1. It makes your colors and images really “pop”

   If your business card design incorporates color in anyway – from the background of the print to the ink of the text to a picture of yourself or a product – a glossy finish is imperative. Adding a glossy coating to your business card will make colors and images appear sharper and more impressive. This is especially important if there are any photographs that are part of the design. If you are taking the extra effort to market with photos, then you need to have a glossy finish in order to display the photos to their best ability. The glossy finish will highlight the colors and make the lines more appealing.

2. It protects the card from spills and smudges

   A business card can be exchanged anywhere, which is part of their appeal. You could meet someone out at a restaurant and give them your card. You could be on a run with your dog and hand out your card to a new acquaintance. You could leave a stack of cards at a local business who supports your company so that you can get new customers. This type of versatility is what makes a business card such a necessary part of doing business. This is also what makes business cards so susceptible to spills and smudges. Since they can be exchanged anywhere, this means there could be spilled drinks, rain falling, greasy fingers handling the card after eating fries and the list goes on. By giving your cards a glossy finish you protect your contact information from getting lost on accident.

3. They look more professional than matte paper cards

   Matte paper business cards, unfortunately, can come off looking a little “cheap.” And that can translate to people as being unprofessional. First impressions are hard to undo and your business card will often serve as an introduction. Unless you plan on investing in heavy paper stock, which will often cost more than a glossy finish, your card will look flimsy and may in turn make you look flimsy. Think of your business card as a reflection of what you have to offer as a business person. If it looks like you cut corners, then new contacts may think that you do so in your business life as well. Make a good impression with glossy business cards.

Factor: Pictures

Are you going to be using pictures on your business cards? Some professionals include a picture of themselves in order to further personalize their cards. Making sure that people can connect a face with a name can be an important marketing strategy. Alternately, if you are known for a specific product or service, you may want to include a picture of your specialty. Either way, when including a picture on your business card, you may want to choose a glossy finish so that there is a higher contrast of color in your picture. A glossy coat will make colors appear sharper, while a matte finish will provide a more muted tone.

Factor: Writing

Are you going to need to write on your business cards? If your business cards are going to be serving the dual purpose of providing your information and giving you a space to write down important supplementary details, a matte finish is usually the better choice. For example, if you want to use the front side of your card for your contact information and the backside as a space for your client to record their next appointment with you, you need a surface that is able to effectively absorb ink. With a glossy finish, you run the risk of the ink becoming smudged and illegible. A matte finish provides a surface that is better suited for such transactions.

Factor: Durability

How durable do your cards need to be? A glossy finish on a business card will be more durable than a matte finish because the glossy coating will protect the surface from outside elements like weather, spills and other unexpected substances. If you think your business card will be introduced in places that may lead to possible outside elements affecting the quality of your card, then you should go for a glossy finish.

Factor: Cost

How much do you want to spend? Generally, a matte finish will be a slightly more economical choice when it comes to printing business cards. However, an increasing number of printing companies are including a glossy coat for at least one side of the card as a standard option that is included in the basic cost. Do your research before choosing your finish so that you can avoid any hidden costs.

Many times, business cards are the only item that is left with a potential customer. If you have ever been at an event where you meet several people and need to leave your business cards, you must make sure that your card stands out. You need a design that is complete, yet complex. This means your name, title, company, and all relevant contact information needs to be on your business cards. When you initially begin to design your card, think about what kind of look sums up your business. Try to avoid designs and styles that are flashy or overpowering. Your business cards must generate positive feelings toward your company.

Pick a Business Card Design That Will Be Attractive to Your Clients

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is choosing business cards according to their preferences. It’s not what you like that is important; it’s more important that your customers like it. Of course, it’s great if you like the card too—you’ll be more comfortable handing it out. A good idea is to print out a few different styles and designs of cards. Hand them out to some of your loyal customers and ask for their feedback. Gather their opinions, and then make some changes to your design so that it reflects what your customers seem to like.

Printing Your Business Cards

If you use a professional business card printing company, you can pretty much rest assured that the process used to create your business cards will be sound. The files used to create your card should be in the property format, and there should be a bleed area left. This is the area that is sometimes required by printers. Several printing companies offer complete design and printing packages. This can save you a lot of money in the long run. However, it will be even more affordable if you are able to design your own.

Business cards are printed on cardstock. The heavier the card stock, the thicker the business card will be. This is a very important aspect of the design process for your cards. If you use a very lightweight cardstock, you may not receive good feedback from your customers. This is one area where you can’t scrimp; instead, you need to ensure you have the heaviest weight of cardstock available in order to give your cards a professional look.

How Much Does it Cost to Print Business Cards?

There are far too many print packages out there today to be able list prices. However, there are some general rules:

1. The cheapest business cards are black and while. However, it’s best to use a very professional weight cardstock for these cards. Otherwise, they may appear unprofessional.
2. Even if you only use a couple of colors besides black and white, it will create a good-looking business card at a comparable price.
3. Full color business cards are the most expensive. They also provide the most visual appeal for your cards.
4. The more cards you order, the better price you will receive. If you think you will use all of the cards in one order, then order two and secure a lower price per card.

A business card is a small card identifying a person in connection with his or her business that is distributed to a client, potential customer, and etc. A good business card should convey the overall image of the business, which isn’t always easy considering the card measures a mere two by three inches. Thus, it is very important that the card is designed and printed in a way that is suitable for one’s business.

Today, online business card printing is an easy task thanks to the thousands of websites that offer business card printing services. To get the best deals, there are various factors that one should look for including price, quantity, the choice of digital or offset printing, paper material, colors available, business card templates, quality assurance, shipping and fast delivery.

Consider different websites that offer business card printing services and select the top five sites that offer the cheapest service. It is important to print the exact amount of cards needed so that when the business cards run out, one can update the information or freshen the design to keep it interesting.

One should find out whether the printing service uses digital or offset printing. Offset printing has an edge over digital printing in regards to the quality of the final outcome. Though in digital printing the outcome is, indeed, acceptable and comes at a fair price.

Regarding the business card printing material, paper stock that matches one’s preference must be chosen. Most printers provide a choice of paper material. To get the feel of a silky, smooth, business card, the glossy matte lamination should be the pick. Textured business cards are for those who prefer a clean and elegant style.

The actual amount of colors being used in the business card should always be checked. The four main colors in printing are cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). The phrase “full color printing” refers to this CMYK color scheme. Some people prefer colorful business cards to make them attractive and eye-catching while others prefer single, two, or three, color cards to match their corporate identity.

Most business card printing services offer free business card templates. Business card templates tend to, not only save a lot of time and trouble, but also money. With the wide range of templates available, there is hardly a chance that one does not find a template of his/her preference.

High quality business card printing and the use of paper stock are always the main ingredients for a long lasting, impressionable, business card. Though most websites claim to have the best quality, it is not easy to determine which of these claims is accurate. The only option is to request a business card sample from a few different printers and compare the quality.

Some business card printing services offer free shipping. However the customer should agree to the terms and conditions. There are endless bargains on the internet so one should not make a hasty decision. One must never rush when printing business cards. Adequate time should be taken to source and minimize the possibility of mistakes. The availability of business cards that one has should be kept track of and the cards should always be ordered in advance to avoid a shortage.

Why Glossy?

The quality of your business card depends on several key factors.  These factors are paper stock, graphic design and finishing.  Finishing is in reference to either matte or glossy finish.  A matte finish is a common way to cheaply finish your business cards.  The key word here is “cheaply.”  It is evident to anyone who receives a matte-finished business card that corners were cut in the final printing process.  Remember that your business card is a reflection of you and your company.  Do you want to come across as a business that cuts corners and doesn’t follow through for the best results?  Glossy printing may be an additional cost but it is a minor one that is going to pay dividends when it comes to matters of perception.  A first impression is a hard one to undo. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the importance of your business cards’ final finishing.

Paper Stock

The stock of paper that your business card is printed on is an important decision as well.  With a glossy finish, your business cards will pop and with a heavier stock of paper they will assert importance.  A heavy stock of paper, such as a weight of 14 pt., will tell the receiver that your business is substantial.  Holding a well-made, glossy, weighted business card in one hand and then holding a cheaply-constructed, matte, flimsy business card in your other hand, it is easy to tell who the clear winner is.  If these two cards were from competing businesses, which business would you choose to call?  A glossy business card can be the difference between a growing business and a stagnant one.  You have to always consider the customer’s perception.

Graphic Design

Another reason glossy business cards are the preferred finish on a business card is because a good graphic design will be much better represented with a glossy finish.  Colors and clarity of design are always going to look more vibrant with a glossy printing finish.  If your business card design incorporates a photograph, using a glossy finish is the only way to go.  Your photos will always look better with a glossy finish, as is seen in the preferred printing method of most traditional photographs.  If you are in a business such as real estate or insurance, a photograph of yourself as the salesperson is a great way for clients to remember clearly who you are, resulting in repeat business.  A glossy business card will best facilitate these preferred results.

A glossy business card will differentiate yourself and your company from competitors.  Choosing this superior finish for your business card will result in an esteemed image that clients will strive to work with and continue to come back to time and again.

Have you ever been asked for a business card and been forced to tell them you didn’t have any?  Many people have found themselves in this type of frustrating situation.  Nice glossy business cards say a lot about the individual and their company.  Not having one says even more.  Nowadays, there is no reason to go without a high-quality business card.

What You See Is Not Always What You Get

There are many online business card printing companies that offer great designs and cardstock options, including glossy business cards.  A simple glance at the search engine results pages will show you just how many companies are now available to provide this service.  You can even find several companies that offer free business cards; you only have to pay for shipping.  Watch out for these companies – they often end up costing more than simply ordering a regularly priced set of business cards.  Frequently, the quality of the printing will reflect the cheaper price as well.  For example, you may find that the business cards are printed on a very lightweight cardstock.  Some of these companies will even print their advertisement on the back of the card – you actually have to pay extra to have it removed.

Using a Template to Make Great Business Cards

Online business card printing can be a great resource, however, with the right printing company.  One of the best things about ordering business cards online is that you get to see what your card will look like before you order it.  Many companies offer templates.  This is a terrific way to have great-looking designs for both matte and glossy business cards.  You don’t have to know much about the design process; simply pick the template that you like the most or that fits your business niche, then type in your information in the boxes provided.  Most templates will offer to place additional information on the backs of the cards.  Before you order and pay for the cards, make sure you take the time to proofread what you have written.  Nothing looks worse to a prospective business contact than a misspelled word or a missing comma.

Next, you need to choose the cardstock that you want your business cards printed on.  If you choose heavy cardstock, it will probably be more expensive.  However, this is probably a smart business move.  Heavier cardstock looks more professional than the lighter weight kind, and it will last longer.  If you are in a business that needs to keep customers for long periods of time, you will absolutely want your card to last.  Many business cards end up in a pocket, on the dashboard of a car, or even sent through the wash.  It’s best to err on the side of caution.  However, there are other options to consider.  For your more important customers, you might even consider magnets.  Many online business card printing companies offer these at great prices.

As a final thought, make sure you choose a design that complements your business.  If you sell fun, silly items, a card with a similar theme is appropriate.  However, if your business is more serious in nature, you should tailor your card to match.  Most online business card printing companies will provide a wide array of templates for your convenience. Whether you are printing glossy business cards or matte, good online business card printers will be able to help you out!

Where to Get Your Glossy Business Cards with Full Color

Glossy business cards will help you develop and maintain a positive relationship with your customers.  They cost a little more than black and white cards, but you will actually make money with these cards by garnering more business in the long run.  Here are a few different options to consider when you’re in the market for full color business cards:

1. You can use your own printer.  While printing technology is improving everyday, most printers cannot print with the quality of a print shop.  However, if this is the only option you have, it’s better to have a slightly lower quality business card than no card at all.
2. Online print shops often produce terrific finished products.  You can usually use templates on these websites in order to design your own color glossy business cards.  You can see which color combinations work best for you and view what your finished product will look like before you order it.  You can also play around with different colors, fonts, designs, and layouts until you find the one that best suits your needs.
3. Check out your local storefront print shops.  You may find a great deal from a nearby business.  One advantage offered by local businesses is that you don’t have to wait for the mail to come to start using your cards!

Cardstock and Design Options

You will also have several options when it comes to cardstock.  The heavier the cardstock you choose, the more expensive your business cards will be.  However, a weightier card will also help add an air of professionalism, even with glossy business cards.  Another thing to consider is the print itself.  There are many options here as well.  Some companies offer raised lettering or logos; others will offer foil on the lettering.  Still others can even add a holograph to your cards!  All of these can help increase the visibility of your business cards and your company.

The Bottom Line

Glossy business cards with vivid color are just the thing to help you get your company name out in front of customers, where it will benefit your bottom line the most.  It’s far too easy to overlook this business expense or to fail to put adequate time into designing your cards. With just a bit of effort, you can find the perfect design for your company.