Your customers have only one chance to make a first impression.

Be sure they’ll make the right one, and come back for more business, with a few tips from the experts in print. Many people overlook the value of having their card accurately reflecting their brand identity, yet that little piece of paper is held by your client as they evaluate your worth. We’ve put together this handy guide to show you when, where, and how different types of business cards can be used to make your brand stronger.

What information should I include in my business card?

Here at Tradeprint we believe that there are five key elements to a business cards; the individual’s name, title, email address, phone number, and the company name. We’d also recommend that you included your company logo, and a web address. While physical addresses were once mandatory additions, they are becoming increasingly less relevant to many. The sheer size of a physical address takes up lots of space, so we advise that you only include a physical location if you are specifically marketing to your local area.

What type of paper should I use?

By choosing a particular type of paper you are making a statement about what your brand is. Contemplate what your brands values are, and make sure that your business card reflects that in both content, and material.

Silk (Unlaminated) 400gsm

Some people may choose to save money by using cheaper paper, this is why we offer the Premium Silk range. Produced on light 400gsm paper, these cards go through our Silk finishing process, creating the best economical business cards on the market.

These are perfect for situations where you are distributing large amounts of business cards, such as in a busy high street shop. With the added advantage that unlaminated cards are perfect for writing on.  This allows you to use the ‘other side’ of your card as a loyalty card, or even as a space to pencil in appointments. By making your cards multi-purpose, not only are you being more efficient, but you are maximising the amount of time that your customers are engaged with your brand.

Matt Laminated 450gsm

Sometimes you need a business card that can take a beating. That’s where our super heavyweight 450gsm Matt Laminated cards come in. A sturdy card that offers protection against everyday wear-and-tear, and shows your client that your products are built to last. Popular with bespoke designers and Trades, these cards are our best-sellers. Its finish helps to bring out the lighter colours in the graphic, and allows for a softer image.

High Gloss 450gsm

High Gloss’ reflective shine brightens your graphics and creates more vivid colours. On a super thick 450gsm card, it’s water-resistant, and has a strong tactile grip. This is the card of choice for those wishing to dazzle and impress. These cards are proving popular with everyone from Architects to window washers, with the sparkle bringing a new dimension to their brands first image.

Soft Touch 450gsm

Our 450gsm Soft Touch has to be felt to be believed. Its astonishingly velvet finish gently caresses your fingers as you hold it in your hand. This card oozes class and sophistication, and is a must have for premium businesses. When a client receives a Soft Touch card, they know that you are not the average business. Increasingly popular with Jewellers, Agencies, and luxury good providers, Soft Touch combines a reassuringly smooth tactile experience, with an incredibly deep and rich colour palette.

Matt Laminated Spot UV 450gsm

Spot UV is a coating that creates a glossy finish on top of the chosen areas. It creates a wonderful tactile and visual effect that clearly sets it apart from your average business cards. Spot UV has proven to be extremely popular with creative agencies, up-market restaurants, and designers, wishing to capitalise on a minimalism style, whilst also being unique and memorable. Whilst we do not recommend using Spot UV for thin lines and small text, it is perfect for patterns and large areas.

And Now For Some Technical Bits…

Size: All of our business cards are standardised at 55x85mm, this is about the same size as a credit card, and it makes them perfect for fitting in your wallet.

Colour: We print in CMYK, so make sure to create your files using this, as RGB conversions can often be disappointing.

Graphic: The business cards artwork must be supplied at a minimum of 300DPI (dots per inch), all the way up to a super high clarity 1440DPI.

Quiet Border: Avoid designing any important visual elements within 3mm of the edge, these areas are likely to be scuffed and scrapped, which should be taken into consideration.

Bleed: Please extend your design 1mm in each direction, this helps ensure that the colour reaches all edges, and your card looks the best it can.