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9 Things To Include in Your Holiday Giveaway

9 Things To Include in Your Holiday Giveaway

As we approach the end of the year, we step into the holiday season. Many cultures celebrate important holidays in the final months of the year, and many businesses do holiday giveaways to honor those celebrations during this time. If your business has never done a holiday giveaway, this is the year to start. Holiday giveaways not only honor the holidays your customers celebrate, but they also thank your patrons for their loyalty and can introduce you to new potential customers. Keep reading to learn about the nine things you should include in your holiday giveaway.

Your Most Popular Product

You can’t predict what the random giveaway winner will want from your store, but if you have a significantly popular item, chances are they’ll want one. If a new customer is entering the giveaway to learn about your merchandise, introduce them to your most popular product to give them a good idea of what you offer. If they’re a loyal customer, there’s a chance they already have your most popular product. In this case, you can offer to exchange the popular product with something else of equal value or suggest they share the new product with another person. Since they entered your giveaway, they probably already love your products and will be happy to share their winnings with someone else.

Self-Care Items

Holidays are stressful for everyone, which is why including a self-care item in your giveaway is such a good idea. This doesn’t have to be an item you sell at your store since this is a special giveaway, but make sure you share where people can buy the item in case non-winners are interested. If you’re not sure what self-care item to include, consider items that can help make a person’s life easier. A white noise machine, oil diffuser, or massage pillow are all great ideas that anyone will love.

Self-Improvement Items

As we look toward the holidays, we also think of the New Year and New Year’s Resolutions. Include a self-improvement item that can help the giveaway winner accomplish a common resolution; this will encourage them as they step into the new year. Common resolutions are to exercise, learn a new skill or hobby, and get better at organization. You can include a book on one of these topics or something more practical, like weights, a crafting guide, or a day planner.

Something Local

Celebrate your store’s location and loyal local customers with a gift from your area. You could include a gift card to a popular local restaurant, a sweatshirt with your town’s name, or tickets to a local show. New residents who are experiencing the area for the first time will jump at the chance to win something local and further introduce themselves to the area. Meanwhile, longstanding residents will enjoy a present that helps them stay connected to their hometown.

New Technology

Depending on the size of your business, this option might be out of your price range. But if you can find it in the budget, new technology makes a great present in a holiday giveaway. Technology is expensive and hard to find during the holiday season, so giving something away for free will entice everyone to enter your giveaway. If you have a small budget, consider a small piece of technology like noise-canceling headphones or a wireless charger. If you have a bigger budget, consider a more extravagant piece of new tech, like a new tablet or TV.

Fun Items

The holidays are about having fun and spending time with loved ones. Including fun items that will help the winner enjoy themselves is a great way to make customers feel appreciated. When customers feel appreciated, they’re more likely to stay loyal to your business, so the investment is a win-win. These fun items can include cheap family-friendly toys like puzzles and board games or more expensive experiences like theme park tickets and virtual reality headsets. No matter what your business can afford to give away, people will appreciate the gift even if it’s not worth a lot of money. The point is that you show them you care.

Free Food

People love free food, especially during the mad dash of the holiday season. However, it’s also complicated to give away food since many people have food allergies. To avoid this potential problem, you can give away a gift card to a food delivery app or local allergy-friendly restaurant, enabling anyone to enjoy winning. If you want to include a food item in your giveaway, make sure it doesn’t contain any of the more common allergens and wasn’t produced in a factory that could cross-contaminate the food. Warn the winner about the food item you’re including, and offer to switch it with a safer one if they tell you about certain dietary restrictions.

Store Gear

While your holiday giveaway should include plenty of items that people from all walks of life will use and enjoy, the point of the giveaway is to bring business to your store. That means you should include a piece of store gear. When the winner wears or uses the item in public, you get free advertising, and they get a useful item like a shirt or tote bag that shows off one of their favorite places to shop. If you don’t already have gear for sale, make a special order for the holidays so that you can include something special in your giveaway.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are one of the best gifts anyone can give, so you should include one in your holiday giveaway. This item allows your loyal customers to come in and buy anything they want on your dime, which will only increase their loyalty. If a new customer wins your giveaway and has never shopped with you before, this item allows them to peruse your merchandise without worrying about the cost, which serves as a great introduction to your store. If you don’t already have gift cards for sale, get some printed to include in the giveaway and sell to other shoppers during the holiday season.

There are lots of things you can include in your holiday giveaway. Give away any items that your business believes will entice people to shop at your store. Your giveaway can be small or large—it all depends on your budget. If you can only give out a small holiday basket or gift, prioritize items from your store, especially a gift card. If you need gift card printing, Silk Cards has all the options you could ever want. Our custom gift cards will look great in any prize basket and in your store.

9 Things To Include in Your Holiday Giveaway

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Which Type of Foil Business Cards Should You Choose

Which Type of Foil Business Cards Should You Choose

Unique business cards are a necessity in our modern world. Everyone from college students to side hustle bloggers to retirees carries business cards with them so they can connect with others. If you want to stand out and leave a lasting impression, then you need unique cards. One of the best ways to make your card memorable is using foil printing. Which type of foil business cards should you choose, though, and what are the differences? We can answer those questions and help you make your decision. Keep reading to learn more.

Silk Foil

At SilkCards, our silk foil is the classic foil option. You can choose from 36 different color and pattern options that go through a foil and silk printing process. This means your colorful card has all the metallic shine you want with the added professionalism and durability of a silk finish. You can print your entire card with a silk foil finish or elevate a specific element of your card, such as your logo. You can choose multiple colors or patterns or keep the design simple. The only limit is your imagination when it comes to silk foil.

Silk Matte

Maybe you want to elevate your cards without the stereotypically metallic shine. You can order foil business cards with a silk matte finish. The silk matte finish feels smooth and luxurious, but it doesn’t shine like the traditional foil cards we described above. Your cards will still feature a stunning color, and the foil will still appear on them, but it will feel and look different than typical foil business cards. This is another unique option that many professionals love.

Cold Foil

Cold foil gives your card extra shine, the opposite of the silk matte choice. This is an excellent choice for businesses that want luxury and bright aesthetics. You can choose various colors for cold foil, but the lighter the color, the more shine people can see. This makes many people choose silver or gold for their cold foil cards. If you didn’t plan to include silver or gold in your card design, that’s okay. Any light color will shimmer and shine on cold foil business cards.

We asked in the introduction, which type of foil business card should you choose? The differences are easy to spot in our descriptions above, but choosing between them can feel challenging. You should select the foil business card design that best complements your intended card design and business needs. All these options will help you and your business stand out from the competition and make a lasting impression on the recipient.

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The Benefits of Using Physical Business Cards vs. Virtual

The Benefits of Using Physical Business Cards vs. Virtual

The internet completely changed how many businesses functioned. The rise of smartphones and increasingly digital options, from virtual menus to telehealth doctor visits, has changed the business world even more. While many of these changes have improved businesses and allowed business owners and employees better to reach their desired audience, not all virtual options are best. For example, most of the time, virtual business cards aren’t better than physical ones. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of using those physical business cards and how they can help your business even in this digital age.

No Internet Needed

Most people take the internet for granted these days. So many businesses provide Wi-Fi, and so many internet and phone providers offer Wi-Fi hot spots that we default to expecting internet service everywhere we go. Most smartphones can easily switch over to data when the internet fails, so we can stay connected no matter what.

While these connections are great, they’re not guaranteed. Sometimes the internet isn’t available. Occasionally we can’t even use data, depending on our area and the service available. If you only offer virtual business cards, lack of internet and data means you can’t share them at all. This prevents you from giving your cards to your intended audience and can hurt your business in the long run. Physical cards always work, however. No internet needed.

Guaranteed Accessibility

As we mentioned above, physical business cards always work. You don’t need the internet or anything else to access a physical card quickly. In addition to not needing the internet, you don’t even need a smart device to access physical cards. Anyone with any or no smart devices can walk up to you and leave with a physical card. This guaranteed accessibility is great at conferences where someone might forget their phone or when working with older people who may not own smart devices. Always keep a few physical business cards on you for these circumstances and others where you need a physical card.

More Affordable

Business cards cost money, whether they’re paper or virtual. Many think virtual cards are probably more affordable since they don’t require paper, ink, or shipping. However, the opposite is often the case. When you design virtual business cards, you usually purchase the URL for those cards. URLs come at various price points depending on what’s available, which can cost you much more than a single paper card order. Additionally, you may have to pay an annual fee for your URL in addition to the creation of your virtual cards. If so, those fees can quickly add up to more than the cost of physical cards. While that URL will last forever and physical cards don’t, those physical cards can save you money in the short and long term.

Obvious Quality

You want people to perceive you and your business as an expert in the field. When you provide a high-quality business card, people trust that all the other aspects of your business feature the same quality and are carefully planned. The problem with virtual business cards is that it’s difficult to discern their quality. Recipients can’t feel the weight of high-quality paper or appreciate the effect of a shiny foil in natural light. Physical cards use those elements and others to display an unmistakable quality that sets the right tone for all future business transactions with the card recipient.

Better Aesthetics

If you and your business partner pull up the same website on different phones, that website can look different. Sometimes that difference comes from an element you can change, such as the screen’s brightness, but sometimes the difference stems from the phone’s manufacturing and software.

These visual variables can affect how people view your virtual business cards. Even if you pour lots of time and money into your virtual cards to ensure they’re beautiful and high-quality, you still depend on the variable of someone’s phone for how that card gets perceived. If the recipient has low brightness and doesn’t want to change it, they may not appreciate the aesthetic details you add to your card. If they own an older smartphone that doesn’t load images well, they may not see your logo!

The aesthetics of physical cards always remain the same. Someone might have to turn on an extra light to see the fine print, or a person with a visual impairment may need someone else to read the card to them, but you never have to worry about the card itself.

Great First Impression

The apparent quality and better aesthetics of your physical cards provide a great first impression. As soon as someone touches and looks at your business card, they know you’re serious about what you do. This assures potential customers that it’s worth their money when they purchase your product or service. Potential partners or investors will trust that you’re an expert in your field and committed to doing your best in every way. Conversations and business meetings can provide similar reassurances and establish trust, but nothing else will replace your business’s first impression. Make sure it’s a great one with unique die-cut cards.

Best of Both Worlds

One of the top benefits of using physical business cards vs. virtual ones is that you can create the best of both worlds. Physical cards can contain all your necessary business information, and you can print a QR code on them. The QR code can take the cardholder to a virtual business card with additional information, or anywhere else you choose. You can add QR codes to any physical card you want if there’s room for the code and your other information. This means the tech-savvy can enjoy all the digital benefits of your card while those who prefer physical cards can still easily access all the information they need.

Many aspects of the business world are changing thanks to the popularity of the internet and smartphones. Something that shouldn’t change is the use of physical business cards. They offer many benefits over their virtual counterparts, including the ability to provide access to a virtual card with a QR code. If your business is trying to decide whether physical cards are worth the purchase, they are. Reach out to SilkCards to order beautiful cards you’ll proudly hand out at the next opportunity.

The Benefits of Using Physical Business Cards vs. Virtual

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The Differences Between Clear and Frosted Business Cards

The Differences Between Clear and Frosted Business Cards

Business cards are common. Almost everyone has made or received a business card, but after a while, they can start to look the same. Many people design unique cards now to impress recipients and prevent their cards from getting lumped together with everyone else’s. One impressive design choice some people are making is clear or frosted business cards. Keep reading to learn about the differences between these two unique card options.

Semi vs. Fully Translucent

Clear and frosted business cards look similar at first glance. When you study them closely, you’ll notice that the clear ones are fully translucent, while frosted cards are only semi-translucent. If you hold the clear cards up to a light, you can see through them as if you were looking through a window. You can’t see through frosted cards completely, but you can make out lights, shadows, and shapes if held up to a light.

Price Differences

Many card printers, including SilkCards, have a price difference between clear and frosted cards. For the same number of cards at the same thickness level, you’ll pay roughly $20 more for frosted cards. The price difference also depends on your desired design. We can print any design on any card, including clear and frosted. However, some colors and designs can appear muted on clear cards in an effort to preserve the translucent appeal.

Which Is Better?

Now that you understand the appearance and price differences between clear and frosted business cards, you can decide which is best for your business. If you’re on a tight budget, then you should choose clear cards, as they’re slightly cheaper. If you have a specific colorful design in mind, then choose frosted cards that keep colors bright.

These cards are similar, and you can’t go wrong with either option. Recipients will appreciate the unique elements of both and will surely remember your business.

Picking out the right cards for your business to make the best impression is important. Choosing a unique style, such as clear or frosted cards, is a great way to make the best impression possible. If you’re looking for custom-made business cards with these unique elements, SilkCards is happy to help. You can order cards with your own design, or we can help you design cards you’ll feel confident handing out.

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The History and Evolution of Business Cards

The History and Evolution of Business Cards

Today, almost every working professional carries a business card with them. Whether you’re developing a side hustle, climbing the ladder until you’re the CEO, or working somewhere in between, people like to have a way to proclaim who they are and what they do. Business cards have helped people do that for hundreds of years, although we’ve used them differently throughout history. Keep reading to learn about the history and evolution of business cards.

Ancient Visiting Cards

The earliest known form of visiting or calling cards were ceramic tiles ancient Egyptians left behind in temples. These tiles depicted their name and title. While ancient Egyptians did use paper, it was expensive to produce and mostly used by the upper class, so people preferred tiles at the time.

Early Visiting Cards

Our first knowledge of modern visiting cards comes from 15th century China, when people carried cards containing personal and interesting information. Aristocrats usually carried these cards, as it was only upper classes who could afford to send a servant or messenger with their card, signaling that they wanted to meet with someone.

As trade and communication between continents improved, European upper classes learned about these visiting cards and began using them for their own purposes in the 17th century. They decorated the cards as they saw fit, sometimes using gold and fancy calligraphy to further show off their status and importance. These cards were the first impression many of these people made in various relationships, from romantic courtships to business deals, so their cards had to look just right.

Roughly 100 years later, every eligible young lady of status carried a card with her when she went visiting, either to the house of another woman or a potential suitor. Servants in these well-to-do households would offer a card tray when the lady entered the house, and she would lay her card on this tray. They would then take this card to the head of the household, announcing the arrival of the lady. Men of various ages also carried these cards and continued to use them for both personal and business reasons.

Early Trade Cards

Working men often did not carry fancy visiting cards, but they still needed a way to introduce themselves and their business and share information in case a client needed them later. In the 19th century, social visiting cards transformed into trading cards for the working classes. Depending on the role of the man within the workplace, he would have a card with his personal information and the business information on it, or just the business information. The back sides of these cards were often blank so that givers could write directions to the place of the business for the recipients, since formal addresses were uncommon. Wealthier businesses could even afford to print a map on the backs of these cards so that recipients could easily find their way to the store if necessary.

These trade cards were primarily used in cities. Smaller towns, where most people knew each other and their lines of work, saw no need for trade cards, as they already knew the necessary business information and directions.

Modern Business Cards

The Industrial Revolutions, which started in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, began breaking down some of the class distinctions and drove many people from small towns into big cities. This breakdown of class distinctions meant that visiting and trade cards belonged to everyone, not just the elite. Since more and more people from small towns moved to unfamiliar big cities for work, cards became a necessary way to get information.

It was during this time that trade and business cards began to meld into what we now recognize as the modern-day business card. People from all walks of life could commission them and hand them out, not just the elite. While some people still use them in social situations so that names and phone numbers couldn’t be lost, they’re called business cards for a reason. Work became one of the most important parts of peoples lives as they struggled with a revolution that changed how people made a living, so using cards for work became more important than using them for social reasons.

During these revolutions, many members of the upper classes were losing their position in society and no longer needed cards for strictly social reasons. As they began working with people from lower classes, the need for professional cards became more prominent. While working people from wealthy families no doubt kept their business cards fancier than working people with less wealth, they were still essentially using the same communication system.

Beyond Paper Cards

Other than those ancient Egyptian tiles, business cards have been made with paper throughout history. Paper is one of the most affordable materials, and since it’s lightweight, people could easily carry it around. However, our lives are not as conducive to paper cards any more. The pockets of our clothes are slimming down for slicker looks, and we carry more rough materials in our pockets and bags, like cell phones and keys. This has required the business card industry to make changes, such as offering business cards made from materials other than paper.

You can now find business cards made from plastic, wood, and metal. These hardier materials undergo similar printing processes but more customization that will help your business cards stand out, just like the gold scripts of early visiting cards. Custom printing is increasingly available for cards of all materials, so you can even include a map like those early trade cards if you want to.

The point of business cards now is to share your business information and make a great first impression. In this way, little has changed since early visiting cards. We continue to announce ourselves, what we do, and what we’re about every time we hand over these cards.

The history and evolution of business cards reminds us that there’s nothing new under the sun. We will always find inspiration somewhere and continue to develop that inspiration as time goes on. If you’ve been inspired by this incredible history, we offer business cards that you’ll love. Our cards are unique and designed to impress, just like your business!

The History and Evolution of Business Cards

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Ways To Protect Your Business From Gift Card Fraud

Ways To Protect Your Business From Gift Card Fraud

The winter holiday season is an exciting time for many businesses. Unfortunately, this time of year often brings thieves and scammers out of the woodwork. Gift cards are a popular target of this fraud. Luckily, there are ways to protect your business. Keep reading to learn how to keep your business safe from potential thieves and scams.

Educate Customers

A popular gift card scam is for criminals to create a story in which someone needs to send them the numbers from a loaded gift card in exchange for something. Sometimes, these criminals try to do the same with employees, but their target is often average, naïve shoppers. While you can’t control your customers or protect them from all kinds of fraud, you can help educate them. Place signs near your gift cards reminding them that no legitimate business or person will ask for gift cards in exchange for something else. If someone is purchasing an exceptionally large gift card, politely ask about their intention with it and make sure they haven’t fallen for a scam. Some people will ignore the signs and dodge the conversation, but if you can prevent others from losing money, your efforts will be worth it.

Monitor Strange Activity

You can’t have eyes everywhere all the time, even on just your gift cards. Adding a security system helps you put electronic eyes out. You can look for strange activity from employees trying to sneak out some extra money or fake customers trying to rip you off. Focus the security system on your gift cards, expensive merchandise, and registers. While you may worry that you’re spying on your employees and customers, what you’re really doing is protecting yourself and your business, which is best for all honest people.

Add a Pin

Some gift card manufacturers, including us here at Silk Cards, allow you to customize your gift cards in various ways. One customization option is a scratch-off portion hiding a pin. Adding this pin adds extra security to your card because no one can just take a picture of an unused card and then try to use the numbers in online purchases. They’ll need to scratch off the covering to see the pin, which lets your business know that someone has tampered with it. From there, you can shut down that card, preventing fraud.

From educating customers to getting custom gift cards with extra security, many ways to protect your business from gift card fraud exist. Educate yourself, your employees, and your customers on what gift card fraud looks like so that everyone can appropriately protect themselves from potential thieves and scammers.

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How To Create a Successful Membership Loyalty Program

How To Create a Successful Membership Loyalty Program

Businesses thrive when their customers feel appreciated and keep coming back for more. One of the best ways to make your customers feel appreciated is to create a membership loyalty program that rewards them for their continued support. While any business can create a membership loyalty program, it takes hard work to create a successful one. Keep reading to get some tips on how to make this significant change for your business.

Start With Customer Service

Before creating a loyalty program for your customers, you must have a business model that inspires customer loyalty. While part of customer loyalty and satisfaction depends on the goods or services you provide, how you treat your customers will inspire the most loyalty. Most customers can find goods and services anywhere. They come to you because of your excellent customer service.

If you’re worried your customer service isn’t up to par, start re-training your employees. Begin with basic lessons, such as the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication in customer service includes greeting and welcoming people when they enter the store, asking helpful questions, and promptly responding to them. Nonverbal communication means smiling when they greet customers, leaving their bodies open and relaxed while they talk, and listening well.

Don’t stop with the basics. Teach your employees to go above and beyond when serving customers and lead by example. Respond to requests for help quickly and ask follow-up questions to ensure the customer has a positive experience. Accept all forms of customer feedback, even critical ones, and use them to improve your business.

Study Your Customers

Once you know your customers love your business and the service they get there, start studying them. The more you study your customers, the more you’ll learn about their spending habits and what they would like from a loyalty program.

There are multiple ways to study your customers. You can poll them in person when they come into your store, asking them to answer some questions or fill out a short form. Many businesses send surveys to their customers electronically, either through text or email, so they can better understand them and their spending habits. Others don’t ask their customers for any information directly and simply track spending trends with software.

It’s better to get direct customer feedback instead of inferring from software-collected data. Direct feedback is more personal and will give you a better idea of what customers like and want to have in the future. Some good questions are how they heard about your business, how long they’ve been a customer, what products they prefer, and how you can improve your relationship with them.

Pick Out Your Rewards

After studying your customers, you’ll better understand what rewards you should offer through your loyalty program. Rewards can come in various shapes and sizes, from cash back after making a purchase, to receiving free items, to personalized discounts on future purchases, and more. Some customers may prefer certain rewards to others, so you’ll either need to offer different rewards based on those preferences or choose the most popular.

Custom rewards are always better than general rewards. General rewards that every member of the loyalty program receives, regardless of spending habits, feel disingenuous. Tracking what customers like and rewarding them with what they want, whether it’s something free or a future discount, makes them feel seen and valued. The entire point of the loyalty program is to reward and encourage loyalty from the customers to you. Show them you’re worthy of their loyalty because you’re loyal to them and willing to learn what they like.

Share Your New Program

You understand your customers and have rewards ready for your new loyalty program. Now it’s time to spread the word about that program. Start with in-person interactions, informing customers about the new program when they enter your store. Don’t pressure them into joining, but make sure they know the benefits and rewards. Offer a trial period so they can decide whether they want to stay in the program.

Go beyond traditional word of mouth and dive into social media. If you don’t have a social media account before starting your loyalty program, you need to set up accounts once the program begins. Social media allows you to interact with customers when they’re outside of your store. Some platforms will also enable your customers to interact with each other. This open communication channel is a great way to encourage transparency between you, your customers, and each other and share your new membership program.

Listen to Feedback

Your membership program will take some time to get up and running. Once your customers start signing up and receiving rewards, you can ask for feedback about the program. Give yourself plenty of time to collect various forms of feedback, both at the beginning and as everyone acclimates to the program.

After the first few months, poll your card-carrying customers. Ask them about the program and rewards from start to finish. Some questions to ask include:

  • Did they think it was easy to sign up?
  • What could make it easier if it wasn’t?
  • How soon did they receive a reward?
  • Would they have wanted a reward sooner or later?
  • Were they satisfied with the reward, or would they have liked more control over what they got?
  • Is the loyalty card easy to read and use, or does it need modification?
  • How likely are they to stay on as a loyalty member?
  • How likely are they to recommend someone else join?

These are all questions you should ask to make the program the best it can be.

Make Necessary Changes

You’ll receive more feedback as you bring in new customers and your loyalty program grows. Listen to constructive criticism and apply it when possible. These changes may feel bad at the time, like you’re admitting that you’ve messed up, but they will ultimately help your business and loyalty program.

Knowing how to create a successful membership loyalty program involves knowing everything from best customer service practices to understanding how to accept constructive criticism graciously. If you’re learning all this information and want to start a program with custom loyalty cards, we can help. Silk Cards can create unique card designs that will impress your customers and make them feel special, which is precisely what you want from a membership program.

How To Create a Successful Membership Loyalty Program

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Why Bloggers Should Carry Business Cards

Why Bloggers Should Carry Business Cards

Digital platforms and businesses are growing and thriving in this technological age, and nothing is a better example of that than blogging. What started as an easy way to share information, thoughts, and opinions has boomed into an entire industry that can bring in thousands of dollars a month for dedicated writers. If you’re a blogger trying to start and promote your blog, then you should carry business cards. Keep reading to learn why.

Good First Impressions

Blogging has grown in popularity over the years, and many people use it as a side hustle or main source of income. Despite the growth and financial rewards, some people don’t take bloggers seriously. If you’re ready with a unique, well-designed business card, you can show these naysayers that you’re serious about what you do.

Easy Networking

Even though many blogs are personal, they’re also a business. If you want to successfully grow your blogging business, then you need to network. Networking can help you find prospective business partners, meet new readers, and connect with faithful followers. Leave all of those people with a good lasting impression and a stunning business card so they’ll remember your interaction and business.

Better Communication

Since your blog is your business and life, you probably have your URL memorized. But you can’t expect everyone to also memorize that URL, even if you can recite it perfectly. A business card clarifies this information. Everything is already written down on a nice piece of paper, plastic, or metal so it’s easy to read and keep. Some card printers can even print QR codes on your business cards so they can take someone directly to your blog without a URL.

These are just three reasons why bloggers should carry business cards, but they’ll make a world of difference for your business. If you really want to stand out from the crowd in first impressions, at networking events, and with your visual communication skills, consider investing in metal business cards. Metal business cards are bold and memorable and will take your blogging business to the next level.

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3 Signs It’s Time To Update Your Business Cards

3 Signs It’s Time To Update Your Business Cards

Business cards are big investments, which means many people print them once and want to use them forever. While you should try to use your business cards as much as possible, you might not use them all before it’s time to upgrade. Keep reading to learn about three signs to look for when it’s time to update your business cards.

Old Information

When you give out your business card, every piece of information on it should be accurate and easy to read. If you’ve had a change in your business, whether someone got married and changed their last name or you’ve redesigned your logo, then you need to update your business card. These changes may seem small, especially since they don’t affect your business’s contact information, so they shouldn’t warrant new business cards. If the card recipient learns that one thing on your cards is outdated or inconsistent, they may doubt your professionalism and other aspects of your business. Update your business cards whenever something changes.

Old Designs

Graphic designers continue to push the boundaries of design and create newer, cooler designs all the time. Printers are also learning how to implement these creative designs with features like die-cut designs and foil printing. Unfortunately, that means business cards without these new designs and features will look old and outdated through no fault of yours. If you’re worried that your cards are suffering this fate, then seek out a professional. Many business card printers offer custom graphic design services so you can get the help you need to create something unique.

Old Customers

Loyal customers are proof that your business is doing something right. However, if you’re only seeing familiar faces, your business cards might be doing something wrong. They should attract new customers or at least new inquiries about your business. If you’re not experiencing any interest after handing out cards, then they might not be hitting the right spot. There are various causes for this, from using a small font that people struggle to read to the potential inconvenience of your business’s location. Do some research about your competitors’ business cards and find out what they look like and how they draw customers in. Then, apply similar principles and start seeing new faces as well as the old ones!

Old information, designs, and customers are three signs it’s time to update your business cards. What worked in the past for your business may not work later on, so you need to upgrade your cards to meet the future. Our foil embossed business cards are part of that future and will give your cards the unique detail they need to stand out and look great!

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What To Look For in a Good Business Card Printing Service

What To Look For in a Good Business Card Printing Service

You’ve poured a lot of time, energy, passion, and money into your business and want to hire services that honor that dedication. Many business owners struggle to find good services for the help they need, from cleaning their offices to printing business cards. Keep reading to learn what to look for in a good business card printing service so you know how to choose the right service for your business.

Lots of Options

You’re not a graphic designer or business card expert, which means you need a professional to help you design and print your cards. That’s okay. We’re all experts in different fields, and part of owning a business is seeking other professionals to fill in with their expertise. Once you find a professional printing service to help you with your cards, you need to look at their available options.

You probably already have an idea of what you want your business cards to look like, but you should have plenty of options to choose from. This allows you to find exactly what you want without settling for something less because the printing service doesn’t have a big supply. You’ll know a printing service is good if they offer a variety of aesthetically pleasing, high-quality business cards for you to pick from.

Affordable Choices

What you pay for is what you get. Depending on the size of your budget, you may not have a lot to spend on business cards. The right company will allow you to stay within your budget while getting the best cards you can afford.

For example, at Silk Cards, we offer $99 custom graphic services that allow you to work with a graphic designer to create custom cards without breaking the bank. While not every company offers these kinds of deals, a good company should offer business cards at a variety of price points so you can pick something affordable and high quality.

Good Customer Service

Business cards aren’t the only thing you want from a printer. You’re also paying them for their service to you and your business. This means the printing service should be easy to read if you have questions or comments during the printing process and after you’ve placed your order. If the printing service doesn’t tell you how to easily contact them, then it’s not a good service, and you should choose someone else who is always ready to help you.

There are many qualities to look for in a good business card printing service, but the most important ones are that they offer lots of options, are affordable, and have good customer service. If your business needs specialty business cards and you’re looking for a printer, Silk Cards is happy to help. We’ll help you design and customize the perfect cards that will help your business stand out.

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Details You Shouldn’t Put On Your Business Cards

Details You Shouldn’t Put On Your Business Cards

You can never undo or change a first impression, so you must get it right. In social situations, the stress of a first impression can cause anxiety. In professional situations, you can relax and let your business card make your first impression. If your card has the right design and information, you’ll leave the person with a useful card and a great impression of you and your business. However, if your card doesn’t have the correct information and is overwhelming to look at, you may not leave them with a good impression. Keep reading to learn about the details you shouldn’t put on your business cards so you can leave recipients eager to contact you.

Inaccurate or Old Information

After you’ve designed your first business card, it’s easy to copy and paste the information every time you need to print more cards. However, that habit can sometimes lead card recipients astray. If you forget to add your new phone number or update that your office no longer has a fax machine, you’ll accidentally give out misinformation. This is frustrating for people who want to contact you and frustrating for you as well. You’re putting the work in to go out, meet people, and hand out cards. Reap the rewards of that work by ensuring everything on your card is accurate and up to date.

Unnecessary Information

If the entirety of the first impression comes down to your business card, you may feel that you need to fill it with every piece of information imaginable about your business. Card recipients may find all this information overwhelming, so it’s better to stick to the basics. Include your company’s name, physical or mailing address, website, and general contact information. If the business card is specific to you, include your name and contact information, along with a picture, so recipients can remember who you are.

If you have space, you can include your company’s tagline or social media handles, but that information isn’t necessary. Ask yourself what a potential customer needs to know about your business. If the information you want to include isn’t something they need to know or something you’d only share with an acquaintance or friend, then don’t include it.

Overwhelming Designs

Your card should catch the recipient’s eye to help you stand out. There’s a fine line between eye-catching and visually overwhelming, however. Find the balance with a color scheme that’s bright but not flashy. For example, you can design a metal business card with a colorful logo. The metal material will help dull the color, so it’s still bright but not overpowering. You can also order die-cut cards in muted colors so the unique shape stands out without overwhelming the viewer with color too.

The details you shouldn’t put on your business cards are inaccurate, old, and unnecessary pieces of information. You also shouldn’t overwhelm card recipients with too many design elements. Visually balance your card for a great first impression.

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News

Why You Should Hand Out Foil Business Cards

Why You Should Hand Out Foil Business Cards

Business cards are a common way for professionals and businesses to introduce themselves to potential customers and partners. You’ve probably received or given out business cards in the past and know how common they are. This commonality is good because people know how to read business cards and what information to put on their cards when they design them. The problem with this common method of communication is that many business cards end up looking the same, which means they’re easy to forget and ignore. To make yourself stand out, you have to design your business cards with something special, such as foil. Keep reading to learn more about why you should hand out foil business cards.

Stand Out

As we mentioned above, the most important reason to hand out foil business cards is that they help you stand out from the competition. Most business cards are plain white rectangles with dark writing. While those types of cards communicate everything necessary about your business, they look like everyone else’s, which means they’re easily lost, forgotten, or ignored. A foil accent against a white or colorful background immediately makes your business card stand out visually and tactilely.

Visually, recipients of your card will immediately notice its shiny aspect. You can place a foil accent on the top of your cards or along the edge; any placement will catch the light and shine. Once people finish admiring the shiny aspect of your unique card, they’ll read your information and tuck the card somewhere safe. Even if they don’t immediately call you, they’ll enjoy seeing this unique visual aspect of your card whenever they look through their wallet. This means you’ll continue to stand out, even when you’re not around anymore.

Tactilely, the foil part of a business card will also feel different. Even the smoothest, highest quality of paper won’t feel like a foil print. Even if someone isn’t looking at your card when you hand it to them, they’ll immediately feel the difference when they touch it. That tactile difference will draw their attention and help you stand out in the moment and in the future.

Silently Communicate

Business cards are a popular form of silent communication, since all someone has to do is read them to learn about your business. But what is your business card silently communicating other than your business information? Plain cards aren’t communicating much. They’re focused more on the message than the medium.

But the medium of your card matters just as much as the message because it is what will help make the message more memorable. If your card features a special quality, such as foil, you are showing that your business pays attention to detail, cares about luxury, and invests in the best. These details help the nonverbal message of your card go further.

Declaring on your card that your business cares about customer experience is one thing. Handing out cards with special elements like foil that you invested time and money in designing proves that you don’t just make claims—you keep them.

And it’s not just the foil detail that silently communicates your business’s assets; it’s also the color of that foil. Many card printers only offer traditional metallic foil prints in gold and silver. SilkCards offers foil stamped business cards in a variety of colors, from calming blue to passionate red. Your choice between these colors matters because they also serve as a form of silent communication. Color theory has a significant impact on the signals your business cards give off to recipients.

For instance, blue is frequently found in nature and has a calming effect on the mind, which means many people associate it with intellect. If your business specializes in book printing, tutoring, or another intellectual field, choosing blue foil for your business card will send a silent message that you truly care about the intellect of the recipient.

Conversely, red is considered the color of passion and fire. People often associate red with both love and anger, so it’s a color you need to use wisely to ensure you don’t silently communicate the wrong thing. You may want to consider red foil if your business specializes in something related to love, such as a flower shop, or something related to fire, such as blacksmithing.

Get the Most From Your Tax Return

Most people tend to think of business cards as only an outward-facing expense since they go to potential clients and partners. How, then, can they affect your taxes? Advertising and marketing expenses, even when focused more on the client than you, are still business expenses, which means you get to write them off on your taxes and can get more out of your tax return.

While your business shouldn’t opulently spend based on the potential of a tax return, knowing that this investment will pay off financially within the year is a good thing. It can take longer than a fiscal year for a well-placed business card to turn into a client, which leaves some people wondering if spending more on business cards to make them stand out is worth it. Knowing you can get some of that money back on your tax return proves that this is a worthy investment, even if it takes a while for the recipient to respond. If you’re going to spend money on business cards that you can claim on your taxes, you may as well spend a little more for cards that stand out.

There are many reasons why you should hand out foil business cards. Foil business cards will help you stand out from the competition since they’re both visually and tactilely different than the cards most people receive. They silently communicate how much you care about your business, and using the right color foil can also silently communicate the purpose of your business. Lastly, handing out business cards acts as a tax write-off, so spending a little more on special cards means you can write off a little bit more money. These benefits all combine to make a compelling argument for why your business needs foil cards.

Why You Should Hand Out Foil Business Cards

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Things To Know About Metal Business Cards

Things To Know About Metal Business Cards

Business cards are the standard way to share information about you and your business with potential customers and partners. That doesn’t mean your business card has to look like everyone else’s, though. Many businesses are learning how to design unique cards so they can stand out from the competition, and one of the best ways to do that is to invest in metal business cards. For those unfamiliar with this card material, here are some things to know about metal business cards.

They’re Unique

As we mentioned above, many businesses want their cards to stand out, and using metal as the card material is a great way to do that. People immediately notice metal business cards since they’re heavier and offer different design options than traditional paper cards. They also feel different to hold, so even if someone isn’t paying attention when they first see your cards, they immediately know something is different and special when they receive your card for the first time.

They Last Forever

Unlike traditional paper business cards that might get thrown away, torn, or lost, metal business cards are durable and will last forever. Even if the recipient never contacts you about your business, they will keep your card around to admire the unique material and show other people. When they finally decide they don’t want it anymore, they’ll pass it on to someone else, not just throw it away like they would with a paper card. While metal business cards cost more, you can trust that you’re getting what you paid for because these cards will last forever, even if they exchange many hands.

They’re Heavy

The weight of your metal business cards will depend on how thick they are, but even if you get the thinnest card available, metal is heavier than paper. This shouldn’t bother any card recipients, since they’re only carrying one, but you may notice that you can’t carry as many metal cards as you would paper cards. Consider bringing an extra bag to carry these cards around so you can give away plenty.

There are a lot of things to know about metal business cards, but their uniqueness, durability, and weight are three of the most important pieces of information. If your business is interested in metal engraved business cards to stand out from the competition, Silk Cards can help. Our design options will help you create a card you’re proud to share. We also allow you to share custom designs so you can get exactly what you want.

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Work

Reasons You Should Choose Plastic Over Paper Business Cards

Reasons You Should Choose Plastic Over Paper Business Cards

When you ask someone for their business card, you expect to receive a rectangular piece of white paper that relays their basic business information. Technically, there’s nothing wrong with these business cards. They share the necessary information and slip easily into a pocket, purse, or wallet.

If you really want to stand out, then you need to choose something other than these traditional elements of business cards, including the material they’re printed on. Plastic business cards will help you stand out and provide other benefits. Keep reading to learn the reasons you should choose plastic over paper business cards.

Take Advantage of Strong Durability

Think about how many times you’ve accidentally bent or torn a paper business card. They’re small and light, which makes them easy to drop and crumple. After a few bad experiences, a business card can become impossible to read. You don’t want those accidents happening to your business card and preventing people from reaching you, so invest in plastic cards! Plastic business cards are thin, light, and flexible, but they won’t bend or tear like a paper business card.

Stand Out From the Crowd

As we mentioned above, plastic business cards will help you stand out from the crowd of your competition. They’re novel and unique, and your choice of this card material shows recipients you care about your business and its perception. Prospective business partners and investors will find this extra attention to detail impressive, and potential customers will trust that your business is as unique as your card, drawing them in.

Choose More Design Options

You may think the visual difference between paper and plastic cards is negligible, but plastic cards give you more design options than paper. Even if you invest in high-quality, glossy paper, you still won’t have as many design options as plastic cards. This traces back to the cards’ durability. Since paper cards can easily tear, you can’t get any unique laser-cut designs because they would rip. Plastic cards give you the option for die-cut and laser-cut designs, as well as a glossier finish on the card itself. Colors also appear brighter and richer on plastic than on paper, which will help your card stand out.

You should choose plastic over paper business cards because they are durable, help you stand out from the competition, and offer more design options. If your business wants to take advantage of all these benefits with laser-cut business cards, SilkCards can help. Our plastic cards are a great choice for any business.

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Inspire

3 Easy Ways To Make Customized Gift Cards

3 Easy Ways To Make Customized Gift Cards

Gift cards are a great marketing opportunity to help your business grow. When one person loves your business and shares it with another through a gift card, you get to interact with new people and help them fall in love with your products. But if you really want your gift card to stand out and bring people to your business, it must look great. The best way to create an amazing gift card is to customize it. Keep reading to learn about three easy ways to make customized gift cards so that you can continue to bring new people to your business.

Creative Design

Custom gift cards allow you to create something that no one else has done before, and you can use almost any creative design elements to do so. With the right printer, the only limitation is your imagination. You should consider your colors and fonts if you’re still unsure where to start in the creative process. You’ll want to choose colors that relate to your business, either from your logo or related to what your business does with color theory. As for fonts, you should select something aesthetically pleasing but easy to read. Gift card recipients should be able to look at your custom gift card and immediately understand what your business does by looking at the colors and fonts.

Special Functions

Another way to make your custom gift card stand out is to give it special functions that go beyond what a typical gift card would have. Normal gift cards from other businesses are just plastic cards with a magnetic stripe, but custom gift cards can have so much more. You can order cards with a signature panel, embossed numbering, barcodes, and other cool features. These allow you to make your gift cards reusable, so a recipient can continue to load money onto the card for themselves or potentially re-gift the card.

Unique Elements

Go beyond design and function by making custom gift cards with unique elements that no one will forget. You can order cards with foil accents, spot UV, and silk finishes that will have recipients admiring the character and quality of your business for as long as your card is in their hands. When you combine these unique elements with a thoughtful custom design and a special function, your card will look and act like no one else’s.

Our three easy ways to make customized gift cards include choosing creative designs, adding special functions, and using unique elements. If you need help creating custom logo gift cards that will stand out and make your business thrive, we can help. Our order process is easy, allowing you to select any options you want as well as add any notes or questions you have. Let’s get creative and grow together.