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Are you starting a new business or looking for ideas to help you make a strong impression on your existing clients? As you think about several marketing ideas that can help you increase awareness and visibility, you should also know that creating a business card is an excellent offline marketing tool.
Creating and printing your business cards is not impossible. You only need a decent printer, the correct paper type, and a fantastic card design. This will let you try different designs until you find the best design for your business. It will also save you time and money on professional printing, particularly when you need a small quantity.
What do you need to know to create a printable business card from your house? Keep reading; you will get the full details.
Choose a Card Stock.
One of the first things you need to do is to get a perforated business card sheet at any local office supply retailer in your neighborhood. Once you get the perfect card stock, follow the instructions or check the word processing programs for a business card or label design template.
Use a Word Processor.
You have several options for designing your business card, but one of the simplest is the Word Processor. If you don’t want to create from scratch, you can choose from the many available templates, as long as they will fit your business card paper. So how do you use it?
- Find the business card option.
- Go to the “Tools” tab and select “Letter and Mailings.”
- From the drop-down menu, select the “Labels” tab in the dialog box and select the business card brand name in the label dialog box.
- Once you have your design, select the “Labels” icon in the top-left and select the “Options” button to choose the right business card sheet vendor, printer, and product number.
Use Free Websites.
Since you are working from home, use a free website to design your business card. With free business card printing services like 4OVER4, you can access and make free printable business cards and templates and customize them to what works for your business.
Choose the Paper for Business Cards
You can purchase paper for your business cards at any retailer in your area, or you can buy them online. However, make sure you are selecting the right one. How do you choose the right card stock?
Consider the Paper Colour
The most popular colors are white and cream. But you can choose from other colors that fit your business.
Choose the Right Paper Stock
If you want something that works or to test with, you can buy the regular card stock. But if you want a thicker and finer paper type, you can get the premium card stock. You can coat it for a sturdier feel. You can also get a plastic paper type. Check the printer to see if it’s the right one.
Paper Thickness
The thicker and sturdier the paper, the better. Most business cards are 14 to 20 points (1 point = 1/1000 an inch). If you want an extra thick card, you can go for 32 points.
Make the Right Call on the Paper Finish
There are several options for paper finish, like the gloss finish, slightly shiny, or matte finish. A glossy finish works well if you have a business card with plenty of graphics and colors. A matte finish is best with a black background or primarily black text.
Create a Business Card Logo
Aside from designing the card’s content, you need to start considering what you want your business image to look like. The first place to start with this is your logo and your color scheme. Next, ensure they match your marketing materials like your letterhead, brochures, and websites. Finally, you can create a business card logo on Canva or use clipart that best represents your business from the 4over4 design board.
In Conclusion
Once you have figured out the type of card your printer can handle, you should begin to source for the card, create a design that works, and print a test copy. Once you have a design that works for you, you officially have a business card for yourself.
One of the best things that can happen to you is having a printer and a place with thousands of templates. With that, you can start small and still have the chance to build awareness and create opportunities for networking and customer engagement for your business.
Going DIY on your business card might sound like an arduous task, but it becomes fun when you do the right things and have a good time creating the best design.
Have you ever tried designing your business card at home? How did it go? Share your experience.
