Business cards are an important part of your networking toolbox. They are such an integral part of our day-to-day activities that many people don’t think much about them beyond their initial design. However, there are a few tricks of the trade – some rules about etiquette – when it comes to giving and receiving premium business cards because it doesn’t matter how well you are dressed or how many conferences you attend if you can’t do this properly.

Below are a few tips to help you master the finer points. 

Don’t Run Out

Always take a few more cards than you think you’ll need. It’s always hard to estimate exactly how many people you’ll meet, and it’s always embarrassing to meet someone important after you’ve already handed out your meager stack of cards.

If you are going to a networking event, don’t be afraid to take a small stack of business cards (three or four is simply not enough). There is nothing worse than having to tell someone you ran out before you got to them or having to jot down your email address on a random piece of paper. These types of handwritten notes are always the first to be thrown away or lost.

Keep your Business Card Updated

An out-of-date business card is obsolete. There is no reason to give out your card if you have to say, “Oh, my phone number and address have changed.” Make sure all information, especially contact information, is 100% current.

Also, keep the design of your business card updated and relevant. If your business card hasn’t been changed in ten years, it may be time to consider freshening it up a bit. If you need assistance, our graphic designers will help you with the entire process.

Keep Your Business Cards in a Card Case 

Never hand someone a business card that is wrinkled, torn or has a little drop of ketchup from your lunch. Storing your cards in a special case keeps them in mint condition. If it looks like you don’t care much about the card, why should anyone else?

Reciprocate Interest

When someone asks for your business card, ask for theirs in return. If you reciprocate interest in another’s business, it can do a great deal for your reputation. Even if you aren’t totally sure you need the other person’s card, ask for it anyway. 

Make a Comment

When someone gives you their business card, make a comment on it. Do a brief scan of the card and pick one point that is worth mentioning. Tell them how much you like their logo. Compliment their great tag line. Do your best to make a sincere comment that shows you are truly interested in them. This is a simple courtesy and can encourage others to reciprocate the interest in you.

Follow Up

If you took a business card from someone, it’s best to follow-up with them. You don’t have to schedule a dinner date with everyone you met, but you should make some type of connection. After a networking conference or even a small business interaction, send an email, write a card or make a phone call to see if this is a relationship worth pursuing. Business connections are only as useful as the effort you put into them, and following up is the best way to get the most value out of your new cards.

Contact Primo Print, a leader in silk business cards, by calling 888-822-5815 or by completing the online contact form.

Close –

Do you own a small business? Many small businesses these days start out in very humble circumstances out of someone’s basement or even garage as was the case with Google. Once you set up shop wherever it may be, what’s the best way to get your business to branch out and flourish? A simple yet powerful little tool called a business card. Never underestimate what a company card can do for your image, brand, and sales.

Here are a few ideas that can help even the smallest of small businesses.

Budget

Do you have funds for a nice card? If not, find the money. Before you go rushing off to the nearest printing press or online store, take a moment to budget for your business card. Start small if you need to, but work up an advertising plan that includes business card expenses.

Business Cards Design

Do the best design job you can. Focus on color, font, and size, but also make sure you include all the right information too. Your company name and logo are absolutely essential. A picture of yourself is a plus as well. If you need assistance, we offer custom graphic design services for business cards, EDDM® postcards, brochures and more. 

• Colors. Color is more important than you may realize. A person is more likely to toss a business card without color and keep the one with color. The next thing you will need to decide on is what colors go well with your business. What colors will attract, impress, or initiate a potential sales call? Go through the color wheel and mix and match shades to make your card stand out from all the rest.
• Fonts. Choosing the best typeface is also important. You want it to complement your business. Narrow down a few fonts you like and test them out with your company name. Your objective should be something bold and legible. Be sparing with your font size so you can fit your address and social media locations.
• Size. There really are no rules when it comes to what is the proper card size to make your business card. This really depends on how much you are willing to spend. Do you want 500 small sized or 250 large sized?

Make Your Business Card Memorable

Velvet Laminated Business Card with Spot UV

If you want to go beyond the dull card of basic white with black letters than this is your chance to make your business cards memorable. Give your card a uniqueness that showcases what your business has to offer. Are you an architect? Design a card that a client can fold into a miniature house. Does your business sell confectioneries? Add a sweet smell of sugar that a potential customer will not be able to resist.  Are you a designer? Consider an appealing silk business card.

The Personal Touch

Perhaps the most important aspect of a business card for small businesses is of course how you present it. Personally handing out your card is the best way. It may be hard to have a cold conversation with someone about your business, but if you are prepared with a well-designed business card, you’re one step closer to a future sale.

Print Your Business Cards

At Primo Print, we are the industry leader in Spot UV Gloss, Silk Laminated, Foil and Specialty Printing. All of the products are printed in the USA and Canada. Contact a representative today by calling 888-822-5815 or by completing the contact form.

Close –

Those seeking to enhance their business cards with a distinctive look can choose from a diverse range of specialty printing techniques. Due to its versatility, impact and affordability, Full Color Spot UV business cards are one of the more popular cards along with our Spot UV postcards.

What is Spot UV?

You may be surprised to learn that Spot UV printing isn’t actually a printing technique at all, but rather a method for coating printed products. While Spot UV may sound futuristic, it is a relatively simple process. The “UV” portion of Spot UV printing involves using UV light for curing a varnish placed on the printed material. Although printers can utilize this method on white paper or card stock, it is most effectively on color-printed products to enhance product shine, protect its color, and keep moisture and damage out in order to preserve the product. 

Due to its lack of volatility, Spot UV printing is known for being environmentally friendly. This means that little or no varnish becomes a gas that can escape into open air.

With different techniques, printers can create different results in Spot UV printing. Spot UV printing works best with heavier card stock, so it is most commonly utilized for premium business cards or printed flyers. The “spot” part of Spot UV printing refers to the ability to apply this technique to only parts of a page if desired; it is mainly used for its decorative effect. Because Spot UV printing can deepen the color of areas it’s applied to, this property should be weighed during the design of a product.

At Primo Print, we have created a tutorial that will walk you through the process of setting up your mask files. You can always contact one of our customer service representatives with questions or feel free to view our FAQ section.

SEE ALSO: Enhance Your Business Card with Spot UV

Mask File Setup Tutorial for Business Cards and Postcards

SEE ALSO: Which Business Card is Best For You and Your Business

• Spot UV Business Card with Stamped Foil
• View This Product

Because varnished spots immediately dry upon UV light treatment, incredible precision is possible with this technique. This opens a variety of possibilities for incorporation of Spot UV printing. In the marketing world, printed materials can be enhanced this way to improve mass appeal. Once Spot UV highlights are added, a business card easily surpasses other cards in quality and precision.

• Silk Laminated Hang Tag with Spot UV
• View This Product

At Primo Print, we offer a variety of styles for Spot UV business cards: Velvet with Spot UV, Velvet with Raised Spot UV, Spot UV, Matte with Spot UV, and Silk with Spot UV. We now offer custom design services for your business card, brochure, EDDM® postcard and additional printed materials. With the right touch of Spot UV printing, business cards are more likely to impress recipients and generate positive responses.

Close –

Many small and local businesses wonder what the best method is for finding new customers and getting the word out about their products or services. Today, business owners are utilizing the power of the internet; some prefer face to face marketing, and others use local mail.

All of the methods have their own pros and cons; they are all different when it comes down to how much money is spent and the effort required for each marketing campaign. 

One option which has seen a recent uptick is usage is direct mail, specifically Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®), a service offered by the U.S. Postal Service®.

EDDM®’s popularity lies in its simple use and ability to reach far: no specific addresses are needed to be collected by the business for the postcard to be sent out. A local business simply selects a zip code, address area, or mail route, and provides the necessary EDDM® postcards to the post office.  

Then, the USPS® will deliver every piece of mail supplied to the specified EDDM® route. Business mailings must include at least 200 mail pieces and can’t exceed 5,000 per day.

One of best aspects of Every Door Direct Mail® is the flexibility, as advertisements mailed can include a variety of messages. However, they must meet the size requirements. Some great examples of how businesses are using EDDM® include coupons, menus, grand opening announcements, general announcements, giveaways, contests and many more. 

EDDM® is cost effective, with prices starting as low as 16 cents per piece of mail, depending on the size and route chosen. 

New: Full Service EDDM®

At Primo Print, we are excited to offer Full Service EDDM® along with our Print Only service. By selecting full service EDDM®, you can send high quality postcards from your computer to your customer’s mailbox for as little as 25 cents per home including postage!

Full Service EDDM® Tutorial

Learn more about this easy-to-use and cost-effective service by watching our tutorial video.

We also offer design services to ensure that your EDDM® postcard grabs the attention of potential customers.

We offer custom postcards that fit the Postal Service’s specification for Every Door Direct Mail®. Once the customer provides the desired size and design, the postcards are created and delivered to the small business. 

Once the company has received the postcards, the next step is to drop them off at their local post office with the specified routes. Business owners can then sit back and watch as their postcard travels to exactly where they have assigned them too. Next – enjoy an increase of traffic to your business! 

As the internet becomes more and more widespread, many customers still choose to discover local businesses online. However, every home in the US has a mailbox, and paper mail is the easiest way to reach new customers. Research found that coupons received in the mail have a 35% redemption rate.

EDDM® expedites and simplifies this process, and is a fantastic tool for small and local businesses to reach potential customers. Contact us and learn more about how EDDM® can help your business. 

Close –