There is a plethora of business cards available today. With so many options on type, size, material, and other features it is no wonder that people are getting confused about which type is best for them. There 3 basic types of business cards: the Standard, the Custom, and the Specialty. We will go into depth on each of these so you will know what type is right for you! Anyway you choose, free business cards are always a good option!

The Standard Business Card

This business card is 3.5 by 2 inches and is the mainstay of modern business. It is small enough to slip into your pocket or wallet but large enough to be palmed and easily read. There is reason that this is what 95% of business cards look like: BECAUSE IT WORKS. If you are in any type of professional field or will be dealing with higher educated people then you should almost always carry this type of card. The only exception is for businesses where you are trying to cast a certain light on yourself, but we’ll cover this soon! This type of card usually shows your business name, your name, title/position, address, email and phone number. Sometimes there is room for a slogan but you don’t really need it. It was  once an imperative device, because there was no search engines, internet, or magic gizmos that stored every contact you’ve ever made. This little guy will get you business so you need to impress people!  Always get heavier card stock. It is a very simple thing to do and only costs a tiny bit more. This will impress people because you card (and therefor you) are solid, reliable, and strong. It says a lot to stand out in small ways, so start here! As for colors, I prefer less on these types of business cards. Also the glossy type cards tend to look cheap and flimsy. So your best bet would be to get heavy stock, matte finish, very professional looking cards.

The Custom Business Card

The Custom business card is very similar to the standard except it is either a slightly different size or shape (yet still a rectangle) or it has unique printing on it. To the left you’ll see a custom business card call the slim or skinny business card. This is an increasingly popular item among start-up companies and smaller internet based firms because it speaks youth and vitality. Try to think of reasons you would want a card like this? Maybe you are a dietitian or a personal trainer, this could help you push the message of weight control and fitness, versus the standard cards “chubbier” look! There are other custom cards shapes like the circle and square but I find these annoying and awkward to fit in either your hand or wallet. Therefore, unless you are pushing some product and you want people to constantly be fidgeting with your business card, then I would keep it a similar shape to the classic!

The Specialty Business Card

The Specialty Business Card is really a describer rather than a category. This defines any type of business card that has something that makes it super unique. For example, Kevin Mitnick’s Business Card has a real lock pick kit built in it! Other card have seeds in the paper so you can actually plant them, and some cards are made of rubber so they stretch! It is endless what possibilities you can have with business cards, but be prepared to spend a small fortune to get them created, unless you savvy enough to make them yourself! The real key to be successful with the specialty type is to say something about your business though the design of your card… If you do electronics repair, them make a card out of silicon board! If you are cook, put scratch and sniff chemical on the back and have different “flavors” of business cards!

Now that you know a little bit more about the 3 different types, go out and get some free business cards so you can impress your friends, coworkers, and that new client you’ve been dying to get!

You’ve heard it alot… Brand this, Brand that. Well have you considered branding the one thing that you are giving out every time you meet a potential client, or networking with a counterpart? Brand your Business Cards!!! It’s too simple to just put a clever message or your company logo that sticks to the little guy in your wallet!

But you need to consider more than just the logo or saying to really brand your business card. First you must identify the message you want to send. Are you trying to be a green business? Then why not make business cards that send that type of message. For example a few remarkably creative minds has created customized business cards that are actually plantable! Now this may actually cause problems down the line because all your prospects are actually putting your little marketing device in the ground! Look below and tell me if you have thought of something this creative recently!

If you looked at that and thought that wasn’t good branding then you might need to take another look at yourself and reconsider your calling in life! To really brand yourself with a business card you have to think above and beyond the simple message and find a unique way to engage your target audience. Maybe you are not into lawn care, or sharing memories; big deal! There are other great ideas out there besides a plantable card! Maybe you are into sport memorabilia? Then get some cards that are the same texture as a basketball.

I’m sure you get the message. Branding is all about creativity and finding great way to say the same stuff a different way… because it’s all been said before!!!

There are tons of articles online on how to market your business cards, network with other professionals, and how to get your business cards for free.  Today we are going to focus on the exterior: the Business Card Holder.  It is important that the device you use to store yours and business friends cards in is both attractive and sturdy, a way that you can get alot of attention and buzz is to use your card in conjunction with an extremely creative business card holder.

Some examples:

Here is a handmade mushroom business card holder. It requires only wool felt, embroidery floss, and a piece of sew on Velcro. Click the pic for directions!

The Blomus Business Card holder is a high quality brushed stainless steel holder.  It holds 25 free business cards and will keep them stylish!

If anyone is a geek or nerd and know the history of Nintendo, then this will be a treat.  It is a business card holder based on the NES Japanese counterpart: the Famicom.  Search around to find one for sale!

Let your Business Friends know that you are an Alien of peace with a Spock Business card Holder!

Hopefully these creative holder will inspire you to improve how you present and store your business cards in hopes that you can impress potential clients! Do not underestimate the value of standing out in someone’s mind! Every little thing you can do become a “memory” is worth more than the cost of little things like these business cards holders! Good Luck!

Free business cards are huge deal in the country of Japan. The tradition name for a Japanese business card is “meishi”. This name is from a history based in calling cards when phones came to japan.  To understand what it means we must break down the word.

Mei:

This word is the first Kanji character in the word and it is the word for name.

Shi:

The second Kanji. It is often misunderstood and believed to mean paper, however this isn’t true. The shi syllable in this form means flower thorn, and it also means to poke. It’s use in the Japanese “business card” comes from the history of persons of upper class asians cities, mostly in China, left a calling card in what we would know to be the letterbox of another businessman.  They would poke out the letterbox with their card.

It is very important to understand the Japaneses culture and the methods they hand out cards. The Japanese have a strict and formal method of presenting business cards. The person presenting the card holds it with both hands at the top corners and facing the recipient so that it can be easily read. It is customary that the presenter then tell who he or she is. Then the getter of the card should again use both hands to accept it, ensuring that all the writing is still visible on the card. Leather cases are carried around by many Japanese to hold their business cards – it is considered bad manners to place someone’s business card upon receipt into a back pocket. In general, the business cards of those introduced to somebody will be put at the back of that person’s business card case. Folding over or writing on business cards are also considered insulting.

Other Conventions of the Japanese and their Business Cards

If individuals are exchanging business cards in Japan, it is considered ill-mannered for the junior person in the introduction to extend his or her business card so that it is above the senior person’s card. During table meetings, business cards shouldn’t be filed away in the business card case, but rather placed atop the case on the table until the meeting is complete. The person of highest rank who has presented a business card at such a meeting should have his or her card placed on top of the case, and those of lower rank kept on the table beside the case.

Less Traditional Methods of presenting Business Cards in Japan

Most of the Japanese youth often don’t adhere to the strict conventions of business card exchange in Japan. Frequently, for example, they will pass a card to a new acquaintance with just one hand. It is normal for the recipient may also take it in one hand. However, it is still somewhat impolite for the recipient not to give the business card the attention that the presenter might expect. The recipient will “formalize” the receipt of the card by taking it in both corners, with both hands, and perusing it closely before filing it away.

There are many other traditions concerning Japanese meishi. It is remarkable to consider that in a culture that prides itself in being so advanced technologically, there is still a prominent place for free business cards in social exchanges.

There are so many people and businesses out there trying to get your attention, it is important that we take note of the different methods that they use to do so.  By noticing and acting on our knowledge we can apply what we’ve learned and put it on our free business cards.  For example, search the internet for almost any commercial term and take in how theses people are trying to reach you.  They use text, pictures, and emotions. We can put that in our business card design.

The first thing we should do is make our cards stand out by not just going with plain white or black!  Either apply a colorful background or modify the text so that it stands out on your pure white background.  Think of red letters on a bleach white card, would be pretty nice huh?!  The thing is you need to do something that people don’t expect to be noticed.

The second thing you can apply to your free business cards is to use a picture on the card.  This will add a sense of personality and homeyness that will leave the person remembering YOU not just the encounter or the business.  Why do you think real estate people do this? Because it works!  Business is always personal so play into that by personalizing your networking tools.

The third and final things your can do is to pay attention to your text.  There are so many combination you can use to make your cards stand out.  Change the font, or the lettering size, or even use other formatting options like a header in bold and a subtext in italics!  This will make certain parts of the card feel more important and will draw longer attention to your card. It can also bring attention to special deals or fact that you want mentioned, you should try it!

These methods will help get your own ideas boiling!  Put these tips to work and try it even on your own free business cards!  By using these tips you are sure to bring attention and new clients to your business. So get out there and market yourself, it’s never to late to be a pro!

To continue the cool business cards ideas here are some more!  Don’t forget to get your free business cards!

You can make use of other inexpensive household objects as well to grab the attention and make sure you won’t fit into the standard business card holder. Like this clothes pin “card”.

Ideally you would need to be relevant to the subject of your profession with your idea. Like this condom pack that is used by a divorce lawyer as his visiting card as well as distributed in bars as a direct marketing piece.

One more mini person at your service any time you wish to pull him out of your pocket.

Here is a collection of cool business cards

Write fun copy.

Pay extra for stylish embossing.

Use metallic ink and a metallic hole.

Teeth floss? Gross!

Combine different papers.

Stay minimal and positive.

Use a thread.

Make an 3D plastic card.

Come up with a fun die-cut.

Dog tag theme.

Cat tail theme.

Use office scrap.

Use fun typography.

Blind date theme.

Simply square with no ink.

Funky shape.

Interchangeable insert in a generic cover.

Free one way ticket to the moon.

Demonstrate your skill.

Forensic evidence?

Metal card. Doubles as a cake cutter.

Is this scratch and sniff or just generous use of white space.

Try the retro look.

Elegantly long and thin. Reminds me of a card I designed for a perfume shop that looked like a scent tester.

Transparent thin.

Transparent thick.

Camera obscura. In case the Nikon breaks it comes handy to get the job done.

Folded and playful.

Expandable rubber to test your strength. One more time. And, one more. One last time. Good job. Now, what was the number again?

Reuse old cards for a second hand shop.

Get rid of the evidence you ever met the headhunter.

A clear message from a debt recovery agent. If you don’t pay I’ll break your bones. Here’s the x-ray of my last client broken finger as proof.

Business card for an acupuncturist with small holes to demonstrate what will happen to your skin.

Perforated cards demonstrate what a separation lawyers does.

If you don’t want to separate you can consider marriage counseling with a help of scotch tape.

There is nothing better then a little freebie. In this case a few seeds demonstrating how lush can make your place greener.

A balloon visiting card for a chest physician that is only legible when inflated demonstrates how important it is to have healthy lungs.

Pieces of broken pottery are used to hold the name and phone number for a greek restaurant.

A set of semi-transparent layers allows you to mix and match clothes on the illustrated girl. (Click the image for a larger size.)

The address and phonenumber is embossed in the plasticcard.

Now are you sick of boring business cards? Here we have come up with 10 free business card tips that will surely make your cards shine among a boring plethora of lame business men!

• Add A picture – Don’t be scared of this! It’s perfectly normal and sometimes even preferred!  It gives people a great way to remember your face. It’s worth it when a new client can remember your face and they will often pick you over another person.
• Use a Dark Color – Go with the inverse! This solid black, matte card, with striking white lettering. Standing out is always worth it.
• Use a vertical Free Business Card – Tall cards are great for tall people.  Their is always different methods to this, even using skinny cards.
• Use Red - Think of old style cards, no color.  Adding red to it, either lettering or borders, can make it much more noticeable.
• Include an Image - Add you logo, a cartoon, or something that is related to your biz! It makes it different from the norm and can help define your business category.
• Don’t go with Normal Shape - If you are really crazy, go with a round card, a triangle card, or some other non tradition shape.  This could be a downside for traditional professionals.
• Have a Die Cut - Printers offer this
• Make out of Candy - Many free business cards merchants offer these. These business cards must be kept carefully or they can melt and run, and many people will not hold on to these business cards because it will become sticky. Also not very permanent.
• Duel Language - English on one side and the language of your clients on the back. This will make your foreign contacts feel more comfortable and will help you be remembered.
• Use other Materials - Check out leather, bronze, plastic, and a wide variety of other business card materials to choose from. This can help your business card get noticed and make it easy to remember.

Business cards are small, potent marketing tools. However, since almost everybody has them, it’s important to stand out and be noticed! And this is where creativity comes in.

FIVE Ways Your Business Card Can Stand Out from the Crowd

1. Cut one-side of your business card with ‘fancy scissors’ so that even while it retains its standard business card shape and size, at least one of the edges looks different. Just be careful that the differently cut edge does not make your business card prone to folding or tearing.
2. Put a sticker on your business card. One way to make your business card stand out is to put a sticker on it! For instance, if you have a great logo, you can have it like a sticker, where people can peel it off and attach somewhere else. When removed, an underlying image of the logo should be there so that your business card does not look as if there’s an empty space on it. This sticker-approach is also great for promotions. When you hand over the business card, a portion may be peeled off to check for any discounts on the products or service you provide.
3. Write something on your business card while handing it over. One way that makes recipients seem to remember business card givers more is if a handwritten note is placed on the back of the card while it’s being given. For instance, you can place a ‘special discount’ on the back of a card (e.g., 10% off just for you Ted!) for the recipient.
4. Put a ‘sleeve’ on your business card. Another great idea is to provide your business card with a very thin, plastic (or even paper sleeve). It just makes the business card extra special. Just be sure the sleeve is really thin so that it can still be placed (sleeve and all) on standard business card holders. Also, it’s a good idea to have a sleeve that has a different color than the card itself.
5. Make your business card ‘stickable’. Business card that’s a sticker in itself can be tricky because they’re thin and tend to easily tear so what about a business card that’s like a refrigerator magnet instead? This way, the recipient feels the business card is ‘usable’ and they get to look at your business info each time they face their fridge!

Here’s one more tip for you: consider having more than one set of business cards made. It’s hard to convey EVERYTHING you want to express in one business card. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you probably wear many hats (e.g., CEO, , products buyer, finance controller, quality checker, etc.) and not all of them need to be called upon in every situation.

As such, think of having two or even three sets of business cards made, each with a specific purpose and hand then out accordingly. This way, your business card is razor-targeted on the recipient and when he needs just your product or service or business, you’re EXACTLY what he needs.

You need to take some time and figure out what you want mentioned on your business card. Many people have already made costly mistake by forgetting simple yet obvious information such as their phone numbers or their website URL. Don’t be one of them.

Six Things Your Business Card Should Convey

Don’t laugh. At some point or the other, someone, somewhere has forgotten one or two of the items on the following list. Make sure you don’t forget them when you design and order your free business cards.

1. Your Name. Actually, not every business card warrants a personal name. This is especially true if you don’t own the business and are more part of a team. Still, putting your name is important because it conveys a more personal approach. How would YOU feel if you were handed a business card that says you should contact just Customer Support if you needed help?
2. The Name of Your Business. Some people get so hooked up on logo design that they forget to put – let alone emphasize – their business’ name. Just remember to balance the text well with your company’s logo so that neither overshadows the other.
3. A Short Description of Your Business. It should be clear on your business card about when and why somebody should reach you or contact your business. This will save you both a lot of wasted time. A full-blown account of your business is not necessary (actually, it’s not even possible given the short space) but a cleverly-crafted tagline or a simple sentence like Call me when you need… is enough.
4. Your Place of Business. Even online now, website owners are encouraged to indicate their place of business so that site visitors know they are dealing with a tangible company. It’s the same with business cards. You need to put your complete address – even if you have an online business – so that the recipient feels that your business is legit.
5. Your Contact Numbers. You probably have a pager, a mobile number, and perhaps even two or three phone numbers where you can be reached. Here’s a tip: put only ONE contact number. However, this should be you preferred method of contact and you SHOULD be reachable via this number during business hours. This way, you streamline the method by which you can be reached, AND you don’t overcrowd your business card with useless information.
6. Your Online Contact Information. Most businesses nowadays, even if they’re focused on offline transactions, have an online presence. If you have the same, then place your website URL and your email address on the business card. If you don’t want to be contacted directly and want to ‘educate’ potential clients first about your business, then just putting your website URL is enough.

There you have it. Six things you should never forget to include on your business card. Keep them in mind and be the one others call if and when they have a need for your product or service.  Of course some business may choose to leave off one or the other for aesthetic reasons.