BUSINESS CARDS

Where to get them printed, what information to include, the DIY method and how to find a designer to produce them for you.

Business Cards are one of the simplest forms of marketing and promotion and a useful tool for networking with new and potential clients.

One of the first things that people do when starting a new business is rush out and buy new business cards as it helps make them feel more like a 'real business'. However, unless you're meeting lots of clients from day one, you might want to take your time and think carefully about the type of information you wish to include on the card, not to mention the colour, size, shape and overall design.

What to include on your Business Card

Apart from your name and the name of your business, the cards should include details of all the different ways that you want people to contact you. If you're a web-based business working from home, it's not essential to include your postal address but most cards should probably include the following;
•Your Name
•Business Name (and/or logo if you have one)
•Email address
•Website
•Telephone No. and/or Mobile No.

Other information that you might like to include about you or your business;
•Twitter profile (i.e. @Intilaaqah)
•Facebook Page
•LinkedIn profile
•YouTube Channel

Where to get your Business Cards printed

Most, if not all, printing and reprographics companies will produce business cards for you, but the price will vary depending on the amount you need, the paper quality, whether it's single or double-sided print, and if you need them do do any design work for you before printing.

DIY Business Cards

To keep the cost down, and if you are happy to design the cards yourself or have someone to do this for you, companies like Printing.com will print them 'direct from disk' but you will need to sign a disclaimer to say that the artwork you supply them with is the correct size and colour, etc.

Companies like MOO.com will even let you upload your own designs direct to their website and then order the cards from there, without any further interaction from a human being. They even offer a cool service called 'Printfinity' which allows you to have a different design on every card in the pack!

If budget is really low, you can even get some perfectly acceptable business cards printed from kiosk-type machines located in high street shops and shopping centres throughout the UK, although these only offer a limited range of styles and designs.