Vistaprint has long been hailed as one of the easiest and most affordable options for business cards. They’ve got most companies beat when it comes to templates as well.

Where they’ve been criticized is the quality of their card stock, which is was thinner and more flimsy than many other printing outfits.

Today, the company announced a significant upgrade to both their standard and premium business cards that will not only boost thickness by about 40%, but favorably impact print quality and color vibrancy as well.

Standard cards will now be printed on 110 pound card stock.
Premium cards will now be printed on 130 pound card stock.

When you hear “expensive business cards” what comes to mind?

A $3 business card?

An $8 business card?

How about a $2600 business card?

Yep, that’s 18kt solid gold right there.

And when that’s not luxurious enough (say, when you’re selling an island) there’s also a 22kt solid gold business card. One of those will set you back $3300!

I just came across these at PureMetalCards – purveyors of the most luxurious and expensive business cards I’ve ever seen. They also sell brass, copper, stainless steel, sterling silver, and super-cool carbon fiber business cards.

I’d get one… I’m just concerned it would weigh down my wallet.

I’ve written before about the onslaught of digital business card apps, and my overall opinion of the options available.

As an eco-conscious individual I like the thought behind them.

As a marketer, I don’t.

I just came across a great article on the topic from someone who did what I have not. Michelle Mastin of PC World actually tested a whole bunch of digital business card apps – CardFlick, Snapdat, CardCloud, and Bump among them – and despite some general praise for the apps themselves, she makes a good case against them.

Here’s her article: Digital Business Card Apps Tested: The Future is Not Quite Ready

My belief has always been that a paper business card is simply a more effective marketing tool.

It makes a stronger and more lasting impression than a digital card, or bump, or whatever.

Michelle makes another great point…

These apps are supposed to be convenient, but when you’re networking it can be a pain in the you know what to take out your phone, unlock it, open the app, and then perform the necessary function to exchange info.

To that I say: Yup.

Of course, unlike her, I’ve yet to actually try them.

PrintRunner has made 100% recycled paper available on a whole host of printing products, making it the latest printing company to go green. Or should I say even greener. They already use vegetable inks exclusively, employ one of the most efficient printing presses in the world, recycle all of their own waste paper and printing plates, and take numerous other efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

They’re also FSC Certified and are taking steps to become one of the first printing companies to be certified under the Los Angeles Green Business Program.

Kudos PrintRunner!

If you’re interested in printing with an eco-conscious printer, check out their wide array of products here.

Green Printers Rule!

I love business cards.

But I also understand that they waste a LOT of paper.

And that I don’t like.

So I certainly support the purchase of recycled paper business cards, or at the very least, green business cards that use soy based inks and environmentally conscious printing processes. The good news is that green printing is growing in both popularity and availability.

The next time you order, consider choosing a company that has made an effort to offer recycled paper business cards to their customers.

Oh… and the next time you feel like tossing a business card someone gave you… recycle it!

4 places you can get recycled paper business cards:

• Greener Printer – A printer totally devoted to green printing
• VistaPrint – Offering 100% recycled paper business cards at up to 85% off
• PSPrint – Very environmentally-friendly printing company
• 123 Print – 100% recycled business cards and many green designs too

Consider printing with one of the companies above.

The finished product will still look great, and your customers and contacts will appreciate your decision to support the environment!

Are business cards dead? Or dying?

I’m Seeing a Lot of Online, Digital, and App-Based Business Card Options of Late.

Like card.ly for example.

Or that iPhone app where you just bump phones and your contact details are magically shared.

Well, a lot of people are saying that applications like these have rendered the old fashioned business card, dead.

Or dying.

Frankly, I Couldn’t DISAGREE More.

Is there a place for these applications? Absolutely. Will a lot of people use them? Surely they will. But that doesn’t mean that business cards don’t have a long, useful life ahead of them.

In fact, from a business building standpoint (especially small local businesses) I think traditional business cards that can be seen and felt have a lot greater potential than a novel fist bump. Why? Because a good business card gets people to LOOK at it. It makes an actual impression and encourages people to pay attention to it. And not just to contact details, but more importantly to a marketing message.

In essence, a GOOD business card is like a powerful ad matched with a genuine person behind it.

While novel, someone’s contact details magically whisked away to my smartphone makes less of an impression. I may not even look at it (right now, or ever) Not so with a good, creative, business card.

Long Live the Traditional Business Card.

Business cards are also a lot easier for your fans and referrers to share with other people.

You can leave them on your retail store counter. Or in your office.

You can leave them with related, non competing businesses. You can place them in envelopes, on restaurant tables, on community posting boards, and in outgoing mail.

That’s a lot of good use.  It”s also why — in one man’s humble opinion, anyway — traditional business cards are more versatile than their electronic counterpart.

Consider This Case in Point

I was just at a DJ convention representing my wife’s company (Rock & Soul DJ Equipment for all you DJs out there — after 35 years, it’s one of the first and most famous DJ shops in the world) Well, business cards were out in FULL force and getting a lot of great use.

DJs were sharing them with other DJs as they networked. Businesses were using them to promote their stores and equipment. And they were collecting business cards to keep in touch with — and promote to — people they met at the convention.

Business cards, dead?

I don’t think so.

Not by a longshot.

If you like your digital business cards, by all means use them. I defend my choice without attacking yours. But please don’t tell that the traditional business card doesn’t have its place. They continue to be one of the most cost-effective and versatile little marketing tools on the planet. And a good card can make a great BIG impression. Period.

End of rant.

OvernightPrints and ShoeMoney recently held a contest for the best business card design (for ShoeMoney).

407 entries later, this was the winner…

The winning business card design