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High Impact, Low Maintenance: Why It Pays to Invest in Silk Cards

When you compare handing over a business card printed in thin linen cardboard with thick, laminated business cards that have professional-looking print – which do you think will impress customers? The latter, of course. These days, branding is all about image. If a customer perceives your business card as cheap and haphazardly put together, they will equate the same characteristics to your business. On the other hand, if your business cards are luxurious, thick, and professional-looking, customers will be equally impressed with your brand. This is precisely the reason why it pays to invest in silk cards.

Silk Cards are High Impact, Low Maintenance

Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out: Depending on the design and colors that you will use, here are the types of finishes that you can go with when having silk business cards printed out:

1. Matte Silk

Matte silk business cards are non-shiny, but the surface retains that silky-smooth finish. If you want something that’s straightforward, this is for you.

2. Foil Stamped

Silk If you want to highlight your company name or logo and you have a bold business card design, foil stamped silk is the way to go. This lamination process uses heat rolling to add red, blue, silver, gold, black, or copper-colored foil on the card. This is great for those who want their business cards to stand out.

3. Silk Spot UV

There’s also the spot UV treatment where a flat layer of gloss is added to specific areas on the card. This could be the border, the brand name, or logo. This is a great choice for business card designs with highly contrasting colors.

Silk cards are usually made from 17-pt. cardstock which has 54% the thickness of a credit card. This feels thick to the hand, while the silky-smooth surface of the laminated paper feels extra luxurious. Another advantage of going for this type of business card is that the lamination process makes the material ten times stronger than non-laminated cards.

All in all, silk business cards high impact – which means that they leave a lasting impression and they’re also low maintenance because of the durability of the material. What more can you ask for from a printed promotional material?

Smooth Matte Custom Business Cards: An Oldie but Goodie

There was a time when the default choice for printing custom business cards was linen cards which could be made from either thin or thick paper stock. These days, you can choose from different sizes, materials, and finishes. If you want to go with an oldie but goodie, however, smooth matte business cards are a great option.

Here are the characteristics of smooth matte business cards if you are interested in having them printed out:

• As the name implies, these business cards have a smooth matte surface. Unlike glossy business cards which have a shiny surface or uncoated business cards which have no shine at all, smooth matte cards have zero glare when placed under the light. They are also smooth to the touch, making them a still luxurious option when it comes to business cards printing.

• You can take your pick from different paper stocks: – 16-pt. premium paper- 17-pt. silk laminated paper – 19-pt. soft touch suede paper These paper stocks have varying thickness and different finishes. The most popular is the 19-pt. paper stock, although you can always go with the thinner varieties.

The smooth matte finish may be a classic choice, but you can add a twist to it by going for special features. For instance, instead of choosing a standard-sized card measuring 3.5” x 2”, you can go for square business cards, slim skinny business cards, or European size business cards. Instead of a landscape orientation, you can design the card in such a way that it is laid out with a portrait orientation. You can also go with a unique material like clear or frosted plastic, with rounded or straight edges.

When looking for a business card printing, don’t hesitate to go with a seemingly traditional choice like smooth matte. It may not be as showy as super-shiny business cards, but it does not hurt to stick with a classic. With smooth matte business cards that are well-designed, you can leave a lasting impression to whomever you will give the card – one that also reflects perfectly on your brand.

A Wide Array of Ways to Use Custom Postcards for Marketing Your Brand

Did you know that according to the United States Postal Service, custom postcards are marketing materials which are most likely to be scanned or read? Also, more than half of customers said that they have read postcards over sales letters, and more than 23% said that they have responded to postcards which are relevant to them. These numbers mean that if you are not using postcard printing as part of your promotional campaign, you are clearly missing out.

Numerous Ways to Use Postcards for Marketing

As you may already know, postcards are printed marketing materials sent to customers over the mail. There are many printing companies that can create cheap postcards and even mail them out for you. The question is, how will you use the postcards in order to push your marketing agenda? Here are a few creative ways to utilize them:

• Distribute postcards to announce an in-store or website event. Whether you have a physical or online store, you can mail out postcards to announce a store opening, an online store sale, or similar event.

• Turn postcards into discount vouchers or coupons.

Customers will not even bother reading your brochure or flyer if they will not get anything out of it – so use postcards to offer benefits. If you’re using an envelope, indicate that there is a discount coupon or voucher inside. Recipients are more likely to open the mailer and keep the postcard for future use if there’s something in it for them.

• Use them as greeting cards to build customer loyalty.

Postcard marketing is effective if you will send out postcards with just the right frequency: not too often that it feels spammy, but not too infrequent that they will totally forget about your brand. One way to increase the frequency of your mailers is to use postcards as greeting cards, especially during the holiday season. This is a great way to establish customer loyalty.

• Send a postcard birthday greeting to your customer, and make sure to include freebies.

Who wouldn’t want to receive freebies during their special day? When you are first getting the mailing address of a customer, have that person include his or her birth date and mention that you send out freebies for such occasions. It can be a discount on your products or services, or a buy one get one offer.

• Use postcards to introduce a new program, product, or service.

When you’re cooking up something new, introduce it using postcards. These are cheap enough to produce but are really effective marketing tools.

With a multitude of creative uses, there’s no reason for you to say no to the prospect of using postcards for marketing your brand to your target audience.

Looking for a Provider of Online Printing Services? Here’s What You Need to Know

Unlike online printing services that have an automatic ordering system, it used to be a big hassle to have printed promotional materials made. If you need 200 pieces of postcards made, for example, you need to go to the printing office to check out their equipment. You must come up with a design which has to be set up on the printing press. Then, you have to choose the material, paper thickness, and finish. After approving the proof, you have to wait for the job to be finished before you can finally pick up your order.

Today, you can do away with all these steps because there are professional printing companies that have a purely online ordering system. This means that you don’t have to visit any printing office – you just need to come up with the design, choose the materials and the finish, and wait for the materials to be delivered straight to your doorstep.

What You Need to Know about Online Printing

Whether you need business cards, brochures, flyers, menus, rack cards, post cards, letterheads, or any other printed promotional material, here are the essentials that you need to know:

• You can take your pick from different printing processes. Two of the most common are digital and offset printing. With digital printing, desktop digital printers are used. These are good for small jobs but if you need to order in bulk with a fast turnaround time, you should go with offset printing. For this, huge printing presses are used where a metal plate transfers or ‘offsets’ printed images onto a rubber blanket, which is then rolled onto the paper. Think of it as being similar to using a stamp pad on paper. Once the design is set, you can easily have hundreds or even thousands of copies made within a short span of time. Another advantage of offset printing is that it produces more professional-looking results. The more that you order, the lower the per-piece cost is.

• You need to focus on the design and content. Make sure that the text does not overcrowd the available space on the business card or letterhead – and it should feature your logo plus a short marketing tagline. The overall design should suit the image that you would like to project for your brand.

• You can choose from different materials, paper types, finishes, and sizes. Business cards, for instance, have a standard size of 3.5” x 2” but you can take your pick from different paper thickness and finishes like satin, ultra-smooth silk, soft touch suede, smooth matte or spot gloss.

• You have to go with an experienced, reliable printing company. For this, it pays to do your research so that you can choose a cost-effective printing package without compromising on quality.

By keeping these things in mind, you can look for an online printing service provider that will give you exactly what you need when it comes to printed promotional materials.

Should I Pay Extra for High Quality Business Card?

A 14-pt. smooth matte business card will set you back around ten cents apiece; while high quality business cards with the same thickness as a credit card will cost you around four or five times that. When you compare ordinary with high quality business cards, is the extra investment worth it? To answer this, here are a couple of questions that you can ask yourself:

• Do you prefer high quality business cards because you are offering products or services on the higher end of the price spectrum? If yes, then you definitely need to order the best business cards online. On the other hand, if you are trying to come off as an affordable brand or if you want customers to see your products or services as a lower-priced yet quality version of a direct competitor, you may not necessarily need to spend extra on premium cards. Just because a card is plain or uncoated does not mean that it comes off as cheap. You can always design the card in such a way that it looks standard but still excellently made.

• Do you have the budget for high quality business cards? If yes, then go for it! Nothing beats quality especially when it comes to the impression that you are creating for your brand. From best business cards online companies, you can select from cards that: – are made from thick paper stock, ranging from 14-pt. to 32-pt. – have unique features like rounded edge, painted edge (for super-thick business cards), spot UV gloss, foil stamping, plastic cards, and non-standard sizes.

When ordering high quality business cards, it is better to go with the offset printing option. Digital printers might offer cheaper prices, but the quality cannot match that of offset printing presses. The best business cards online are made with close attention to detail, and only high-end printing equipment can handle complex lamination jobs. Other things to consider when ordering the best business cards online are the turnaround time, costs, paper weight and thickness, finish, and quality of customer service offered.

All in all, it does pay to invest in high-quality business cards especially if you will order them from the best business cards online company. With impressive cards, you can leave an equally lasting impression about your brand.

Are Premium Business Cards Worth the Extra Investment?

In today’s business environment where everything is all about image and perception, there is still a need for you to invest in premium business cards. Printed promotional materials may be considered old school, but what’s good about business cards in particular is that that they contain all your information in one nifty package. If you’re running an online store, your business card can contain your website’s URL, business name, email address, and your social media handles. The overall look of premium business cards is also important because it ties up with the image that you would like to project as a brand.

If you are asking whether it is worth the extra investment to have ultra thick business cards made, let us analyse what regular business cards project in the first place. Let’s say that you are portraying your brand as an affordable option, you might want to stick with linen business cards with a straightforward design. This gives off a vibe that your services or products are equally affordable and fuss-free. On the other hand, if you want to project a high-end image, something more luxurious like ultra thick business cards is what’s expected of you.

The good news is that there is no need for you to spend an arm and a leg for premium business cards. There are many offset printing companies that can print ultra thick business cards for you at pretty reasonable costs. Basically, ultra thick business cards have these properties:

– The 32-pt. cardstock is as thick as a regular credit card.

– There are different sizes available: standard US (3.5” x 2”); European size (2.125” x 3.375”); and square (2.5” x 2.5”).

When it comes to finish, ultra-thick premium business cards are available in non-coated, foil-stamped, and painted edge variants. Uncoated ultra thick business cards have a simple, clean look. If you want something more drool-worthy or attention grabbing, foil stamped cards can highlight certain parts of the card in chrome gold foil. For something that stands out but is still unique and elegant, painted edge premium business cards are perfect. The thick edge can be painted with metallic hues like gold and silver; or a subtler shade of yellow, red, purple, pink, or orange.

Indeed, premium business cards are worth the extra investment if you want to give off an equally high-end vibe for your brand.

Grab the Attention of Potential Customers with Thick Business Cards!

One of the best ways to grab the attention of potential customers is by distributing unique business cards. Among a stack of beige cards with almost the same thickness and design, you need to include certain elements in your business card design in order to make it more eye-catching and noticeable.

To give you an idea about how to capture the attention of customers using unique business cards, here are the elements that you need to consider when designing the card in the first place:

• The material and paper thickness

Paper is the most common material used for business cards, but you can use plastic, too. For paper business cards, you have different options when it comes to paper thickness. The thinnest is 12-pt. paper stock, then the size increases to 14-pt., 16-pt. to 20-pt., 22-pt., and 32-pt. The 32-pt. thick business cards are 100% the thickness of a credit card. Depending on your design needs, you can choose from the very thin to medium thickness cards, or stand out with 32-pt. super thick business cards. Just remember that customers will have a better impression of your brand if you will go with thicker paper stock – simply because of its more significant weight when held.

• The finish •

If you are going with super thick business cards, there are different finishes that you can choose from. First, there’s the uncoated 32-pt. business card which has a clean, straightforward look to it. Second, if you want the letters on your logo to stand out, you can go with 32-pt. thick business cards which are gold foil stamped. For this, chrome gold foil is added to create unique business cards. Third, if you want thick business cards which are colorful and creative, go with the painted edge feature. Because of the thickness of the material, the painted edge will make your card stand out from a stack of medium-sized, plain business cards.

• The overall design of the card

Of course, you still need to consider the overall design of the card. No matter how many super thick business cards you distribute, it will still be an ineffective promotional material if you will not pay attention to the image that it will create for your brand. When designing thick, unique business cards, make sure that everything – from the logo to the font to the colors used – are all representative of your brand. All in all, these thick cards are bound to leave a lasting impression to your clients, so consider having them printed out for your business.

Effective Ways of Designing Custom Business Cards

Inexpensive business cards could be thin with barely readable text, while custom business cards could be thick and have razor-sharp print. If you have a limited budget but you still want high-quality cards that will impress your customers, how can you design a card that’s a cross between these two? Here are a few ways to design inexpensive business cards that do not compromise on quality and aesthetics:

• Look for a reliable printing company.

Inexpensive business cards do not need to look cheap – there are plenty of printing companies to choose from, and they can give you great rates for professional-looking results. When looking for one, set a budget first then know which options they can give you for your asking price. From there, you can decide which material and finish to go with so that you can have the best-looking custom business cards.

• Know which information to include in the card.

You might think that you need to include all your contact information when creating custom business cards, but you can edit it in such a way that only the essentials are included. If you’re an online business, for example, there is no need to include an office address. If you’re a mom-and-pop establishment, the physical address is important as well as your contact number – especially if you don’t have an online presence.

• Design the card in such a way that it reflects your brand.

Next, there are designs for custom business cards that you can create which are a direct reflection of your brand. Take advantage of downloadable templates or online tools so that you can come up with the perfect design for your business card.

• To make your business card stand out, include unique features.

If you want to use the second page of custom business cards , you can include a tiny calendar or a box that a person can write notes in. If you customize women’s jewelry, you might want to use metallic ink when designing inexpensive business cards. If you’re in the legal industry, design cards which are a bit more formal and will appeal to a more mature clientele. Other unique features that you can go for are rounded-edge business cards, or standout materials like plastic or recycled paper.

• Distribute those cards!

Finally, after designing and having the inexpensive business cards printed out, you should know how to distribute them. Always bring a stack with you so that you can hand them over to potential clients, suppliers, and business partners. Include them in mailers, post them on public bulletin boards, have a stack in your office’s reception area for customers to pick, and distribute them in trade shows and similar events.

Essential Things to Look for in a Business Card Printing Company

If you are looking for business card printing services, you naturally want to get the best output without having to pay too much. The process that you have to go through in order to have a set of unique business cards matters, too. This is why you need to spend time looking for just-the-right company that will provide you with your printing needs – and you should also know what to look for in the first place.

Here, we will find out which factors are essential when you’re looking for a business card printing company:

• High-end equipment

There are two options when it comes to business card printing: digital and offset. Digital printing uses desktop printers or digital printing presses. This gets the job done and is cheap but if you need unique business cards with a complex finish or lamination process, offset printing might be the better option. This uses high-end printing presses and ink is not directly transferred, but is instead offset onto paper. Offset printing delivers more professional-looking results and as far as the price goes, the per piece cost gets lower when you order more.

• High-quality materials

When you’re ordering unique business cards, check on the thickness of the paper that they use. This can range from 14-pt. to 32-pt. which is the thickest. You should also decide which finish to go with – some examples are silk, cotton, suede, soft touch, and brown kraft.

• Designing tools

Next, check if the business card printing company offers templates that you can download if you don’t have a design yet. There are also online tools where you can set up, create, and submit your design.

• Excellent customer service

Lastly, when ordering unique business cards, make sure that the business card printing offers excellent customer service. Consider the cost, minimum order, turnaround time, finishes available, and the swiftness of reply to your inquiries.

One of the best things that you can do for your brand is to have a set of unique business cards. By knowing which factors to consider, you can choose which printing company to order from so that you can get high-quality cards for the best value.

Hassle-Free Ways to Find the Right Online Printing Services

If it’s your first time to have something printed out for your business, you might find it a huge hassle to look for online printing services. With dozens of results appearing on an online search, how will you know if a printing company can deliver the goods? How can you make sure that you are getting the best value for your money? If you hire an offshore printing company, how can you make sure that the prints will even get made? To help you out, here are some hassle-free ways for you to find the right online printing services provider:

1. Know what your printing requirements are in the first place.

Let’s say that you are launching a postcard mailing campaign. What are your printing requirements? Do you need EDDM mailing services? This stands for Every Door Direct Mail, a service by the United States Postal Service where it does what it says – direct mail is sent to every address within a specific area. EDDM mailing services is a great feature to have if you are just starting to build a customer base. If you need a large volume of prints with excellent quality, offset printing might be right for you. But if you only need a small batch sent out, digital printing is cheaper and gets the job done.

2. Decide on the design, material, and finish.

Next, you should already have an idea about the design that you want before looking for online printing services. If you need 100 pieces of postcards with mailing services, for example, you can use the website’s downloadable postcards template or an online design tool, if they have one. You should also think about the material. For postcards, different sizes are available in thick paper stock while the finish can be matte, glossy, or soft silk.

3. Search for online printing services and compare the top three or five results.

Finally, do a quick search for online printing services. Compare the top three or five results. If you need postcards with mailing services, for instance, look for a company that also offers EDDM. Make sure to also compare the turnaround time, quality of customer service provided, the length of experience that they have in the field, feedback about the quality of products that they deliver, and the costs involved. Know which areas you can’t compromise on – and decide from there.