Soy inks are a natural ink made from the soy bean plant. The name is also given to mean any vegetable based ink. The classic inks used to create business cards are petroleum based and therefore a finite planet resource. Using traditional inks does create a larger carbon footprint and introduce unnecessary chemicals into the printing process. Soy inks have no off gassing from the volatile organic compounds making them air and planet happy.

Soy inks are considered by their proponents to offer a much more vibrant pigment to your business card compared to traditional inks. Others will say there is little visual difference. The easiest way to decide is to compare them yourself. The main issue folks have with soy inks and recycled card stock (a must have compliment material) for business cards is the cost. At the moment soy ink does cost more than traditional ink. But, as any greeney will tell you, the more folks that make the switch, the quicker the price will come down.

In the current business climate being green sells. Perhaps you run a traditional company with little to contribute to the eco-friendly revolution. That’s okay. Your company doesn’t have to promote alternative energy or organic cotton to make a good green impression on your consumers. Small changes in your business branding such as using soy inks and recycled paper in your business cards can go a long way to leaving the right impression.

For many the metal business card holder is an economical and classy way to protect your business cards. A thin sleek design and the coolness of the metal are a great combination for protecting business cards. Metal holders help prevent air and humidity from hitting your business cards. This could prevent softening of the card stock (which makes your cards seem old) and help avoid curling edges. Metal business card holders are very affordable.

Leather business card holders are more expensive than metal options but they do provide a great deal of personality and make for great gifts. A small monogrammed metal plate adds a touch of creativity. Leather holders are also comfortable in your pocket and hold the same amount of cards as a metal holder. They are not leather wallets and are not much thicker than any other business card holder.

Whether its a trade show or the reception desk, the open free standing business card holder is a great finishing touch. Most come in a simple clear plastic design but the utilitarian quality usually suits the environment. You wouldn’t carry a plastic card holder on your person. They are meant for ease of display and the ‘help yourself’ approach. Plastic business card holders are very affordable and a good idea even if you pick up a couple of metal holders for your pocket.

Business card holders are available wherever you buy or print business card so its worth a few minutes of your time to browse the selection. Often holders are offered free as part of a business card printing deal so you can keep your business cards in great condition for nothing more than the price of shipping.

Horizontally printed cards are expected by a vast majority of the traditional corporate world. Gimmicks and eye catching design are not necessary when simple exchanging contact information. Traditional services such as lawyers, doctors and dentists favor the horizontal card as due well established companies and large corporations.

Vertical cards offer a different perspective on contact information. If you hand a vertically printed card over to someone not expecting it they will try to read horizontally then turn the card to read the vertical text. This works for some folks and can be a nice gimmick but for others it can be annoying and time wasting. Think seriously about the type of business you have and the type of client you are trying to attract.

The vertical business card provides a sense of additional height and can work great for those who are in the business of perspective such as architects, engineers, artists, photographers and up and coming businesses such as green technology. Vertical cards suggest change and may be a good idea for your upcoming business card order if you are looking to re-brand your product in the coming year.

Whatever printing alignment you choose for your business card, whether horizontal or vertical, be sure the information scans well, is spelled correctly and stands out for all the right reasons.

First and foremost your baby party planner business card should be clearly meant for babies and their parents. Don’t try to muddle a baby side business in with another planning business. You need to have a separate card with baby/child friendly color schemes that catches the eye. Check the business card templates online under the heading “day care.”

Color schemes for the baby planner’s business card don’t have to adhere to traditional ideas about baby showers. A pastel colored business card will not stand out. Rather, it will look dated and give the impression you aren’t keeping up with the new baby shower themes and ideas. Pick bright contrasting colors for your clip art and then keep to two colors for your text and main background color.

New parents know they want a shower or a christening party but not what that entails. Use a list to provide the basics of what your business offers. Its always good to use the back side of your card for this information. When a potential client sees how many aspects of the party you cover they will feel more confident in hiring you. Plus it provides a firm basis for hiring contracts.

Always provide links to your past party pictures, ideas and themes. A URL on the bottom front of your business card is ideal. Often your clients are throwing a party for their child for the very first time. Letting them look through possible themes and solidifying what they want will make things easier on everyone involved.

The first business card type cards apparently showed up in Europe in the 17^th century when court life held sway. Visitors would present their visiting cards to the servant that answered the door who would take it to the owner of the house or head of the court before the visitor’s entrance was accepted. The cards were a little bigger than they are today but were used as a piece of note paper as well as a visiting card.

As court life dwindled and modernism took hold visiting cards became calling cards in the upper social circles of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. New rules of etiquette meant anyone, male or female, visiting a house would have the servant or housekeeper present a calling card to the lady of the house before entering. This was a formal way of letting folks know you were there but also acted as a symbol of your class and acknowledgment of social tiers. Most cards were roughly the size of the modern business card but included personal information only.

The Victorian social calling card had rules and codes attached. For example, if someone presented their calling card in person the right top corner of the card would be slightly folded. If someone was calling to express their condolences the letters “pc” would appear in the corner. There were numerous codes for social calling and knowing them showed your rank in society.

About the same time the calling card began to flourish so did tradesman cards. Tradesman cards were around for a considerable amount of time, some starting as far back as the beginning of the 18^th century. Unlike the modern trade business card, early cards didn’t usually contain much contact information. As the industrial revolution took hold and more streets were paved and houses built, a street address became a necessity.

Today’s business cards combine the social etiquette of the 19^th century with the trade cards of the 18^th century. Business etiquette means handing a business card over at the beginning or conclusion of a conversation or meeting or in exchange for a business card from somebody else. Business cards have been a staple of society for a few centuries now and there are no signs of them disappearing in the near future.

The contact information on the intern’s business card should be personal not professional. It would be unwise to include the phone number and address of your internship. Instead include your personal e-mail, social networking links and cell phone number.

As there may be little to no work experience, the intern should include a link to their online educational or volunteer resume so potential employers can read up on you. Be sure to highlight the URL in blue on your business card to make it stand out.

Keep the intern’s business card simple, clean and easy to read. You are selling you not the business card. Avoid gloss finishes unless you’re working in a highly creative field. Think about traditional colors and designs used on business cards in your chosen field and reflect that in your own card. Try to stick to no more than two contrasting colors in your business card template.

A portrait photograph is an appropriate finishing touch to the intern’s business card. Visit a professional photographer and be sure to get the copyright to your photographs so you can use them on your online printer’s website.

Never send out a job application without a business card. Hand a business card to every professional you have contact with and don’t forget to distribute your details at network events.

Its a tight job market out there and standing out for all the right reasons can help intern become employee. A professional business card can help make this happen.

]]> http://www.printedbusinesscards.com/business-card-help/welcome-to-the-world-of-work-intern%e2%80%99s-business-card/feed/ 0 http://www.printedbusinesscards.com/business-card-help/what-not-to-do-when-designing-your-business-card/ http://www.printedbusinesscards.com/business-card-help/what-not-to-do-when-designing-your-business-card/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:14:08 +0000 Trish http://www.printedbusinesscards.com/?p=3439 Its easy to know what basic information you need on your business card but do you know what you don’t need on it? We’ve all seen a “bad” business card. Here are a few ways you can avoid making your own bad business card.

Stick to a simple color scheme. Two colors is ideal, three is okay but more than that is a mistake. Your business card should be eye catching not distracting.

Stick to a simple font style. I know there are some pretty cool font styles out there but it doesn’t mean they belong on your business card. All text on your card should be simple to decipher and appropriately sized.

Don’t buy an oversized business card. They may be all the rage among artistic professionals but in most cases a large business card won’t cut it. If they can’t keep it in the Rolodex, they won’t keep it. If you need more room go with a two sided or fold over style business card.

Utilize your tag line properly. Often the tag line is forgotten or thrown in at the last minute. This is the sentence that sums up your quality service or product and distinguishes you from your competitors. Take your time drafting the tag line.

Choose appropriate background designs and images. If you are in the automotive repair business there shouldn’t be a picture of a bunny rabbit on your business card. You may not want to go with predictable theme templates for your business card but they at least have to be on topic. If you don’t want a picture of a car what about a steering wheel?

The real test to designing your business card is whether you yourself would like to receive it. Is it quirky?Does it stand out? Is it legible? Is the message clear? Be your own worst critic and you are sure to design a business card worth your time and money.

Let’s be honest, in this instance, a business card isn’t going to keep your customers coming back to you…the quality of your beer will do that. However, a custom business card is the first step for customer acquisition. The way to do that is by keeping your contact information (and layout) the same for everyone that works in the company, and for all of you to decide what type of image should go on the card.

The image should be tasteful, no pun intended. Sometimes all it takes is a great logo. If you have a good, recognizable logo, your personalized business card will look great. However, if you are just starting your business and do not have a well-known brand logo, think about putting an image in the background along with a logo. This is where you can be creative. One idea could be having a very close-up photo of a “sweating” pint of beer with carbonation flowing up. Another idea could be an over-the-head shot of a pint of beer, where it looks like a circle of glass and the foam of the beer. The possibilities are almost limitless.

As for acquiring the customers, never forget what the back of a custom business card can do. On this back, you could have another smaller image with some text saying, Present this card at our brewery and receive one free six-pack of beer of your choice, with a small code next to it. You might lose a few dollars on the six-pack, but as long as you are confident in your beer, you should be able to turn the customer into a regular buyer. Once they hand you the business card, mark down the code so they can’t use it again, and then hand it back to them.

So keep brewing that delicious beverage, and keep brewing that great business card.

But whether you just started and have one client, or whether you’re a big shot in New York with ten clients, there is one thing all entertainment lawyers need. You guessed it, business cards. The business card for an entertainment lawyer will provide necessary background and trustworthiness for the client or agent in discussion.

When designing your business card, think of whom you are trying to impress. When you meet a potential client, you want them to think of you as a competent, reliable lawyer. Your custom business card should be no different. Create a sleek, smooth design either using lines, solid shapes, or both to provide a cohesive, yet bold feeling to the business card. Try to avoid pictures or clip art, as this may be detrimental to the bold feeling of your card. If you have a logo or slogan to your entertainment law firm or small business, put that somewhere on the front of the card. If it’s a logo, have it in one of the top corners. If you have a slogan, put it at the bottom of the business card.

The content should be similar to any other business card you have made before. It should have your name and title in larger or bolder font, along with at least two forms of contact (usually your email and mobile phone). However, since this is not an ordinary profession, it might be good to show that you’re progressive. Include your website, along with a Twitter handle or Facebook name if you have one. This extra step may help you attract a younger generation of celebrities and agents.

The last step is optional, but great if you already have your feet wet in the business. On the back of the card, keep the same design as the front, but include a list of a few of the celebrities you have managed or assisted with contract deals in the past. This gives agents and potential clients an instant snapshot of how well-versed you are in the entertainment law community. If you don’t have more than a few previous clients, keep the same design, and have your website on the back in a larger font for added repetition.