When you think of “business cards,” you probably think of cards used by professionals to make industry connections and promote their services. While this is the standard use for these little wallet-friendly miracles, it’s hardly the only game in town! With affordable business card printing becoming increasingly widespread, personal business cards are now more popular than ever. Basically, personal business cards can be used to promote anything you want, from your personal contact information to your hobbies and interests. Here are seven uses for personal business cards:

1. Parents can exchange contact information easily with their kids’ friends and classmates. Whether your child is spending the night at a friend’s house or you’re establishing a “phone chain” for classroom emergencies, everyone will appreciate receiving a simple card with your name (and the name of your child), phone number, email address and street address.
2. If you have a lot of hobbies and interests – or even just one passion that you indulge in quite frequently – having a personal business card on hand at all times makes it a snap to connect with fellow enthusiasts you meet a clubs, group outings and conventions. Instead of searching a for a pen and paper to swap info with a new friend, just hand them one of your cards instead.
3. They give you a great icebreaker for real life social networking. Approaching people at parties or other networking events can be intimidating, but now you can simply say, “Can I give you my card?” The card itself is sure to spark further conversation.
4. Personal cards offer an easy way to promote your blog, website or Facebook page. You probably know all sorts of online marketing methods, but how can you go about promoting your online passions in the offline world? By creating one of these handy cards and handing them out to people, sticking them in mailboxes or underneath windshield wipers, etc.
5. If you’re an artist or graphic designer, these cards offer a fun way to let your creativity show. Since you don’t have to worry about adhering to the rules of business decorum when you design your personal cards, your imagination is the limit – feel free to use any colors, fonts or images you please.
6. They’re fun for teen (and tweens!) to give to their friends. Let them pick out their own design and personalize it as they see fit. These are particularly great for the end of the school year, so they can rest assured that all of their friends know how to get in touch with them over the summer.
7. Finally, it’s easier to enter giveaways. How many times have you been at a store or restaurant that offered a prize – like a free lunch – if you dropped your card in a small box or fishbowl? Now you can drop in your personal card and reap the rewards!

Everyone is familiar with the many uses of traditional business cards. Having a card printed with your name, company, position and professional contact information is a great way to keep in touch with colleagues, coworkers, clients and customers. Even in the age of the Internet, having a well-designed business card that you can hand out whenever a work-related networking opportunity arises is one of the best ways to establish a name for yourself within your industry. But why should you identify yourself solely by your current occupation? With the economy still on shaky ground and many businesses reinventing themselves for the new millennium, standard business cards can quickly become outdated and useless. That’s where personal business cards come in. These cards allow you to network in a social setting without forcing you to identify yourself immediately with your current job or occupation! Instead of focusing on status and title, personal business cards can highlight your interests, ambitions and unique personality instead. Best of all, they allow you to use your imagination during the design process. While regular business cards tend to have a conservative, “cookie cutter” appearance, personal business cards can be as colorful, eye-catching and unconventional as you’d like! Here are four reasons why you should consider investing in personal business cards:

1. They allow you to conceal (and reveal) information at will. Perhaps you don’t want to be affiliated with your current employer because you’re in the process of hunting for a new job, or you’re considering a drastic change in your career path. Or maybe you’re tired of people’s preconceived notions about your profession. (Ask any attorney how he or she feels about lawyer jokes!) Whatever your reasons may be, handing a personal business card to a new friend or contact tells them only what you want them to know, and nothing more.
2. They give you the freedom to emphasize virtually any aspect of your life. While some people are married to their jobs, others are simply “working for the weekend.” If this applies to you, why not create a card that reflects your hobbies and passions rather than the daily grind you’re obligated to participate in? You can include a picture or illustration that speaks to you on a personal level, or feature a favorite inspiring or funny quote. You can also include whatever contact information you please, from your Facebook address to the URL of your personal blog. Personal business cards give you the freedom to promote the things that truly matter to you.
3. In a sea of standard business cards, personal cards can go a long way toward helping you stand out from the crowd. Give people a reason to remember you by handing them a unique card that is a true indication of your personality and values.
4. They have many uses beyond basic networking. Personal cards are a great choice for people who may not have the option of creating regular business cards, including those who are currently unemployed, freelancers, aspiring creative types (like musicians, actors and novelists), teenagers and children, and retired people. These people can hand their cards to friends, neighbors, new acquaintances and relatives – they can even enter giveaways at stores and restaurants that ask patrons to submit a business card as their entry. Personal business cards can also be ideal for family use; try handing them to babysitters so they’ll know where to contact you, or give them to your children before sending them to school or a friend’s house so you can rest assured that your contact info will always be close at hand.

For these reasons and more, personal cards are an effective – and affordable – way to distribute your information without using a standard business card. Contact a professional printing company to learn more about rates and additional design ideas today.

The business card is one of the most widely used marketing tools by people of all professions. No matter what your occupation or service, this tool will allow you to both promote yourself and your business all at once. For this reason, make sure your business card is top notch to give that professional looking first impression.

Like most businesses, attracting customers and keeping your name at the forefront with them, is of primary interest. To do it well, you must make sure to choose the right type of business card. It should be attractive, of high quality, and should reflect the prevailing characteristics of your business. The matte coated business card does this and encourages the potential customer to want to keep it close.

The cards should reflect the standard quality of your business making the matte coated business card an excellent choice for that first impression. This type of card uses digital printing processes to finish them, giving you and your company a look that simply says “class act” all the way.

Dull Aqueous (Dull AQ) Finish

If high quality is what you’re looking for, then the matte coated business card is just perfect for you. The dull aqueous (Dull AQ) finish of these cards, give them a great look, but still allows for a relatively inexpensive way to introduce your business.

Matte coated business cards are pleasing to the eyes, and provide a smooth, elegant, and stylish appearance and are very popular selection among companies that are looking to achieve a unique and eye-catching look for their business cards.

Creating Your Card

With the matte coated finish already decided upon, just a few others things to discuss like the size, design, background images, and of course the important information such as name, title, contact information and tagline to be used. Now, you are well on your way to creating and owning a high quality professional looking introduction card.

The average finished size of a business card is 2″ x 3.5″. Most cards are printed on heavyweight card stock (14pt/16pt) coated, and printed with high resolution photo quality. The matte coated finish is more commonly chosen for its high quality and inexpensive price.

Making Your Business Stand Out

Matte coated business cards create an impression that will last well beyond that first moment you present your card to someone. Your business and can be printed with unique features which will allow you and your business to stand out in the crowded business world, and will present your company as being a first-rate organization.

For style and a professional look at very reasonable rates, choose the matte coated finish for your company’s business cards. The clarity of the print, the high resolution photo finishing, and of course, the affordability, makes the matte coated business card the best choice for your company.

Your business cards are an integral part of the marketing process for your business. The way you present your services and contact information to the world is contained in that little piece of paper and you want to be sure that you have business cards that really pop. Business cards are universally used for professional and personal purposes, which can make their presence ubiquitous. Due to their popularity, business cards can often blend together with all of the other ones received. If you want to make a strong impression and create a memorable business card, you need to think outside of the box.

Using white paper stock for business cards is considered standard and is often the starting place for designing a card. If a person is using an online template and they want to get the process done quickly, using a white background is the common choice. Think about how many white business cards you have received over the years. Can you remember what any of them were for? They all start to blend together after awhile. However, a bold business card is sure to be remembered. This is doubly important when you want a potential client to contact you over your competition. If they associate your services with a memorable business card, chances are they will contact you first because they remember you first.

There are several ways to make sure that your business cards pop. Color is one of the strongest ways to distinguish your cards from the rest. Using a bold color to print your information on creates a powerful background. Extra design flourishes are often unnecessary when the color is bold. This allows you to succinctly present your information while still making an impression. If you decide upon using a white card stock for your business cards, you can also use color to your advantage. Color can be incorporated into the text and design of a business card, making your information stand out. Color is especially effective if there is a photograph in the design of your business card.

Another business card design tip is to consider the use of die cutting. You can make your business card really different by using die cuts to create a unique shape. From geometric design to symbols that represent your company, die cut business cards are a creative way to make an impact. For example, if you have a tutoring business, then having business cards shaped as apples is an effective way to represent your services and remain memorable with your contacts.

Business card designs are much more than just a white, rectangular piece of paper these days. Now, more than ever, it is important to market yourself and your company in creative ways so that you can stay ahead of the competition.

For many years, there was a standard set for the information to be included on a business card. These cards were used by business professionals strictly for business related networking. Aside from the card holder’s name, the necessary contact information often includes card holder’s company name, address and phone number. With the advent of email, business cards became more personalized, because email addresses were then added to business cards.

The new age is all about networking. There are a number of social networking platforms that businesses are using to promote themselves. This can include large well-known website, like Facebook and Twitter, or professional networking websites like LinkedIn. These social networking sites have become an integral way that small business owners and freelancers promote their service.

For those who don’t have the luxury of a large marketing budget, utilizing these free methods of promotion is crucial. You can create interest in your company by allowing people follow your updates to be notified about events or upcoming projects. It allows the customer to increase loyalty through this involvement. Sites like LinkedIn can work well to network with other professionals that may need your services.

Utilizing these social networking websites have become the industry standard for many people. If you run a small business or are a freelancer, you may rely on these methods of promotion for much of your business. Including information about your social networking profiles on your business card can help increase the effectiveness of these sites for you.

Soon you will realize how easy it is to utilize business cards as a personal branding tool. Depending on your personal preference, you can put this information on the front of the card or list all of your social networking information on the back. Using business cards to promote business and increase sales is a plus for more entrepreneurs. And for many people, promoting their company’s social networking profiles—or even their own—through their business cards will allow them to reach those goals sooner.