A simple card trick to bring you more business!

Even in a world packed with high-tech communication gadgets, the role of the traditional business card remains as important as ever, and no introductory meeting is complete without the ritual exchange of these humble business tools. The history of business cards and the etiquette around them can be traced back to 17th century Europe, where they were used to announce the arrival of prosperous merchants and aristocrats.  As a way of quickly conveying who you are, what you do and how you can be contacted, they are a simple and effective solution which has still not been bettered.

As an investment, your business cards will be a drop in the ocean compared to other sales and marketing tools such as your website or corporate brochure, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that they have the potential to win – or lose you business. Your card will probably be your first opportunity to make an impression and to demonstrate the values of your organisation - and when your face to face meeting is finished, your card will hopefully ensure your business stays front of mind.

So are your cards working as hard as they should to promote your business? If you want to maximise their impact, there are 3 key areas to consider; design, material and functionality:

Design
Within reason, the scope for creativity is limitless, so it makes sense to engage an imaginative designer who will help you to make the most of the space available.  Why confine yourself to just two sides?  Folding business cards can give you loads of extra space to communicate additional information. There are a wide variety of configurations - see Functionality below for ideas of how to use this extra area. You might also like to consider shaping your card to reflect the nature of your business – a light bulb for an electrician, a PC screen for a computer engineer and so on. Whatever design options you choose though, it’s a good idea to stay close to the regular, credit card size – there is nothing more annoying than a business card that doesn’t fit into a standard wallet!

Material
Before reading a card, you have to hold it, and the material you use can help you make a real statement about yourself. Many of the cards we produce at Holywell are printed onto a smooth board, and then laminated both sides for a clean, professional look, but for organisations seeking a more tactile card, there is a wide selection of material to choose from.

An uncoated card can give a sophisticated look and feel – especially where there is little ink coverage, allowing the surface area to be shown off. Using different coloured boards can create a really interesting effect too, with endless options for mixing inks and cards of different colours - and if you choose Duplex – a material made from two boards of different colours fixed together – you double the possibilities!

Functionality
When it comes to additional uses you can put your cards to, your imagination is your only limiting factor. Here are a few ideas for starters:

• Promotions - Promote special offers and discounts. Have your card double up as a loyalty card. Print a QR (Quick Response) code onto your card to take customers straight to a landing page on your website. 
• Appointment cards - Give clients cards with an area for recording appointments so they will never miss a meeting, and will always have your details to hand.
• Price Lists - Listing prices for services will help ensure your card is retained for easy reference.
• Portfolio - Display images of your products, or examples of your work. Create a set of cards with different images.

Have we got you thinking? Next time your business cards are due for a reprint, why not take a little time to consider how you can extend their use and get more business from them? Our studio will be very pleased to work with you and help give you some ideas.

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