Does every Home Business need them?
The business card is the face of the company. Not the most original phrase isn't it? But, it's correct, because for most of the people your business card will be the first thing they get from you or your company and sometimes the only thing they keep after you make an initial presentation of your business. Therefore the appearance of a business card is very important.
Printed on a cheap, thin paper, slightly wrinkled, poorly printed business card with out-of-date phone numbers crossed out and written by hand will not be the best argument for doing business with you. As an opposite business card, one printed on a snow white thick paper, with good design will assure your client that everything else in your work will be as professional, as you business card.
It is especially important if you are a small business, since not many people know your company and will judge you not by the name, but by your appearance and performance. While working in a big company as an employee, you probably never paid attention to the look of your card. You just had an unlimited supply and were probably not involved in any design or printing issues. Corporate culture, especially of multinational companies, dictates its strict rules of the use of corporate style. There is usually some room for change but only as long as it fits the design manual of the company.
When you are self-employed, you can turn on your imagination, and print whatever you want on your business card, even your picture, or the picture of your favorite pet (I know a person, who has a portrait of his dog Sofy on his business card). So, you are your own boss and are free to decide what it should look like.
Unfortunately, not all self-employed people have nice looking business cards. I would say, some of them are just awful. I've seen pink business cards with green printing on them, and many other horrible examples of human imagination. These cards are just a brake for your business, not an engine for it. Therefore, before going to a print shop, think what kind of image you want for your business. You can use our tips on how to design ideal business cards for your small business. Creating your own business cards might be an interesting process, so try to see the fun side of it. I hope, that my story on how a person usually behaves, when starting his/her own business and needing to make business cards will help you save time and not make the same mistakes. So these are usual steps of this process:
When you start a business, you are eager to begin working immediately, not waiting a single day. So, you tell your client, that your business cards are in the process of printing, you left them in the office, or you just ran out of them. Then, you write down your telephone number on a sheet of paper, and give it to the client. Forget about this project. The client is just a human being, who will loose this piece of paper immediately after the meeting is over.
In a while, you realize, that you should do something about it. But, as you must spend your own money, you feel greedy. You think that you know what to do and print business cards in your home office. Of course, it's not the best printing solution in the world, but it is better than nothing. And, for some businesses it could be enough.
But, if you have to look professional when dealing with clients, these business cards are unacceptable, especially if your clients are big companies, paying much attention to details. So, a day before an important meeting you go to the nearest business center. You pay enormous price for 2-3 pages with "almost professional" looking business cards. You cut them and feel quite confident at the meeting. This procedure usually takes place several times, because every time you think that for now you have enough supply of cards.
One day, the important decision is made. You use the service of professional design and print shop and you have a box of business cards, your business cards, sitting on a table in front of you. Only a person who went through all these stages can understand how nice it is.
Now, avoid all of these stages and make professional business cards as soon as you start operating. Feel confident on a meeting with a new client, and you will get the project you want!
Be successful and professional!
The business card is the face of the company. Not the most original phrase isn't it? But, it's correct, because for most of the people your business card will be the first thing they get from you or your company and sometimes the only thing they keep after you make an initial presentation of your business. Therefore the appearance of a business card is very important.
Printed on a cheap, thin paper, slightly wrinkled, poorly printed business card with out-of-date phone numbers crossed out and written by hand will not be the best argument for doing business with you. As an opposite business card, one printed on a snow white thick paper, with good design will assure your client that everything else in your work will be as professional, as you business card.
It is especially important if you are a small business, since not many people know your company and will judge you not by the name, but by your appearance and performance. While working in a big company as an employee, you probably never paid attention to the look of your card. You just had an unlimited supply and were probably not involved in any design or printing issues. Corporate culture, especially of multinational companies, dictates its strict rules of the use of corporate style. There is usually some room for change but only as long as it fits the design manual of the company.
When you are self-employed, you can turn on your imagination, and print whatever you want on your business card, even your picture, or the picture of your favorite pet (I know a person, who has a portrait of his dog Sofy on his business card). So, you are your own boss and are free to decide what it should look like.
Unfortunately, not all self-employed people have nice looking business cards. I would say, some of them are just awful. I've seen pink business cards with green printing on them, and many other horrible examples of human imagination. These cards are just a brake for your business, not an engine for it. Therefore, before going to a print shop, think what kind of image you want for your business. You can use our tips on how to design ideal business cards for your small business. Creating your own business cards might be an interesting process, so try to see the fun side of it. I hope, that my story on how a person usually behaves, when starting his/her own business and needing to make business cards will help you save time and not make the same mistakes. So these are usual steps of this process:
When you start a business, you are eager to begin working immediately, not waiting a single day. So, you tell your client, that your business cards are in the process of printing, you left them in the office, or you just ran out of them. Then, you write down your telephone number on a sheet of paper, and give it to the client. Forget about this project. The client is just a human being, who will loose this piece of paper immediately after the meeting is over.
In a while, you realize, that you should do something about it. But, as you must spend your own money, you feel greedy. You think that you know what to do and print business cards in your home office. Of course, it's not the best printing solution in the world, but it is better than nothing. And, for some businesses it could be enough.
But, if you have to look professional when dealing with clients, these business cards are unacceptable, especially if your clients are big companies, paying much attention to details. So, a day before an important meeting you go to the nearest business center. You pay enormous price for 2-3 pages with "almost professional" looking business cards. You cut them and feel quite confident at the meeting. This procedure usually takes place several times, because every time you think that for now you have enough supply of cards.
One day, the important decision is made. You use the service of professional design and print shop and you have a box of business cards, your business cards, sitting on a table in front of you. Only a person who went through all these stages can understand how nice it is.
Now, avoid all of these stages and make professional business cards as soon as you start operating. Feel confident on a meeting with a new client, and you will get the project you want!
Be successful and professional!
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