Monthly Archives: March 2011

CD ROM Business Cards – CD Business Cards Created Properly, an Extremely Effective Marketing Tool

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CD ROM business cards are an effective marketing tool. This is a method where people play the CD just because it has an attractive image on it. This type of marketing is known as viral marketing. It is very effective that you can see the good results in quick time. While using these techniques have a plan and work accordingly. It is very important to concentrate hard on the CD ROM business card especially its design and printing. One of the main advantages of this type of marketing is that it is not expensive. Can you imagine about a simple inexpensive method to increase the traffic to your business. This is dream come true for many business owners, as they will be happy to use the inexpensive method to market the product and brand.

However, the secret to success in this method totally depends on the professional work implied to make it all work together. This is not as easy it might seem. If you are willing to hire a third party to work on your CD cards, it’s wise to get quotes and samples from them. The main factor to consider is the design matching the business, brand, and brand. The design needs to be very attractive to make the process effective and useful. You should also make sure to have the latest information on the CD cards and not let it outdate. If you are having any special offers, discounts or anything that consumers are benefited, have them mentioned on the CD Card. These are simple techniques to develop the business without spending much money.

Create a presentation or include some music, video or animated video in it to make it more interesting. Have your logo on the card so people can identify it easily. You can also send a CD with the CD card to your existing customers. If you mention and include interesting things on the CD, I guarantee the person will play it every day, which will make him to walk in to your stores.

Electronic Business Cards

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Electronic business cards seem to have been a long time coming but they are finally here. Electronic business cards have been something that we’ve all been waiting for but most of us have just been happy enough to sit and wait for their arrival. Not so for Mingle360 because they went out and produced them.

Electronic business cards are called Minglesticks. Remember a few years back when flash drives came into our lives and how much easier they made our carrying documents and files around between offices, people or places? I remember how wonderful I thought they were and still do. Now I’m amazed at the size of the files that can be kept on these sticks so just imagine how well these wonderful little Minglesticks work for us? Well, you don’t have to imagine any more because you can actually buy them online but they are not as yet available in all Countries. But “Rome wasn’t built in a day” as my Grandmother was very fond of reminding me frequently.

Minglesticks do more than a business card though because they are electronic and they have incorporated information into the stick such as social networking sites, photos and you now have the ability to limit or expand how much information you want to give to whom. You have total control from your mouse on your keyboard when you get home or back to the office and download your Minglestick into your computer. Any computer that has a USB port is suitable to download and control all the information. You only share as much or as little as you want to.

The other beauty of the Minglestick is having a photo beside all the contact names. I’m sure I’m not alone by confessing that I can remember either names or faces but sometimes getting the two together can be a challenge. Now you get a photo with the name so you will know without guessing any more precisely who you will be speaking with. This makes communicating so much easier.

The electronic business card includes social networking sites too so from a business point of view it means keeping customers up to the minute so much easier.

The Etiquette of Business Cards in Japan, China and the United States

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In different cultures, the practice of handing out business cards varies. What applies in the freewheeling United States might not apply in the tradition-bound Asian countries of Japan and China. In fact, even the color and design of your business card holders play an important role in doing business in these countries!

Liberal United States

When you deal with fellow Americans, you will notice that business cards are treated liberally. You can just shove them in your pocket or wallet, without even glancing at them! However, if you wish to make a better impression, you can follow certain things.

- You should whip out your business card holder and hand out your business cards only when the other person requests you or if you are engaged in a business discussion.

- You have to refrain from asking a higher-ranked person’s card unless that person asks for your card first or if you were introduced by a third party.

- You have to respect someone’s card much as you want your card to be respected by the other person. You have to read and study the card, even for just a moment. Wait until you can dispose of it discreetly, if you wish to do so.

Tradition-Bound China

When in China, or in Japan for that matter, you should carry double-sided business cards at all times. One side should have English-language information while the other side has Chinese-language (or Japanese-language) information. You are well advised to consult reputable translation companies to ensure that your cards meet local cultural standards.

Your double-sided cards are necessary because it would be strange and clumsy to have two separate business card holders with you at all times!

When exchanging business cards, always remember these pointers to show your respect:

- You have to give and receive business cards with both hands outstretched.

- You have to either hold the card for some time or place the cards on the table. You have to avoid immediately putting the cards inside your business card holders lest you be seen as ill-mannered.

- You have to present the cards according to status, with higher-ranking personalities given your first priority in handing out your card. Do your research first before going to a meeting.

- You have to avoid too much white in your business card holders and business cards. White is the color of mourning; you will do better with red cards.

Big in Japan

Like the Chinese, Japanese treat business cards with respect. You will be well advised to avoid typical American brashness in this area if you wish to seal the deal. You should also hand out double-sided business cards in Japan. Here are a few more pointers:

- When you receive and give business cards, you have to do so with both hands and slightly bow while doing it.

- Like in China, make sure that you present the card with its Japanese side showing up so that the recipient can read it immediately, without need of turning the card around.

- You have to study the cards, make a mental note of the names, and then you can put away in your business card holders. Or better yet, lay all the cards on the table so that you can distinguish who’s who, especially during a first meeting.

Just remember all these and you will be fine in both Asian and American environments.

Business Cards – Creative Usage (Part A)

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Business cards are made to present your business. Many people ask how to use them, where to put them. It depends on your business type, how much you can spend for business cards, how much you pay for them. You can find business cards which cost $80 for 500 cards. Or you can make and print it by yourself then the price would by very small. In this article I present idea that we are going to spread our business cards everywhere.

1. Make it special. This means that you have to make your card more important to people. Here is few advices how you can do that using back side.

- Write with your hand your special number which isn’t in the list. It will make people to keep it longer.

- You can print discount coupon on it. People love discounts and I guarantee that your card would not be thrown.

- Print some interesting phrases or good joke. You are making seminars print main ideas of it that people could always remember your seminar.

- Put a sport tournament schedule. Fans will love it and keep them.

2. Put them everywhere.

- Put them to all of your products. For example if you deliver cosmetic put one in basket. Do the same with flowers, gift baskets, pizza box. I think you understood.

- Put them to all your correspondence. When you write letter put one, when you send invoice put one even when you pay electric bill put one. There is chance that your card reach potential client.

- Scan in and save in computer. Give them to all your Internet partners. They can use it like advertisement graphic.

- Use them like bookmarks. Go to library and put some in books. Also you can ask librarian to put in all outgoing books. Meet bookstores assistants ask if is it possible to place your cards in books.

- There is a good advice for a small thank you gift. Buy some not expensive business cards holders and put one of yours in it.

- Put one in seasonal gifts. If like to send Christmas sandy boxes, Valentine’s Day candies or gift always put one of your cards.

This was part A of this article. Look for part B with more answer in my article list.

Business Cards: Highly Productive For Your Future Business Relations

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Business card is a vital feature of your visual identity. It represents the person who owns it and acts as their mini billboard. It is the primary thing that the person views when they meet you. So the card should be designed in such a way that it can turn the ordinary card into a strong sales weapon that creates a memorable first impression. Just always keep in mind that what you actually have it few seconds to make a mark. These few seconds will determine your future relationship with the recipient of the card. So, impressive business card printing is a must.

As they are inexpensive and effective they act as a mini-business- advertisement. Clients and customers are interested in the benefits that they are going to get. So it is important to clearly display your USP your unique selling proposition in order to leave an impressive mark on them. It should be designed in such a way to compel the clients to pick it up. So before designing your card it is often a good move to find out which type of card would best suit your business and style.

Hence it is necessary to add some expense and class, include a creative logo or use good quality materials for printing. You should make cards eye catching and hire professional help for stylish embossing. By using metallic ink and other creative materials you can demonstrate your creativity and caliber. For example, you can create teeth impression for dentists or thumb prints for detective. Business card for an acupuncturist includes small holes that can show the effects to your skin. A balloon visiting card can be used for a chest physician that can be read when only then are inflated and depicts the importance of having healthy lungs.

Your card is your unique opportunity to initiate interaction with your prospect. Your great promise to your clients is contained in your headline. Try to make it catchy and attractive that it stands out of the crowd. It should be simple and do not add too much information in your cards. The main message should not get lost because your card forms a vital part of your brand or corporate identity. When you explore the internet, you can discover hundreds of business cards designs online which you can use as your designs. If you are unfamiliar with graphic-editing software, then hiring the services of printing company is the ideal choice.

Design Your Business Cards in QuarkXPress

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This article will help to design business card in QuarkXPress. This a very useful tool to create the best designs of business cards. QuarkXPress gives many tools to create and design attractive cards. To design a new business card, open a new document and draw few frames to exact size of the card that you need. The most common and standard size of a business card is 4.25 wide by 2.25 high.

First step to do is find a logo for the card. If you have outsourced the logo creation and not received yet, then use a sample picture from the clip art. To add the picture on the card, draw a picture box in the frame and bring in the picture or import it.

Next step is to put in your name and contact information. So, draw a text box in the frame and enter your information such as name, designation, company name, contact number, fax number, website and email address. After entering the information, make changes on the name especially to its size, font and color to make it stand out of the rest. Similarly, work on the designation with the preferred fonts.

You can create separate text boxes for the contact numbers and email address. It is not mandatory, but another option that is available. Having them in separate text boxes will help to alter the information precisely.

If you need to any other information on the card, create a new text box and put them. People will mostly like to add in a slogan or a caption for the company on the card. Once you complete working on the information on the card, create duplicates on the page for printing. Measure the size of the card and make appropriate duplicates that will fit in to the card paper. Print the designs on to the business card paper.