There are now fancy versions of the simple black-and-white business card. Unusual business cards are made of wood, plastic, metal, magnets, glass, or hand-made paper. Some are printed in four colours, while others are made using embedding or imprinting technology. The goal is to be unique and different and to make an impression that will last.
A business card service will tell you what kind of printing your card will need based on how you want it to look, how much you want to spend, and what you need it for. They have business cards that are die-cut, embossed, printed in full colour with CMYK, that fold in half, or that are printed with a thermograph. All of these are different processes that produce different results.
Most places that print business cards will do the design work for you if you give them all the information you want on the card. If you don't want to use a service, you could design your own business card online. Printing companies like GreatFX business cards have full online design studios that you can use to make a business card in just a few minutes.
Modern printers are new and different. They work together to offer online printing services for business cards. If you fill out a questionnaire, you can get a free quote. The card printers who can do the job will get in touch with you after receiving the questionnaire. There are other online sites like elance and guru.com where clients can post projects and printers can bid on them.
Make sure you scan logos and other images in eps or bmp format for a world-class product. Tell them how many cards you want, what kind of paper you want (black and white or colour), if you want it coated, if you want a proof, and when you need the cards.
Do your work well and be smart. Talk to at least three places that print business cards. Shopping around and comparing prices is smart business and not a waste of time. Check to see how well the printers work. See if you know anyone who has used the service. Read up on design and how to use a template to make a unique card that looks professional. Ask a friend or coworker who knows a lot about computers for help and find out if making your own card is as easy as it sounds.
Your business card is a way for people to get to know you and your brand, so think before you act. When you're not sure, just pick a classy style instead of psychedelic or shiny brass ones.