s probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located. The collective participation in professional networking has reached an all-time high. Never has there been more energy nor more opportunities to promote one’s products or services. And yet, most business professionals are in such a hurry to garner new business that they rarely take the time to assess the tools they’re using along the way. The most classic case is the business card.

Try watching members of a Chamber of Commerce interact at a local event. It’s a dizzying experience. Just the pace of exchanging business cards alone leaves one to wonder how much is spent on the “what” factor and how little on the “why” factor. And considering how well they know the importance of first impressions, it seems logical that more time would be invested in that tiny 3.5” X 2” card that initiates the relationship.

Whether at their first point of entry or as a perpetual reminder, business cards allow professionals to nonverbally communicate a brand identity. They mold perception even more powerfully than the spoken word. Research shows that when a nonverbal message conflicts with a verbal one, the nonverbal dynamics prevail. So, consider it when a colleague glances at your business card while you’re trying to explain your business.

Every successful enterprise (directly or indirectly) conveys unique messages about their brand. In short, they’re telling a story. And the business card is a small, yet integral, part of that story telling process.

That’s why it’s baffling to see some business professionals take so many shortcuts in storyboarding, designing and printing their business cards. Whether your time or costs are scarce, do not build your brand on account of mediocrity, laziness, or shoddiness.

By no means should you spend foolishly. But the emergence of business card solutions on the Internet has created opportunities for both cost-effective and high-quality products. And if you know where to look, you can even find better customer service through some online companies over the traditional brick-and-mortar print shops.

Here are some suggestions in the three aforementioned stages of business card creation:

Tips for Storyboarding: Determine the makeup of your brand. What is the image that you’re trying to send, and how is it most effectively communicated? Consider logo options that offer an element of consistency with this brand image. Decide on the most relevant information that will be of value to those in possession of your card. How can they best reach you – e-mail, phone, fax, mail? Use the information that can provide a return on investment, and omit the rest.

Tips for Designing: The old school of thought would suggest that you higher a professional graphic designer. That exercise is probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located.

irst impressions, it seems logical that more time would be invested in that tiny 3.5” X 2” card that initiates the relationship.

Whether at their first point of entry or as a perpetual reminder, business cards allow professionals to nonverbally communicate a brand identity. They mold perception even more powerfully than the spoken word. Research shows that when a nonverbal message conflicts with a verbal one, the nonverbal dynamics prevail. So, consider it when a colleague glances at your business card while you’re trying to explain your business.

Every successful enterprise (directly or indirectly) conveys unique messages about their brand. In short, they’re telling a story. And the business card is a small, yet integral, part of that story telling process.

That’s why it’s baffling to see some business professionals take so many shortcuts in storyboarding, designing and printing their business cards. Whether your time or costs are scarce, do not build your brand on account of mediocrity, laziness, or shoddiness.

By no means should you spend foolishly. But the emergence of business card solutions on the Internet has created opportunities for both cost-effective and high-quality products. And if you know where to look, you can even find better customer service through some online companies over the traditional brick-and-mortar print shops.

Here are some suggestions in the three aforementioned stages of business card creation:

Tips for Storyboarding: Determine the makeup of your brand. What is the image that you’re trying to send, and how is it most effectively communicated? Consider logo options that offer an element of consistency with this brand image. Decide on the most relevant information that will be of value to those in possession of your card. How can they best reach you – e-mail, phone, fax, mail? Use the information that can provide a return on investment, and omit the rest.

Tips for Designing: The old school of thought would suggest that you higher a professional graphic designer. That exercise is probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located.

d the business card is a small, yet integral, part of that story telling process.

That’s why it’s baffling to see some business professionals take so many shortcuts in storyboarding, designing and printing their business cards. Whether your time or costs are scarce, do not build your brand on account of mediocrity, laziness, or shoddiness.

By no means should you spend foolishly. But the emergence of business card solutions on the Internet has created opportunities for both cost-effective and high-quality products. And if you know where to look, you can even find better customer service through some online companies over the traditional brick-and-mortar print shops.

Here are some suggestions in the three aforementioned stages of business card creation:

Tips for Storyboarding: Determine the makeup of your brand. What is the image that you’re trying to send, and how is it most effectively communicated? Consider logo options that offer an element of consistency with this brand image. Decide on the most relevant information that will be of value to those in possession of your card. How can they best reach you – e-mail, phone, fax, mail? Use the information that can provide a return on investment, and omit the rest.

Tips for Designing: The old school of thought would suggest that you higher a professional graphic designer. That exercise is probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located.

ome suggestions in the three aforementioned stages of business card creation:

Tips for Storyboarding: Determine the makeup of your brand. What is the image that you’re trying to send, and how is it most effectively communicated? Consider logo options that offer an element of consistency with this brand image. Decide on the most relevant information that will be of value to those in possession of your card. How can they best reach you – e-mail, phone, fax, mail? Use the information that can provide a return on investment, and omit the rest.

Tips for Designing: The old school of thought would suggest that you higher a professional graphic designer. That exercise is probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located.

s probably only valuable in creating a company logo (if you truly need one). Beyond that, the leading online printing services/websites can steer even a novice designer toward the right solution. Companies like PrintsMadeEasy.com have their own proprietary software to help you customize your design work in real time and offer a user-friendly experience. Customer service team will help proof your work, but be sure to verify that your type font is legible, that your font size is large enough, and that your card quality is of reasonable caliber. Also, be sure that the most important information (i.e. name and company) is easily located. If you haven’t narrowed the most salient information, consider doing so before a final proof – remember, white space always beats superfluous details (if there are any).

Important Design Note: Be careful of some companies that print smaller-sized business cards. In this case, size matters – and it’s best to follow traditional business standards (3.5 X 2).

Tips for Printing: Digital printing now offers the optimal solution for any business professional. It matches the quality of offset printers, and order are processed in much faster time. As an example, look on the home page of PME, and you’ll see a Countdown Timer that tells how much time remains to complete an order if you want to receive it by a certain date (if necessary). As for final touches, the leading online print companies offer you the opportunity to carefully proof your design and then quickly get the order printed and shipped to your doorstep. Also, in your final proof, keep the back of your business card blank. Some people opt at the last minute to add a mission statement or a catchy phrase on the back. But if you can’t win over somebody with information on the front, don’t expect any residual returns from what goes on the back.

Important Design Note: Be careful of some companies who insists on printing their logo on the back of your card. Find a company that wants to make YOU money, not them.

The one universal answer on how to print the best business card is that there is no one answer. What matters is storyboarding, designing and printing a business card that is right for you. The above steps provide you with some general, yet important, guidelines. However, the unique touch you add to this process, in capturing what defines your company/brand, will make all the difference.

Invest the time, energy and money in your business cards to make that first impression the right one – and you’ll quickly discover why it matters most.

[1/16/07]

© 2007 SymAction Communications,
Michael Wissot.