Axxis Buzz

•    Paper Stock:
The higher the number, the thicker the stock.

100lb. paper stock is heavier than 80lb, and so on.
13-14pt stock is where business card or post card stock should start, as it gives a higher-quality feel to the hand.

•    Paper Finish:
A GLOSSY finish is great for many reasons; graphics pop, it’s practically impervious to dirt and oily fingerprints, but glossy finishes will not take an ink pen unless it is a permanent marker. If you choose this finish, you may want to consider carrying a fine-point Sharpie just in case you need to jot a note.

A MATTE finish has a nice feel to the hand, graphics print very well, it resists staining, and it’s writable. Hands down, this is my favorite business card finish.

UNCOATED stock is perfect for those who need a very conservative and traditional business card. It is the easiest to write on. Graphics and photos won’t appear quite as brilliant on this stock. If you’re producing a piece you want to last, consider a coated stock.

•    Bleed:
A “bleed” in any kind of printing is when the graphics or photos extend right to the edge of the piece. When designing, the artist works with a slightly larger artboard, and the final piece is trimmed by the printer.

•    Photos and Graphics:
For best printing results, graphics should be 300 dpi (dots per inch). Lower quality graphics may appear blurry. Ideally, it is best to provide original vector graphics to your graphics person for things like your logo, but they may be able to work with a PDF, JPG, or TIFF.

Have any questions? Feel free to email or call!
khill@axxisdesign.com 614.507.0705

How to improve the performance of  the hardest working tool in your arsenal!

•    Your business card should be quality stuff.
It does NOT have to cost you an arm and a leg. Cards printed on your computer on sheet-fed stock are too thin. Every attempt I have made in the past ended up with cards that are warped just from peeling them off of the backing paper. This will not do. Quality cards, printed on quality stock, bought in bulk (500 or more) cost less in the long run.

The same goes for the free cards offered by companies that print their logo on the back. Do you really want your customers and prospects thinking you can’t afford to buy decent business cards? The quality of the card you hand out reflects directly on you.

•    Your card should contain your contact information.
This sounds pretty obvious, but you and I both have cards that don’t contain enough contact information. I have a card passed on as a referral that only contains a company name, a phone number, and a website address. I would like to have the name of the person I am contacting at the very least. In this case, my philosophy of “Less is More” just doesn’t cut it.

In the same breath, I will also tell you that you don’t have to list every single way of contacting you if it isn’t relevant. For instance, if you work from a home office and you don’t see clients there, don’t list your address. If you are the kind of person that checks your email once a week whether you need to or not, either join the computer age, or don’t list an email address. You don’t want to be thought of as unresponsive if it takes you a week to read and respond.

•    Your card should clearly represent what you sell, provide, do, or are capable of.
This is your mini-brochure! Whether you are networking for a job or new clients, if someone can’t tell what you do, you are not going to get a call. It is easier and faster to find another person or company than to find out if you are a good fit. Provide a tool that works effectively.

This is vitally important if your card is passed along to someone else. The information on your card is all they have.

•    Don’t try to cram everything into a few inches.
Business cards have two sides, and many printers don’t charge a penny more to print on both. Use the extra real estate, keep it concise, and provide links to fuller information, like a website or a LinkedIn profile.

•    If a logo is applicable, include it!
This is your first brand impression, so integrate it. If your company is fully branded, use the fonts, colors, and wording that communicates your brand.

•     Handing out more than one is a referral waiting to happen.
Make referrals easy!