Why free business cards just dont cut it
If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
In our world of rampant consumerism and endless freebies, itsgood to keep this old adage in mind – especially when youre asmall business owner looking to make a splash with new businesscards.
Free business cards may sound like a great way to shave a coupleof dollars off the old operating budget, but what will thestandard backside advertisements and generic backgrounds thataccompany these freebies say about how competent and serious anentrepreneur you really are?
If you are of the mindset that a card is just a card, you shouldkeep in mind that your short-term savings may have someundesirable long-term repercussions. These may include:
Bad first impressions: You have three business cards in front ofyou. Two are printed on cheap paper, while the third is splashedin a photo-glossy finish. Which of those is most likely tocapture your attention and curiosity and make it into yourwallet? Which of those will most likely scream out amateurcheapskate and knock the professional image you are sodesperately trying to portray? You guessed it.
Misguided attention: If your prospective client is distractedfrom your business card by the advertisement on the back, he maybe thinking more about free business cards and less about
yourcompanys service. This type of co-branding sort of defeats thewhole purpose of having a clients full attention, does it not?
Lost potential: The backside of ones business card can be agreat place to include information about your company or includea voucher or rebate that will actually make your card valuable.Its hard to do that when you are competing with advertisementfrom the guy who printed your free business cards.
In the end, free business cards really only benefit the verycompanies that are supposedly cutting you a break. Customizedbusiness cards, on the other hand, come across as moreprofessional and allow you to have full control in expressingjust what your business believes in and stands for. In the end,it will actually go a long way in grabbing someones attentionand making your company more competitive in the business world.
After all, nothing in life comes for free. Better not to learnthat lesson the hard way.
About the author:
Copyright 2006, Businesscards4me.com. All Rights Reserved MarkKnerr is a graphic designer specializing in company logo designand business card design services. He also offers professional,full color postcard, plastic cards and business card printing.http://www.businesscards4me.com
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