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Scotty Mac Regular user 113 Posts |
I am in the process of designing a business card. I would like it to be more than just a business card with the standard contact information and logo and possibly incorporate additional "features" that would allow the cards to be used in impromptu routines as well as being handed out. I was wondering what others on the forum have added to their cards to make them multi-functional.
Thanks, Scott |
Deke Rivers Loyal user 216 Posts |
KISS -- Keep It Simple, Stupid (not that you are.)
Why overdo it with the card? I disagree that people remember you because of your card. They remember you because of YOU. A card should not be "multi-functional." Sure, feel free to do a trick with it in order to get it into their hands. But beyond that, a card should allow people to get in touch with you easily. That's it. KISS. |
Scotty Mac Regular user 113 Posts |
Thanks, Deke,
The catalyst for this question was a trick I saw Andy Nyman do called "Graphology." 3 specs draw a picture on cards and he guesses who drew two of he pictures and the third (which is face down) he is able to draw without looking. Nothing special about the business cards themselves and, yes, I know there are hundreds of tricks that incorporate business cards. It just got the juices flowing. Just wanted to query folks for any unique ideas they might have. For example, something hidden in the way the lettering is formatted or as simple as adding the Magic Numbers Trick to the back of the card. I'm also interested in any unique materials that may have been used. I completely agree with your statement that they will remember you for you, but in the name of marketing oneself every bit helps. Scott |
TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
There are LOTS of discussions here at the Café regarding BUSINESS CARDS... feel free to use the free search function provided here. (Then you get to weed though what is correct and NOT correct... BUT you will have more information and choices with which to make a more INFORMED decision! - Right?)
The ONE thing I will reiterate is, your “BUSINESS” CARD has ONE SOLE PURPOSE and that is to ADVANCE Your Bottom Line “BUSINESS” Outcome! - That's it! If it does not advance your business it is nearly a "calling card" with a way to get in contact with you. (Which is fine, if THAT is what you want from your card!) Just KNOW what you expect from your CARD and then make it DO THAT! (What ever it is that you want…) Now, there is NO "ONE" set-way to do all that... but IF you choose a real “BUSINESS” Card, it’s design, form and function is to "Advances Your BUSINESS" in some profitable way. The QUESTION you can ask yourself is: "How Does My "BUSINESS Card" get me closer to my bottom line outcome... a PAID GIG?" (Or what-ever your bottom line outcome is!) Your BUSINESS Card is, “IF” effective, a “Marketing Soldier” that should be working on your behalf to help GROW YOUR BUSINESS and not just littering the universe with just a way to get in ‘contact’ with you alone like the basic, average calling-card. – A True BUSINESS Card WORKS for you! Hope that helps to advance the cause and your success... after-all, no matter what is said one way or the other, THAT is the only real REASON for having “BUSINESS Cards” anyway, (To advance your success!) right? ANYONE can have a mere “Calling-Card”, and unfortunately, most do, but few understand the power of a true stand-alone “BUSINESS Card!” => By the way… I AGREE that your number ONE marketing, influence and persuasion WEAPON we have is US, (and THAT is a whole library of books all by itself!) and THAT is NOT what you asked us about… you asked about your BUSINESS Card, so if THAT is what you want to discuss, let get down to brass tacks and make your BUSINESS Card the BEST marketing outreach tool it can be, shall we? There is my .02 cents based on experience and results. I am at your service and In HIS Service, Deano <>< PS "THINK and Grow Rich!"
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
Instead, try biz card "keepers" - write (in their presence) on the back of it "10% discount" - or do a biz card "printing a blank card" trick to present it to them.
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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
Email me, and I will show you a copy of mine. It is very professional, and have received rave reviews.
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
Starry Loyal user New York 219 Posts |
I just designed one, too. I'm not sure the K.I.S.S. principle applies here. My card is really complicated, but I'm getting an amazing response so far. Most people who see it ask if they can have one. So I guess it's serving its purpose. It is a bicycle playing card so that I can use an effect of mine to change the cards into my business card. If you'd like to see it I'm putting it up at:
http://www.starry.com/magic/gifs/acestarrysbusinesscard.jpg You may think it's a little difficult to read at first, it says "Illusion and Magic of Ace Starry." But before you criticize, print it out and then turn it upside down. Everyone I've had turn it over goes "wow! that is cool!" -- Ace Starry
Ace Starry - Author or THE MAGIC LIFE - A NOVEL PHILOSOPHY
http://www.starry.com/ |
James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
I've experimented with lots of different cards...including offering a discount on the card, having a trick on the card, with photo, without photo...
...my experience is that it doesn't really make much of a difference. However, the most successful method I have found is the customized million dollar bills with my information on the reverse. People keep these things in their wallets for years. I just recently got a call for a holiday party from someone I gave a bill to three years ago! Send me a PM if you would like to know where to get them... Best, James |
LostSoul Regular user Dave 148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-11-10 22:26, Starry wrote: Starry, I think your card is great. My only question is about the size. I know some people like to attach cards to a rolodex (OK, you young tikes, a rolodex is a file system used in the ancient days before computers and some people still use them ). I would think that yours would be hard to do that with. Have you ever had comments from people wondering how to file them? Also, did you do the design work (it’s great the way everything changes as needed), or did you have a graphics designer do the work? I would find that to be really tough (and I do a little graphic design myself). Thanks, Dave |
Starry Loyal user New York 219 Posts |
Dave,
Yeah, I've thought about the card Rolodex problem. Since I've never used a card this size before, I'm not sure that that isn't an obstacle. Like you, I know what a Rolodex is, since I used to have one. When I got oversized cards, I either wrote the info into a card or just stuck the oversized card in the slot. I'll just have to see as time goes on. I'm hoping that it goes beyond a business card and becomes almost a novelty. Time will tell. I used Corel Draw to design the card. I've done a little graphic design over the years and I enjoy that sort of thing. This one took me hours and hours to develop. Probably a good full week in time spent. -- Ace
Ace Starry - Author or THE MAGIC LIFE - A NOVEL PHILOSOPHY
http://www.starry.com/ |
LostSoul Regular user Dave 148 Posts |
Ace,
You could carry around a roldex punch with you just-in-case . All I can say about the work, is if you did that in only a week, you're really good. I've never used Corel Draw, I learned on Illustrator and Freehand (back in the early Mac days). Thanks, Dave |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I only use Illustrator as for the graphic Designer in me, it is the only prgram that allows me the total freedom I am after for the logo design and vector artwork that I do for my own cards and those of others I have done over the years.
It does take a knack for learning how to draw with a mouse and learning how to adjust curves based upon the vector format of Beseai (sp) surves. Illustrator works entirely on a vector based format. This means that everything is based upj mathematics. This is a great thing for designing logos and art because it can be blown up to any size and will never lose in quality. That is the glory and the plus side of vector vased programs for creating artwork for business card designs. Whgen you start using programs like Photoshop, then you have to change into a world of raster based art files. This means you are dealing in DPI or dots per inch resolution. The typical hi-res dpi needed for most printers will be at 300 dpi and you will want your photoshop file to be 300 dpi at the final sice for the card if not bigger. You never want to take a raster file and bl;ow it up too much. Because it is raster based, everytime you blow up or enlarge a raster image, it loses DPI resolution as it has to make up the colors inbetween the dots as you enlarge it. Hope some of this information may be of help to you as you design ideas for your own cards. If anyone cares to see samples of some of my vector based artwork sone in Illustrator, just shoot me over a PM. I would be happy to show you what can be done with the program and a few years of art school. =) It would be my pleasure. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Scotty Mac Regular user 113 Posts |
I was just talking with someone today about this topic and another idea that came up (for the mentalist crowd) was printing the card on 2.5" x 3.5" paper. The grade that Richard Osterlind sells on his site for the center tear seems like it would work well. It's slick and thick enough for a business card. The issue would be the non-standard business card size so the dimensions might have to be adapted slightly.
BTW, nice card, Ace. Scott |
Scotty Mac Regular user 113 Posts |
I was just talking with someone today about this topic and another idea that came up (for the mentalist crowd) was printing the card on 2.5" x 3.5" paper. The grade that Richard Osterlind sells on his site for the center tear seems like it would work well. It's slick and thick enough for a business card. The issue would be the non-standard business card size so the dimensions might have to be adapted slightly.
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Nice idea about the center tear for a business card. Just keep in mind that whenever you are designing your card, you must keep the end user in mind as well. As stated before, if you go with a business card format that does not adhere to the standard format size, then you run the risk of a person not being able to place it in a rolodex or a business card holder and they tend to throw them away at that point.
One way around this problem is to think about a card that can fold or that has a flap on it. This way you can still do some pretty interesting design concepts, but when the flap is closed, it still fits the standard businesscard size. It would then create a unique card that allows you more room for information etc. I have designed cards with an image on the flap that when opened, changes. The act of opening the card creates a sort of visual magic that was fun for folks and did not create a problem for them in saving the card. Another thing to keep in mind is the paper weight of the stock you are printing on. If it is too flimsy, your cards just will not last or stand up for any length of time. There is also a difference in look between a gloss stock and a non-gloss stock. Printing on both will give you vastly different results. Hope this is food for thought and helps someone.=) Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
Scotty, Kyle and others.
These are real nice thoughts about business cards. If you are going to do a CT or a p**k where the card is folded, you really have to give them another card for them to take as the first is ruined. If your goal is to use such an effect to induce the person to keep your card, may I suggest the use of something like the SUC case, the older Dr. Jaks wallet or even a window envelope? Have the person draw a design, you temporarily put away the card and then you duplicate it on a pad. Now, when you leave your card with the person, it is intact with their drawing on it and gives them something to tell their friends about! Richard |
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
I found that designing my business card was a valuable exercise in focusing on who I am and what I do.
After all, you only have this 2" by 3-1/2" piece of paper to work with. It can't be too crowded, or it won't be readable. But it does need to contain essential contact info and give an instant snapshot of your business. So it forces you to distill the essence of your work into a few words or a snappy phrase. In my case, I demonstrate and sell pocket tricks at street festivals, craft fairs and flea markets. So that's what I put on my card -- "Demonstration and Sale of Classic Magic Tricks." But then I found I was always being asked if I do magic shows, which I don't. So I added "The Traveling Magic Store" at the top, to neatly summarize the situation. A "top hat" graphic, and a little color here and there, and the name of my business ("It's Magic!"), and I was done. It sounds simple, but it took a fair amount of thinking and tinkering to get it right. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
If you have a great web site and a great business card, that card should "DRIVE" the holder to your website. It is there on that web site you sell yourself. (Another topic).
Also the card should be a stand alone sel of yourself in looks, and information. Does it do more for you then just give information? A business card is a science. The best business card is one where you hand it to someone and for whatever reason, they MUST keep it with them at all time, or cash it in for something valuable. A real $100 bill would work but that's impractical.
Dennis Michael
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