Archive for May 18, 2011

How to Make Money Selling Business Cards

Creating business cards is a great way to make money. If you’re creative, good on a computer, and can meet deadlines, you can do this. It is a fast and easy way to make extra money. It can be your side hobby and, if it picks up, consider making it into a small business.

Things You’ll Need:

Printer Ink Business Card Paper Business Card Software Step 1

Get a high quality printer. This is necessary for printing the business cards. If you can afford it, purchase a color laser printer. This will be the best value for your money. Don’t forget to buy the proper inks and toners.

Step 2

Get the necessary paper. There are different textures and weights that can be used for business cards. There are two design options to choose from, the first one is the pre-cut paper that already has the business card shapes. If you would like, you can purchase a good card stock. This will make it easier to print as you will not have certain template restrictions. The down side is that you will have to cut the cards after you print them.

Step 3

Set up the business card software and get used to it. The better you know the software, the nicer the cards will look.

Step 4

Create a few sample designs. In the samples, use your personal business information. This is a good source of advertising.

Step 5

Begin advertising. The only way you can make money is if people know about it. Consider posting your services on websites like Craigslist. You can also place an ad in the newspaper or put business cards in local restaurants.

Step 6

Get started. Create a mock-up with your client’s information. Keep the business type in mind when creating the mock-ups. Be creative and have a few different options for the client to choose from. Let the client proofread the card.

Step 7

Print the cards once they’ve been approved. Be sure to have the right amount of cards on the correct type of business card paper. It is important to inspect the business cards so that they are all aligned properly and include the correct information.

Step 8

Package and deliver the business cards. If you are only doing this for local businesses, you can hand-deliver them. If not, you’ll have to properly ship them to your client.

Step 9

Make sure you send the bill and collect the payment. This is your money-making strategy, so you must follow through. Don’t feel badly if you are forceful in the event of nonpayment.

Step 10

Keep records of each transaction. Include the business name, location, business card design, amount of cards ordered, and anything else that you think you need to remember. With the different database software, you can easily put this information together in no time.

Design ideas for folded business cards

Folded business cards offer a variety of unique content and design ideas for an innovating businessman or businesswoman. With the extended content capacity of folding business cards, you can virtually put any kind of design idea in them. From larger designs, longer messages and better marketing angles, the sky is the limit for unique designs for folded business cards.

The two-part folded message:

One of the best ideas for a folded business card is the “two part” folded message. This type of design strategy involves composing a unique, witty or funny message that comes in two parts. You can place the first one on the front cover of your folding business card, while the second part will be placed on the inside panel of the fold, which should be directly behind the first. The first part of the message contains the premise of the statement. This should be what attracts people with its air of mystery or promise of enlightenment. The second part of the message is the “punch line” if you will of the two part message. This should give the reader an amusing joke, or a thoughtful concept to ponder upon.

For example, you can place the words “Try not to become a man of success…” on the cover of your folding business card as the premise. Then on the inside panel, you can add the second part “but rather try to become a man of value. -Albert Einstein“ as the end quote. People will appreciate this unique and inspiring strategy for your folded business cards. They will probably remember you more because of this design technique.

Open folding designs:

You can also try a design that incorporates the opening and closing folds of the business card to your advantage. For example, if your business is into plants, then you can have a Venus fly trap design for your folded business card. The outer cover can look like the plant itself, while the inner part becomes its mouth. Also, you can make your folding business card look like a laptop, a personal digital assistant, a box of chocolates or any other type of opening material to get the same effect. With these very interactive folding business cards, you will assuredly be remembered by your business contacts.

Calendar printing:

Of course, that extra space can be also used for good old pocket calendar printing. Placing a calendar in your folding business card doubles the use of that card immediately. People can use it as a business card to get into contact with you, while they can also keep it as a reference if they need to know the current date of the day. This may not be the most eye catching idea for folded business card design, but it is the most useful that will assure your business cards long life and exposure.

Advertisement:

An advertisement is also an ideal content for the extra space of your folding business card. Since an advertisement usually involves full color images and text, make sure that you choose a good business card printing company to print those folded business cards in high quality. Placing advertisements in your business card is a good practice especially if your profession is heavily involved in sales and marketing.

All in all, there are actually a lot of things that you can put on folded business cars. The only limit really is your imagination. You can use one of the ideas above, or you can try a totally different route if your are inspired. The point of printing folding business cards is really to stand out among the rest of normal business cards in use today. Capitalize on this unique tool and you will be remembered kindly by your business card. Good Luck!

Magnetic Business Cards: Make Them Yourself

Are you starting a new business? Kudos to that, but how exactly are you ensuring maximum profit and recognition? To earn profits you have to make sure that you advertise and promote your business. And the best way to promote your business is through a business card. In fact, biz cards that come with magnets are very popular nowadays and are a cheap and easy way to woo your potential clients. Biz card magnets are inexpensive and you can be rest assured that your prospective clients will not throw it away the moment they walk out of your office door.

The best part about a magnet biz cards is that you do not need to wholly depend on a business card printing company to make it. You can do it alone. First get a sheet of magnetic sheeting that has an adhesive and gather all your biz cards. You can get the magnetic sheets from your local crafts store. You can also get them from online stores if you want to. Make the adhesive biz card magnets easily by peeling and sticking the magnetic backing on your cards. All you have to do is peel the paper from the magnetic strip, place your biz card accurately on top of the magnet strip at the center and then press it down. Your magnetic biz card is ready!

Follow these simple steps for all the biz cards that you have and all your magnetic business cards will be ready in a jiffy! In case you are using magnetic sheeting that comes with a peel and stick piece of paper, the steps will be a bit different. You have to place your biz card on the top of the non-sticky paper-side of your magnetic sheet. Then hold the card in place and use a pen or a pencil to trace around the card. Once that is done, cut the lines and peel the paper off your magnetic sheet. Place your biz card on top of the sticky side and press it down. Before you press the card down ensure that you have placed it accurately at the center. Now, use a pair of scissors to cut out your biz cards. You can repeat these steps for all your cards. Once you have your magnetic biz cards ready, you can give them to people around you. They will not throw away these cool business cards that have magnets on them.