Month: January 2019

Postcard Printing: What Do I Actually Write on the Card?

If you’re considering using postcard printing as a way to advertise your business, you need to think about what you’ll actually write on the card. When “snail mail” was still popular, people used postcards as a way to send a quick greeting to loved ones. Business owners also used them as holiday greeting cards for customers.

Now that everything has gone digital, how can you write postcards in such a way that you can quickly deliver your marketing message to your target audience? Here are a few quick tips on how you can write the copy when you print postcards:

  • Base the content on your marketing objective.

If you’re a beauty products manufacturer, for example, and you are introducing a new product line, you cannot list down all the information on the postcard. Crowding the card with too much text will confuse the reader, and make the printed material look cheap. Since your marketing objective is to introduce the new product line, come up with a two or three-liner content that will make the reader interested to learn more about it. You can also incorporate a QR code which they can scan – and it will lead the browser or their smartphone to your website. Or, you can simply include the URL of your website or the address of your store. A short, dynamic introduction will do for the postcard content if you have a lot of information to sift through.

  • Balance the white space with the text and images.

Again, when you print postcards online, be careful about overcrowding the space with too much information. There should be just the right balance of white space, text, and images. If the page is too bare, you will not maximize the marketing potential of the card. On the other hand, a card that looks too busy is not really aesthetically pleasing, and will not impress your customers at all because it will look too cheap.

  • Make sure that there’s a call to action.

Do you want the recipient of the card to visit your website? Go to your store because you’re holding a sale? Give you a call for more information about your offer? Based on what you want the customers to do after receiving the postcard, there must be a call to action.

  • Offer incentives to the recipient of the postcard.

Finally, to make your postcard stand out, offer a little extra incentive to your customers. Why not use the postcard as an appointment reminder? You can also include a QR code which they can use when checking out items from your online store. Or, you can turn the postcard into a discount coupon that they can use when visiting your physical store.

By knowing how to write the content for your postcard, you can turn your print marketing campaign into a successful one.

 

 

Take Your Pick from these Postcard Printing Design Ideas

Postcard printing is one of the many ways that your brand can stand out. When combined with business cards, envelopes, folders, letterheads, and similar products, you can launch a print ad campaign that will leave a lasting mark to your customers.

Postcard Design Ideas You Can Apply

Before looking for a print postcards online company, you must first come up with a design idea. When doing so, think about your goal for printing the cards in the first place. Do you need to relaunch your brand to your existing market and a new age group of potential customers? Are you planning to introduce a new line of products or services? Is your business moving to a new location? Base your content on your marketing goal, then apply these ideas when creating the design for the postcards:

  • Use hand-drawn illustrations or professionally-shot photos.

Postcards have more space than business cards but less space than flyers or brochures. With the available space that you have, you need to include one element that is striking enough to capture the attention and imagination of your readers. For this, you can go for hand-drawn illustrations to create that old-fashioned look. If it’s a photograph that you want to include, make sure that it’s professionally-shot and suits your marketing objective.

  • Focus on your marketing copy.

Since postcards are a cross between a business card and a flyer or brochure in terms of size, you need to maximize the available space that you have. Make sure that there’s a good balance of text and images. For the copy, keep it short and the language simple. You don’t even have to hire a copywriter – just make sure that the copy is free from grammar and spelling and errors. Still, you have to include a call to action so that the material will fulfil your marketing objectives in the end.

  • Go for giant postcards.

Another way to print postcards that stand out is to supersize it. You might have to spend a bit more on mailing the oversized postcards but it will surely make an impact on the recipient.

Take your cue from these postcard printing design ideas to make a standout marketing statement.

 

 

 

 

 

Why It Pays to Invest in Printing High-Quality: Business Cards Online

You will find a lot of companies offering business cards online services, but not all are created equal. Some will offer you cheap packages, especially if you are ordering in bulk. Others provide 24-hour printing services, which is a very fast turnaround time. But quality-wise, how do the cards look? If you want to leave a lasting impression to your customers, you do need to invest in professional-looking business cards.

Are Cheap Business Cards a Bad Idea? Yes!  

Sure, you might find printing packages for a set of plastic business cards to be quite affordable or cost-effective. But if they end up looking like a set of cheap business cards, it really is a bad idea. Why? Take a look at these reasons:

  • It leaves an impression that you don’t care about the customers.

Let’s say that you are participating in a trade show and there’s a booth opposite yours that is offering the same product or services. A participant walks in, visits your booth and that of your direct competitor. The customer will be holding two business cards after learning about what you both have to offer as a business. How does your business card compare with the other company? If you hand over a cheap-looking business card made of thin cardboard and has a barely readable print, you won’t create a good first impression. This customer will naturally choose the better-looking card, because that is what he or she will be impressed with.

  • It’s a reflection of the quality of your products and services.

When you walk into a beauty salon, you naturally expect the hair and makeup artists to look their best. The same thing applies to business cards, which are a reflection of what you are all about as a brand. If you hand over cheap-looking business cards, they will have an impression that they will receive the same cheap quality from you. On the other hand, if they receive a thick business card that they can ooh and ahh over, they’ll think that you are only offering the best quality product or service.

  • It’s something that a person can easily forget or worse, throw in the trash!

Business cards are still a must-have in this digital age but if you distribute cheap-looking or forgettable ones, a customer can easily forget about it. Or worse, once they see the poor quality of the print or the paper, they will throw it in the trash the minute your back is turned! To prevent this from happening, make sure to invest in high-quality products like silk business cards or ones made from thick paper grade with high-quality offset print.

You might be saving a lot of money when ordering cheap business cards, but it’s really not worth it if it will leave your customers with an ill or poor impression of your brand.

 

 

Printing Business Cards Online? Know When to go for the One- or Two-Sided Option

You have to go through a series of steps if you want to order business cards online. When doing so, you’re already aware that this tiny 3.5” x 2” card is your representation as a business owner – so it has to suit the image that you’d like to project to your target market.

First, you need to look for a good print service provider. It’s recommended that you go for ones that offer offset printing instead of desktop digital printing. The former uses state-of-the-art printing presses, as well as an offset printing method for professional-looking results.

Second, you must come up with the design of the business card. You have very limited space so make the most of it. See to it that the font type and size, colors, logo, and images, if any, all combine to create a coherent whole.

Third, pay attention to the small details that make the card. Choose the material – you can go for plastic business cards or silk business cards which are made from thick cardboard, but are laminated to create a fabric-like effect.

Fourth, decide whether you will use just one or both sides of the business card. Here are a few key points for each option:

  • Printing on one side

You will save on printing costs if you will go for the one-sided option – and this is actually a popular choice among business owners. From a customer’s perspective, some prefer to receive one-sided business cards so they can write notes on the blank side. If this is your goal, make sure that the blank side of the card is pen-friendly – which means that the finish should not be shiny. Otherwise, clients cannot write notes on it like a brief introduction, the time and date of their next appointment, etc.

  • Printing on both sides

If you think that one side of the business card is not enough to contain your contact information, you can definitely print on both sides of the card. It may be a bit more expensive but if it will convey more of your marketing message, the extra investment is well worth it in the end. Aside from doubling the available space, you can also use the other side of the business card to make a standout statement. You can print a pattern of your logo on the other side; a small graphic or hand-drawn illustration, or even something like: Write down your next appointment with us on this space: then leave a couple of blank lines. Aside from increased printing costs, two-sided business cards may take a longer time to print – but overall, it is a lot more impressive.

Based on the pros and cons of each, you can make an informed decision about whether a one-sided or two-sided business card will work for your business.

 

Things to Remember when Designing Color Business Cards

When a customer asks for your contact information, do you pull out a bunch of color business cards with an eye-catching design that will impress the recipient? If not, then you definitely need to think about having a new set of business cards online. The good news is that during the design process, there are ways for you to incorporate color and get the marketing results you want.

How to Use Color when Designing Business Cards

When you print business cards, you must look for a printing company with a wide range of products, plenty of experience, and high-end printing presses, preferably using the offset printing process.

Next, here’s how you can incorporate color into the design:

  • What’s your goal in designing the business card in the first place?

The standard size for a business card is 3.5” x 2”. With such a limited space, you need to really think about the design elements so that you can achieve your goal in having the card made. Would you like to stand out among other business owners? If yes, use color in such a way that your card will really grab someone’s attention. If you’re an interior designer, for example, you’d want to show off your creativity. Think of a business card design with a unique shape, folding option or material to give customers a preview of your design perspective.

  • Apply color psychology when designing your business cards.

Did you know that you can actually use psychology when designing business cards or any printed marketing material? White is the standard background but when you mix it with yellow, you are conveying a message of optimism. Blue means that you’re a dependable business; green is associated with nature and health; grey is neutral; while red is perfect for when you have a young target market.

  • Learn about color placement.

If you already have a business logo, what are its dominant colors? How can you blend it with a black background or make it stand out against a white background? If you have an image or a drawing in the design, which complementing colors should you choose?

  • Pay attention to the smallest details of the card’s design.

Finally, think about the finer details like font type and size; the type and thickness of paper that you will use; and the print finish. You can go for textured linen, metallic, foil-stamped, brown kraft, suede, ultra high-gloss or even plastic business cards.

With the use of color, you can come up with an overall business card design that will leave a truly lasting impression to your clients.

 

Learn the Symbolism behind Different Color Business Cards

Did you know that there is a psychology behind using different hues which you can apply on color business card printing? Similar to designing a house, choosing a specific color will attract different results and convey a particular message to your target market. Here, we will take a look at a rainbow of colors that you can use when printing business cards and understand the effect that it will have on your audience.

What’s the Effect of Using Different Colors on Business Cards?

Before you order a batch of business cards online, the first thing that you need to do is have a design for your business card. What’s the background color? How about the font? You also need to make sure that the information is concise and up to date. Which paper stock and finish would you like your business card to have? It’s important to pay attention to even the smallest details because of the limited space that you have.

For the background and the letters or images, here are a few colors to choose from – as well as a quick look at what each color conveys:

  • Black

Black is bold, formal, and elegant. This is perfect for those in the legal industry and business owners who want to exude sophistication. You can mix it with metallic hues like gold, silver, or copper – or more fun colors if you want to make a standout statement.

  • Blue

The color of the sea is tranquil and when used in business cards, it conveys a message of being trustworthy and honest. A lighter shade injects a bit more fun into the design, while the darker shades of blue lean towards a more serious, formal image.

  • Green

If you’re marketing yourself as an eco-friendly company, you can choose green as the background color or the color of the font in your business card. Green is associated with nature, the environment, healing, compassion, balance, and security.

  • Gold

If you’re offering a luxury product or service, you can probably go with a gold-themed business card. Just make sure to keep it muted to prevent the card from looking too pretentious or crass. Gold is the symbol for opulence and premium quality – but on business cards, it looks best when mixed with subtler colors like ivory.

  • Grey

Grey is a neutral color that suggests being conservative and neutral. It’s always a safe color choice on business cards, but is not recommended if you want something that stands out.

  • Red

Red symbolizes passion and when used in a business card, it definitely will grab someone’s attention. It’s stimulating but be careful in choosing the exact shade of red since it can also convey anger or aggression. If you must use red, go for the darker shades like maroon or burgundy to make it a bit more formal.

  • Silver

Like gold, silver-based business cards are stylish and formal. It can be used by companies in the Information Technology industry, or combined with other fun colors to make it look more elegant.

  • White

White is the standard background for most business cards and there is absolutely nothing wrong in going for this safe choice. It’s a blank canvas, making it perfect for almost any type of business. However, if you want to also stand out, make sure that the overall design of the card adds up to a pleasant whole. It should also fit the image that you’d like to project as a business.

Keep these tips in mind when you print business cards so that you can send out the right message through the colors, font, and overall design of the card.

All About Designing Rack Cards

Just like business cards, brochures, flyers, booklets, door hangers, envelopes, folders, letterheads, and postcards, rack cards are used as a traditional form of print advertising.  Despite the emergence of digital marketing campaigns, having something tangible like rack cards creates a huge impression on customers. It increases name recall, and you can actually combine print with your digital promotional campaign by including cool features like QR codes that can be scanned or discount codes that can be applied on online or in-store purchases.

How to Get Started in Printing Rack Cards 

After learning about the benefits of using rack cards in print advertising, how can you actually go about the process of having one made? The first thing to do is look for companies that specialize in rack card printing. Offset printing is better than digital printing, simply because of the sheer difference in output quality. The former delivers professional-looking results, which is something that you need if you want to grab the attention of people walking by when your rack cards are displayed.

Design-wise, here are a few things to remember when you print rack cards:

  • When writing the copy, determine what your goal is in the first place. Do you want to introduce your brand to your target market? Or are you introducing a new line of products or a new service? Based on your marketing goal, you can come up with content that will effectively convey your message.
  • Strategically include photos or illustrations in your rack card design. There should be a good balance between text and images. If you want to include pictures, make sure that they are professionally-shot and there should be a description at the bottom.
  • The overall design of the rack card must fit the image that you would like to portray for your brand. You don’t want to use too-dark colors if your target market is women of all ages – it should be a bit more fun and feminine. If possible, use a palette that is similar to the colors used in your business logo.
  • Include a call to action. Just like brochures and flyers, there is sufficient space in a rack card for you to squeeze in a line or two for a call to action. It can be your contact information – something that you can incorporate in the design through a detachable business card at the bottom of the rack card. It can also be a scannable QR code that will lead a customer to your website, or discount codes that they can use when purchasing.

There should be plenty of information here to get you started on rack card printing, so make it work to your business advantage and start right now!

Rake Profits from Rack Cards Specifically Designed for Your Business

Rack cards are a handy marketing tool for when you need to introduce your brand to the market, or when launching a new product or service. The most popular sizes are 3.5” x 4.5” and 4” x 9”. When both sides are used, the cards can contain just the right amount of information to effectively deliver your marketing message.

Follow these Tips to Boost Your Profit when Printing Rack Cards

You will often see rack cards displayed in hotel lobbies and the reception areas of offices. Your goal when you print rack cards is to make people walking by stop, notice, pick up, and actually read the card – so it should be attention-grabbing. Here are a few tips on how you can make your rack cards noticeable, while also using it as a tool to rack up your profits:

  • Make sure that there’s a good blend of images and text.

There’s more to rack card printing than just putting a bunch of pictures and standard copy together. With the limited space that you have, you must make sure that there is a good balance between the text and the images. Too much text will make the rack card read like a boring pamphlet, while too many photos without descriptions is also a big no-no. When writing the copy, it can be short but still convey your marketing message.

  • Combine your digital campaign with your print campaign.

Printed advertising materials are considered traditional, but you can actually combine it with your digital print campaign. Include scannable QR codes in your rack cards. Once scanned using a smartphone, it will automatically go to your website. You can also provide codes which will qualify users to discounts on your products or services.

  • Consider ordering rack cards with detachable business cards.

Aside from QR codes, you can also include a detachable business card at the bottom part of your rack card. This way, you can have a double purpose card without paying double the price. It’s also an effective way of creating awareness about your brand.

  • Invest in good quality paper and print.

Your goal is to make a good first impression, so your rack card should be printed using thick stock paper and high-quality ink. If possible, go for offset instead of digital printing so that professional-looking rack cards are produced.

With the help of rack cards, you can send out your desired marketing message using an old-fashioned but distinct and still-effective advertising material. Design one for your business now and reap its benefits in the long run.

 

Top 3 Tips when Displaying Rack Cards

Rack cards offer more space than business cards, but less space than flyers or brochures. This makes the material ideal for print advertisement because it can contain just the right amount of information. This is also the reason why you’ll often see rack cards displayed on hotel lobbies, clinics, tourist information centers, and retail stores.

Keep these Tips in Mind when having Rack Cards Made

So if you want to print rack cards, the first thing to do is look for an offset printing company. As compared to digital printing, offset printing delivers more professional results, there are more printing effects that can be made, and there are several sizes to choose from. You can also order in bulk or have your rack cards delivered as soon as possible, especially through companies that offer 24-hour printing.

Next, what are the top three rack card printing that you need to keep in mind? Here’s a list:

  1. Maximize the available space that you have.

Rack cards are displayed in areas where there is high foot traffic, so it should immediately catch someone’s attention. Maximizing the available space that you have doesn’t mean that you should cram it with information. There should be a good balance between image and text.

Photos and logos must be professional-looking, and fit the theme or logo of your business.

  1. Offer incentives to customers.

Rack cards are used for marketing, so what incentive are you offering to customers for them to pick the cards up? There are rack cards which have a detachable business card which you can use as a discount coupon for your products or services. You can also include scannable QR codes or discount codes that customers can input before checking out the items on their cart if you have an online store.

  1. There should be a call to action.

Just like all the other printed materials used for advertising, rack cards must have a call to action. If it’s a real estate rack card, you should include your complete contact information so clients can give you a call. If it’s a retail store rack card, they should know which physical or online store to visit so they can use the discount codes you’re offering.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can enjoy maximum results when printing out rack cards for your business.

Suede, Foil Stamped, Spot Gloss Business Cards: Which Do You Prefer?

Are you considering ordering spot gloss business cards? This is a type of business card that offer an extra oomph, leaving customers impressed with what you have to offer as a company. By going for something that’s luxurious and extra special, you can easily achieve your marketing objectives.

Take Your Pick from these Luxurious Business Cards

Traditional business cards are sized 3.5” x 2” and are made from thin or thick cardboard material. But if you want to veer away from the traditional, there are many types of luxurious business cards to choose from. Here are a few options:

  • Suede business cards

Just like silk business cards, suede business cards feel like fabric to the touch. If you want to give your customers a glowing impression of your brand, this is definitely something that you must consider printing for your business. Made with 19-pt. paper, it has 70% the thickness of a credit card. The soft suede effect is achieved by using velvet lamination, something that cannot be done using simple desktop printing. If you want an organic theme for your business card, suede is the way to go.

  • Foil stamped business cards

Another luxurious business card option is foil-stamped cards. If you’re a lawyer, for example, and you want to impress clients, gold foil business cards is your best bet. Gold, silver, copper, or colored foil is used – not metallic ink – to ensure that a real metallic lustrous effect is achieved for the card. 17-pt. paper stock is used, and it is best to design the card with dark colors in mind to make the metallic glint pop out.

  • Spot gloss business cards

Finally, there’s the spot gloss business cards. As the name suggests, these are cards which have glossy ink applied only to certain spots on the card. It could be the logo, the name, a box with an image, etc. The combination of matte and glossy ink makes the spot appear raised or embossed for a fully impressive effect.

No matter which among these luxurious business cards you end up ordering, you are bound to leave a lasting impression to your customers because they’re extra special.