Help! I’m Starting My Own Business. What's Best Way to Buy Business Cards?

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Business Cards:  The Process

There are two elements to producing a business card:

• Design

• Print

Different Approaches to Designing and Printing Business Cards:

• Work with a professional graphic designer 

• Order online from a mass customising and print organisation eg Vistaprint, Moo

• Buy them from a business card vending machines

• Create and print business cards yourself

The Pros and Cons of Each Method

Professional Graphic Designer

Pros

• Graphic designers spend years training and can guide you through the process.

• You will get a bespoke product created to your specifications.

• There will be no costly print mistakes because you will know exactly what you are getting and the designer will liaise with the printers to get the highest quality at the best price.

• Your designer will ensure that you have all the correct information presented in a functional way.

• You will own the completed design.

• It is quick and easy to order more, you only need to email, text or call your designer.

• You will be able to choose from a wide range of card and finishes.

• You will be able to see and feel samples of card and finishes before making your choice.

• The finished card will form an effective part of your marketing strategy.

Cons

• More expensive than the other options (except perhaps home printed if you print a lot), although it is still worth asking for quotes because they may not be as expensive as you think.

• Take longer to produce than the other options

Mass Customising and Print Organisation e.g. Vistaprint, Moo

Pros

• Cheaper than using a professional graphic designer

• Quicker than using a professional graphic designer who will liaise with a print company on your behalf.

• There is potential for professional looking business cards

Cons

• These are print companies, not professional graphic designers.  They give customers limited design guidance in order to sell their print.

• Cards may appear amateurish due to the limited guidance on how an effective business card should look.

• Print standards may be lower than other print companies.

• The sites are more difficult to use than they initially appear.

• There is scope for expensive errors.

• You will have a limited choice of card and finishes.

• There is a chance that you will encounter someone with a similar card to yours.

Story Time...

There is a place for business cards produced by online print companies, particularly if you are on a very tight budget and price is more important than quality.  

If you decide to go down this route be very careful because a lot of its success depends upon your input.

Creating and Printing Business Cards Yourself 

Pros

• Low initial outlay assuming that only a few cards are printed

• Potentially quick

• Can print a few cards at a time

Cons

• Amateurish appearance

• Usually, high quality card cannot be used on home printers

• May have the same design as someone else you or your potential clients encounter.

• Expensive in the long run

Definitely only an emergency option but it is better than no card at all.

It is better for an emergency card to look like an emergency card than an amateurish card.

To aim for a very simple card with the relevant information included in an simple font would be the best approach.  See Help! I’m starting my own business.  DoI need business cards?  What detailsshould be on a business card? for guidance.

Business Card Vending Machine

We cannot comment on this because we have no personal experience.


To Sum Up

Like so many things, with business cards, you get what you pay for.  

You need to decide what is most suitable for your business.  

If you are presenting an upmarket image, you need a graphic designer.  

If you are taking a 'pile it high, sell it cheap' approach, you may feel that an online print company will do a good enough job for your requirements.  

Finally

Have you used a Business Card Vending Machine?  Please help improve this article by posting your comments below.  

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