who has a business card

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
I finally got tired of writing my contact info on dirty napkins to give to people, so I am having some cards printed up. What do you think?
 
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Good idea. Some of us got cards made up identifying us as knife collectors to explain why we might be traveling around with a case full of blades. :)

I got mine from www.vistaprint.com
 
Good idea. I have had some for couple years. Price is right and it is so convenient when you want to give out you name and number for any reason. One nice knife sale could pay for a lot of cards. Jim
 
I had some made up about a year ago. It helps with communications with customers, suppliers and other makers. You can either do it yourself on the computer or there are several sites on the internet that will print a bunch for cheap.
KDC
 
I got my business cards in April. I attended my first show as a table holder, so I figured it was necessary. I kept my cards very simple. Small, simple avatars of a bladesmith and an anvil are on it, with contact info and a little bit of what I make. All black and white.
 
Nice axe
I used to be in advertising photography
My business card has always had a photo on it (one that I did when I was 14 that was called sunshadow) I used to make minor changes each time I printed them I went to give a guy my business card one time, he said "I already have it" and pulled out one from my first batch when I went into business when I was 14. Apparently the picture was different enough that it never got weeded out in 12 years. It was simple, a relatively clean graphic, and made my card stand out from the plain ones.
Rocketman, Keep the picture increase the font size, and possibly find a way to make it readable at 10 feet (or at the thumbnail size)
-Page
 
Nice image.

The white lettering is pretty soft, though. Hard to read and may be much harder in print.
You may want to shadow or outline the lettering in black to make it 'pop'!:)
 
Not good. Illegible text size, HORRIBLE font and white text has not enough contrast against the background.
 
To much background. It hides your message. Which is?

What do you want people to remember about you?



Fred
 
Place the logo you put onto your knives on your BC, keep
the background white.

Go for a fancier r font - the idea is to convey the fact it is a
unique hand craft you're in that goes back half a millennium .
 
I'd add a website address if you have one and even your town and state. Lots of people pick them up at shows and read them to see where your from instead of asking. If you make more knives than hawks I would change the image to a knife instead.
 
Have cards is great idea, I know of guys who collect knifemakers cards, they walk around shows with a card off of each table,

Anyone else seen this guys at shows,

I have made a few sales from cards and always have them on the table.


cya
jimi
 
I've been printing my own on my computer but they don't always turn out as well as I'd like. They still have the pertinent information, but don't look as professional as I'd like. The benefit was being able to change them easily without having a large number printed up.

Esav, I went to that site you posted and ordered some from there. Seems easy enough. I imagine the quality will be better than my homemade cards. We'll see. Thanks for the site link.

SDS
 
rocketmann said:
Here it is with some changes.
Click to expand...

Slightly better, but still, the background is too busy. Is it so important to have a photograph as a background?
If I were you I'd stick with something simpler as a background, maybe your logo/stamp (if you have any) or simple drawing indicating what you make.
(quick drawing I did as an example, granted it doesn't look good as I have no talent, so take it as that)
abc.jpg


If the photograph is required as a background, maybe slightly soften (blur) and decolorize the rocks so as to main object is more emphasized. Or reshoot the axe in a "studio style" on the black fabric to make it more straightaway.
 
I choose to use the photo because it makes it easy for some one to visualise what I do. I looked at simpler designs and was unimpressed with them, they were too generic looking to me.

tell me which one is better between these two..same profile..
 
I understand how a picture can make the card "busy" but I like having a visual image to display what I do. Like Rocketman I think it gives the customer a better idea of the kind of work the maker does. A generic card, unless it is someone well known or at least known to that customer, is just that.......generic. It doesn't show them anything about the maker.

If you can link it to a website or something that helps, but overall I like the photo on the card.

SDS
 
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