Business Cards: The Process
There are two elements
to producing a business card:
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
- Can print a few cards
at a time
Cons
- 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.
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?
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