|
Remember the good old days, when getting a business card made was an expensive, time-consuming process? First you would have to go to a professional print shop and search through dozens of designs, colors, font types, make sense of all the different price levels and visualize what the final product would look like. Then you had to decide if that nice font or that raised text was worth all the extra money. Then came the proofs to approve and then the wait for the cards to be printed and cut. And then there was that bill. Thank goodness those old days are over, because the tidal wave that is the Internet has made designing business cards and then creating them into a cheap, fast and relatively painless process. Going on-line and using the universe of available websites allows you to choose from a universe of images, logos and fonts to create a business card that puts out the exact message you want the world to see. Don't see something you like? That's okay. These websites allow you to use your own images and fonts, whether it's a stylized graphic of the Eiffel Tower or a photo of your Aunt Sally's poodle. Or your own smiling face! You can also use your own logo. Or choose from a variety of on-line logos. These websites provide easy to use templates with easy to follow instructions, making what used to be a long and drawn out process just minutes long. And the price? Most websites range from cheap to actually free of cost. All those bells and whistles that used to cost an arm and a leg are also available at a much cheaper cost, making a professional business card easily within your reach. But just because things move more quickly, and just because going to an on-line printing service gives you greater control doesn't mean that a professional business card designer might not still come in handy from time to time. Whether you're a lawyer, a film producer or an electrician, the most important goal of a business card is to make you look a professional in your field. Even though it's technically easier now to create professional looking business cards, there are still experts who possibly know better than you what graphics, typeface and paper stock are suited for what profession. And while acting as your own designer assures a card that reflects your personality while costing less money, collaborating with a professional business card designer can also give you a different perspective. Going to one of these professionals, who can still be found at your local print shop, is not a bad idea. If there are areas of disagreement, always remember that you are the boss, and you have the final say. So with the convenience and ease afforded by the Internet and the professional advice available from print shops, designing business cards is an inexpensive way to market your company and create a strong first impression wherever you go. |