Do I Need Raised Letter or Full Color Business Cards?

If you've been searching around for business cards that will best represent the image you want to portray for your business, then you've no doubt encountered many options. The Big Two, as I like to think of them, are "Raised Letter" and "Full Color."

What are the differences in raised letter and full color business cards? What are the price differences? What looks best for how I want to represent my business? These are all questions I hear on a daily basis.

1. The difference between Raised Letter and Full Color printing is in how the ink is applied to the card stock. Thermography is the type of printing that produces ink that stands up off the page slightly. When you run your fingers across the surface, you can feel the printing on the stock. Each color that is printed has a separate plate, and the cards have to be run through the press for each color chosen. These types of cards have a very elegant and refined look about them, especially if the colors and stocks chosen are complimentary. There are hundreds of varieties of stocks and inks to choose from.

Full Color printing is much like printing from your ink jet printer at home. All the inks are printed on the page at the same time, and combined to create hues, shades--photo images. So, one run through and the cards are printed. These cards have been traditionally used by real estate agents, insurance agents and the like. But now, with this type of printing becoming more affordable and available, anyone can choose this option. These designs most of the time seem jazzier, sharper, more upbeat.

2. The cost difference is an oddity. Spot printing (the process of laying the colors on one at a time, as in Raised Letter cards), can be much cheaper--if only one color or black is chosen. White plate (65 lb stocks) will be cheaper than a cordwain or linen. But, if you start adding more colors (equals more time through the press) then you'll start racking up the cost. If your colors touch each other (called registration--the printer must make sure the cards run through correctly) then you'll tack on some extra expense there.

If you have a full color logo, the least expensive way to go would be with full color (process printing). But, you generally have to get a minimum of 1000. You can get 250 from some places, but you'll pay about the same price. It's the setup fee from the printer that is the biggest expense. Printing them is the cheap part, which is why the more you get, the better the price.

3. To choose the look that's right for you, I would think first about the image you are projecting for your company. Are you a doctor? You probably would rather have a classier linen stock with black and gold inks. Same for lawyers and other professionals. A handsome bordeaux (burgundy) on grey fiber stock would speak volumes about your professionalism. The raised letter would add to the expensive feel. There is really no need to add more than 1 color and black in printing raised letter cards. If that's the way you're heading, then you probably have a flashier business image and would need full color cards. A doctor or lawyer is usually using cards to provide clients with contact information, not get more business.

Full color is proven to get a 30% better response rate than regular printing, but this is only a bonus if your business aims to use the business cards to get more business. If you sell a product, using full color cards would be a brilliant idea--you can have a photo of it right on the cards. If you're in a service industry like real estate, you'll want your prospects to remember your face. Add your professionally taken photo to your cards. If you're trying to express a concept of what you can do for customers, then finding the right stock photo image can speak thousands of words with just one image!

In reality, cost usually dictates the biggest part of your decision making process. However, I would caution you to consider your IMAGE first. You might find that if you choose the card that has the best representation of your image, the cost ends up being less than if you choose the wrong one.

About The Author

Business card designer, Mitoné Cooke, specializes in full color business card designs at her website http://drbusinesscards.com. You can also give her a call at 1-800-431-3407 to order raised letter cards! Mitoné can be reached by email at moi@mitone.com. Sign up for the free e-newsletter about Business Card Marketing by sending a blank email to bizcardmarketing@getresponse.com.

---

Advertising, Public Relations, Newsletters, and Newsletters for Your Small Business

If you own a small business you should consider ways... Read More

What?s the Score?

You may be aware that in a basketball game the... Read More

Free Internet Advertising: 6 Proven Ways To Prevent Your Competitors From Stealing Your Customers

It is getting harder daily to generate traffic.And when you... Read More

Creating a Winning Logo

Creating a logo to get you noticed.When you're branding a... Read More

How To Write Eye-Grabbing Headlines That Catapult Your Prospects Into Your Ads

If you're interested in improving the selling results of your... Read More

Electronic Reader Board

Electronic reader boards are the most efficient way to convey... Read More

Double the Effectiveness of Your Company Brochure

Let's face it - most brochures go straight into the... Read More

Hit Them With Benefits

More about advertising from BIG Mike McDanielIt makes no difference... Read More

Cross Cultural Advertising

"Culture is a like dropping an Alka-seltzer into a glass... Read More

Sex in Advertising: Does it Sell?

We're surrounded by advertisements that desperately compete for our attention.... Read More

Adding Art to Business Spaces

Larger companies have learned that collecting art adds something special... Read More

The Graphic Problem

Digital printing has revolutionized the sign industry. Current printers can... Read More

When Times Get Tough... or When to Really Advertise

The Pundits say the economy is slowly, but surely, recovering.... Read More

How Do People Know Youre in Business?

One of the most important things to do now that... Read More

How to Write Great Headlines

According to experts, just changing the headline of an ad... Read More

In Advertising Bigger isn?t Always Better

If you have been following the recent advertising news you... Read More

Media Savvy - How To Manage Your Time To Gain The Best Media Coverage

Did you know generating positive media coverage is four times... Read More

3 Inside Secrets To Making You Richer Using Direct Mail!

Making money using direct mail isn't easy. And anyone who... Read More

Reach vs. Frequency: Touch 100 Once or 25 Four Times?

Reach and frequency are terms generally used when planning advertising... Read More

Ten Ways To Sell Advertising Space Fast

1. Give your customers a discount when they spend over... Read More

Dont Put All Your Eggs in The Same Basket

Solution: You can protect yourself by partnering with other lead... Read More

Brand Young and You Brand for Life; Why Cinema Advertising is an Effective Tools for Marketers

In the world of advertising there are many forms of... Read More

Print Advertising: Knowing What To Put In Your Ads

So you've decided to run a print ad in your... Read More

LED Score Boards

LED scoreboards can be utilized in most of the sporting... Read More

Mortgage Marketing - Broadcast Advertising vs Direct Advertising

Do you know how to design and deploy a marketing... Read More

See How to Advertise and Gain More Money to Blast Another Project

We have a Great News that we think that may... Read More

The Truth in Advertising

Most of us have seen at least a dozen different... Read More

The Only Bad Advertising Is No Advertising - Or Is It?

Depending on whom you ask, you will get told many... Read More

What Makes Advertising Successful?

MANY INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS COME INTO PLAY MAKING A SUCCESSFUL AD:... Read More

Information Gathering & Delivery May Never Be The Same!

Give Us The Bottom Line!If you are like most people,... Read More

16 Methods for Getting Free Advertising

1. Place copies of your circular on bulletin... Read More

How To Tell If An Advertisement Costs Too Much

People say it all the time: "This advertising costs too... Read More

Outdoor Sign

Many business organizations that needs to disseminate late-breaking information to... Read More