Die-Cut Business Card Printing Techniques

Few marketing strategies have more influence on return on investment and are more cost effective than die-cut business card printing. Today's state-of-the-art printing press and finishing technology have significantly reduced the cost of printing die-cut business cards, which are proven to leave a lasting impression on your prospects. Naturally, the bottom line for any marketing collateral is return on investment, and for successful return on investment your die-cut business card printing should balance image-boosting quality with cost efficiency. Here are the die-cut business card printing techniques you should employ to maximize your return:

The shape, or die cut, of your business card can be selected from hundreds of pre-formatted templates or a 100 percent custom die-cut business card template can be created for your company. Custom dies cost more than pre-existing templates, but this cost is not significant considering the long-term effect of a truly original business card. If something already exists that matches your business perfectly, you can save money with a pre-formatted template; but if you truly want to stand out as an original enterprise, opt for a custom die.

If your die-cut business card is too thin, it will be flimsy and you'll be deemed unprofessional. Too thick and it will be a hassle for your prospects, as it won't fit properly into card slots so it will be trashed. Additionally, poorly printed die-cut business cards are washed out. That's definitely not the look you want to achieve, so pick a beautiful 16-point gloss cover stock or 13-point matte cover stock for robust thickness that still fits easily into wallets, card books and Rolodex. The glossy sheen helps your colors spark vivid imaginations; while a subtle matte adds richness and depth to your hues for a reflective - yet powerful - image.

Why waste real estate? The back side of your die-cut business card offers space to add a special offer or call to action, or include a valuable "keep me" such as a restaurant tipping calculation chart or upcoming calendar of events or sports schedule. You can even turn the back of your business card into a discount coupon or an appointment-reminder slip - whatever has value to your customers and helps you generate leads, close a sale or enhance brand recognition. Printing on the back of your die-cut business cards adds minimal expense, so there's no excuse for ignoring such powerful ad space.

You can double your die-cut business card's response rate by employing specialized finishing techniques such as folding, UV coating or printing oversized cards. Having your die-cut business cards folded is a great way to print dual-purpose business cards that double as miniature table tents or that reveal "hidden" information below as part of your unique sales pitch.

To avoid wasted time and materials, carpenters follow the motto: "Measure twice, cut once." The same applies to die-cut business card printing. Order a hardcopy proof to avoid costly mistakes such as typos, color mismatches and improper positioning around bleed lines, cutlines and your safety area. Cost effective in small quantities, die-cut business cards become incredibly cheap when you order in volume. If you plan to distribute 5,000 business cards in the next 12 months, order them all at once instead of splitting them up in batches of 1,000 each to save money both at the press and in shipping expenses. Die-cut business cards are perhaps the most affordable way to boost the sales impact of your go-to weapon in your marketing arsenal. Implement these die-cut business card printing techniques to increase your return on investment for your next campaign.