Types of Business Cards

A business card is an integral part of any good marketing plan. For its size and cost, it's probably the most powerful part. Of course, you can't expect your business card to tell the whole story about your company. What you should expect it to do is present a professional image people will remember. A business card can make or break a client's first impression of your company. In fact, this little card makes as much of an impression as your personal appearance-the suit you wear or the briefcase you carry.

Choose a card style that's appropriate for your business, industry and personal style. If you're a funeral director, for example, you don't want to be caught handing out day-glow cards with cartoon figures on them. If you're a mechanic whose specialty is converting old Beetles into dune buggies, a formal, black-on-white engraved card will probably be dropped into the nearest circular file. When crafting a design, start with the style that best supports the business image you wish to project. To help you get started, here are five different card styles for you to consider:

• Basic cards. A basic card is usually printed in black ink on plain white or cream stock. This is a good style to choose when utility is all you need. It's a no-nonsense approach that can appeal to clients and prospects who would not be impressed by fancy design features-the people who want "just the facts, ma'am." The design is simple, and the information is clear and concise.

• Double sided cards. Double Sided Business Cards Business cards are important marketing tool for getting information about a particular company of business. So, smart business owners use both sides of their business cards in printing. Putting a picture of popular products or providing a little intro about special services on the back side is a popular trend in business card printing.

• Picture cards. Having your face on your card-whether it's a photograph, a drawing or a caricature-helps a contact remember you the next time he or she sees you. Images representing a product or service, or a benefit your business provides, can help you communicate your business better than dozens of words. A splash of color (rather than just black and white) is often helpful on a picture card, too.

• Tactile cards. Some cards are distinguished not so much by how they look as by how they feel. They may use nonstandard materials, such as metal or wood (see outside-the-box cards), or have unusual shapes, edges, folds or embossing. Tactile cards tend to be considerably more expensive than regular cards because they use nonstandard production processes such as die cuts. But for some businesses, this more unusual card may be worth the price.

• Multipurpose cards. A card can do more than promote your name and business-it can also serve as a discount coupon, an appointment reminder or some other function. It may also provide valuable information that the average person may need. For example, a hotel may include a map on the back of its card for any guests who are walking around the local area. A card of any type can be made multipurpose by adding any of these types of features.

• Capture cards. Capture Business Card is innovation aiming at expanding the range and scope of the use of your business cards. Representing new category of business cards capture business cards preserve benefits of a simple business card and add multiple functions of removable adhesive labels. So on the front it looks standard, but on the back there are labels, which can be stick to anything you like: goods, address books, calendars etc. Being removed labels does not spoil the attractiveness of a card; it still can be used as standard business card.

• Fold-over cards. Sometimes the most essential information of your business itemized and compactly structured cannot be successfully placed in a standard custom business card. Folded business cards are the best business card option when the space matters most. Fold-over business cards can be printed on one or both sides thus providing you twice as much space. Scored in the middle these cards can be easily folded down to the normal size.

• Outside-the-box cards. A wildly original, fanciful or extravagant presentation can draw extra attention. Creativity knows no bounds-except the amount of money you wish to spend. Some examples are cards made of chocolate or that folded out into a miniature box to keep small items in. The most popular materials for the outside-the-box cards design are:

• Plastic Business Cards. Plastic business cards are normally made from PVC plastic. The most common cards being made out of clear, translucent or white plastic.

• Metal Business Cards. The most common material is stainless steel. Other available materials include brass, copper, and regular steel.

• Rubber Business Cards. These are typically made from vulcanized rubber.

• Wooden Business Cards. These cards can be made from a variety of woods. They can be printed upon or engraved.

• Magnetic Business Cards. Can be made from a variety of thicknesses and printed in full color.

• CD Business Cards. Recent technological advances have made CD-ROM "business cards" possible which can hold about 35 to 100 MB of data. These cards may be square, round or oblong but are approximately the same size as a conventional business card.

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/marketingbasics/marketingmaterials/article71900.html

http://www.essortment.com/articles/types-of-business-cards_102917.htm

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Popular-Types-Of-Business-Cards/644238

http://businesscardsabc.com/business-cards-types.html

http://www.thebusinesscardsite.com.au/card_pages/types.php