It’s the big buzz these days, Social Media or Social Networking.  The days of newspaper and magazine ads have gone by the wayside.  You’re website will not work alone.  If you’re not Tweeting, Facebooking, YouTubing, Blogging, etc. you’re not advertising.  It’s even a new profession, because it’s practically a full-time job.

Keeping your current and prospective customers in the know of what your business is doing is key and everyone’s doing it.  From small businesses, like your local pest control guy to huge corporations, like Starkist Tuna.  Yes, even Charlie tweets!

How many of us are glued to Facebook, waiting for the next post by one of our “friends”?  It’s how we keep in touch.  Even email is becoming a thing of the past.  Verbal communication – talking – is fleeting!  If you’re communicating, you’re doing it on some Social Media website.  It’s quick (one-line posts), easy, and allows you to add a picture.  This is why it is so necessary to be on all of the social networking sites, because otherwise, today’s society doesn’t know you exist.

So, get out there, get connected, if you aren’t already and make your business Facebook fabulous and Twitterific!  You’ll start to see results.  Let’s face it, it’s all about word of mouth, or in this instance friend requests.

Thanks for checking in and visit us again soon for more topics pertaining to the marketing world.  Also, don’t forget to check out our new and improved website for more information about our company!  www.ecgraphics.biz 

Key factors to remember when finalizing your business card layout.

1.  Simplicity is key. Placing your entire company’s inventory list on a business card is not going to win you any more clients than before.  Adding a few of your most important products or services is fine, people will get the gist of what your company offers.

2.  Spelling mistakes. People, are you really proofreading your layouts?  Your graphic designer sits in front of a computer all day and is laying out dozens if not more brochures, business cards, rack cards, flyers, etc, and though we graphic designers do our very best to catch any typos, spelling mistakes, etc, one may slip past us.  When we provide you with a proof we are asking you to check behind us.  Ultimately it is your responsibility prior to signing off on your artwork to make sure everything is correct…including your own phone number.

3.  Making it easy to read.  I know how pretty a script font can be, however on a business card it is very difficult to read.  Not all of us have 20/20 vision, so an 8pt. script font on your business card is going to be difficult to read.  Make sure that the fonts used are clean, simple fonts.  Script works in some cases for larger sized letters, but those teeny tiny ones will just look like a blob.

4.  Colors and background. Choosing the right colors for your text, background, etc is important.  Pale yellow text on a white background card is not going to work.  Yellow may be your favorite color, however, it is more important for your prospective client to be able to see your phone number than pine over how pretty the font color is.  Go for colors that match your logo, but also stand out on the card’s background.  This will make the information stand out and make it easy to read.

5.  For the do-it-yourselfer. DO NOT PRINT YOUR OWN BUSINESS CARDS…EVER!  Unless you have design experience, have a high-end laser printer and a card slitter at home, what you get when you print your cards is thinned out ink-jet ink on flimsy card stock with perforated edges.  It’s a hot mess!  By the time you purchase the perforated business card stock, spend hours doing a layout you’re not entirely happy with and then print them, you have spent about the same amount of money if you just purchased them from a printer.  When you hand someone a business card that you did yourself, it says to your prospective client, “I’m not serious enough about my business to invest in my business.”  On average for 1000 business cards, it’s about $75.00.  That’s not a lot of money when you’re trying to make an impression and gain new clientele.

So friends, in summary,  just remember your business card is usually the first piece of advertising you give a prospective client.  Make sure that it reflects the best you possible.  When working with your designer, proofread, proofread, proofread and be open to your designer’s suggestions when they are creating your smallest piece of advertising.

For more information on business cards or any other questions that you may have on marketing materials for your business, contact us at 866-931-2915 or visit our website at www.ecgraphics.biz.