Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples?

Ken_Calhoun · 11:18 AM

Does anyone have examples of graphics from great-looking, sharp, pro business cards?

I'm looking to create mini-billboard type lead-gen biz cards, with a "go to the site to get a free audio/video/pdf with 7 tips for how to (niche hot button)"...

I haven't seen any dazzling business card examples from the biz card vendors - so, anyone have any links to great-looking business cards?

much appreciated,

ken

p.s. other than google-image searching for 'business card" to see what others have done, better solution I think is to buy some books via amazon, looks like they have "best business card design" book series etc for sale ... though I'm looking for DM-savvy vs artsy fartsy designs for biz cards..

John_S · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 11:39 AM

This could be an interesting topic. Here are some ideas.

Building a Better Business Card "You can apply Halbert's mentality to your business card...." Has a link to a diagram with callouts of the different elements, why they were used.

One of the more famous efforts is "Gaping Void." Imagine your business cards getting you random blog posts, and advertising your business at the same time. Cards Mr. Subtle could appreciate.

Mr. Subtle · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 11:41 AM

I've mentioned this before...take a trip to Barnes & Noble (or Borders), buy yourself a cup of coffee and sit down in one of those comfy chairs while paging through these two books...

Amazon.com: Business Cards: The Art of Saying Hello (Business Cards): Books: Mike Dorrian,Liz Farrelly

Amazon.com: The Best of Business Card Design 7 (Best of Business Card Design (Hardback)): Books: Loewy

I'm sure you'll find quite a few ideas you can adapt to what you need. (Not all of the samples are artsy-phartsy.)

There's also a company offering rectangular dvd business cards (unlike the "old" kind with the rounded sides):

Nichestuff.com, Home of the CD DVD Business Card

Mr. Subtle · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_S

"You can apply Halbert's mentality to your business card...." Has a link to a diagram with callouts of the different elements, why they were used.

Halbert isn't a boring guy. If you've ever heard him speak you know he has energy, yet I can see his business card being as lifeless as the sample shown in the article:

Yawn.

Off the top of my head I came up with this for the front of the business card...

On the back I'd have a subheadline stating: "I can show you proven ways how to get new customers." Below that you'd have pertinent "copy" showing them a link to a FREE pdf, website url, your name, phone number, e-mail addy and the company's name. Sort of like a mini-Ogilvy print ad. I'd also make sure the company name was at the bottom on the back with all the other more important stuff above it.

Have it printed like I always pike: 350dpi (line) stochastic screens, 16pt stock. 4 over 4 and UV coated (both sides) and you've got yourself a card that stands out from 99% of all the other cards being passed around. Plus the touchy feely aspect of the card gives it an additional WOW factor to it.

Ricky Breslin · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 06:58 PM

Here's ours Ken, they do real well. Hopefully ours can give you some ideas.

Stephen Davies · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 07:03 PM

Nice job Ricky - very professional and also like the headline and offer!

Only a DR Copywriter could come up with something so appealing.

Ricky Breslin · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-10-2007, 07:18 PM

Thanks Primo.

Also, I forgot to mention Ken. We get all of our prints done at OvernightPrints.com, they are all Premium 15pt. Card Stock with Glossy U/V Coating. We get compilments ALL the time on our cards.

We use PSPrint.com for all other printing but they only do 14pt Card Stock for printing.

I'm looking for a solid company that does 16pt, haven't found one yet...

Ken_Calhoun · 06:05 AM

Thanks Ricky, great card - good to know re 14 vs 16pt for psprint, thx.....I was going to use psprint, I'll check out overnight too.... btw nice card design, very sharp!

Thx all - good examples too, eg salesforce align w (btw see their demo videos, great) I overnight ordered some of the business card books, so I should get those tomorrow, should be interesting to see a lot of examples.. in the meantime, working on my own, hmm they have great copy bullets on them, but graphically not too exciting, so hopefully the biz card books will have some examples to borrow ideas from... ken

Mr. Subtle · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-11-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky

We get all of our prints done at OvernightPrints.com, they are all Premium 15pt. Card Stock with Glossy U/V Coating. We get compilments ALL the time on our cards.

I'll bet you do and I'm glad someone else here "gets it" when it comes to biz cards printed full color (both sides) on thick UV coated stock.

Prouddad · **Re: Best-pulling Business Cards - swipes/examples? -** 01-11-2007, 12:37 PM

Ken, I brought up the subject of business cards in a thread that I created on 11/29/06 in the Copywriting Forum. It's titled Business Cards for Copywriters. The last post in this thread was on 12/5/06.

On 12/4, Mr. Subtle posted a couple of memorable business cards that I think are fantastic. Not only are they catchy, but they really hit at his prospect's pain.

To hell with the books; just hire Mr. Subtle to create your cards!!

Mr. Subtle--can you refer us to the artist that created the drawings on your business cards?

Rob