As a business owner, you work hard for every penny you make. Therefore, it makes sense why you would want to save money whenever possible and go with the more economical choice on certain purchases and paid-for marketing strategies. After all, the more money you can save now, the easier it will be to put money back into your company down the line. While this strategy appears logical on paper, it is not meant to be a catch-all solution. Sometimes, you must spend money and put your best foot forward now, not later—especially when it comes to how you are presenting yourself and your brand to clients and customers. For example, take business card printing.
Some companies do not consider how important business cards are and the potential return on investment they provide. Rather than see it as a critical aspect of branding and a vehicle to make it easy for customers to find them, they see it as an opportunity to put something out there quickly without considering the finer details. As a result, they may opt for basic paper instead of cardstock, rush through the design process, and even limit the number of cards they order—simply to save a few extra dollars.
Your friends at Brumley Printing are here to ensure you do not make the same mistakes. Not only are we a premier commercial printing company, but we believe that an educated client is the most successful client long-term.
Business Card Printing Fun Fact: 27 million business cards are printed daily in the USA alone. Translated to an annual level, that is a staggering 10 billion business cards. Why so many cards? Studies show a company’s sales increase by 2.5% for every 2,000 business cards.
Maintain Quality: 7 Mistakes To Avoid in Business Card Printing
The point of a business card is to have something tangible to hand to an existing or potential client and to serve as a reminder. This could be someone you are meeting for the first time at a networking event, a referral from another client, or someone you just spoke to about your products and services. You have no doubt discussed all the reasons why they would benefit from doing business with you—like your years of experience, commitment to quality and customer service, etc. At the appropriate moment, you reach into your pocket and take out your business card.
When this moment happens, ask yourself, “Does my business card reinforce all the claims I just made?” If the answer is no, you likely made one or several of the mistakes below.
1. Poor logo and card design elements
Having a creative, well-executed logo makes your business card memorable. Conversely, a logo with no clear relation to your business name or what your company does can be confusing. Avoid the temptation to use clipart in your logo or your overall design. Design elements that overpower the text on the card or make everything look cluttered are also important to avoid. Ensure that essential information like name, title, company, contact details, etc. is clear and concise. When a client is ready to call, you don’t want them to have to grab a magnifying glass to read the number, address, or website information.
2. Poor image quality
To piggyback on the previous mistake, business cards with low-resolution images or logos appear pixelated and blurry. This creates the wrong impression. Instead, use high-resolution images and ensure the logos and graphics are sharp and clear.
3. Not using quality cardstock
There is something to be said about how your business card feels in someone’s hand. It generates a bigger impact on their perception of you and your company. Don’t go with cheaper cardstock that feels flimsy. The most popular cardstock for business card printing is 14-point, 16-point, and 100-pound cover. There are options for unique-to-the-touch stocks like silk, suede, brown kraft or plastic. A good commercial printer can help you select the right paper stock that meets your needs and budget.
4. Not paying attention to consistency
The look of your business card should be consistent with your website, brochures, promotional products, and other marketing collateral. This includes being consistent with your color palette. This is an area where it pays to use a reputable, local printer who specializes in business card printing. Most online printing services don’t provide physical proofs of their work, and things like computer monitor color temperature profile settings and ambient light can make it hard to get accurate color representations.
5. Ignoring proofreading
It is important that you and the business card printing company you choose thoroughly inspect the final design for typos, grammatical errors, and other inconsistencies before printing. The bottom line is that people get turned off by mistakes—they hurt your credibility, make your business look unprofessional, and might give the impression that you are not as concerned about paying attention to details.
6. Getting too complicated
Your business card is a convenient way to give prospects basic information about you and your company. Filling it up with lists of services or products leaves less room for the important information you want the prospect to have, including your website address and contact information. By the same token, you don’t want to be vague. Depending on your business model, it might be better to sum this up with a slogan or tagline.
7. Not partnering print with digital
Have you considered a QR code on the back of your business card printing? QR codes offer a modern, convenient way to bridge the gap between physical and digital networking. It allows recipients to instantly access your website, portfolio, contact details, or social media by simply scanning the code with their smartphone, making it easier for them to connect with you. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and increases the chances of follow-up interactions. QR codes can also be customized to track engagement, providing valuable insights into how your business card is being used. In an increasingly digital world, they add a layer of interactivity that helps your card stand out.
Business Card Printing Fun Fact: Approximately 39% of people would choose not to do business with someone if they had a “cheap-looking” business card. The same source states that 72% of people judge a company or person by the quality of their business cards.
Brumley Printing Wants To Be Your Business Card Printing Partner
Companies put thousands of dollars into a website, which is undoubtedly important. However when it comes to sales tools, statistics show the average small business website has a conversion rate of 2.35%, while the conversion rate for business cards is 12%. Your business cards play a significant role in creating opportunities for yourself and the company you represent. So why cut corners on such an important element?
By working with a quality and local commercial printer, you can ensure that whatever business card style or design will help you put your best foot forward and give clients every reason to do business with you today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Brumley Printing has been helping Fort Worth businesses with their printing and marketing needs for over 30 years. We provide quality services at competitive prices and offer unprecedented service and guidance to every client. We hope the information above was useful and sparked an increased desire to have the best possible business card.
Choosing Brumley Printing as your print provider means you can be assured of high quality and great value. We offer a range of methods to meet your project’s unique needs and demands. Plus, we offer unprecedented service and guidance to every client. To get started, give us a call at (817) 336-5551 or contact us.