You don't have to stretch your budget to accommodate business cards. If you're looking to sell yourself at your next expo or professional mixer, here are just five ways to lower your card costs without sacrificing quality.
- Buy in Bulk
Many business owners are afraid to buy a surplus of cards because they aren't sure that the printed information will stay the same over time. What if you get promoted next year? What if you change their email address? An easy solution is to use vague language when describing your position and offer work-only email address that can be forwarded to your regular one.
- Print Less on the Card
When it comes to business cards, more ink means higher prices. Many manufacturers charge by the word or even by the character. If you want to avoid these fees, embrace a minimalist design that will save you money on printing costs. For example, you can simply print your name, phone number, and that brief job title you already perfected. Clients can get any other information they need by actually calling you.
- Use Rounded Corners
Some creative business owners like to design their cards with entirely unique shapes, but that usually turns into a higher expense, not a lower one. A simpler alternative is to just round off the edges of your business cards. You'll pay less, and those pennies can really add up when you're ordering more than 500 cards.
- Experiment with Mini Cards
To really save money, shrink all your business to half their size. Not only will this reduce printing, shipping and basic material costs, but there's a good chance your mini-cards will also become a topic of conversation during client meetings and business mixers. When people do a double-take at their smallness, you can offer an easy, comfortable quip as an icebreaker.
- Ask for Thinner Stock
You shouldn't downgrade into something genuinely flimsy, but it's okay not to order the premium, triple-glossed card stock. Most people can't tell the difference between 0.010' and 0.012' thickness. Even if you go a few levels lower than the premium quality, you'll still be getting something pretty good.
