2 Business cards questions

[poolfc]

Hi Guys

Whats the correct paper for a business card, havent a clue about matt, paper size etc. Im looking to get some new cards done on pixart and dont know whats the best to choose. Any help would be great.

Also whats peoples views on business cards that dont have a contact name but all the other details.

cheers

 

[Alex@Iansprint]

I won't lecture you on the benefits of using a personable printing company...

Most people use anything from 330gsm to 400gsm for a business card. I prefer a nice thick card, and many people will agree with me. It doesn't look like you can select anything above 300gsm on the website, which is a little thin?

I design and cut all my cards to 85mm x 55mm, I think many of the printers on here do also.

A silk finish is quite nice on a business card, and I offer a matt lamination service on all my cards which quite a few customers like for that extra class.

No contact name shouldn't really be a problem, I guess it's just a general business card advertising the company as opposed to a specific member of staff's card?

How much are you paying for them, out of interest?

 

[Faevilangel]

All business cards should have a contact name in my opinion, even if it's just a sales guy.
Get as much info on the card but still make it bright and easy to read. Use double sides to get maximum potential from them.
I paid £45 (ish) for £500 from a printer, which was excellent, I think they used 350gsm laminated card

 

[genuinegraphics]

In my experience and knowledge I think if you'de like nice quality card then something around 400gsm matt laminated will be quite good. It'll be nice and thick and also having a Spot UV with 400gsm will look really professional.

And I think you should add some details onto it. Maybe your phone number because people might not be bothered to go on the site and look for the details ir pay a visit down to you but if they have it on the card then they can easily just ring up.

I was given a business card from one of my clients to promote his friends business and the quality was 400gsm with matt lam finish and it looked superb. The card had the details on it so all I did was just ring up and ask and it saved me time from finding out more information about it.

 

[MASSEY]

silk is a bad finish they slide everywhere you wanna stick with matt,

You can get them made for around 8p each on a purchase of 500

Just dont use vista cards they are ********

 

[ShortCouture]

If you don't put a name on it then you might as well give out paper flyers for advertising. How will anyone remember your name....

Don't laminate it - that prevents people from writing on it -very annoying.
Make it a standard size - don't get clever and make it tiny or huge or foldover, those cards are annoying and likey to get binned.
It should be a nice stiff card - not thin and floppy - they give a cheap impression.

For goodness sake put what you do on the card. I see so many where the people are so full of themselves that they have the co and their names on it - but don't actualy say what their business is. Put what you do on the front and more detail on the back. The back is advertising space for which you have paid - use it. You'd be surprised how many people turn a card over when given it.

Put all contact details on the card inc website if you have one.

I have used Vistaprint and they were good. You can design your own - just make sure that you pay for thick card and do not use their free backgrounds. Mine don't look like Vistaprint cards.

 

[craig3000]

Gloss matt is all that is needed tbh, don't waste time and money on things that are simply not required, I recommend logiprint

 

[mckellar]

i went for 35gsm and they are fine, not cardboard but not paper thin either, a nice thickness, went for a matt finish so that i or other people can scrawl a price on the back if need quickly.

I would try and put someones name on the front, so if you get a call back, people like to know if they are talking to the person that gave them the card etc

 

[jncc]

Mine were 400gsm matt-laminated. A number of different companies will do these now - check their samples if you like.

I've also bought some uncoated recycled ones and they were unusable. I've still got £90 of them sitting here
Probably ok if you were having mostly white/uncoloured area, but for block colours they were patchy and dull, hard to read, and with a lot of feathering on one side.

 

[Mass Appeal Designs]

I like to have a big picture of my smiling face covering the whole card

 

[Moneyman]

Dont get funky. unless you are art related. loads of people use cerd readers so make it legible.
Dont do anything special size wise.
dont laminate...bad for writing on.
have a general company email rather than personal. it will get spammed.
dont go too fat...hard to stick many in your pocket.
Big company name. big personal name...small job title....manager is always good for one man band.
PUT what your company does under the name....specialists in oiling cormorants or whatever. fill the back with details if you like.
It is a business card promoting your business...not you.

 

[optimalhealth]

Hi Guys

Whats the correct paper for a business card, havent a clue about matt, paper size etc. Im looking to get some new cards done on pixart and dont know whats the best to choose. Any help would be great.

Also whats peoples views on business cards that dont have a contact name but all the other details.

cheers

There is no right or wrong...........only different.

If you are looking to get new cards - what did you not like with your existing cards?
Then decide what & how you can upgrade it.

Your business card will endorse who you are (name) and what you do (business)

Wishing you success : )

 

[Lloyd Morgan Productions]

Its best to go to a proffesional company to get your cards printed, there are plenty of companies out there who provide good value. Many of which will be able to design your cards for you, or tweek them if you have designed them yourself.

Im not sure with regards to type of card etc.

Regarding content, it is very much down to the individual and the company. I have very simple cards, which consist of my name, job, and contact details. On the front they have my business logo. If youre handing someone your card I would assume you have had the basic chit chat of what you do, so you want your card to provide them with how they can fcontact you, and find out more. If you are a tradesman, you might want to include the type of jobs you can do, and qualifications, certificates you hold relating to the work you provide.

Hope this helps.

 

[theadindex]

Keep it a standard size and shape, clean, crisp and readable on a good quality card.

Keep in mind the objective of the card and the desire not to overload it with content, you need to format a design that contains the relevant name, role and contact details (this could be some or all of the following - office phone number, mobile phone number, email address, office address and maybe website address). On top of this your business card design, containing all this information should be consistent with the business brand image that you portray on your other business papers and brochures.

 

[Frimley111R]

Gloss matt is all that is needed tbh, don't waste time and money on things that are simply not required, I recommend logiprint

Gloss matt? Do you combine this with a dark light design and a thick thin board too?

 

[cpcards]

Keep it a standard size and shape, clean, crisp and readable on a good quality card.

Keep in mind the objective of the card and the desire not to overload it with content, you need to format a design that contains the relevant name, role and contact details (this could be some or all of the following - office phone number, mobile phone number, email address, office address and maybe website address). On top of this your business card design, containing all this information should be consistent with the business brand image that you portray on your other business papers and brochures.

Yes, I see too many people who mistake a business card for a leaflet and try to cram way too much info on it.

 

[Mark Pocock]

I've just posted a link in another thread to
a client of mine who makes all types of
plastic cards - including business cards.

Check out www.conceptcard.co.uk

Paul owns the company. Very friendly guy.
Been making plastic cards for 26 years. And he's
still very enthuisastic about his cards.

If you want your own card designed he'll help you.

cheers

Mark

 

[reggiemental]

Just to answer a couple of concerns mentioned earlier. A professionally-produced matt-laminated card CAN be written on, and with a standard biro.

We sell thousands of litho-printed laminated cards every week, (http://www.castleprint.co.uk/business-card-laminating.html) and the question whether it can be written on crops up time and again.

 

[SteveSant]

Yup, matt lam is fine for biro... I sell them to customers all of the time. It's gloss lam that causes probs - or if you have a UV varnish.