Help with business cards

[naddy512]

so i just got my license finally, about to start working with a few companies, one that will provide somewhat of leads and im ready to go, after reading this website for about 3 months.
I'm about to start my marketing and just realized duh!!!
i dont have any business cards so im wondering if a few people would be so kind if they had a copy of their business card let me take a gander at it so i have somewhat of an idea what is an attractive, nice business card for someone selling products to senior citizens.
i would really appreciate it, thanks everyone ur always a huge help

 

[Bob_The_Insurance_Guy]

Whatever layout you decide upon, go to www.vistaprint.com and you can order 250 business cards for free. All you pay is shipping/handling (approx. $5 or $6)

I would include:

Name
company name
address
phone/fax numbers
wesite address/e-mail address
one or two areas you specialize in ex: Life & Health Specialist or Senior Products Specialist

Make it crisp/clean/easy to read. Don't let it do the talking for you.

 

[nate124]

The only thing I would caution about using the Vista Print free service is that it takes quite a long time for the business cards to arrive at your house. If you need them right away, I would go a different direction. You can even go to Kinko's and get business cards printed if needed. Vista does offer faster shipping I think, but it can get costly.

 

[Superchief]

Buy a copy of MS Publisher & learn to make them yourself (easier than it sounds). I use my own printer and buy the "Clean Edge" business card paper from Avery (comes in glossy or matte finish). They snap right out of the page with no perforation marks, etc. Look really nice!

If you were to print in bulk, say 500 or more, I would not recommend using your own printer, unless yours is professional quality. Of course if it was, I doubt you'd be asking this question. But there's really no need to print in bulk, just a page or two when needed. Works great! Saves time money!

 

[Frank Stastny]

I have made my own business cards for the last several years. (10 or more). They are incredibly easy to do. I'm sure you have MS Word on your computer.

Create you card the way you want it. Highlight the data and Click on "Tools" in the menu bar at the top of your monitor. Then, click on "Envelopes & Labels", once that opens up look at the lower left hand portion of that window and you will see "Avery Standard, 5377, Business Cards." You wil see your data appear in the window. Click print. It will print 10 to a page.

MS Word makes the process a lot more difficult than is necessary, in my opinion. If you have "Word Perfect" the process is much easier and you have a lot more options. (I personally don't like Word, I know, I know, I still find it much easer to work in Word Perfect.)

The only reason I don't recommend using "clean edge" Avery paper is cost and limited selection of paper. I purchase a light grey laid finish business card stock and print on that. It looks much nicer and is a lot less expensive. I take them to a printer and they charge me $2.00 to cut them to business card size. Much more professional looking.

I print them on my printer. Ten to a page and I usually print about 50 pages at a time. My printer is an HP deskjet 5650 that kicks ass and takes names. I think I paid around $150.00 for it.

I put my logo on the card and it says in larger type at the top, "Your Insurance Agent", with my name, contact info and e-mail address under that. It is neat, clean and easy to read. I work in the senior market.

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

What do you guys think about using your picture on the card? I don't have mine but I wondered if it would help. I know its ot going to sell policies for me but it might make me more familiar.

 

[Frank Stastny]

I asked that question a long time ago to a guy who had been in the business for a long time and was very successful. His answer was, "Only pretty boys put their picture on their card".

Since I'm not very "pretty" I have never done that. He also said, a lot of guys use their high graduation picture, when they had hair and before they began wearing "comfort fit" clothing so you really don't know who they are anyway. If you do, don't forget to have your hand in the pic so they can see your diamond pinkie ring.

In short without the BS, I have never done it because it takes too much room. I work in the senior market and I want to make sure that the "older people" can easily read everything on my card. I'm still not "pretty" though.

 

[Guest]

A little while back I saw a card/magnet I really liked, glossy w/ color pic. So I "copied" the format and had some made. Only problem is, I've lost 30 lbs since then, and intend to lose about 30 more. I may not look so familiar. "Who's the big fella on the card, here?" I guess it's okay as long as you look the same, but then again, over the years...

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Well I wasnt trying to pick up old ladies..although hmmmmm.

I guess I won't waste my beautiful face then.

 

[J.R.]

I asked that question a long time ago to a guy who had been in the business for a long time and was very successful. His answer was, "Only pretty boys put their picture on their card".

Since I'm not very "pretty" I have never done that. He also said, a lot of guys use their high graduation picture, when they had hair and before they began wearing "comfort fit" clothing so you really don't know who they are anyway. If you do, don't forget to have your hand in the pic so they can see your diamond pinkie ring.

In short without the BS, I have never done it because it takes too much room. I work in the senior market and I want to make sure that the "older people" can easily read everything on my card. I'm still not "pretty" though.

HaHa, interesting outlook on pictures. Gives me an idea...