business cards.

[Odette]

im making business cards right now and thought it would be a great thread.
how do we know what to put on them?
how much does it cost and can you make them at home?
where and who should we give them to?

im making one from a template on my computer. the background is a picture of me.the more professional the better i think so im going to have a photoshoot soon. if it works, ill make sure to give details on it.
oh! and office max sells the card material for your printer. going to look into that.
also that visa site for free business cards only pay shipping.anyone use that yet?

[Spindrift]

Here's what I have on mine for my web design business:

Name
Title/What you do
Number (I actually don't have this on my new cards since it was too difficult to answer during class)
Email
Website

Give it to people you introduce yourself to at any time! There aren't any rules. Meet someone at a neighbor's housewarming party? Hand some out. Went to a niece's birthday party? Hand some out to her friend's parents. Just don't be super obnoxious about it as if you were handing out flyers (instead, be natural, have conversation, and if the other member seems like a good fit for your customer, ask if you can give them your card).

You can make it at home, but professional services are more convenient and some may help you design it.

[Spindrift]

Here's a business card I made for a graphic design class, if you'd like to look at an example (front and back).

1236

[Odette]

thats great info. thank you, spindrift! :D

[Spindrift]

No problem :) Sorry if the post is a little unorganized - I was in a little bit of a rush.

[Mermaid Jewel]

If you'd like, Odette, I wouldn't mind making one and seeing if you like it. Testing my graphic design skills a little so.. :) Not promising professional quality but I'm pretty experienced with photoshop

[Odette]

sounds cool, jewel. go for it =) and thanks

[Blaze]

I have business cards for my costuming endeavors and separate ones for my burlesque escapades. :D I'm not so great with the designing part; my friend did the editing on the costume one which looks great and for the burlesque one it's just a full color pic on one side and info with a pic on the corner on the other. :)

Regardless, the reason for me posting is to offer places to print them! :D I've used several vendors over the years and have always gone back to Vistaprint for the cards. Good quality, quick shipping and VERY FAST to correct any problems. Recently the cutting had been off on my set of cards (not all of them were ruined but some were just a little off) & without so much as a question the sent me a whole new set. The cost of them are so low for what you get!

Another great and very cute option are 'minicards' from moo.com: http://us.moo.com/products/minicards.html They can pull photos from your flickr stream and on one side of the teeny card is a pic of you; the other is your information! I use these at costume conventions & such; the cards are very handy to stick places when you don't have a pocket. ;D I need to get updated cards soon; will wait until after a photoshoot with my 'real' tail. :D

Hope that helped!

[Odette]

YAAAY!! great info. tank you everyone! ^^ (get it? tank?teehee!)

[RenegadeMermaid]

I LOVE Moo cards! The Mini Moo cards are great because you can get a bunch with different photos on them all in one run--so it costs less. And people seem to love them because they're really unique. I used them for my photography business so when I was giving them to people I could give them one with a relevant photo on it (ie the Burlesque performers got the burlesque photo cards, parents got ones with kids on them, anyone interested in collecting art got the underwater photo card...)
I'm thinking about ordering a new bunch with just my Renegade Mermaid site on it since that has links for all my various occupations on it.
What are you planning to promote with the cards? Or is it just for any "here's my contact info" situation? Going to include a mermaid photo?

[AniaR]

I am looking for environmentally concious business cards- suggestions?

[Aquatica]

Those mini cards looks great, I have never seen them before. Next run I do I will def use them.
thanks for the link


cute option are 'minicards' from moo.com: http://us.moo.com/products/minicards.html
Hope that helped!