I'm finally getting my business cards done and have the option to have the back printed.

The options I have are either calendars, appointments or my website and company description on the back (which is already on the front).

I can't see me using the appointments part or why anyone would need a calendar (unless I marked on it when new classes were starting) so my question is, is there any real benefit to having the back printed from anyone else's experience?

I'm thinking there's no a lot of point as it costs extra anyway but thought I'd see if anyone else has any experience?

Ta :)

If you have all your vital details on the front of your cards then why waste the money? :)

if you're having back printing, get vista print ones for free with their own logo on the back then - but can you register with them via the rainrescue/easyfundraising link please? ;)

I agree with eda, but the calendar bit as you hand it out after setting up an appointment sounds quite good, reminiscent of the dentists, mmm note to self, another NYR...

I went to a talk and the marketing guy asked for our business cards which i gave him, the back of it was blank... he binned it. He said the best opportunity to get attention is something either side.. I'd recommend a flashy pic and info on the other side.

I'd also recommend printing yr own, as flyers are just as cheap (PM me for a local cheap printer) to widely advertise, cards are more networky.

It all depends on what you're going to be using them for Lotti - some people find them useful blank for writing on when handing them out

you may want to use them for writing on times of the next batch of classes, the names of good pet foods or training aids.... that kind of thing

I shall refrain from commenting on the 'marketing' bloke who binned blank backed cards ;)

Thanks all,

I've gone for blank because at present my opening hours are not 100% certain yet (still doing as many hours as possible and seeing how it goes down). If I leave them blank I can write my current hours on the back before handing them out.

Then maybe the next lot I order can have them already printed on the back!

Sorry Strix, I'd already registered with Vistaprint :(

never mind :) remember us when you re-order then :thumbsup:

Lotti theres a spelling mistake in your signatures link...

Oops! Thanks for letting me know! Not going to do me a lot of good spelled wrong is it! Should work now! :lol:

Thanks :)

Printing on both sides does seem to be the way to go at the moment as all new designs I've seen have printing on both sides.

But if you think of having a logo, business description, address and contact details all on one side it is a wonder we ever made it fit.

My cards have my logo, business details and address on one side and in reverse colours part of my logo and my e-mail address on the back.

If you've ever attended one of my marketing masterclasses or heard me speak at a local business event, you will know my views on business cards. Here are my ten top tips.

1. Don't print on the back. If you want to add value information such as accreditations or location map etc, make sure you leave plenty of white space so recipients can jot down information such as where they met you or how you can help them etc.
2. Don't laminate them or have them produced in a glossy format. Difficult to write on with a biro.
3. Make sure you have put ALL your contact details on the card such as web site and e-mail and most importantly YOUR NAME. Out of 20 cards I collected at a recent networking event, 3 of them had no name. Embarrassing, having to phone them and ask them to remind me of their name.
4. If you are a B2B business, make sure your cards are standard size 85mmx55mm so they fit in business card wallets. If yours is B2C (business to consumer) then first find out how your information is best received. For example, it may be more suitable for say a plumber or electrician to produce sticky labels that can then be affixed on or near the home appliances (how many times have you had to search for a new plumber?) or a removal company to produce A6 postcards.
5. Avoid home made cards, vending machine cards and free ones such as Vista. As a business card is probably the first point of contact for your business the last thing you want is to have them perceive your business as cheap and tacky.
6. Order double. The reason? Simple. When you give out your cards, always give them two. One for themselves and one to pass on. Say this to them as you hand them over.
7. Get into bed with a good printer. There are plenty of good jobbing printers in and around Sheffield so shop around for the good deals. Printing.com has some good half price deals on this month
8. Always proof read your cards before they are signed off for printing. It's too late after they are printed if your phone number is wrong. Also check your spelling. Believe it or not, I was sent an e-mail last week from a local Printer offering me a 'fantastic deal on business stationary' To make it worse, on their web site they constantly referred to products that were 'complimentary' I don't think they meant to give them away.
9. Choose your typeface carefully. Is it easy to read? Try and avoid typefaces that will quickly date as it means you will have to soon revise your corporate style. Preferably use the same as your letterheads etc. Also, watch the colours. Try and get them as close as possible to your corporate colours (if you know the pantone ref. even better) so you create a consistent image.
10. Do you really need a business card? There are plenty of alternatives such as bookmarks, door hangers, pens, mugs etc.

Having spent the last 22 years helping local businesses do it better I am always happy to help. David Watkins Pink Elephant Training

I always found it handy to have space on the back of my card so that there was room to write whatever you needed to, whether that was an appointment date, someone else's phone number (for a referral) or prices of a product.

No matter what you do, post its or similar can get separated from your card and that means that your name and number is not in the forefront of their brain when they read the information that you have given them.

I also had my cards the standard size but printed portrait rather than the normal landscape. They had all of the normal information and were very professional and understated as they had to be for my line of work, but stood out when looking through a card wallet or filing box because they were printed the other way across.

I second pinkelephant's point 10. Do you actually need cards? Wouldn't there be plenty of more appropriate things to brand yourself with? For queries about courses I'd have printed wallets which include all of the relevant information and which you can then slip the course details into, ready for posting. For the shop you could have jotter pads which you add sticky labels for any relevant products which are being recommended, with a header of all of your details- or loads of other ways to get your name in there.

It has always been my opinion and from that I have learned from many very good marketing specialists that if you have an opportunity then use it. Which means you you are having business cards do not waste the other side of the card. Yes, keep white space which can also be used to jot a line or two on, but use it to add value, add a list of your services, some logo's of professional bodies (after all there is only so much you can and should put on the front of a professional-looking business card), perhaps an endorsement from a well-known client if you have one, maybe 3 top tips on animal care, or 3 'did you know?' statistics.

Thanks all - some really good points there...

I'm a B2C company and I agree business cards seem a little formal but I keep getting asked for them and there have been times when I've met someone in a shop, got talking and they asked for my details. A business card would easily go into a wallet at times like this.

I'd love to have different products printed for different things etc. but at the moment money is tight having just started up so I need to try and keep costs down.

Do you think business cards would be ok or would postcards or similar be better?

Business cards and postcards have 2 different objectives. The former is for long term retention with details you expect not to change. Postcards would be used to maybe include a promotion or special offer. I'd shop around for some good priced business cards and also get a small batch of A6 postcards or A5 flyers done as a trial. Maybe just 250 to start with.

I got 250 double sided full colour business cards 350gsm nice coated finish, for £20 no vat and free delivery, in 2 days, not including artwork of course. If you want the contact let me know.

cards are probably a must for most businesses, even B2C as you're discovering.
some really good pointers from the pink elephant, especially about working with a local printer - it's got to be a beter option than sending your money out of Sheffield (or in the case of vista, out of the country!).

I had 500 double sided business cards printed from a place on ebayfor 25 inc postage - good quality too. Print 24-7 think it was called.

I'm finally getting my business cards done and have the option to have the back printed.

The options I have are either calendars, appointments or my website and company description on the back (which is already on the front).

I can't see me using the appointments part or why anyone would need a calendar (unless I marked on it when new classes were starting) so my question is, is there any real benefit to having the back printed from anyone else's experience?

I'm thinking there's no a lot of point as it costs extra anyway but thought I'd see if anyone else has any experience?

Ta :)

Hi there,
I have a business called Pro Marketing Business Solutions. One of the main services we provide is printing (In house). If you are interested please give us a call, maybe we can help and give you a really good price. We are in the process of re-building our website so at the moment we cant give you that, however we are on Ecclesall road so feel free to pop in. We also print other items such banners, exibition stands, A-boards etc.... We are a 1-stop shop for all your printing, marketing and design.

Hope to speak to you soon! :thumbsup:
John
Pro Marketing Business Solutions
0114 268 0404 / 0800 298 2574

I would have something like

Notes : .............................

...................................

................................


If the back printing if free of charge then go with the notes on the back for sure.

I have doubled sided business cards for my clubwear label. the front is just my logo and on the back i have a little more info like website and email etc. ive used bright colours and design to get attention and kept a uniform design for front and back.

example can be seen here:
front - http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm31/ha3el_photo/buscard1.jpg
back - http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm31/ha3el_photo/buscard4.jpg

Personally I think its a good idea to have double sided printing, you can keep info more simple and spaced out instead of everything squashed on one side. If it wont benefit you though and you are looking to save costs then there is no point.

I got double sided and on the other side I simply had the logo shadowed and then lines so that if needed I could scribble something on the back or they could scribble something on the back. I chose the option for appointments and then deleted the Time, Place etc and that just left it blank!! (VistaPrint.com was who I used)

5. Avoid home made cards, vending machine cards and free ones such as Vista. As a business card is probably the first point of contact for your business the last thing you want is to have them perceive your business as cheap and tacky.

Couldn't agree more. If your business card looks like it came from a cheap vending machine, then your business will scream CHEAP.

7. Get into bed with a good printer. There are plenty of good jobbing printers in and around Sheffield so shop around for the good deals. Printing.com has some good half price deals on this month

Finding a good printer is essential. I would avoid Printing.Com like the plague; they are stupidly expensive. There are many more local printing firms that are cheaper, have the same (or higher) quality finish, and you'll be able to choose from a much wider range of materials and stock for your business stationery.

9. Choose your typeface carefully. Is it easy to read? Try and avoid typefaces that will quickly date as it means you will have to soon revise your corporate style. Preferably use the same as your letterheads etc. Also, watch the colours. Try and get them as close as possible to your corporate colours (if you know the pantone ref. even better) so you create a consistent image.

Everyone thinks they can 'do design' these days; they can't. Having a copy of Quark/Illustrator/Freehand/Photoshop/Publisher does not make someone a skilled typographer or designer. You wouldn't pay me to come and do your plumbing because I don't know what I'm doing, exactly the same principle applies here. Bite the bullet and pay someone who has taken the time to learn their profession, it'll work out better in the long run. Otherwise, when your printer starts asking you about bleeds, slugs, weight, coated/uncoated, seals, outlining, stacking.... you wont have a clue, and your stationery will probably look rubbish.

10. Do you really need a business card? There are plenty of alternatives such as bookmarks, door hangers, pens, mugs etc.

Again, here's where hiring someone creative will work wonders. Pay someone to sort this for you, it's their job!

try visiting clients, meeting potential clients and networking without business cards....and come back and tell me do you really need them......the answer is yes. When you are meeting business people, and they ask for your card, you just cant hand them a mug or a door hanger instead. They are ok as additional handouts but not instead of business cards.

I get mine done with DCP Print and pay £12 inc p&p for 250 double sided cards. I have an appointment info on the reverse and my business name and contact details with nice logo. I have always been impressed with the quality. I have seen Vista cards and they are a bit cheap looking imo.

The only downside to DCP is that they take 2 weeks to arrive but worth the wait.

I erased the appointment words and left the lines on the back in case people ask for info and you can scribble it down on the back e.g. personal number, a price, an item code etc. if you're using vistaprint and don't print on the back - it will say printed by vistaprint on it.