Making yourself memorable is one of the keys to getting customers, and your business card is an excellent way to get someone to remember your name. Funky die cut business cards can really help here, but you have to be careful regarding physical design. If you have the wrong physical design, your cards could be easily damaged and seen as cheap. Follow these tips to help make your business cards longer lasting and more memorable.
Watch out for Corners
Die cut plastic cards are stronger than paper cards, but the plastic can still bend and break. If you have your cards cut so that there are a lot of corners, such as a sunburst design, you risk those corners getting mauled as people handle the cards. Plus, designs like that don't make it easy to store the cards, either for you or for the people you gave the cards to.
And it's not just outer corners you have to watch out for. If you have a card that has a die cut pattern in the middle of the card, any thin pieces of plastic that outline the cuts could be pulled or crumpled if the card isn't handled correctly.
Have You Seen Others Use the Shape?
Many die cut cards use an existing template -- the company cutting the cards offers these templates to make decision making easier on the customer. However, that means that there are a lot of other companies using these templates. If you want to use a pre-cut template for your card, ask yourself if you've seen others using a similar shape. You'll have to make the graphics on the card really stand out so that your card doesn't become just another gimmicky thing that ends up in the trash.
Find a Dual Purpose
Plastic business cards really do need a second purpose. It's not cost-effective to create these thicker cards only to have them thrown away or tossed in a pile on someone's desk. If the cards have a second purpose, the people you give them to will have a reason to keep them out. The second purpose could be anything from having a calendar printed on one side to creating a cut-out that people can place in front of windows so that a pattern forms on the wall with shadows and sunlight. Give people a reason to keep that card out.
Die cut cards are a great way to set yourself apart, but as more people start to use them, the more you'll have to ensure those cards stay in good shape and stay out of people's junk piles. Contact die cutting companies like Accurate Products Inc. to see what templates they have as well as what graphic design help they may be able to provide.
