Business cards are a great way of promoting yourself and your company. They can be used in many ways, from handing them out at networking events or giving them as gifts to clients, to using them for advertising purposes on the Internet. There is no limit to how you use them; they’re an excellent marketing tool that will help promote your brand.
If you are planning to use business cards, then you must begin by understanding how to print them properly. Supposing you have no clue, this post seeks to teach you how.
How To Print Business Cards The Right Way
Choose the right cardstock – The first thing you need to do when printing business cards is choose the best paper stock. You should choose one that’s compatible with your printer model and has good quality so it won’t fade easily after being printed. If possible, try to get some samples before making any purchase.
Ensure Your Printer Is In Proper Working Condition
Before starting to print business cards, make sure your printer is ready to go. Check if there are any problems such as jammed cartridges, broken rollers, etc. Also, check whether the ink cartridge is full or not. It may also be necessary to clean up the machine periodically.
Load The Cards Stock Into The Printer
After checking everything else, load the business cards onto the tray. Make sure all the edges are aligned correctly.
Use The Right Typeface
When designing your business cards, ensure you use a font that suits your needs. For example, if you want something simple but professional-looking, opt for Times New Roman. However, if you prefer more fun designs, consider going for Comic Sans MS.
Add Text
Once you’ve designed your business cards, add text where needed. This could include your name, address, phone number, email address, website URL, social media links, etc. Remember to keep things short.
Save & Send
Finally, save your work and send it off to your printers.
Go to your computer and open the file containing the design template. Click “Print” and select the correct size. Then click OK. Your business cards are now ready
Enjoy your new business cards!
Computer Programs For Designing Business Cards
There are several programs available online which allow you to create beautiful business cards without having to spend too much time doing it manually. Some of these software packages offer templates while others let you customize each element individually. Here are just five:
Adobe Photoshop CS5
This program allows users to edit images and graphics. With its advanced tools, you can crop, resize, rotate, sharpen, blur, adjust colors, change contrast, apply filters, and even remove unwanted objects. In addition, Adobe offers free tutorials and videos to guide beginners through their learning process.
Canva – Free
This web app lets you create stunning visuals quickly and effortlessly. Simply drag and drop elements like photos, shapes, fonts, patterns, illustrations, frames, and borders to build unique layouts. Canvas comes with hundreds of pre-designed items including backgrounds, icons, buttons, charts, graphs, headers, footers, quotes, tables, and many other components.
GraphicRiver – Free
Graphic River provides an easy solution for creating high-quality graphic files from scratch. Its intuitive interface makes it very user-friendly. Users can import pictures directly from Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Google+, Dropbox, Picasa Web Albums, YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitter. The application has over 100 different styles, textures, and effects to choose from. You can then export them as JPEG, PNG, PDF, EPS, SVG, PSD, TIFF, GIF, BMP, ICO, CUR, SWF, WMV, MOV, AVI, MP4, 3GP, FLAC, WAV, AAC, OGG, M4A, MKV, WEBM, and MPEG formats.
Pixlr Express – Free
With Pixlr Express, you don’t need any artistic skills or experience to make great-looking graphics. It is one of the most popular photo editing apps on Android devices because it gives people access to powerful features such as image retouching, cropping, color correction, red-eye removal, adding special effects, drawing, sketching, collage creation, and so forth. All you have to do is upload your favorite picture using either a Camera Roll or Photo Library. Then select what kind of effect you would like to apply before clicking “Apply Effects.” Afterward, click “Save” to store your changes.
Tips When Printing Business Card
Organize Your Information
Make sure that all-important contact details are listed clearly on your card. Include a brief description of yourself along with your company’s logo if applicable. Also, be sure to list your telephone numbers, fax number, e-mail addresses, mailing address, and physical location. If you’re printing multiple copies of your business cards, try placing them into separate envelopes. This will help ensure they arrive at their destination safely.
Use Quality Paper
Your business card should look good when printed. Choose a sturdy stock that won’t curl up easily. Avoid glossy papers since this may cause smudges during handling. For best results, use only standard letter size paper.
Print Large Enough
Don’t forget to include plenty of room around your text. Try not to crowd your design by making everything small and cramped together. Remember that some printers require more space than others. Some even allow you to adjust how much space there is between each line of text.
Keep It Simple
There isn’t anything complicated about designing a nice business card. Just keep things clean and professional. Be careful not to go overboard with too many colors or designs. Stick to just two or three main colors and avoid going crazy with fancy typography.
Add a Personal Touch
Personalizing your business card adds another layer of professionalism. Consider including your name, title, phone number, email address, website URL, social media links, and other relevant information.
Proofread Carefully
Before sending out your final product, double-check every detail. Check spelling errors, punctuation mistakes, and typos. Pay close attention to capitalization and spacing.
Get Creative!
Have fun while designing your custom business card. Experiment with various fonts, sizes, shapes, and layouts until you find something unique and memorable.
Save Time & Money
Designing your business card doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours upon hours doing research online. Instead, take advantage of free templates available online. These sites offer hundreds of readymade designs that you can customize according to your needs.
Choose The Right Colors For Visuals
Colors play an integral role in creating a successful visual identity. They also affect the way your audience perceives your brand. So choose wisely. You’ll want to stick with neutral tones unless you plan to add bright accents. Otherwise, opt for pastel shades instead.
Create a Template
Creating a template allows you to reuse elements from different projects without having to start over again. To create a template, simply copy and paste images onto new layers. Then change the color scheme as needed. Once complete, save the file as a PDF document so you can edit it later.
Customize Your Files
When saving your project, make sure to select “Save As” rather than “Save.” The former option creates individualized versions of your documents which makes editing easier down the road.
Benefits of Using Business Cards
Brand Recognition
A well-designed business card will help people remember who you are and what services you provide. It’s one of the most effective ways to build trust and establish credibility among potential clients.
Professional Appearance
People often judge books by their covers. And if they don’t like what they see on your business card, chances are they’re unlikely to give you any second thought.
Networking Opportunities
If you have a lot of friends and family members, consider asking them to design some business cards for you. This is especially helpful when trying to get started in a particular industry where there aren’t many professionals around yet.
Promotional Material
Your business card should be used as promotional material whenever possible. For example, include it on flyers, brochures, websites, etc.
Save on Business Promotional Cost
Printing costs can quickly eat up profits. But since business cards are typically printed at low volumes, this isn’t usually much of an issue. However, if you do decide to go through a printing service provider, keep in mind that these companies charge per unit based on how many copies you order. Therefore, ordering fewer units means less overall expense.
Conclusion
Business cards are essential tools for anyone looking to promote themselves or their company. Whether you’re just starting up or already established, these tips will ensure you produce high-quality products at affordable prices.