5 Things That Will Make Your Business Card Legit

Your business card says a lot about you and your company...in fact, it literally does just that :)  When deciding on your business card, keep in mind what the most successful companies in the country would want for their business card and follow suit.  There are various things to be aware of when choosing your business card, but these are my top 5 and what makes one legit.

1. Paper Thickness (AKA Stock weight)- This is what I look for first when it comes to my business cards.  I have seen a business person take someone's card and immediately bend it to see how thick it was.  Maybe this is a gut reflex, but it's real.  My business card is a 28pt stock and I'm very pleased with it because it feels luxurious, professional and legit.  I recommend using a stock of at least 16pt or 110 lb.

2. Cardstock/Finish- The cardstock is the type of paper that your card will be printed on.  Choose a cardstock that is timeless.  This means no gloss.  Glossy business cards look more like club promotional flyers.  Unless you are a club promoter, I recommend sticking with matte or uncoated finishes.  Keep it simple.

3. Dimensions- The standard dimensions of business cards are 3.5x2 inches.  I think it's best to stick with these dimensions because it's also the size of business card holders.  I have seen smaller business cards using dimensions of 3.5x1 inches and 1.75x2 inches which cuts the card in half.  This is creative and cute, but you loose valuable space and risk the card getting lost in a sea of other larger cards.

4. Design options/ no limitations- There are so many deals out there for inexpensive business cards, but a lot of these deals come with limitations.  For example, you may get 100 business cards for $5, but the printing company's name and website will be listed on the cards.  Also, it will just be printing on one side of the card, so valuable space on the other is being wasted.  Lastly, you are limited to customization options, so if you have a specific font that is used in your logo, if it's not in the company's library, you won't be able to use it.  It's best to go with a card that you can actually customize to fit your brand.  In some cases it may be best to work with a Graphic Designer to create a unique business card for you.  The cost of business cards vary, but they can be custom and professional while still being affordable.

Tip: Even if your card is a little more on the pricey side due to certain customizations/upgrades that you want, just remember that this is a business expense and can be included when filing your business taxes as a deduction!

5. Taking advantage of both sides of the card- A business card at minimum should include your name, title and at least one form of contact information.  Why limit yourself though?  There are two perfectly good sides of the card to be used and the cost to print double-sided isn't much more than single-sided.  One side of my card is strictly my logo and the other side has my name, contact info, URL, social links and email.  If I tried to squeeze this all onto one side, the card would look rather busy.

So tell me, if you have a business card (if you don't, you need one now), what were the key factors in your selection?

3 Things That You are Overlooking When Processing Orders

To my tangible product creators, this post is for you!  There is a plethora of business information out there (webinars, e-books, e-courses, etc.) which I've found targets businesses that don't make/sell tangible products.  If there was mention of tips for tangible product creators, the section was small.  Now, it's true that the same business principals apply whether you sell a physical product or a service, but when it comes to physical products, there are a few more steps that you can take advantage of that someone selling services may not have the opportunity to do.

1. Handwritten thank you notes to EVERY customer- Depending on the amount of orders you process in a month, this may be a huge task.  Look at it this way, though, each order has to be packaged individually anyway.  Take the extra 30 seconds to tell the customer thank you in your handwriting.  It gives an instant connection and may create a repeat customer.

Tip:  If time really isn't on your side for this one, you can delegate this task out. Provide a guideline on what you would want the thank you notes to say so that everyone can be on the same page.  Even if you aren't physically writing it, a representative of your company is, and that's still golden.

2. Branding and Logo Placement- As a business owner of physical products, you have direct access to your customers.  I'm talking about their mailing address.  I'm not saying to knock on their door and thank them for being a customer, because that would be stalky.  I am saying, though, that you are sending something to them, so take advantage of that luxury!  Your logo should be on everything.  This means on your product, shipping label, receipt/packing slip, etc.  Put that sucker everywhere that makes sense!  What this looks like for me is the following:

• Logo and URL on the back of every greeting card and art print.
• Product packaging label with my logo and URL to seal each product.
• Logo and URL on the packing slip/receipt .
• Logo and URL on the shipping label and I have created a template for it so that the fonts, spacing, etc. are consistent with my brand.

3. Including a Business Card- Some people love them, some people don't.  I say it's still a great idea to send your customers one or two business cards with each order.  You never know who they know or if someone may inquire about your product.  If they have your business card they can hand it to them and you may have just made a new customer!

I hope these points have encouraged you to take another look at your processes.  As a bonus, I have created a free checklist of all of the steps that I take when filling an order from beginning to end.  You can either print the 5x7 out to keep on your desk as a reminder, or you can keep the 8x10 file on your computer desktop to open and check off each item as you complete it (the pdf is clickable!).  If you are trying to get a process together for your own business or would like a new perspective, download the free checklist now which is available in the Color Hug Freebie Collection!