subject: How Would You Know If Your Business Card Is Going To Be Trashed Or Not? [print this page] How Would You Know If Your Business Card Is Going To Be Trashed Or Not?
One of the things that business owners are often afraid of when they start their business card printing is whether their business cards would pass the trash test or not. What is the trash test? It is simply the way of testing whether one's business card will be kept by its recipient or sent to the trash can right after it was handed out.
The business card is often the most important marketing tool for any business owner as it is the one thing that provides the first impression that your target clients have of you and your company. The design and message of your business cards therefore will be the ultimate factors that will help any of your target clients decide whether to keep and file your contact information, or throw it away in the trash.
So while reading this article, why don't you just reach inside your wallet or business card holder and pull out one from your ready stack. Then go back to this article and test whether your business card will pass it. See if your business card printing gets the nod or you need to reformat what you have so you won't get trashed by your target clients.
Size One of the things that determines whether your business card gets trashed or not is its size. Does it have the regular size of 3.5 by 2 inches? Does it conform to the standards of business card printing? Or are you the kind of marketer that goes for the unusual and unique so that you printed business cards that are much bigger (or smaller) than that of the usual standard size?
Of course, that would definitely make you stand out as your target clients would find it rare for a business card to have a different size. But wouldn't you think that your card would be a bit too big to fit in any wallet or card holder? So how would your target clients keep your card? Where can they fit it? Surely the end result would be the trash bin for you.
Paper stock The quality of your paper would definitely say a great deal on how your target clients will accept your business card. For one thing, your target clients are picky that's why they won't be impressed with anything but quality paper when printing your business card. So anything flimsy or perforated would definitely get trashed. Second, a business card that would immediately dissolve and turn into pieces when water is spilt on it would have a hard time getting kept. But I am also not saying that cheap cards will always get trashed. Not all business card printing that's done cost effectively can be considered disapproved. Cheap-looking cards that reflect a bad reputation for your company will certainly get trashed all the time.
Ink If your ink runs every time you drop anything liquid on your business card, then it would most probably be trashed by your recipients. Of course, information that is difficult to read because the ink ran out would be useless to your target clients.
Message Your design should be able to tell your recipients what you do and what benefits you provide your target clients. Hence, your design and layout should always be in synch with the image that you have.
You only have that very slim chance of making a good impression with your business cards. So make sure that in addition to your contact information, your target clients will find keeping your card worthwhile and of value to them.
