think it's best that you check out their quality yourself as only you will know if you will be happy with them or not. As for tips what do you want to convey work that out first before you start to design, sorry if that sounds simplistic but that is how I start every design brief.

Again I am sorry if anyone took offence to my previous post but as you have read it had been a trying day and I didn't take Kens comment the best.

Best wishes,

Clair

Edited March 25, 2010 by cem

[cem]

No worries Ken I do get what you mean I just find it funny now that what I printed for my sister might be concieved as homemade the printer I used won't fit through a normal doorway and takes four people to lift it.

Cheers,

Clair

[8thsinner]

No worries Ken I do get what you mean I just find it funny now that what I printed for my sister might be concieved as homemade the printer I used won't fit through a normal doorway and takes four people to lift it.

Cheers,

Clair

I would like to know from a more professional standpoint, if one were to go the home made route and being as equal to the pros as much as possible what is the minimum entry level machinary you whould consider investing in.

Laminating I would think would be required as (at least as far as I know raised ink printers would cost a bomb)

Any suggestions on mircon sizes?

Any other suggestions to this.

Speaking for myself, I do not mind investing my time into doing things right if I can save money in the short haul...